LoneStar Outlaw Review: June 2012

June 29, 2012

Lone Star Jam 2012

Lone Star Jam 2012

On-Campus @ The University of Texas

Opening Festival of the Season

Springtime has come and gone, and now we’re in the midst of another brutal Texas summer. Summer means many things to many people; no school, travel plans, staying cool (somehow), and most importantly to us here at LoneStar Outlaw Review…Festival Season! Texas is home to a plethora of Music Festivals throughout the year; from ACL, to SXSW, to Cajun and Crawfish festivals, and even Far Out West (to name a few). Lone Star Jam has wisely cemented itself at the end of spring, just as people are getting excited to gear up for summer and the weather hasn’t turned ugly just yet. They have always put forth a good product and really outdid themselves this year. Here’s how we saw things…

To be the opening band of a festival is a daunting task as concert goers aren’t always known for punctuality. Upon arrival, they just want to get acclimated with their surroundings, find that perfect spot and grab a drink, and before they know it…the opening band is wrapping up their set. No Justice was handed the reins to open the festival this year, and they did great. They played the familiar hits that casual fans might recognize, used some good banter to intermingle with the arriving fans, dropped the info on a new album coming out in August, and passed the baton to the next band. Not being as familiar with their music (and being one of the before mentioned non-punctual types), we didn’t get to see and hear as much as we would have liked to but at the same time…we really look forward to grabbing some of their music and becoming more attuned. They have a great sound that is uniquely theirs.

Micky and the Motorcars were up next in what we figured could be a rough spot for them. The festival occurred very shortly after the passing of former member Mark “Gus” McCoy, and you never know how a band (or anyone for that matter) will react. But Micky and the boys showed why they are professionals and certainly did not phone it in. In fact they looked and sounded awesome and it would seem that being on the stage is their solace place…and where they feel the most comfortable. They tore through crowd favorites “Amber”, “Carolina Morning”, and “Nobody’s Baby” while introducing a new track they recorded with Kevin Welch, “How Far I’ll Go”. Having met and interviewed these guys before we know what they are capable of and can’t wait to see them headline this same festival someday.

Following MMC, Brandon Ryder took his place on stage. Now, Ryder is an interesting artist to be a fan of. Most of us are fans of these guys for different reasons. For some it’s the looks, the spoken word, or the way certain songs make you feel. To us, seeing Brandon Ryder perform is like seeing a truly gifted artist at work. Absolutely no offense to any other performer out there, but Brandon seems to be one of the most vocally talented guys of the bunch—and it is wonderful to hear him unleash his vocal pipes on an unsuspecting crowd. He belted his way through “Lord, I Hope this Day is Good”, “Rock Angel”, “In the Country”, and the last single off his latest effort, Live at Billy Bob’s, “Shine”. It’s is always great to hear artists speak about where their inspiration comes from—and seeing Brandon perform “Freeze Frame Time” while holding his sleepy child shows where most of Mr. Ryder’s thoughts are based. If you aren’t familiar with him yet, do it soon.

We’re still really not sure what to make of Whiskey Myers. One part Southern rockers, one part hippy, one part jam band. But put it all together and you have one hell of a fusion going on that is that going to continue picking up speed, which is all they have done since their 2007 inception. These East Texas boys bring it all to the table and any listener out there who is only listening in for one particular type of music, just keep listening because eventually they will get to it. Our only request would be for them to cut back slightly on the jamming out when there is such a time constraint that festivals inevitably leave you with. And we only say that because we want for the rest of the audience to hear what we already know and for them to hear more selections from you. That being said, they debuted a new single, “Anna Marie” off their latest album Firewater. Other selections included “Broken Window Serenade”, “Ballad of a Southern man”, and an absolutely scorching version of CCR’s (not that one) “Green River”. Keep showing the world why you took home the “Emerging Artist of the Year” award fellas, we will certainly be seeing you next time you come around.

