The Mastersons

A Texas-raised but Brooklyn-based alt-country band, the Mastersons are built around the husband-and-wife team of Chris Masterson (guitar and vocals) and Eleanor Whitmore (violin and vocals). Both Masterson and Whitmore were seasoned touring and recording musicians (Whitmore with Regina Spektor, Bruce Robison, and Kelly Willis and Masterson with Son Volt and Jack Ingram) when they met at a festival in Colorado. A personal and musical bond grew out of that meeting, and they soon found themselves working together in Steve Earle's band, the Dukes and Duchesses. Earle regularly featured the pair in his shows on tour, and the critical and audience reaction they received led to a record deal with New West Records. The Mastersons' debut album, Birds Fly South, appeared in 2012, and featured the duo's joyful but still dark alt-country vision paired with a rhythm section of George Reiff (bass) and Falcon Valdez (drums). In 2014, the Mastersons released their second album, Good Luck Charm; produced by Jim Scott, the set featured stronger political themes as well as more personal material.