The Hudsons are quite possibly the hardest-working folk group in Austin. They have been together longer than most people stay married. Hudson Mueller and Brian Hudson play guitars and write the songs for the organization while Jason Vopni and Leah Zeger provide bass and violin respectively. Over the years the group has accomplished great things. The Hudsons have won multiple awards, including Best Folk Band from the Austin Music Awards in 2007. They've toured all over the U.S. and Canada, produced three albums, three t-shirts, one koozie, and three bumper stickers. They've even created a whole new business model for small-time bands--playing out so often that your career imitates a regular job. The Hudsons' catalogue is populated by a diverse bunch of songs. With their acoustic orientation, they've found a comfy home in the folk community, but the group shies away from no genre. They're the proud purveyors of folk-rap, rhyming stories of pimps losing wallets and planets ambling into a raucous party in the middle of the sun. Other songs ring of their singer-songwriting heroes Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, Elliott Smith, Randy Newman, and Willie Nelson. They've defined themselves by playing the songs they write, however they happen to sound. The band began when Brian started sitting in with Hudson every Thursday evening at the Waterloo Ice House in Austin. After winning a couple of singer-songwriting awards at their university, they started getting some other gigs as well as growing the band. Without agents or know-how, the Hudsons soon found themselves with more gigs than most bands could handle. But these guys figured they needed to play a lot to get good. Due to the many kind venues who provided the Hudsons opportunities to perform, the band eventually did get good. After getting good, they figured the next logical step was kids. In 2003 the Hudsons gave birth to a simple home-recorded album, enititled Songs About People. The recording helped the band build a following all over Central and East Texas, and in 2005 the Hudsons birthed yet another album, which they would creatively entitle Live Album. By the time their recordings were toddlers, things were looking up for the Hudsons. Blue-collaring all over the Lone Star State was starting to pay off and the band eventually found itself with many of the elements of success. They had an agent, a lawyer, an Austin Music Award, and a growing buzz. Gigs were getting bigger, band-members were quitting day jobs, and just as they were verging on a recording contract with a major independent label, tragedy struck. The Hudsons' beloved violinist Phoebe Hunt left the group for a younger band. After mourning the loss of they're sister-in-arms, the Hudsons figured the best way to move on was to get back on the saddle and ride. A slew of new songs were to be written and a new violinist named Leah Zeger was to join the group. And finally, a new album was to be birthed. In August of 2007, the Hudsons revealed their third album, Before I Sleep, to the world. And that's where their story leaves off… The Musicians: Hudson Mueller grew up singing in the choir and he's made his living singing for his entire professional life. He commands an unusual and brilliant voice and directs his powers towards good ends. His delivery is practiced yet natural, and he strives to deliver the feeling of a song when singing. He plays a mean swing guitar and is an incredibly inventive songwriter. He enjoys spending time at home with a book or movie, and is always game for a round of disc golf. He's a skilled punster, a practiced diplomat, and carries a great and unwavering love for his band mates. Brian Hudson is living proof that anyone can sing. He has a relatable and honest voice that plays well off the complexity of the Hudsons' music. He is a talented and adept lead guitarist capable of translating a mood through his instrument. He goes to Mexico whenever he has a break from the band and currently has a crush on the music of Elliott Smith, Gillian Welch, and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. He is working to improve his sense of direction and knowledge of maps, and he's developing a taste for movies. He enjoys sunny mornings on the disc golf course and is an amazingly devoted and supportive member of the band as well as the author of this promotional material. Jason Vopni may be insanely tall but he's no slouch on that big bass. His playing is sturdy, and he has a penchant for music that grooves. He's new to folk music having arrived recently from the jazz world, in which he developed his melodic sense and improvisational talent. He relishes the thanklessness of bass-playing, enjoys hanging out, breaking up fights, and grows a mustache almost as well as Brian. He's a supportive bass player, a talented sound engineer, and he'll happily help you find a place to live if you're looking to move to Austin. Leah Zeger has traveled the world with the internationally renowned string ensemble Barrage and is currently the youngest member of the Austin Symphony. She's been playing violin since she was six and has never worked outside music in all her twenty-four years. She sings beautifully too. Though many speculate that she, like so many extraordinary talents, made a pact with the devil, in fact she is the product of genetic nepotism. Her parents are symphonic violinists in Houston although Leah refined her craft through diligence and hard work. She is the newest member of the ensemble, is always good for a hug, eats meat, loves jazz and hip-hop, and we're fortunate to have her with us.