Mark Chesnutt’s Son Casey Chesnutt Takes The Country Plunge
Horse racing and country music are two occupations where pedigree can often be a strong predictor of talent and skill. So word coming down that traditional country legend Mark Chesnutt’s son is leaning hard into making country music is a plenty good excuse to perk your ears up and pay attention.
Casey Chesnutt is not new to the music business. Learning guitar at the age of 13, he was playing in bars five nights a week while still in high school. But after graduation in 2015, he signed a five-year commitment to the Marine Corps, and was shipped overseas, serving as a rifleman and ascending to the rank of sergeant with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 2nd Marines before fulfilling his commitment.
Returning to home near the Texas/Louisiana border in the summer of 2020, he immediately implemented a plan to pursue music full time, even if the pandemic made that effort exceptionally difficult. Still, digging his old contacts up at bars and honky tonks throughout east Texas and west Louisiana, and getting to work on an EP, Casey Chesnutt made the country music plunge, wife and youngin at home and all.
Casey will be the first to admit that his songwriter skills at this stage are more aspirational than polished. He’s still relying on the songs of others at this point in his career. But he sure can pick ’em, play ’em, and sing ’em like a seasoned performer. That’s what you hear on his exquisitely-produced and fiercely-traditional debut EP called Down Mexico Way.
You immediately fall for the Lone Star-sized tearjerker “Even Texas Couldn’t Hold Her.” The next three songs are a bit more sentimental, but still exquisite traditional country in a contemporary form exceptionally performed by Casey. It’s incredible the quality of traditional country songs out there just waiting to be recorded, but it takes a voice like Casey’s to do them justice.
Though Casey boasts plenty of more rocking music in his live repertoire, the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree with this EP. Slow to mid tempo, and slathering on the twang and heartache, there’s no half measures taken, even if this 5-song sample size is short. The final song “Jose Can You See” may be a bit too corn pone, similar to the EP’s cover, but it does add some lightheartedness to what is a heavy, heavy album.
This wasn’t supposed to be an album review, just a heads up that Mark Chesnutt’s son was getting into the family business, and to keep an eye out for him. But Down Mexico Way is such a promising and resounding pronouncement of a new voice in the true country realm—and comprises such a great collection of songs and performances—Chesnutt’s not a guy you need to be on the lookout for, he’s the dude you need to be paying attention to right here and now.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10)
June 9, 2021 @ 9:05 am
Not bad. Dadgum I miss his dad on the radio.
June 9, 2021 @ 9:30 pm
I play Mark Chesnutt’s music daily on Pure Country C106 out of Cape Girardeau, MO. I’m on 2-6 PM central time every weekday. Tune in at kwkz.com
June 9, 2021 @ 9:30 pm
Traditional country music
June 10, 2021 @ 9:18 am
Cape, eh? I’ve been ready for some new John D Hale for a while now!
June 9, 2021 @ 9:11 am
The two songs featured sound good. Gonna have to check the album out. Thanks.
June 9, 2021 @ 9:59 am
Both songs are great and glad he’s attempting at a young age and not waiting til It’s A Little Too Late.
June 9, 2021 @ 10:39 am
I think I’ll pass. I more into the unique type country artists. Like i.e. Colter, Tyler, Arlo, and Cody. These guys have such a unique voice and excellent phrasing that just draws you in, and their musical style can vary (all staying mainly within country tho) from song to song.
I swear there are too many, garbage pop-country aside, similar country artists who have the same blueprint to their music, and their monotone changeless singing voice gets boring after a song or two. It’s like you’ve heard the song a thousand times before, but hey anything is better than mainstream country.
June 9, 2021 @ 11:48 am
What can i ever do to be as cool as you?????
June 9, 2021 @ 12:31 pm
I really like what he does with the vocals on the first song.
June 9, 2021 @ 12:37 pm
Yeah, this is a pretty damn solid effort at ’90’s style Country. It’s not straight up Hat Act, though. There’s a dash of King George commercial slyness throughout. A little bit of vocal running and an accessible rhythm section. Not all 4/4 though; the 6 and 3 beat/measure songs were cool diversions. The band is spot on and the production unobtrusive.
Waiting in line for more. Don’t really care if he’s writing them or not; he can pick ’em and deliver ’em in the strike zone. Thanks for the intro!
June 9, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
Casey has the talent and the voice to be a truly great artist, just like his dad still is. Don’t stop Casey. I wish you nothing but the best and look forward to hearing more. Maybe even one with his dad.
June 9, 2021 @ 1:17 pm
Thanks Trigger for unveiling another fine talent! Great to hear more good Country!
On another note, was in Nashville last month and outside the Hall of Fame, they had a huge banner with Freddy Fender and Charley Crockett on it. Nice to see the HOF giving Charley some credence! Also went to see the Time Jumpers and met John McEuen from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Eddie Stubbs who was also in the house too. Can’t think of a more classic Nashville night!
July 12, 2021 @ 5:04 pm
Awesome country music….I miss the real country that has somehow become pop music. Casey , please keep singing real country, Texas, Oklahoma music like we used to have. I saw Mark in concert in the ’90s. Im sure he is proud and he should be. Im gonna check out your album and I hope to see u in concert soon.
June 9, 2021 @ 1:40 pm
I can hear his Dad in his voice. I’m seeing Mark Chesnutt in Houston on 4th of July. Looking forward to that. And now I dig his son’s music too.
June 9, 2021 @ 1:46 pm
I once saw that Mark Chesnutt said that his own lack of songwriting credentials served to cut his mainstream career short in the mid ’90s. Seems unless one is a superstar like George Strait or a truly unique voice like Jones or Travis, it’s a good idea to write some of your own songs, to establish a persona and always have a source for material.
And John Anderson has often said that Lionel Delmore (his frequent writing partner and co-writer on “Swingin'”) forced him to write–and that that ability saved John’s career and enabled his multiple comebacks.
I have to figure that Mark Chesnutt imparted that wisdom to his son.
June 10, 2021 @ 1:43 am
Mark Chesnutt’s “outlaw” is still the best tribute to that era of country music.