Our Story
BIO: Lucas Hudgins & the first Cousins
“I don’t like to call it classic country because that makes it sound like its gone, but it ain’t gone. We just need to give all the people who still love this music a voice in what country music REALLY is".
-L. Hudgins
Lucas Hudgins was born and raised in South Austin Texas, in a family of deep East Texas bloodlines. Growing up in a house filled with music, Lucas was introduced to roots greats like Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and George Jones, and developed a deep appreciation for the sound. His mother’s soulful voice and guitar/piano performances around the house influenced him to make his own music.
Lucas Hudgins began his professional journey pursuing a degree in Creating Writing and working towards a career in Radio–TV-film (sports broadcasting). Lucas didn’t realize his knack for performing and songwriting until he was nearly 25, though others did. Successful Austin musicians involved in the local “roots” music scene (Weary Boys, Warren Hood, and SAJB) began to urge the novice Hudgins sit in on their performances at local Austin hot-spots. Hudgins wooed the crowds belting out well-known and powerful covers of crooners like Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, and Lefty Frizell.
This introduction to the Austin music scene eventually led Hudgins to join Reaux’s Heroes- a scrappy little country-hillbilly-rock band playing in and around town. It was here that Lucas was introduced to original First Cousins guitar slinger, Ben Massey, as well as being reunited with longtime friend and local drummer, Matt Puryear. Reaux’s Heroes would dismantle in 2004 to become Lucas Hudgins and the First Cousins, which quickly reached a successful public high note, playing popular Austin venues such as The Continental Club, The Broken Spoke, and The Hole in the Wall. In 2005, the band was invited to perform at The Texas Black Tie and Boots Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. with fellow Austin greats The Derailers, Asleep at the Wheel, The Gourds, Lyle Lovett, and many others. That same year, Hudgins also released his debut album, Honky Tonk Illusion (Blood Chili Records 2005,). Hudgins wrote the entire album after a hard breakup with a long-term girlfriend, and it was well received by critics and fans alike. The recognition gained through HTI’s success led to the addition of Oregon export Chris Miller (Dave Alvin, Hollisters, Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson) on guitar, and Dave Wesselowski (Ted Roddy, Barfield, Teri Joyce) on bass. Chris Miller and Lucas Hudgins quickly became a new, dynamic Austin songwriting team, and quickly set their sights on recruiting David Leroy Biller (Dale Watson, Wayne Hancock, Horton Brothers). Biller, who had years of recognition as one of the greatest guitar players around, was threatening to learn the pedal steel quitar, which soon became a reality. Through their live appearances in dance halls, dives, and honky-tonks in and around Austin, the new look troupe continues to turn heads and is said to be one of the most exciting additions to country music’s “True-Country” movement.
The 2009 recording, The World Left is Mine (Texas Jamboree Records) produced by Dave Biller, showcased Miller and Hudgins’ common love for crafting fundamental country songs through timeless themes of nightlife, heartache, addiction, and regret. Once again, Hudgins’ album quickly impressed critics and lovers of roots country music around the world receiving airplay in Texas as well as in Europe and across the globe .
Due to Health issues in 2013 Hudgins and the band took some time off before getting back to it in 2015/2016, while the old "Cousins" still play from time to time a new look Lucas Hudgins and the first cousins has been established with David Leroy Biller on Guitar, Nathan Fleming on Pedal Steel, Billy Horton on upright Bass and Mathew Puryear still on Drums. With the addition of these Roots Veterans as well as T Jarod Bonta on occasional Piano duties, the Band has never sounded better!
Lucas Hudgins and TFC is stone-cold, tear in your beer honky-tonk, drenched in emotional and musical authenticity, and above all else a love for simplicity. This timeless approach to their music can be heard at all of their live shows with what might be the bands’ catch phrase,“......Sounds like country music!”.
Quotes:
“Hudgins voice is the main draw, deep and trembling so smooth as to effortlessly evoke icons like Charlie Pride and Conway Twitty”
-DOUG FREEMAN (Texas Platters, Austin Chronicle Nov. 28, 2008)
"Texas Roots meets snakeskin boots"
Austin chronicle Recommended show listings 2009