There’s something strange that happens at nearly every festival and it’s hard to explain. It’s like when you were a kid playing with your friends and your big brother came out (who was much bigger than you) and you knew the energy was about to shift in his favor. Enter Charlie Robison; who may not be any of these guys’ big brother, but you kinda get the feeling he could find a way to turn the amps up to 11 if he wanted. Mr. Robison has the looks of a seasoned veteran, the sounds of a polished and well-traveled band, and the song catalogue to accommodate every fan. Whether it be the slower “My Hometown”, or “El Cerrito Place” to the more up tempo “John O’Reilly’ and “Barlight”…the way Charlie commands the stage so effortlessly is a lesson to other ‘would-be’ musicians out there. The music and storytelling is what matters and the way Charlie draws you in with other crowd favorites like “Down Again”, “New Year’s Day”, and “Angry All the Time” is great to see. One minute you are sitting down in the shade and the next you find yourself front and center at the stage swaying along and wondering how you got there. It’s the music folks, he’ll be in your town soon.

That brings us to Cody Canada and The Departed and after reading our interview with him a few months back, you know that we were psyched to see this occur. Cody and his band mates are of course no strangers to how these festivals work. Plug in, let ‘em rip, and leave them wanting more. Unfortunately there were some technical difficulties that shaved around 10-15 off their set time but it still gave them enough time to crank it out. Their lone album, This is Indian Land, was represented by “Skyline Radio” and “Face on Mars” while their next release will feature “Calling All Demons” and “Flagpole”, both featured at the show. It is a shame about the technical difficulties because we know how feverishly they have been working on the next album and you got the impression they were eager to test out some of it live. They even included a few Ragweed songs such as “Alabama”, “Anywhere but Here”, and “Dimebag” which they play pretty regularly at their shows. The chants for CCR have seemed to subside which is great. There is a time and a place for everything party people, and while that era has moved along…take notice of what’s rocking your face off right in front of you. The Departed are here to stay and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jason Boland and the Stragglers have a quiet way of sneaking up on you. Jason’s aw-shucks demeanor is only a coy detractor to letting you know he’s there with the big boys. From the rocking out covers of “Thunderbird Wine” and “Outlaw Band” to the slower, more thought provoking “Electric Bill” and “False Accuser’s Lament”, Jason sets the stage for where he wants to take you musically. He will play the crowd pleasers, “Pearl Snaps” and “Somewhere Down in Texas” but also the sentimental “Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse” all mixed together with ease. Mr. Boland sits high on the mantle of artists with substance over style and carries forth a proud legacy of storytelling and craftsmanship. He and the Stragglers have already begun work on the follow up to last year’s highly acclaimed Rancho Alto.

It takes a very delicate balance to keep hipsters, bikers, frat boys, and the casual fan all interested at the same time. Stoney Larue and the Arsenals do this somehow. And though we can’t quite put our finger on exactly how, we’re happy to be a part of it. And so are a whole hell of a lot of others. Both studio albums were well represented with his latest effort, Velvet, getting slightly more attention, which is to be expected. The highly anticipated new record transfers greatly into live form and he masterfully transitions from slower songs like “Velvet” and “Te Amo Mas Que La Vida” to faster tunes such as “Sharecropper” and “Wiregrass”. His previous effort, The Red Dirt Album, produced more sing-a-long up-tempo songs like “Oklahoma Breakdown” and “One Chord Song” but, as with the mixing of his audience, he mixes all these different sounds together greatly. I hope you guys are getting your fill of Mr. Larue because the secret is already getting out on his talents and he’s gonna have to spend more time outside the friendly confines of Texas to appease all his fans.

If you had told Josh Abbott and his band five years ago that they would be the second to last band to play at a major festival, I’m pretty sure there would be a “get outta here”, probably with an expletive mixed in. Then again Josh has always seemed to have the self-confidence to obtain any dream laid in front of him. His meteoric rise to the top of the Texas Country scene has been nothing but astonishing and has garnered him some prime time attention on the national stage as well. The She’s Like Texas album shed a light onto a bright and up and coming star both gifted in verbiage and showmanship. “She’s Like Texas” is an obvious choice for songs to put atop the highlight reel but mix in “Ain’t Met my Texas Yet”, “All of a Sudden”, and “I Just Wanna Love You” and you start to round out a great mix of songs. Mixing in the band Fun’s version of “We Are Young” into your own smash hit “Oh, Tonight” is a genius stroke of always staying current. Rounding it out with “Good Night for Dancing” and a dedication for the road trippers that keep these bands employed, “Road Tripping” is a great way to cap off a great show for the band and its fans.

