O’Connor & Plank

“Michael O’Connor and Jeff Plankenhorn are on the road together again, still kickin’. Between the two of them, they have co-written, played, and sung on enough albums to program at least a solid week’s worth of Grade-A Americana radio. On that station you’d hear many of the biggest names in Texas music of the last 25 years, from Ray Wylie Hubbard and Joe Ely to Terri Hendrix, Slaid Cleaves, Ruthie Foster, Adam Carroll, Patty Griffin, and Malford Milligan. But in addition to being two of the best guitar-slinging songwriting cats in the Americana music world, they’re both lifetime performers with critically acclaimed solo careers of their own. O’Connor’s heartstring-tugging tenor vocals bring a disarming warmth to his gritty Gulf Coast blues, with lyrics inspired by a lifetime of hard-won life experiences both on and off-stage giving him a keen insight into the world of the rough, the faithless, the romantic, and the unlucky — all of whom find refuge in his songs. And Plankenhorn (or “Plank,” as he is affectionately known in music circles) has a soulful voice as resonant as his renowned dobro playing — both perfect instruments for his stirring blend of not just roots, rock, and folk, but gospel, bluegrass, and Motown. Plank has an Austin Music Award under his belt as well as being 2018 major grant recipient from Sonic Guild (formerly Blackfret). Side by side, trading songs and stories back and forth with the natural easy and familiarity of blood brothers in arms, they put on a show not to be missed.” – Richard Skanse