Texas Trailblazers Series

Series #1: Austin Girls Who Groove

Over the years, Sarah Brown’s powerful yet supple bass playing has helped form the backbone of shows and recordings by some of the greatest blues and R&B luminaries in the industry. Both before and after her arrival in Austin in 1982, she shared the stage and studio with the likes of Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Earl King, James Cotton, Dr. John, Junior Walker and many, many more. If a blues legend set foot onstage at Antone’s, chances are Sarah was standing right alongside him or her.  A bass player of national renown, Sarah has been a staple of the fabled Antone’s House Band for over forty years. 

She was an indispensable friend and colleague to the other “Antone’s Blues Women,” including Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, and Eve Monsees. She has also worked extensively with Americana stalwarts such as Dave Alvin, Rosie Flores, and Bill Kirchen.

Sarah attended Berklee College of Music in Boston but returned to Ann Arbor a year later and became a regular player on the then-burgeoning blues scene in Ann Arbor.  After touring around the U.S. with Big Walter Horton, the Rhythm Rockers, Geoff Muldaur and her own band, the Hipshakes, she toured Europe in 1982 with slide guitarist J.B. Hutto. Later that year, she moved to Austin to play with the LeRoi Brothers. Although she's an accomplished and steady blues bassist, the richness of the Austin music scene pulled her toward a variety of styles, and boosted her interest in song-writing. Her songs and co-writes have been recorded by Blues and Roots music greats. 

Although she's an accomplished and steady blues bassist, the richness of the Austin music scene pulled her toward a variety of styles, and boosted her interest in song-writing. 

Lissa Hattersley is an American singer, songwriter, and mandolinist known for her influential role in the Austin music scene.  Originally from Canandaigua, New York, In the early 1970s, she moved to Austin and, along with her brother Cleve and violinist Sweet Mary, formed the band Greezy Wheels—a group celebrated for its psychedelic swing sound and rural roots. Greezy Wheels became a fixture at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters, essentially serving as its house band during Austin’s counter-cultural heyday.

After a period in New York City, where she continued to attract top musicians, Lissa returned to Austin in the early 1990s and  revived Greezy Wheels with its original core members. She later formed Lissa Hattersley’s Trip Trio, a quartet that performs regularly to enthusiastic audiences. Throughout her career, Lissa has been recognized for her musical versatility and her ability to      inspire collaboration among fellow artists.

Her discography includes work with Greezy Wheels on albums such as “Juz Loves Dem Ol' Greezy Wheels,” “Radio Radials,” “Millennium Greezy,” “String Theory,” “HipPop,” and “Ain't Quite Like That,” as well as collaborations with other acts like Calvin Russell and Extreme Heat.

Lisa Pankratz is a renowned drummer whose dynamic presence has been a cornerstone of the Austin music scene since the early 1990s. Hailing from Dripping Springs, Texas, she first made waves performing with bands like the Derailers, Dale Watson, and Dallas rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson. Pankratz’s style is marked by her ability to deliver authentic honky tonk beats and her versatility across genres, from country shuffle to rock ’n’ roll, reggae, and funk. Her natural talent and dedication quickly elevated her from a local novelty to one of Austin’s most respected musicians, with her gender becoming a non-issue long before she joined Dave Alvin’s band in 2008.

Lisa’s musical journey began in her early teens, playing with her uncle’s band Greezy Wheels and appearing on Austin City Limits at just sixteen. Despite missing out on the roots revival of the 1980s due to her commitment to academics—she graduated as salutatorian from Dripping Springs High School—she made up for lost time with an intense gig schedule and a reputation for professionalism. Her impact was felt not only in her performances but also in her ability to adapt, as seen when she was hired on the spot by Teisco Del Rey during SXSW after impressing the band with her skill and energy.

Pankratz is celebrated for her attitude and intuitiveness on stage. Musicians who have worked with her, including Dave Alvin and Ronnie Dawson, praise her ability to bring fun and focus to every gig, always attuned to the needs of the band. Her story is a testament to the depth of talent in Austin’s backing musicians, and she continues to inspire both audiences and fellow artists with her dedication, humility, and passion for music.