Mike & The Moonpies / Dillon Carmichael Drop Surprise Singles
If you’re searching for something to get the first real weekend of summer off to a rearing start, then a couple of traditional country’s most fastest-rising artists have just released some surprise singles that are just right for sultry weather and good summertime vibes, and are hopefully tastes of new projects to come.
Looking for a band that drips with true Texas country music authenticity and is not some marketed and packaged turquoise-encrusted fortunate sons formed in Nashville? Then Mike and the Moonpies are right for you. Before they became one of the hottest things in independent country music, the Moonpies paid well over their fair share of dues haunting the honky tonks of Austin and surrounding areas, playing multi-hour sets for two steppers.
Beyond what you might hear on the stellar records of Mike and the Moonpies, they are possibly the greatest live act in all of country music at the moment. This is the reason Saving Country Music named the Moonpies 2018’s Live Act of the Year. It’s all of those experiences playing and hanging out in honky tonk bars that gives rise to the inspiration of their new song “You Look Good in Neon.” Forlorn, yet still somewhat comforting, the 80’s country music smoothness combined with Countrypolitan strings really makes the nostalgia well up in the true country fan on this track.
The Moonpies have been playing this song for a while live, and it sounds just as good, if not better bouncing off the walls of a honky tonk. Expect this to be just the first taste of a new album Mike & The Moonpies say is in the offing for later in 2019.
One of the biggest discoveries in 2018 was Dillon Carmichael and his debut, Dave Cobb-produced album Hell On An Angel. It was a hard country, heart-pounding honky tonk record that went on to be nominated for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year. The album put this young man with a country music pedigree on the radar of the real country crowd as a torchbearer for years to come. From the tiny town of Burgin, Kentucky, Dillon Carmichael is the grandson of Harold Montgomery, who was a respected Kentucky country singer, and Harold Carmichael, who was a member of The Carmichael Brothers. More famously, he’s the nephew of country music performers Eddie Montgomery, and John Michael Montgomery.
“I Do For You” you is a straight laced, steel and fiddle song of devotion and compromise all in the name of true love delivered in Dillon’s deep, twangy tone. It’s the kind of song that assures you that true country music is far from gone. “I’m so grateful for all the support y’all have given me over these past few years and I’m proud to say that I do this for you,” Carmichael says about the new song.
Also on your new song radar should be a new one from Texas/Red Dirt’s Kaitlyn Butts called “White River” that has been doing very well out of the gate. Don’t be surprised to see these songs and more added to the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist during the next update.
Also for those of you who who made it this far in the article without rushing to hear the music, here’s another little nugget for you: Don’t be surprised if we hear a brand new song from Sturgill Simpson sooner than later, and don’t be surprised if it’s one of the most country-sounding tracks of his career. Stay tuned.
June 7, 2019 @ 9:49 am
Wait why would Sturgill drop one of the most country songs of his career? I thought he had been saying the new record would not be country. Did I miss something?
June 7, 2019 @ 11:58 am
Sturgill is the consummate “screwing with people’s heads” kind of guy, and loves doing stuff that surprises people. Hell, apparently he’s got many people thinking that he’s only going to put out 5 albums and then retire. Should be interesting to see what Trigger is hinting at!
June 7, 2019 @ 12:02 pm
Sturgill is what we call an “unreliable narrator.” Seems like a guy prone to contradicting himself frequently, and stirring the pot, for no apparent reason. Whatever is said by people like this, should be taken with a grain of salt.
June 8, 2019 @ 7:53 am
By saying not a country album he could have meant by today’s country standards.
June 9, 2019 @ 2:59 pm
At this point, I couldn’t give a shit what he does. If it’s a great song, will love the song, could care less that it came from that whiny little punk getting paid to play “hobby time” and complaining that everyone doesn’t pander to his every goofy move… He knows his career exists because of High Top Mountain, so he thinks throwing out another piece of that meat will keep him going. Then he can get together with Zac and make an EDM record or something…
June 7, 2019 @ 10:57 am
These two songs sound good. Man, I love the steel guitar in the Moonppies’ band. As for Simpson, really don’t care.
