Thanks to James Mayfield for this great insightful look at Buffalo Ruckus. The 4-piece band took the ruckus to Larry Joe Taylor Festival in April and came back with a bevy of new fans. They are playing at the great Gilley’s saloon in Durant’s Choctaw Casino Friday night (May 16), for the Hank Williams Jr. after-party, and at 1 p.m. Saturday (May 17) at Wildflower! Festival in Richardson.

Writer:   James Mayfield

It’s a warm and windy night in Dallas. As the sun sinks behind the skyline, the members of Buffalo Ruckus grab a bite to eat on a deck outside Poor David’s Pub, a legendary North Texas nightspot they are playing that night.

Together less than a year, it’s fateful for the Ruckus to be performing at the famous club that’s hosted Texas icons Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Sara Hickman, Miranda Lambert, and Dixie Chicks, early in their careers. Like the ones who’ve gone before them, Buffalo Ruckus is looking to leave its mark.

The Denton-based group is about to release its debut album, has a social calendar filling up with high-profile gigs, and has received radio play on stations such as KHYI (The Range) and KFWR (The Ranch).

This evening, the guys are reflecting on how far they’ve evolved in a relatively short period of time. “If you told me a year ago

that I’d be living in Texas, I’d say you were crazy,” says singer/guitarist Jason Lovell, stretching his 6’ foot 3” frame and grinning through an impressive growth of beard. “Less than a year ago I quit my career, moved to Texas, joined up with a great group of guys, and we just cut a dang record. That is friggin’ crazy. A blessing, I’d say.”

Like the quartet’s full-throttle Americana meets rock-and-roll, milestones such as recording an album have come fast and furious, thanks in no small part to a strong work ethic. “We’re an ambitious band and have been working hard from the beginning … things have been falling into place,” explains guitarist Brad Haefner.

The Ruckus began when Lovell, originally from Georgia, moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2013. An accomplished chef, Lovell saw the Lone Star State relocation as a new start to allow him to follow his heart and become laser-focused on his music. Knowing few people in the Dallas area, he answered a Craigslist advertisement looking for musicians. Haefner, who has degree in classical guitar from Indiana University, answered the same ad.

“I played with these guys and discovered that Jason had a voice that would work well for the project I had been trying to get

going,” Haefner says. “After getting together with him a few more times, I pitched him my idea. Once Jason came on board, the music fit together better than we could have expected.”

Haefner had previously played in bands with bassist Michael Burgess and drummer Christian Dorn, so the foursome began jamming at Burgess’ house in Denton. “I’m a single guy living in a three-bedroom house,” Burgess explains. “One room’s the bedroom, one’s the study and the other is the music room.” In other words, the perfect place for musicians to work on songs as well as bond.

As reflected in the band’s music, influences come from a myriad of sources. Lovell cites artists from Waylon Jennings, Neutral Milk Hotel and the Allman Brothers to Jeff Buckley, Townes Van Zandt and the King himself, singling out his father as truly his biggest influence. “My dad has a ton of Elvis LPs,” Lovell says. “He’s a huge fan and was always playing Elvis around the house. My family even began calling me ‘Eh-ves’ when I was little.”

“The reason I started playing bass was my mother,” says Burgess. “She would play Billy Joel’s An Innocent Man, and I was just amazed by bassist Doug Stegmeyer on that and other records.”

Dorn, whose skills behind the kit keep him in demand for private lessons, says, “Many musicians and drummers have influenced me over the years, but some of my biggest include Chris McHugh (Keith Urban), Tommy Harden (Reba McEntire), Brian Blade and Vince Gill.I also would not be where I am today without my longtime mentor and college instructor Henry Okstel.”

“One of my big influences is jazz guitarist John Scofield,” Haefner says. “He was the first concert I went to … I was 13 years old.”

Mix all of these heroes together, shake them up in a mason jar and you have a potent cocktail. The shot of whiskey dropped in this concoction is Lovell’s vocals, which have been compared to Chris Robinson, Steven Tyler, Chris Cornell, Robert Plant and other powerful pipes. Comparisons aside, Lovell’s voice is unique, powerful and a driving force in the group’s songs.

Haefner (who also plays a mean mandolin) and the rhythm section of Dorn and Burgess supply a steady stream of experienced musicianship and on-stage antics. Burgess has been known to wander with his wireless instrument out into the crowd and beyond. “At one gig, he followed writer/photographer Mary Jane Farmer out to her car, playing to her while she left,” Haefner says. “Mike brings the ruckus.”

The band’s big break came in August 2013 when they entered the Shiner Rising Star competition. At this point they’d played one live show together, but they were interested to see how far they could go. “That was when the fuse really got lit,” says Burgess.

Sponsored by Shiner Beer and KHYI, the competition put bands on the clock (usually 30 minutes) to set up, play as many songs as they could (including one cover) and tear down. If they went over the allotted time, it was BUZZ, you’re out.

In the first round, the Ruckus treated the crowd to three originals and a cover of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post.” The judges and audience members were sold and put them through to the next round.

During this time, the group had their first recording session together. Heading into Fort Worth Sound studios, they cut two singles (“No Good So Good” and “High Again”) with producer Bart Rose. “We dubbed these ‘The Ruckus Sessions,’ and it was mostly a way to get some tangible music in the hands of folks, but also important in our sound development,” Lovell says. “Being in the studio with Bart and the boys was an absolute blast.”

Flash-forward several rounds of Shiner Rising Star later and Buffalo Ruckus found themselves in the finals with three other bands performing at Love & War in Texas in Plano. With Lovell’s vocals howling the high notes, the band worked the crowd with their originals and “Whipping Post” finale.

They finished second place overall, an impressive feat considering the mountain of bands that had originally sent in audition tapes for consideration in the competition.

Better yet, one of the judges turned out to be Donnie Nelson, president of basketball relations for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Nelson sits on the Texas Grammy Board as well as the board for the Texas Music Hall of Fame and liked what he heard so much he introduced the group to Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Chris Bell (Eagles, Erykah Badu, Reba McEntire).

Bell, assisted by Geoff Rockwell, brought Buffalo Ruckus into Larry Dillon’s Wavelight Studios. The band spent four days recording and emerged with 12 tracks and a debut releasing this summer. “The band was super prepared, so it went well,” Bell says about the sessions. “Everyone was really open to new ideas. We left most of the songs intact except some slight changes with the feel on drums and bass.” Bell also recorded backup vocals for tracks “Angilee” and “Far to Fall” with singer-songwriter Shannon McNally.

The best compliment Ruckus has gotten so far, all the members agree, came from Bell regarding their sound. “You can really hear the different influences between the members. It’s not straight country, singer-songwriter, folk, Americana, rock,” he says. “They have their own sound, and it was refreshing to work with a band who isn’t copying what’s already been done.”

Filled with songs of redemption (“High Again”), songs about the South (“Rebels Son”), about relationships (“What’s a Boy to Do?” “No Good So Good”), songs about the South and relationships (“South Georgia Angel”), the record is a remarkable debut with soulful lyrics that strike a chord. “I try not to think about it too much,” says Lovell, who shares lyricist duties with Haefner. “Words tend to come fairly quickly and I generally write early in the morning and directly from life experiences. I don’t think I even try to. It just happens that way.”

“I’m looking forward to the release of our first album,” Dorn adds. “I’m beyond excited to let our fans hear what we tracked. I think music lovers of all genres are in for a real treat. This album has something for everyone.”