Mike & The Moonpies Welcome New Drummer Ahead of Tour

Mike and the Moonpies (Kyle Ponder far right)

When the most badass country band out there on the road makes a change in the lineup, it’s worth noting. Drummer Kyle Ponder has been there from the very beginning of Mike and the Moonpies, has played on all of their records, and has been the heartbeat of the band as they’ve gone from Austin’s honky tonk house band, to one of the most blazing live bands out there in the country space.

But the time has come for Mr. Ponder to move on. After a few fans noticed a strange face slapping the skins at some of their recent shows, including headlining KOKE’s SXSW showcase on the rooftop of The Blind Pig on Monday (3-14), frontman Mike Harmeier addressed the lineup change.

“I know a lot of y’all have noticed our drummer, Kyle Ponder, has been absent from our shows lately and we want to share with y’all that he has stepped away from Mike and the Moonpies. Kyle has been there from the beginning—I’m talking high-school-band-beginning. We’ve been doing this thing a long time together and he helped us build this band into what it is. Kyle is and always will be a brother to me and to the band and we love him and wish him all the best.”

No word on why Kyle Ponder has decided to step away, so let’s just throw the wild rumor out there that he’s currently in small arms/hand to hand combat training, and is flying to Ukraine to fight as a mercenary and leave it at that. But no matter what Kyle Ponder does next, he will have been the drummer of the band Saving Country Music has declared either the best or one of the best live acts in country music the last four years running.

So who is the newest Moonpie on the backline? His name is Taylor Englert, the band has announced. “Can’t say enough good things about this dude. Happy to have him tearing it up on the drums for us. Y’all help us welcome him to the Mike and the Moonpies family, the Moonpies say.

Taylor Englert may be familiar to some around the Austin area. He’s regularly drummed for the duo Mayeux & Broussard, as well as for Kathryn Legendre, and has appeared on the albums for both of those acts. A veteran of the Austin honky-tonk scene, he should fit right in with the vibe of Mike and the Moonpies.

Englert is also known for designing tour posters, T-shirts, and album covers. He designed the cover for Garrett T. Capps’ last album I Love San Antone, for example. So perhaps we’ll see him helping on the visual component of the Moonpies for the future. He joins Zach Moulton on steel guitar, Catlin Rutherford on lead guitar, and Omar Oyoque on lead bass and hair whips.

“I’ve looked up to Mike and the Moonpies since my band Mayeux & Broussard started opening for them in our early days of being a band. Always impressive. True pros. Great people,” says Englert. “We’re on our way up to Colorado currently and I’m still pinching myself. See y’all at the shows.”

See the upcoming Moonpies dates below.

20 Mar – Vultures – Colorado Springs, CO
25 Mar – Lola’s Trailer Park – Fort Worth, TX
26 Mar – Bowie Community Center – Bowie, TX
02 Apr – Hogs for the Cause 2022 – New Orleans, LA
09 Apr – Texas Sand Fest 2022 – Port Aransas, TX
10 Apr – Conroe Crossroads Festival 2022 – Conroe, TX
16 Apr – The Backyard at Fritztown – Fredericksburg, TX
23 Apr – Main Street Fest Grand Prairie 2022 – Grand Prairie, TX
26 May – Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival – Axton, VA
02 Jun – 3rd & Lindsley – Nashville, TN
04 Jun – Rockin’ On The River Cascade 2022 – Cascade, IA
05 Jun – Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA
06 Jun – Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA
16 Jun – Open Road Abilene Texas – Abilene, TX
23 Jun – Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Festival 2022 – Filer, ID
25 Jun – Jackalope Jamboree 2022 – Pendleton, OR
07 Aug – Windy City Smokeout 2022 – Chicago, IL
© 2023 Saving Country Music