The Steel Penny Pub stepped outside its traditional realm Friday night with an Americana show featuring Austin-based Austin Collins & The Rainbirds headlining and Chicago’s Sleeper Car opening.

Sleeper Car is a five-piece band featuring Mike Musikantow on guitar, Russ Mallord on drums, Jamie Mock on bass, “Mean Gene” Eugene Choi on violin, and J.J. Evans on guitar. The band hail from Illinois, and are currently on a tour that takes them through the countryside of Texas, up the East Coast, and back to their home state. Sleeper Car has put out two albums: “Shy Me” and “Love And Anxiety.”

Austin Collins, middle, with The Rainbirds--Troy Wilson on bass and Craig Bagby on drums. (LIVE! photo/Chelsea Schmid)

Austin Collins & The Rainbirds' latest album is "Roses are Black." (LIVE! photo/Chelsea Schmid)

Speaking of albums, Austin Collins & The Rainbirds were celebrating their latest Friday night with a CD release show for this month’s “Roses Are Black.” The album is the first the band has recorded together, and they took an unusual route to the finished product: they recorded the tracks live in-studio, with the whole band playing together.

Austin Collins and members of The Rainbirds have been playing in San Angelo for years, although the band itself is still in its freshman stage. Guitar player Dylan McDougall was born and raised in San Angelo, so The Penny had a good mixture of fans, family, and close friends Friday.

Listen to the podcast to hear Austin Collins and Dylan McDougall talk about the formation of the band and their new album.

For more information on Sleeper Car, visit: sleepercarband.com.

For more information on Austin Collins & The Rainbirds, visit: myspace.com/austincollins or austincollins.net