Ultra

In an era when regional circuits still allowed promising groups to build substantial followings without attracting major-label interest, the Texas outfit Ultra saw its polished twin-guitar boogie rock remain largely unnoticed. Based in San Antonio, the band logged countless miles on the road across four years yet never broke beyond state borders. Vocalist Don Evans and guitarist Galen Niles launched Ultra in 1974 after the breakup of their prior group, Homer; that band’s other guitarist, Van Wilks, later pursued a solo path that included the Mercury Records release Bombay Tears. Ultra rounded out its roster with guitarist Larry McGuffin, bassist Scott Stephens, and drummer Tom Schleuning, quickly earning steady support slots alongside national headliners passing through Texas. Despite this activity, the group’s visibility stayed confined to the Lone Star State, yielding only a five-song white-label promotional EP during its active years. Wearying of the shifting musical climate and the rising tide of both disco and punk, Ultra disbanded quietly in 1978. More than two decades afterward, its surviving recordings were gathered and issued by the Texas label Monster Records under the straightforward title Ultra.