Austin, Texas—2026—Convict Hillbillies are a South Austin band steeped in the kind of lived-in storytelling that only comes from time well spent. The group features Nick Ratliff and Eric Coolbaugh trading guitars and vocals, alongside Pat “Foghorn” Molson on bass and Charlie Gnere on drums.

 Drawing from a wide well of musical roads traveled, the members have individually shared stages and collaborated with artists as varied as Band of Heathens, Ludacris, Gogol Bordello, Jacob Alan Jaeger, Stan Ridgway, Rosie Flores, and B.B. King. That range shows up in their sound—where barroom rock, back-porch folk, and country soul all meet somewhere down at the end of a dusty Texas road. Fans have likened their style to a crossroads between Wilco, Crazy Horse, Ween, and The Clash—but with a distinctly South Austin heartbeat. 

 The band takes its name from Convict Hill, where the current chapter began. Coolbaugh and Ratliff shaped much of their material during a season that tested more than just their musicianship. While Ratliff underwent cancer treatment, the two turned long nights into something lasting. 

 “Every Monday I’d get radiation, chemo, and a big dose of steroids,” Ratliff recalls. “Sleep wasn’t really an option, so we’d get together and write and play—just trying to outrun the night. By the time I hit remission, we had a whole batch of songs that felt like they’d already lived a life of their own.”   

 Not long after, they found their rhythm section in Gnere and Molson through a neighborhood connection—locking in a sound that feels equal parts front-porch session and roadhouse revival. 

 Convict Hillbillies are currently recording new material and playing shows across Central Texas, carrying their songs from living rooms to dive bars and wherever else folks are interested to listen. More music and tour updates are on the horizon. Stay tuned.