Closing out the day of music was Mr. Randy Rogers. To see a Randy Rogers show is to know why he’s headlining this shindig. Every single song is a sing-a-long, every fan has a smile, and every song conveys what RRB is trying to get across. Randy and the guys could play for hours and hours and not hit every great song of theirs. Each album is its own greatest hits compilation and condensing those down to a 1 ½ to 2 hour set list is almost unfair to the fans. There is just such a plethora of great material and he constantly is working on new stuff. As for the show, I now will get off my soapbox. Randy just knows what he’s doing. He holds the crowd in the palm of his hands and takes them on a ride. Whether it’s “Wicked ways”, “Buy Myself a Chance”, or the brand new “Speak of the Devil”, the band knows how to appease all comers. All of the music feels genuine and still has a down home feel to it. The light show of outdoor events is also another reason for going. They seem to almost be going haywire during “Too Late for Goodbye” among others but turns out to be perfectly timed with the beat. Guess it’s just hard to keep up with a bad ass fiddle player. Randy Rogers has could headline every festival across this State and I don’t think you would find too many displeased spectators. He stays true to the simple formula of making good music people can dance to, sing to, and feel good about. We as Texans should be proud to call him our own.

All in all, the day was a huge success (at least from a fan’s perspective). Prices were fair, plenty of port-a-pots to go around, and nothing seemed to run out till the end of the night. A little more variety would have been nice seeing how there was only one food choice but what do we know? Lone Star Jam really outdid themselves this time with a phenomenal lineup that would be tough to match or exceed; and the setting could not have been nicer. We as fans don’t need much reason to head to Austin but thanks for giving us yet another reason. This is one website that will happily be back for years to come!

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June 21, 2012

Jason Boland ~ Intimate Thoughts from a True Rodeo Cowboy

To see Jason Boland perform is to get the idea that he enjoys the solitude of life on the road just as much as the spotlights of the stage. To get a chance to meet and talk to him you get the impression there is much more to the man than you might think behind that toothy smile. Upon spending any particular length of time with him, you know there is a very worldly outlook that only years of hard living mixed with ‘time of reflection’ can create. It has been these trials and outtakes that have produced six excellent studio albums and two live recordings over a very successful 15 year career. We had a chance to sit down to talk with Jason recently and it was fascinating to hear his thoughts on topics such as where music stands today, where those clever thoughts that fill up his songs come from, and much, much more.

Seeing Jason perform an acoustic show at The Blue Moose Lodge, (located in Houston, TX on Washington Ave.) was like seeing a man who is a master of his craft…yet always striving for more. He is the consummate professional who is always trying to improve upon his talents—not only for his fans, but for himself as well. When LoneStar Outlaw (LSO) asked when he knew this was his calling (given his booming baritone voice) he replied, “I still don’t. Everything I’ve done I think to myself, “Man, I gotta do better the next time”. I’m glad people listen but I don’t hear it.” Which begs the question: Is wanting to improve something that keeps you motivated? “I think so. I always think “I don’t wanna go out like that”. “

Jason is one of the lucky ones. And by that...we don’t mean the endorsements, the notoriety, or fame. He has found a craft that suites him to a ‘T’. To which he says, “We got lucky. If everyone was able to do what they love, the world would be a much better place.”

His latest album is Rancho Alto—a critically praised record which seems to find Mr. Boland in a mellower state of being. Jason says, “I think it’s much more of a country album. Definitely more rootsy and rural than some of our other stuff. Some of our material tends to delve into rock & roll a lot. We’re another part of that fusion of ‘rock and country’ but we tried to put a lot of country into this album and it came out pretty hardcore. It’s an album I’m proud of.”

To be a fan of Jason’s music is to appreciate his clever way with words. Songs such as “Shot Full of Holes”, “Telephone Romeo”, and “Falling with Style” are just a tiny glimpse into back catalogue chockfull of his witty, often autobiographical, lyrics. “I have always seen words as having a lot of grey area in them. In the English language…there is a lot of grey area to play around with; puns and funny ways to say things and words with different meanings. I’ve always found that using this grey area is entertaining to do and I think it came from the songwriters I look up to on both the national level and a personal leve. I don’t remember who actually said it but “songwriters find extraordinary ways to say things that are pretty simple and find simple ways to say things that are extraordinary.” Most of the times those work. If you look at a guy like Guy Clark, he takes a view of a common everyday observation and twists it around in a way you’ve never seen it, or shows an angle you’ve never seen it from. I’ve just always enjoyed writers I thought were clever in that manner—guys like Cash, Steve Earl, and Robert Earl Keen. If you have a different way of looking at it and if you stick to your way, it’s gonna be original.”

