www.whiskeyriff.com
The Wilder Blue Prove They Are One Of The Most Versatile Bands In Country Music With Spectacular New Album ‘Still In The Runnin”
There are tons of underrated artists out there these days, but The Wilder Blue is at the top of that list.
With their brand new record hitting streaming platforms today, though, hopefully they will begin to get some of the attention they deserve. After forming in 2019 the five-piece Texas outfit has wasted no time putting together an impeccable catalog of music. They released their debut album Hill Country in 2020, and followed that up with the self-titled project The Wilder Blue in 2022 and Supernatural in 2023, all of which were spectacular albums that showcased their eclectic sound and have been well-received within the music industry.
Still, the band hasn’t quite experienced their major breakthrough moment yet, but Still In The Runnin’ is certainly a step in the right direction. The band’s fourth studio record in five years, this album features 9 original songs that were written solo by frontman Zane Williams and run the gamut sonically with something for everyone. Starting out hot with a hard-driving country rock song, Still In The Runnin’ features everything from bluesy and groovy to bluegrass and country, diving into the band’s eclectic influences and music preferences and proving that no sound is outside of their wheelhouse.
Williams says the album title is indicative of where they are at in their career as a band:
“The reason we picked Still in the Runnin’ as the title, I think it’s a good descriptor for where we’re at in our career, which is to say we’ve still got a long way to go and we’re still challenging ourselves.
When I think about this album, it’s fan-funded and self-produced. We recorded it in three different studios all over the country, California, Texas, and North Carolina while we were crisscrossing the country on tour in 30 different states. And there’s not really a theme to the songs per se.
In that respect, it’s a lot of our past CDs where there’s just a lot of diversity of styles and it’s almost like listening to a mixtape.”
Reminiscent of the Eagles in many ways, with a wide range of sonic capabilities and absolutely killer harmonies, The Wilder Blue are one of the most versatile bands in country music, as evident in the new record. But on top of how great they sound, Williams is a formidable lyricist, and his songwriting prowess is on full display in this album as he paints picture after picture for the listener with vivid imagery and captivating storytelling.
I could go on and on about how underrated The Wilder Blue is, and how Still In The Runnin’ is one of my favorite albums I have heard in a while, but nothing I can say is going to do the band or the album as much justice as listening to it for yourself. So, without further ado, check out The Wilder Blue’s 4th studio record Still In The Runnin’ here:
“Los Diablos Tejanos”
“The Secret of Love”
“Still in the Runnin'”
“The Queen of Austin”
Without a single weak link on the record, The Wilder Blue’s Still In The Runnin’ is just an all around masterpiece. And with the trajectory they’ve been on lately, this might just be the project that catapult them into the next of level of their career.
In case you aren’t familiar with the band’s origins, Williams formed the band alongside lead guitarist Paul Eason following an admirable solo career on the Texas scene. The remainder of the band is comprise of Sean Rodriguez on bass, drummer Lyndon Hughes, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers. Together, these guys bring a fresh take on a classic country music sound and sure aren’t afraid to rock and roll a little bit.
Williams, who is responsible for the majority of the band’s songwriting, released eight solo albums between 2006 and 2019, and as a result, already had a strong individual following as a respected and experienced songwriter. Initially teaming up with Eason in 2019 after the release of his last solo album to bring the idea of The Wilder Blue to life, Williams brings top tier songwriting to the table and the band he and Eason formed around it provides the perfect sound to back it up.
One of the best live bands you’ll find, I highly encourage you to see these guys live if they’re coming to a city near you.
Here are their upcoming tour dates that have been announced thus far:
3/15 – Dan’s Silverleaf – Denton, TX
4/3 – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN*
4/4 – Rocket Republic – Huntsville, AL
4/5 – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, TN
4/11 – Red River Station – Saint Jo, TX
4/12 – Fort Belknap – Newcastle, TX ^
4/22 – LJT Fest – Stephenville, TX~
4/27 – Stagecoach – Indio, CA~
4/30 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR*
5/1 – Temple Theatre – Tacoma, WA*
5/2 – McMenamim’s Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR*
5/3 – Midtown Ballroom – Bend, OR*
5/16 – Troubadour Festival – Bryan, TX~
5/22 – Kerrville Folk Festival – Kerrville, TX~
5/30 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
5/31 – Camp Margaritaville – Bolivar Peninsula, TX
6/5 – Grinders KC – Kansas City, MO*
6/6 – Wave – Wichita, KS*
6/7 – Texas Music Revolution – McKinney, TX~
6/21 – Beer City Music Hall – Oklahoma City, OK
7/19 – Party on the Mountain – Beech Mountain, NC~
8/9 – The Harlo Music Project – Harlowtown, MT~
8/30 – Mesquite Championship Rodeo – Mesquite, TX
*supporting Flatland Cavalry
^supporting Shenandoah
~festival dateThe post The Wilder Blue Prove They Are One Of The Most Versatile Bands In Country Music With Spectacular New Album ‘Still In The Runnin” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
New Posts (Home)
ChatBox
Popular Posts 
Game Zone
Top PodCasts
