Storyville

Veterans of countless jam sessions and high-profile backing ensembles, the musicians who formed Storyville first connected during one such gathering in 1994 at Austin’s Antone’s. Bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton had spent a decade in Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble prior to the guitarist’s 1990 death, after which both joined the Arc Angels before encountering their future Storyville colleagues. Lead guitarist David Holt had contributed to the Mavericks’ debut album and shared duties with fellow guitarist David Grissom in Joe Ely’s band; Grissom later toured with John Mellencamp and the Allman Brothers. The sole member possessing fewer than ten prior sideman credits, vocalist Malford Milligan, had performed with Austin’s Stick People before the group’s creation, which took its name from New Orleans’ historic red-light district.

Following initial rehearsals that shaped their blues-infused soul and R&B approach, Storyville entered the studio and cut an album for November Records. Issued in the same year the band coalesced, The Bluest Eyes captured six honors at the 1995 Austin Music Awards, among them Best Band and Best Single. Mainstream outlets praised the record, prompting a deal with the Atlantic imprint Code Blue. Although Storyville issued no fresh recordings in 1995, the ensemble still secured three additional trophies at that year’s Austin Music Awards. Their second album, A Piece of Your Soul, appeared in 1996 and was succeeded in 1998 by Dog Years.