Speaking of "having a way with words", LSO was pleasantly surprised to see one of JB's songs (“Telephone Romeo”) show up on a Kid Rock album. How did that come about? “He heard it on Satellite Jukebox with a mutual friend. He liked it and then one thing led to another. He and his song writing partner changed it a little to make it work for them and called it “Purple Sky”. I was really flattered.”

As with many artists, we found ourselves wondering if Jason Boland had a particular "favorite" song he'd written? "They were all my favorites at some point but I think "False Accuser's Lament" is about as good as I write a song. I like "Between 11 and 2" as well."

Hearing that, we instantly had to ask him: what was the last song you heard and thought to yourself, “I wish I had written that?” “Usually it’s a Todd Snider tune. Snider blows me away. He’s the complete package of folk, rock, country, thoughtfulness, compassion. He’s a great human and I hope he thinks the same about himself. But I guess the last song was “The Hobo Song” off Jack Bonus’ album, Old and in the Way.”

Jason Boland and the Stragglers have seen more blacktop and greener pastures throughout this country than most of us can fathom. Their current exploits take them over international waters into Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and then back up north to Sitka, Alaska for the “North to Alaska” trip (with fellow musicians Bleu Edmondson, Stoney Larue, Brandon Jenkins, and the Braun brothers that make up Reckless Kelley, and Micky and the Motorcars). But it is in the small dance halls and honky tonks that he learned to hone his craft and (in our own opinion) seems to find more comfort. We asked if the dance halls will survive given all the hard times hit upon by everyone. “They’re having to ride out the bad times just like everyone. It’s such an abundant music scene; people have choices to go watch live music all the time. Which is great, but they can go see whoever, whenever and people are much choosier about how they spend their money. The places that win out are the ones that have synergy such as Gruene Hall. I think it’s really hit or miss but they keep fighting the good fight.”

How has the landscape of music changed, both locally and nationwide? “The bad has gotten worse. Bands that used to ride the fence line with some decent Rock & Roll tunes, you think “Oh, they got me on that one”. Now it’s all a bunch of house music auto tuned to death and it’s God awful. We watched this scene get bigger and it’s gone through its life cycles. This thing became its own entity with its own anthems and the social risers and the rotation through. I hope that this scene will really fight to hang on to its roots. And by roots I mean its spirit, its originality. It already encompasses Rock & Roll, Western Swing, Folk, Honky Tonk; it has everything in it. It’s had stuff that sounded like Nashville Country, but good Nashville Country. I just wished they talked about something different in their songs. I’ve seen Texas Country/Red Dirt music start to struggle with some of its originality but that goes back to money. If the listeners get kidnapped by a pop anthem, who’s gonna fill up the dance halls? Get out to Schroeder Hall and support the former bull riders who are singers now. We’ve seen the growing pains, just like any other system, scene, or whatever. It’s gonna be fine.”

Lastly, the one thing on the road JB has to have would be…. “Coffee, definitely coffee.”

Jason Boland and the Stragglers have been a musical force since 1998 and to quote Jason, “We’re amazed and flabbergasted and pretty good at making it up as we go.” They have proven time and again that there is a place for everyone in a scene and that genres are meant to be deviated or skewed at times. You can do these when you have the musical chops to back it up. Through all the albums, tours, and life lessons, Jason has remained a ‘down to earth’ and humble individual who makes you remember why you fell in love with music in the first place. He is molded from the same cloth of musical icons of the past and we hope he continues to follow that path and make the music that keeps us all dancin’ and singin’ along…and most importantly, keeps him being honest with his own thoughts, creations, and art. We’ve loved his stuff from the beginning…and can’t wait to see what’s yet to come for Jason Boland and the Stragglers.

To learn more about Jason Boland and to find out where you can see him in a city near you, visit :

www.thestragglers.com

To see the rest of the images from JB's acoustic show at Blue Moose Lodge, visit us on Facebook and become a fan today by hitting "LIKE" on:

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Sample Setlist from JB Acoustic Show

@ Blue Moose Lodge ~ Houston, TX:

False Accuser's Lament
Tennessee Whiskey
Drinking Song
Mary
Big Shot Rich Man
Fences
Telephone Romeo
Paradise (Written by: John Prine)
When I'm Stoned
Angels Flying too Close to the Ground
Mary's Ellen's Greenhouse
Comal County blues
Shot Full of Holes
Somewhere in the Middle
Falling with Style
---
Somewhere Down in Texas
Pearl Snaps
Tulsa Time

June 8, 2012

Wade Bowen ~ The Inner Thoughts of a Traveling Man.

