Album Review – Lance Roark’s “Tenkiller”

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#550.7 (Red Dirt) on the Country DDS

In just over a year, Lance Roark has gone from a rather anonymous songwriter from Oklahoma only known in the local scene to one of the fastest-rising artists in Red Dirt. Landing a co-write with Turnpike Troubadours bassist RC Edwards on the song “Chipping Mill” from the last Turnpike Troubadours album didn’t hurt. But there are plenty of folks who can land a co-write here or there. It’s making the most of that opportunity that has seen Lance Roark surging up the depth charts.

With his new six-song EP Tenkiller, Lance Roark steps out of the shadows of being a Turnpike Troubadours beneficiary and asserts himself as a solo artist and frontman. He also breaks out of the singer/songwriter shell to turn in a full-tilt Red Dirt rock experience that if nothing else earns your attention and repeated listens from energetic performances and strong melodic prowess.

Lance Roark still starts as a songwriter, with Tenkiller sketching six stories of love lost. The term “Tenkiller” comes from the geography of Oklahoma just south of Tahlequah. The Tenkillers were a prominent Cherokee family that operated a ferry across the Illinois River. When a dam was built on the river for flood control, it created Tenkiller Ferry Lake. This is the scene for Lance Roark’s title track, and a murder whose gun shots are masked by fireworks.

You can expect similar intricate writing from most of the EP’s tracks, but most importantly perhaps is that working with producer Andrew Bair, Lance Roark finds his sound, which in many respects is strongly indicative of quintessential Red Dirt, meaning an emphasis on songwriting, some country instrumentation (especially fiddle), but a strong penchant towards rock and roll. A song like “One More Chance” is just about as emblematic of Red Dirt as you can get, and in a good way.


Tenkiller finds a favorably cohesive sound to present its six songs in, but there is also plenty of latitude in between the tracks. “Big Bad Heart” is a great mid-tempo country song with the fiddle doing much of the instrumental work. By the time you get to the ending song “American Heartbreak,” you’re in full fledged rock territory. This was an album written and recorded to make a strong impression when you see Lance Roark live, and after having seen him recently in the flesh, it’s safe to say that objective is fulfilled.

What Lance Roark also discovers on this EP is that it’s in the higher pitches in his rage where he really taps into the deepest emotion in his voice. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable all the way up there, and some songwriters shy away from it. But those with the bravery and fortitude to climb the ladder are often rewarded. Lance Roark certainly is, and so is the audience on a song like “One More Chance.”

Now with his second EP in as many years, Lance Roark is working his fan base up in a rich frothing lather for a big debut LP, though these days, this isn’t necessarily essential. He’s already signed with WME for booking and working with Thirty Tigers as a label, so he’s already on the right trajectory to become a formidable entertainer for years to come. The strength of Tenkiller can only bolster his prospects.

1 3/4 Guns Up (8.2/10)

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