Heavily influenced by the New York Dolls, Sonic Youth, and T. Rex, the Faceless Werewolves and their flirtatious call are equally psychedelic and sexy, fusing age-old male/female dynamics with fuzzy guitars to render classic rock & roll tales of one-night stands and one-armed men. The Austin threesome is led by guitarists/vocalists Baldomero Valdez, an elementary school teacher who also bangs out mushroom clouds for local psych-rockers Strange Attractors, and Kelsey Wickliffe, who doubles in lo-fi tape traders Les Petit Championettes. Bombshell drummer and bartender Erica Barton is the woman in the middle, driving the rhythms with her simplistic punk percussion and Betty Boop vocals. Formed in Denton in 2001, the Werewolves spent a few years sharpening their claws in the garage before prowling around the local scene, opening for such acts as the White Stripes, Les Savy Fav, and Junior Senior. After several trips down I-35 for South by Southwest and other Austin gigs, the threesome relocated permanently in February 2005 and recorded their aptly titled and ridiculously groovy debut, Medium Freaky, at the Bubble with producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith. Nearly a year after its completion, local imprint Super Secret Records released the album, which was followed by a third successful stint at SXSW in 2007. – Austin Powell