Colter Wall Joins Vincent Neil Emerson for “Road Runner”
Amid all the excitement last week of Cowboy & Western artist Colter Wall announcing he has a new album called Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs coming out in August, it was glossed over that Colter was also part of a new song with tour partner and Texas country songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson.
Vincent Neil Emerson, Colter Wall, and Ian Noe were all part of what has now become a pretty legendary tour pairing in the winter of 2019. It was the one Aquaman actor Jason Momoa went crazy over after attending a show. Inspired by the tour, Vincent Neil sat down and wrote “Road Runner,” which has just been released with Colter Wall as a duet partner.
“Every day of that run with Colter felt like we were living in a Jimmy Martin song,” Emerson says. “I felt like I needed to try and capture that feeling as best as I could. My wife used to give me Road Runner trinkets and pins all the time, and it became our special little thing. I’d carry around this Road Runner pin with me for good luck. It reminded me of what was waiting back at home for me.”
Vincent Neil Emerson has been making waves of his own. His 2019 record Fried Chicken and Evil Women was touted as one of the best of the year by many for it’s laid back candor and unique inflections of roots influences. That’s reflected in “Road Runner,” which Emerson cut at Niles City Sound in Fort Worth. At first he didn’t think he’d be able to line up schedules so Colter Wall could appear on it, but when Colter came through Texas to play Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic last year, they made it happen.
“After originally cutting the track, it felt like something was missing,” says Emerson. “Every time I play the song live, it reminds me of my buddy Colter and every inch of highway we covered together. It made sense to ask him to be on this song with me, but honestly, it was a stroke of luck that we made it happen. I’m honored to have [Wall] sing on this one, and I’m thankful that he did.”
From Fort Worth, Vincent Neil Emerson is already familiar to quite a few after also opening for the Turnpike Troubadours, American Aquarium, and other bigger names over the last couple of years. Raised in Van Zandt County in East Texas by a single mother of part Native American Choctaw-Apache descent, he left home at 16, working odd jobs as he traveled around, eventually taking up guitar.
No new word on a new Vincent Neil Emerson album just yet; “Road Runner” is just a standalone single at the moment. But stay tuned.
June 24, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
VNE’s album last year was a big favorite of mine. Love the combination of wry lyricism and laid back vibe. Can’t wait for a sophomore album.
June 24, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
I still love the fact that he was named after that guy from Motley Crue
June 24, 2020 @ 2:09 pm
Cool.
June 24, 2020 @ 2:40 pm
What great song, it’s one that’s just fun to listen too. Colter Wall is just in a league of his own with his voice. I am looking forward to hearing Vince’s music, I have a little listening to do.
June 24, 2020 @ 4:34 pm
Bet road runners are far and few between in Trashville- but, who needs it?
We have Texas!
June 25, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
VNE’s a natural with pockets full of stuff to toss on the table. He wants to sing about it. I’m a fan.
What’s in your pockets, young people? I hope whatever it is, it includes a knife, some photos, and some cash.
June 25, 2020 @ 1:36 pm
Damn, that is awesome.
As of today, Fried Chicken & Evil Women is my 2nd most listened to album from 2019, behind only Cheap Silver & Solid Country Gold. Vincent has an easy way of writing and singing that I just can’t get enough of.
Colter’s latest is in my top 5 from 2019, and I’m already stoked for the next one.
These two together is almost too perfect. What a great pairing.
June 25, 2020 @ 3:01 pm
Great song. Sometimes these guys try to steal Townes lines like no one will notice. “I’d like to lean into the wind and tell myself I’m free…”
June 26, 2020 @ 11:48 am
Road Runner has been my favorite VNE song for over a year, since I first heard him perform it live a couple of times. I want to enjoy more of his music, but he doesn’t exactly make it easy. The music is great from what I have heard, it is buying it that is the difficult part. I tried and failed to buy the CD on his website last year, and emailed to see what could be done. My email was ignored and although the original issue seems to have been resolved, the lack of response to my query meant I lost all confidence and trust in the website. I still don’t have the CD, am not on any streaming platforms and dislike downloads. It’s a shame because as I say, I really like his music. At least I have the video I took of him performing Road Runner in its entirety!
July 1, 2020 @ 5:40 am
My only complaint about this song is that it isn’t longer. I’ll take an entire Pancho & Lefty-style joint album, please and thank you.
These two kids are the best thing going in music right now.