Beloved Bass Player Omar Oyoque Steps Away from Silverada Due to Injury
To those that know, Silverada has been one of the best bands in all of country music, both in regards to live shows and studio output for the better part of the last decade. With unparalleled energy and musicianship matched with meaningful and resonant songs, they set the pace for so many others, while still remaining accessible to their fervent fans via the club circuit and cool festivals.
The band has faced some challenges recently, and Friday evening (9-18), yet another one was announced. Beloved bass player Omar Oyoque is being forced to take an indefinite hiatus away from the band to deal with an injury with his right hand that will require surgery. He will perform two final shows with the band Friday evening in Maryville, TN at The Shed, and Saturday in Pelham, TN at The Caverns before departing.
Omar says in a statement,
After two years of dealing with an injury on my right hand, I’ve had to make the difficult decision to take a step back from the band for an indefinite amount of time so that I can have surgery and physical therapy. This decision has been very difficult to make and has not been taken lightly. Playing music means everything to me and for nearly 9 years I’ve been living that dream with Silverada.
My heart is full of gratitude and love for every family member, friend, fan, stage and venue that has been there with me for all of these years. The biggest truth in all of this is that I must prioritize my health to have longevity in my career and continue playing music. My heart will always be with my Silverada/Moonpies family.
Omar Oyoque is so much more than an average bass player in a country band. In many respects, he’s the band’s hype man and a fan favorite muppet-like character as he whips audiences into a frenzy on stage. In most bands, the ego of the frontman would have never jive with Omar’s expressiveness. But Mike Harmeier sensed that Omar could be the band’s secret weapon, and has encouraged Omar’s stage presence. Oyoque also happens to be an extremely skilled musician who is also adept at the steel guitar.
When Oyoque joined what was then called Mike and the Moonpies in 2018, it completely transformed them from an Austin, TX honky tonk band to a nationally-touring powerhouse able to entertain large audiences irrespective of their appeal for country music. Omar not only energized audiences, he helped underscore how they were like their own self-contained supergroup, with top-line players and characters at each position, all with uncanny chemistry.
Omar’s hiatus comes just over a year after Silverada steel guitarist Zachary “Bean Judge” Moulton decided to leave the band, and about 2 1/2 years after the band changed their name from Mike and the Moonpies. The band released their most recent album Living Proof on August 7th to positive reception. Drummer Kyle Ponder also left the band in 2022. Keyboardist Parker Twomey was permanently added to the lineup in 2025, and appears on the new album.
Omar Oyoque replaced bass player Preston Rhone who’d been with the band since their founding in 2009. No word on who might replace Omar in the interim. It’s also important to underscore that Omar is not saying he is leaving the band permanently, only stepping away indefinitely due to the injury.
Silverada has shows planned for early and mid October as well before their current tour ends and they go on a break.
Godspeed, Omar!
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September 18, 2026 @ 6:54 pm
Damn sucks cause I have tickets to see them in October. Would suck to not have Omar but be way worse if they cancel entirely
September 18, 2026 @ 7:16 pm
Omar is the man. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bass player steal the show like he has, both in technique and stage presence. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
September 18, 2026 @ 7:25 pm
Damn they’re dropping like flies in that camp.
September 18, 2026 @ 7:34 pm
This is a shame. Omar is a fantastic bass player and all signs point to him being a great human being as well. Hope this hiatus is short lived.
September 19, 2026 @ 9:27 am
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Omar on numerous occasions. Aside from the unbelievable stage presence and musical talents, he’s an incredibly polite and positive human being. Best wishes to you, Omar.
September 18, 2026 @ 7:40 pm
This sucks, but hopefully he comes back stronger than ever. Also want to add, their latest album is incredible and keeps getting better upon every listen and was great live. The people complaining about the sound are absolute idiots. This isn’t near as far of a departure from their sound as people are saying, certainly not even close to something like Sturgill and his move away from his original sound.
September 22, 2026 @ 6:11 pm
I totally agree about their new album. I’ve had it on repeat since it came out and it still hasn’t gotten tired. I think it might be their most accessible one yet, while still having all of their particular uniqueness.
September 18, 2026 @ 9:01 pm
Got to see them twice last year and he was great. I hope he gets better soon and gets back out there.
September 18, 2026 @ 9:38 pm
Maybe it’s just me, but I get the feeling from his statement that he won’t be returning to the band.
September 19, 2026 @ 8:15 am
It’s not just you, Dennis. This part of his statement sticks out:
“My heart will always be with my Silverada/Moonpies family.”
“…always be with…” sounds to me like he is not coming back.
September 19, 2026 @ 8:29 am
The way I read that was that he wasn’t saying he was out, but that he was giving himself an out if that happens.
