Local musician’s band tops Texas reader poll

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
When Lone Star Music Magazine announced their annual reader poll, T. Ray Porche of Edna and the rest of The New Offenders, the Houston-based roots rock band in which he plays guitar, knew they were fortunate to be among such big names as Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, John Prine, and more. Being on a list among artists they listened to, looked up to, and loved, was an honor in and of itself.
Imagine their surprise when they woke up one morning, and found themselves topping the list.
The poll, which allowed readers to vote for as many of the bands as they liked, took place at the very end of December, brought the band into the new year as the newly crowned fan favorite.
“How ‘bout that?” said Porche, laughing, “We were just as shocked to see it climbing as everyone else was.”
2016 was, for the music industry, a year of surprises. Fans lost icons like Prince, David Bowie, and Merle Haggard. Sturgill Simpson, a decidedly anti-Nashville, anti-music-establishment artist formerly known mostly to fans of the alt-country/rock genre, found himself nominated for a Grammy, to his own surprise as well as that as his fans.
Perhaps the perfect cherry on top of 2016 was the New Offenders and their 2016 album Stones to Throw topping a poll from a major music magazine, beating out artists which included Simpson himself.
“Its so strange,” said Porche, a fan of Simpson, “To see a guy I’ve been listening to for so long on there, and more. Drive By Truckers, Willie-Freaking-Nelson!”
The band recently rebranded itself as the New Offenders – they were formerly known as Hunter McKithan and the Offenders – changed their sound a little, and put Porche in more control of the music. While McKithan is still the frontman, Porche has found himself in a more central role, writing some songs and taking some lead vocals.
Judging by the reaction of their existing fans, and the influx of new fans what they’re doing is working.
Tour dates for The New Offenders can be found on their website, www.thenewoffenders.com, or their Facebook page.

Photo by Cameron Gott