How The Wilder Blue Landed Luke Combs on “Seven Bridges Road”
If this dark little corner of the internet never did anything else worth a damn, at least it introduced The Wilder Blue to country music megastar Luke Combs. Folks often ask if big country artists read Saving Country Music. Well Luke Combs does—or at least he did once—because that’s how he found out about the Texas music supergroup.
Lead singer and songwriter Zane Williams, singer and songwriter Paul Eason, multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers, drummer Lyndon Hughes, and bassist Sean Rodriguez make up The Wilder Blue, which might one of the best under-the-radar bands in the entirety of country and roots music at the moment, and one of the greatest vocal groups you can find anywhere. Their four and five-part harmonies are sublime.
In 2020 when the band was still going by the name Hill Country, Saving Country Music reviewed their self-titled debut album. “I just can’t stop listening to this Album, it just strikes every chord that I want it to,” Luke Combs tweeted out around that time. “The melodies, the harmonies, the instrumentation, and the songs. All just grade A. Y’all check this record out.”
When Zane Williams responded to Luke, Combs confirmed, “Heard about the album through [Saving Country Music] review actually. Been on repeat since then.”
The Wilder Blue have a new album coming out on November 21st called Super Natural. Earlier this week, they released their version of Steve Young’s song “Seven Bridges Road” made popular by The Eagles. It’s the perfect showcase for the band’s harmonies.
The Wilder Blue pick up the story from there.
Back in mid-2020 our band was surprised one day to see a tweet by @LukeCombs talking about how much he liked our record “Hill Country”. We had never met him and had no idea he knew our music existed…turns out he heard about our album on Saving Country Music.
Almost a year later, with a little assistance from Ward Guenther, I had the opportunity to meet Luke and write a song with him and Channing Wilson. It’s never been recorded but it’s a cool tune and I learned that day that Luke is exactly what he seems to be…down to earth, real, and genuine.
Fast forward another couple years and we’re in the studio in Dec. 2023 with our buddy Brent Cobb producing. Brent suggests that we reach out to Luke and see if he’d be interested in being involved creatively somehow with this record. Turns out Luke was into it! He said he’d love to sing on a track with us. We recorded “Seven Bridges Road” that week, and felt like it would be an epic song for Luke to do with us.
Another six months or so went by before our schedule and Luke’s lined up and he was able to record his vocal. We couldn’t believe it was really happening! Another six months or so has gone by waiting for the album to officially come out and in the meantime we’ve found out we’ll be doing 12 stadium dates with Luke next year. The Friday lineup we’re on is all artists we know and respect, from Hailey Whitters to Charles Wesley Godwin and Cody Jinks.
We are self-releasing the single “Seven Bridges Road” on all platforms. For an independent band who does all the jobs ourselves, it’s pretty dang exciting to see the influx of new listeners. It’s all thanks to Luke and so many other folks taking the time to spread music they care about. I like the direction country music has been headed in for a while and I’m just proud we can add our voices to the ongoing, ever-changing chorus of songs. Get ready for our album “Super Natural” which drops next week and thanks so much for being a part of our journey! -Zane
The support The Wilder Blue and others are receiving from Luke Combs shows how the country superstar commonly uses his platform to help up-and-coming artists. The band’s version of “Seven Bridges Road” shows why The Wilder Blue makes instant fans of anyone within earshot of them.
When Saving Country Music saw them perform in September, Zane Williams said “Some people ask why I gave up a solo career to be in a band. I say to them, ‘Have you heard the band?’”
November 16, 2023 @ 8:47 am
Longtime Zane follower – so fulfilling to see this success for him and all the boys in Wilder Blue, truly a group of good guys and extraordinary musical talent.
Here’s to hoping Luke brings them up during his shows to do this one live and really blow the roof off some places. Good on him for helping get the word out about these guys… need many more like him.
November 19, 2023 @ 9:35 am
Saw the Wilder Blue in Lubbock and they are amazing live. People should be scrambling to go see them while they are still in smaller venues. Great band, fun concert.
November 16, 2023 @ 8:48 am
Live performance of this song by Alan Jackson is the best listen. He did it live a few times I saw him and then released a live track of it.
November 16, 2023 @ 8:52 am
Worth noting that this is a cover of the Steve Young song that was later made famous by the Eagles.
November 16, 2023 @ 8:53 am
Please disregard. I see where you mention it now.
November 16, 2023 @ 12:52 pm
Always worth mentioning that this is a Steve Young song. One of the most under appreciated “In my opinion” and mostly underserved artist that made country music.
November 16, 2023 @ 2:49 pm
Steve Young is the coolest. Seems like a guy who just couldn’t be bothered to make a career out of making music and would record something only when he ran out of money to buy cigarettes.
November 16, 2023 @ 9:03 am
I have to say that I kinda dig the way Luke Combs is using his platform to both give exposure to up and coming artists and also bring back exposure to some old favorites. Perhaps he reads Saving Country Music” because he really believes it needs saving and he is trying to do his part.