I think a lot is up in the air with this. Who knows how long the recovery could take, and what will happen with Silverada and a bass player in the interim.
September 19, 2026 @ 3:49 pm
You could be right, Trigger. I just think if that was the case, he would have said something like, “my heart is with my Silverada/Moonpies family.” Time will tell. Either way, the show must go on. Best wishes for all involved.
September 22, 2026 @ 10:26 am
Also, the phrase “indefinite amount of time” strikes me as weird, considering that’s the type of thing bands and band members say when they’re on the way to calling it quits – sometimes not returning for years, or never returning at all.
Omar’s whole statement strikes me as oddly grave, in a way that a simple injury/surgery/recovery doesn’t warrant. He could’ve said something like “really sorry folks – I’m having surgery and can’t play for x-amount of months, but can’t wait to get back onstage with the band as soon as I can!”
By comparison, Zane Williams (leader and front man of Wilder Blue) sliced up his right hand in a generator fan a few years ago, losing all mobility, requiring 27 stitches and prolonged recovery, but it was never presented as some “indefinite” stopping point. I think he used a sub on guitar onstage, but he and the band didn’t miss a beat in terms of songwriting and recording. There was no question about whether the band was still intact.
I dunno, maybe Omar just needs a break, which is well deserved. He seems like a really good and gracious dude and my brief interactions with him post-show(s) has always been awesome. He’s been a crucial member of the band and a gamechanger for their whole upbeat vibe onstage since he joined. Wishing him the best.
September 18, 2026 @ 11:24 pm
Omar is fucking awesome! 2 years ago, my 13 year old son was using his camera to record Silverada performing Eagle Rare and Omar took his camera and walked around the stage recording the band up close. Then we met him after the show and he was hella nice to both my sons. He definitely keeps the audience engaged while he’s on stage. Hoping he has a quick recovery.
September 19, 2026 @ 5:45 am
Just saw the boys at Unbroken Circle last week and they were on fire as always. “Drag” and “Jack” were by far crowd favorites topped only by Beaches. Amazing how just about everyone in the crowd knew every word to two new ones. Several people commented that Omar seemed a little “calmer” or a hair subdued maybe during the show. Gotta be from the hurtin’ and probably knew it would be one of his last before surgery. Good for him for taking his health seriously and wishing him a successful recovery.
September 19, 2026 @ 9:25 am
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Omar on numerous occasions. Aside from the unbelievable stage presence and musical talents, he’s an incredibly polite and positive human being. Best wishes to you, Omar.
September 19, 2026 @ 10:08 am
I feel like Mike wants to do this until he drops dead, and bless him for that, but I think this thing is fading as a full-time, national touring act.
I saw them in Des Moines a couple weeks ago, and there was probably 50 people there. Splitting that among a 5 piece band, they likely lost money. I’m sure they do better elsewhere, but they can’t be making much money doing this at this point.
Guys like Zach and Omar likely had/have higher paying opportunities available to them. You can’t blame them for actually making some money and/or staying home to have a real life. They’ve paid dues 10x over by now.
September 21, 2026 @ 12:28 pm
I saw Silverada open for the Wallflowers at First Ave in Minneapolis. Talked briefly with the lead guitarist after the show and wished them luck. I enjoyed it. There was a huge crowd, but it was as the opening act. My guess is they wouldn’t have had more than 100 people headlining at a small venue in the Twin Cities. For comparison, around the same time, I saw Micky & The Motorcars at a small artsy venue (The Cedar) in Minneapolis. Gary was not there (they said he couldn’t catch a flight?). The other 3 bandmembers (excluding Micky) all said it was either their last show or they were playing a couple more shows. So the Motorcars are down to Gary. Sounds like Micky is gonna revamp with cheaper bandmembers…we’ll see. It’s a tough road out there for bands that have been on the circuit for 20-30 years with mostly only local success.
September 19, 2026 @ 10:19 am
This is such a bummer – Omar has the best stage energy. He’s also a really great guy – friendly and gracious. He will be sorely missed. I am hoping he returns at some point. Shows won’t be the same without him.
September 19, 2026 @ 10:37 am
No Zach on steel, no Omar on Bass. The wheels are falling off and the things that made us love the band are slowly fading away. No matter what they do to move forward it will never be the same. It may be good but they’ll never recapture what they had with both Zach and Omar in the band. I also have a feeling Omar isn’t coming back. Although they left it open ended I don’t see him coming back. Best of luck to Omar can’t wait to see where his next chapter takes him after recovery. Curious to see how Silverada moves forward after losing two huge parts of what made the band enjoyable and also the two nicest guys in the band so close together.