When talking to fans and musicians alike, every time you hear the name Wade Bowen it is seemingly always followed by “nicest guy you’ll ever meet”, “he was so great to be around”, or something of that nature. There is something to be said for that in this instant stardom world we live in these days-- where many artist were dead broke one day and, thanks to auto tune and a dumbed down listening audience, instant YouTube celebrities the next. Wade Bowen has done things the old fashioned way…pouring his heart and soul into his music, his songwriting, his live shows, and his dedication to always put the best product out there for his growing legion of fans. We had a chance to catch up with him recently in between his countless other obligations and he was kind enough to open up to us and share his thoughts, ideas, and where he sees this roller coaster heading.

LoneStar Outlaw: Your latest release, The Given, is your first major label release as opposed to the independent releases you have had in the past. What were some of the biggest changes you experienced?

Wade Bowen: With me, there weren’t a whole lot of differences. I still went and wrote the record the same way I always do. Always trying to get better, write the songs the best I can, pick the right producer, and the right guys to play with. I’ve never written as much as I did for this record and it made it difficult to cut out certain songs that I really liked that ultimately wouldn’t make the record. Other than that, you just have a few more people putting in the input but once you realize everyone’s there to help and we all shared the same common goal…there wasn’t too much difference.

LSO: How many songs do you usually write for an album as compared to this record?

WB: It’s hard to say, but probably 50-60 for each record and this one was easily over a hundred. Plus we had thrown everything back in from the past. Being a National release we threw everything back into the pot which I was really happy about. They (the record label) felt there were some songs that didn’t see the light of day that were good that we should take another look at.

LSO: Your co-writing credits on the album feature many of the usual suspects (Adam Hood, Sean McConnell, and Seth James to name a few), but we noticed more so that some of the names were missing from previous co-writing credits on other (earlier) albums. Guys with the last names of Canada, Edmondson, and Rogers. This is the first album you’ve had without any of them on it correct?

WB: I hadn’t really thought about it but I guess so. Cody and I haven’t really written that much. Seth and I have written some. It certainly wasn’t by design, more so just the way it worked out. It just kinda worked out with a few Adam songs and a few Sean songs. I was writing all over the place and the record could have gone in so many different directions and I think the songs that ended up all shared a common theme.

Wade Bowen (just as countless other acts throughout the US) spends his life on the road. For bands (like Bowen’s)…it is where they find their solace, their balance, and their sleepless nights. Many of the artist that travel the Texas (and beyond) circuit are on the road up anywhere from 200 to 250 days a year. It is “a life they have chosen” or as some would have you believe, “the life that chose them”.

LSO: Is it getting harder to find the time to sit down and write between the constant touring and trying to keep some semblance of a home life?

WB: Since I’ve had kids I’ve gotten used to that. I have time I have to devote to them and my wife and I have to set aside time to write as well. Life gets so busy with meetings, shows, interviews, outings; you have to force yourself to sit down and write. Unfortunately I don’t write well on the road. A guy like Sean (McConnell) will come out on the road with us for a weekend and we’ll try to write but it just doesn’t work most of the time. I try to give my mind a breather and when it starts getting closer to record time I crank it back up.

LSO: Are you a “thoughts turned in music” guy or a “music that needs lyrics” guy?

WB: Mostly the lyrics start the process. Sometimes it’s just a thought or sometimes it’s a hook or sometimes just writing something down I am feeling at the time. But it usually starts with the lyrics and then how I think the melody should go. Should it be a fast song or a slow song? That kind of thing…

LSO: Checking out the CMT website we saw an acoustic version of “Saturday Night” which was great because it’s almost like hearing a completely different song. Where was that filmed?

WB: The Mercy Lounge right above the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville.

LSO: You’ll be spending a little time in Nashville coming up very soon. Playing at the Ryman Auditorium and then CMA Fanfest. First time for both?

