There are bands that come along, make a little noise, have a few good years… and then there are bands that become part of the fabric of Texas music.
Two Tons of Steel is one of those bands.
The story starts in San Antonio with Kevin Geil and a band originally called the Dead Crickets. Long before “Texas Country” and “Americana” became the labels we use today, they were mixing rockabilly, honky-tonk, country and a whole lot of attitude into something that was unmistakably their own.
They were packing little bars and local hangouts around San Antonio, building a following the old-fashioned way — one sweaty, loud, rowdy show at a time.
The band released its self-titled album in 1994, followed by Crazy For My Baby in 1995. Then came a sponsorship deal with Lone Star Beer, and in 1996, the Dead Crickets officially became Two Tons of Steel.
And they didn’t exactly stay home.
They started taking that San Antonio sound everywhere — from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to the National Theater in Havana, Cuba, and eventually across Europe.
But if there’s one place that feels like home for Two Tons, it’s Gruene Hall.
Their legendary “Two Ton Tuesday” shows became a Texas summer tradition. The annual series has drawn hundreds of thousands of people over the years, with fans showing up to dance, sweat and hear one of the most energetic bands Texas has ever produced.
They’ve released more than a dozen albums, landed high on the Americana charts, earned a spot on the cover of Billboard, and been voted Best Country Band by the San Antonio Current over and over again.
They’ve even made it onto the big screen in the IMAX film Texas: The Big Picture.
And the accolades keep coming. Two Tons of Steel was named the 2024 Texas Country Music Association Roots/Alternative Group of the Year, adding another chapter to a story that started more than three decades ago.
But I’ve got my own little piece of Two Tons of Steel history.
Folks who have listened to The Ranch for a while might remember my “TWO TONS!” yell that I used to do before their songs.
That started back when I was working the 11 PM–2 AM late-night shift. I was usually alone in this giant, creepy, haunted building, so I figured if I was going to be there by myself, I might as well have a little fun with it.
And let’s be honest… it was late. There was nobody around to scare in the building.
Except the ghosts.
So I’d let loose with that ridiculous Two Tons yell, fire up the song and keep the overnight shift rolling.
I still get a kick out of the fact that something I did alone in a haunted radio station years ago is something some of you actually remember.
That’s the thing about Two Tons of Steel.
They never needed a trend to tell them what they were supposed to sound like. They just made music that sounded like them — loud, fast, fun, rootsy and completely Texas.
And they’re still out there doing it.
So now I want to know… what’s YOUR favorite Two Tons of Steel song? And if you were listening to The Ranch back in my late-night days, do you remember the “TWO TONS!” yell?