September 19, 2026 @ 10:38 am
Name change, corresponding pivot in style, no more Zach, and now no more Omar…
Man, I tell you what, it’s been a perfect storm of shit for these guys in the last couple of years, and frankly, I’m just not feelin’ the new sound as it’s represented on the new album. The self-titled album was OK — I could see it as a natural progression of sorts from One to Grow On — but the new one is just…kinda there, especially without Zach. It’ll be interesting to see what happens…and how certain people try to spin it.
And anyone who wants to defend it by comparing it to what Sturgill did…you can spare me. People are allowed not to like either of them.
September 19, 2026 @ 3:47 pm
I knew someone would bring up the name change. I can’t believe there are still people pissing and moaning about it. 😂 The Moonpies name was goofy. I didn’t start liking the band until the name change and the first album under the Silverada handle. The music grabbed where the earlier stuff didn’t. Some people can’t handle it when their favorite bands grow musically and move forward. Thankfully Silverada doesn’t appear too worried about the purists and whiners and will continue to grow and make great music.
September 19, 2026 @ 8:48 pm
I didn’t start liking the band until the name change and the first album under the Silverada handle.
Well that’s your personal failing, guy.
September 20, 2026 @ 6:10 am
I will also say that it remains ever so peculiar to me that every single time someone talks about a band ”growing,” it is in the context of them changing their sound. I mean, the Turnpike Troubadours have been around almost as long as Silverada has, and they have stuck with the same basic sound their entire career. Are you going to sit there and tell us they’re stagnating and treading water? Even if you do think that, the fact is that one of those bands released their latest album to widespread critical and fan acclaim the day after they played in front of 40,000 people at Boone Pickens Stadium, and the other…well, the other played on the roof of the Austin Motel to celebrate their latest album release.
Is that fair? -shrug- Maybe not, but I honestly thought the entire point of the rebrand was to go on to bigger things, and that ain’t it, fam.
September 21, 2026 @ 10:45 am
A goofy name has never been the problem for any band. Foo Fighters? Goo Goo Dolls? Toad the Wet Sprocket? Meat Loaf? Right Said Fred? I don’t know why Silverada hasn’t clicked with a broader audience, but it wasn’t because they were Mike and the Moonpies.
September 22, 2026 @ 6:06 pm
A goofy name has never been the problem for any band.
Spot-on there, Matt. Like I said elsewhere, I never heard anyone make fun of the Mike and the Moonpies name. Only thing I ever heard was, ”those guys are awesome, especially live.”
Also? For the record, I could give two shits about the name change. The sound change is what I don’t like. If people like it, well, good for them, I guess. But I don’t.
September 19, 2026 @ 11:25 am
: D Omar,
Have prayed for your surgeon(s)
and fast healing.
Take care or yourself.
September 19, 2026 @ 1:36 pm
Maybe I’m the only one who finds him very distracting in their live shows.
Good bass player, but the audience should be focusing on Mike, not the bass player. It’s not like he’s playing Les Claypool licks.
September 19, 2026 @ 6:21 pm
Thank God.
September 20, 2026 @ 6:08 pm
Yes you are the only one
September 20, 2026 @ 12:23 pm
Hated hearing the news.
Watching dudes hop in the comments to try and kick dirt on the band after suffering a professional setback is pretty gross too.
You’re allowed to not like a band. You’re also allowed to not be a complete douchebag about an unforeseen circumstance that impacts the livelihood of a bunch of great musicians and their families.
September 21, 2026 @ 2:17 am
Saw them just once in Germany when Zachary was still on board (monster pedal steeler) and Omar was great!
Extra points to him for being a maniac metalhead playing in a honky tonk band!!! wish for a speed recovery and a long career.
September 21, 2026 @ 11:18 am
I saw a video someone posted from Omar’s last show the other day, and Mike was saying something like “Most of you probably know that this is gonna be Omar’s last show for a bit…” implying that he will be back.
September 22, 2026 @ 7:34 am
First off, I hope Omar gets a full recovery. He’s such a nice guy and brings so much fun and energy to the stage.
I’m a huge Moonpies fan, so much so that I have a tattoo of one of their old shirt designs. I saw them at Unbroken Circle on the 10th, they played 3rd from the top and went on around 6pm for a little over an hour. Worst set I’ve ever seen from them. There was no energy. My buddy and I spent half of our 45 minute drive home talking about what is missing. I think it is a lot of things. Not having Zach and a steel guitar anymore changed the sound that made them special. Replacing Kyle on drums may not have seemed like a big deal to some, but now Omar is leaving, that means only Catlin and Mike are originals still in the band. Omar is the energy guy, that is going to be nearly impossible to replace. I think they’re on the downside of their peak. I’ve traveled thousands of miles over the years to see them, and as bad as their set was in Madison, I don’t know if I’d even go to a local show now.