WB: CMA Fanfest, yes. The Grand Ole Opry, this will be the second time playing there but the first time to play at the Ryman. Playing there, it’s like “this is it, man”.

LSO: What does it feel like to be on a stage where all of your heroes have come before you and performed the songs you love? Does it hit you all at once or is a steady build of emotion?

WB: The first time I played the Opry it wasn’t as much of a nervous thing as I thought it was going to be. There was actually a calming sense about it. The people that work there treat you very nice; they’re respectful, they’re really glad to have you there. When I got out on stage there was a real calming effect just because it’s so peaceful there. It’s like being in church and feeling like nothing bad can happen to you. Everybody’s on your team and the people in the crowd may not know your music or who you are…but they’re going to support you because you’re on that stage. It’s a really cool “family” feeling that you just don’t experience anywhere else.

LSO: According to your twitter account (@wadebowen) you have been here, there, and just about everywhere talking to about this new album (The Given). One day it was Buffalo, then Pittsburg, then Cincinnati. Was the “radio world” as receptive as you’d hoped?

WB: They really were! I was kind of scared at first just because you hear horror stories but I didn’t meet anyone that treated us bad. Most of them were very appreciative that I took the time to come in to the station and I’ve still got a lot more to go before I finish. I’m sure I’ll run across a rough one somewhere out there…but for the most part people are into music because they love it and they’re receptive to new things and people.

LSO: It’s a slippery slope trying to keep everyone happy but have you been able to integrate your new fans in with the old ones easily?

WB: You can’t keep everyone happy all the time. You just have to be honest—that has always been my approach. If you’re honest with yourself, your music, and your fans…then everything else just takes its place.

LSO: We saw you play a month or two ago and you incorporated 6 or 7 new songs that night into the set list. Has that been a smooth transition working them into the show?

WB: We’ve just started playing all the songs throughout the shows and we’re doing that because we don’t know which ones are gonna catch on live. Sometimes you hear a song on an album and it just doesn’t resonate on stage or vice versa. They’re all still new to us as well. We’re not completely comfortable with them yet either. It usually takes a couple of times through a song live to get it where we want it to be. The fans might not hear the difference but we do and we want it to be perfect every time.

For those of you that have followed Wade throughout the years you know he always gives back to the community—and especially the one that raised him, Waco, Texas. For the past 14 years Mr. Bowen and his merry bunch of friends have raised awareness, serious funds, and most importantly…he has continued to show his appreciation to the fans that have supported him all these years. This year they rose over $150,000 and it looks to only get bigger.

LSO: Was that the most you’re ever raised and did you do anything different this year?

WB: That was by far the most we’ve ever raised. We haven’t really done anything different, it’s just gradually grown every year. Word keeps spreading about the event and that’s what we’re trying to do. I want my friends and the artist and the fans to have a great time where they’ll wanna come back. It finally got to a point where I looked at the list and we had 27 artist and I was like “how are we gonna fit all these guys in?” But that’s a good problem to have I guess.

LSO: The core group of guys that all came up together; Reckless Kelly, Stoney LaRue, Randy Rogers, Mickey and the Motorcars, Bleu Edmondson to name a few, all perform at each other’s charities. Has the “business” side of things taken over or is it as easy a simple phone call between you guys?

WB: These guys are my friends. We’ll just shoot them a date of when our deal is and to let us know if they can make it and they do the same for me. We’re all in this together and we’re all doing benefits so it just goes hand in hand. We all try to be there and do whatever we can to help. We want bands that we’re fans of or guys we look up to (ourselves) to play as well.

LSO: Wade Bowen can’t live on the road without……?

WB: My golf clubs! Even if I don’t get to play I just like to have them around. I’m about a 10 or 12 handicap right now but I’m always trying to get better.

And sometimes...it's just that simple to wrap people up. Whether it is his golf game or his professional life, Wade Bowen is constantly trying to improve upon himself. And similar to his golf clubs and how he likes to keep them around (whether he gets to use them on the road or not), Wade is like that for us fans that have been around for the long haul. We have become jaded to the fact that we get to see him on a regular basis, always keeping him around for whenever we wanted to listen. But now the cat’s out of the bag and the rest of the country gets to share in on our little secret. We couldn't be more proud. Having the backing of a major label, “the hardest working band on the road today”, and the sheer will to knock down any doors up in front of him, the sky’s the limit for Wade Bowen and we’re behind him all the way.