November 16, 2023 @ 1:24 pm
Yeah long as those up and coming artist wear the rebel flag
November 17, 2023 @ 10:25 am
Bruh… shutup.
November 18, 2023 @ 5:31 am
Just giving a fact bends over for label like a puppet surprised someone on this site would love someone that does that but then again since trig is liberal like most the commenters here and it’s the rebel flag I’m sure yall respect that
November 16, 2023 @ 5:45 pm
He just did a newly released version of “two dozen roses” with Shenandoah as well
November 16, 2023 @ 9:20 am
Luke Combs is one of the very few mainstream artists that I can listen to and enjoy. Glad to hear more reports that he’s the guy he portrays himself to the public.
Absolutely love that he continues to highlight great country music like Godwin and Jinks. One of the best people in country music today
November 16, 2023 @ 10:04 am
Luke’s openers are so cool! That’s why its so disappointing to see Strait/Stapleton and….Little Big Town.
November 16, 2023 @ 4:39 pm
Luke’s opener lineup is frustratingly good. Frustrating because I’m not a big fan of arena/stadium shows and probably won’t/can’t go, but the fact that artists like CWG and Wilder Blue will be playing to potential crowds north of 60,000 makes me really happy for those guys – and really grateful for mainstream artists like Luke Combs giving them that opportunity.
November 30, 2023 @ 10:24 pm
Thank u for saying that. I love that Luke helps all these new artists. I never heard of them u till now. Hope to go see Luke when they are opening for him in 2024. Saw him every year since 2021. Luke is just the best. I love Him. ❤️
November 16, 2023 @ 9:48 am
Wilder Blue are a super talented band. I’ve seen them live a couple of times and they really knock it out of the park. I hope they get some attention, because they deserve it. Looking forward to the new album. The previous releases are really handling the test of time with me as well.
November 16, 2023 @ 10:11 am
It’s good, it is.
Now they need to record it again, in a more relaxed state.
Sounds too stiff. Drags more than a little.
Really like the instrumentation, throughout. A lot.
Sounds Nothing like The Eagles, with Vince Gill, and Deacon Frey, live, in Cleveland, October 2018.
November 16, 2023 @ 10:56 am
Paul also told this on Bri’s Only Vans podcast. So excited for this album! I really think it’s going to be #1 on my 2023 list.
Agreed that Luke seems to be a great person and a true music fan. Shoutout to Ward Guenther also being mentioned. Founder of Whiskey Jam in Nashville.
November 16, 2023 @ 1:31 pm
Nothing but love for Wilder Blue, here. Been loving their music for years (yes, likewise, first heard of ’em on SCM in 2020). Saw ’em live this year and they were phenomenal, and super-cool dudes too. Everything about ’em just hits the spot. Cannot wait for this Brent Cobb-produced album coming out next week. Loving ever single from the album, so far.
November 16, 2023 @ 6:52 pm
Wilder Blue is my favorite Country band. They have great harmonies, wonderful songs, and I was sold after the Hill Country album which had no bad songs on it. I like Mike & the Moonpies, and Flatland Calvary, but Wilder Blue tops them and I look forward to the new album.
My favorite older Country group was from Ohio, called McGuffey Lane. Their first self titled album also had just great songs. Lead singer John Schwab still sings and got to hear him in September over 40 years after I last saw them in concert. They have always stayed close to their home turf in Ohio. Anyone ever heard of them?
November 17, 2023 @ 5:21 am
never heard but iìll check them out.
P.S. Wilder Blue are insane.
November 17, 2023 @ 2:19 am
Great guys and great music. Can’t wait for their album.
November 17, 2023 @ 7:42 am
Seemed for years Zane Williams was almost right there, but his albums would fall just a bit short. He has really found his groove with The Wilder Blue. Hopefully a Combs collaboration will take the bands notability to the next level. Looking forward to the rest of the album.
November 17, 2023 @ 7:55 am
Did they build a time machine and go to the future?
“Fast forward another couple years and we’re in the studio in Dec. 2023 with our buddy Brent Cobb producing. Brent suggests that we reach out to Luke and see if he’d be interested in being involved creatively somehow with this record”
November 20, 2023 @ 2:29 pm
Saving Country Music introduced me to Wilder Blue just in time to go to their release party in McKinney a year-and-a-half ago. It was one of the best shows of any kind I’ve ever seen. Pure musicianship, great players with great voices playing great original songs. Why this band isn’t HUGE is a mystery to me. Maybe the Luke Combs collaboration will help.
Do yourself a favor and see this band while you can still afford the tickets.
November 22, 2023 @ 10:32 pm
Listening to this cover really makes me appreciate how tight the Eagles’ harmonies are, because this ain’t it, as much as I enjoy The Wilder Blue’s other work.
November 23, 2023 @ 2:37 pm
Congratulations to SCM and Zane and the boys!! This is awesome!
November 23, 2023 @ 9:00 pm
I love Wilder Blue! They’re one of my most favorite bands and it was SCM that first introduced me to them.
I’m hoping and hoping they’re going to tour Australia sometime soon!
The guest vocal by Luke Combs is awesome too!