June 7, 2019 @ 11:01 am
Good stuff, both songs.
Saw M&M play this live a few months back..
June 7, 2019 @ 11:12 am
Them’s some country songs, kids. Good stuff on both accounts.
I hope Trig isn’t trolling us with the Sturgill song, or that Sturgill isn’t trolling all of us with it. Would be awesome to get more country music from Sturgill, and the sooner the better.
June 7, 2019 @ 11:22 am
The Carmichael song is “I Do For You.” Though I’d love to hear Wheeler Walker Jr’s version of the song as titled in this article lol
June 7, 2019 @ 11:36 am
Dillon Carmichael looks like Leon Russell in that picture.
June 7, 2019 @ 11:41 am
Loving the I do for you by Carmichael he’s got other songs I’ve really loved watched him live on f/b hope to enjoy his writings and sings for many years
June 7, 2019 @ 11:43 am
Mike and the Moonpies have quickly become my favorite band in country. In my mind, they’ve got it all. Clever, catchy, engaging lyrics and songwriting. Excellent playing, especially steel. They can do fast songs, slow songs, happy, sad, and any style in the country/roots lexicon. Great live performers. Plus, they just seem like a good group of guys who show a lot of love for their fan base. Just solid all around. Can’t wait for the new album.
Their recent cover of “The Way” by the 90’s alternative rock band Fastball is excellent too.
June 7, 2019 @ 11:56 am
They really are great guys. Finally caught them live in Macon, GA back in March and a friend of Mike’s I had been talking to throughout the night told him I was a big fan. Mike came over and talked with me for a while. Really cool dude. The other guys in the band all asked me if I enjoyed the show afterward as well.
And I damn sure did. They put on one hell of a show. Honestly one of the best nights of my life.
June 7, 2019 @ 12:01 pm
Both songs are good…but will not make my best songs of the year list.
New Stuff:
Dolly Parton – Legendary FM Broadcasts – The Bottom Line, Manhattan NYC 14 May 1977 – Album (Released)
Jennifer Nettles – I Can Do Hard Things – EP (Released)
Sam Riggs – Love & Panic – EP (Released)
Matt Kennon – “Love Is Stronger” – Single (Released)
Dylan Wheeler – “Broke Ass Kid” – Single (Released)
Ty Herndon – “What Mattered Most” (Alternative Version) – Single (Released)
Sheryl Crow feat. Stevie Nicks & Maren Morris – “Prove You Wrong” – Single (Released)
Bryan White – “It Must Be Love” – Single (Released)
Tania Kernaghan – “Better Worn In” – Single (Released)
Glorian…oops…Gone West – “What Could’ve Been” – Single (Released)
Runaway June – “Got Me Where I Want You” – Album Track (Album Release – 06/27)
Willie Nelson – “Come On Time” – Album Track (Album Release – 06/21)
Amber Lawrence – “Heart” – Album Track (Album Release – 06/14)
Buddy & Julie Miller – “Till The Stardust Comes Apart” – Album Track (Album Release – 06/21)
&
Trisha Yearwood – “Every Girl In This Town” – Single (Released)
June 7, 2019 @ 12:16 pm
I love both those tunes, seen Mike play Neon a couple times. It fits right in with the Steak Night songs. Album should be another good one! Both Mike and Dillon will be here in the next few weeks. Moonpies on the 4th of July!! Mr. Prine and Mr. Childers are here tomorrow night, I might have to go mingle with the upper echelon of society and see how the blanket and champagne crowd react.
June 9, 2019 @ 8:58 am
Just a little addendum as I went to see the boys @ Ravinia in Highland Park IL last night. For all you Chicago peeps this was my first time venturing to the hallowed venue of the upper upper class. I know 2 guys on the local crew so they had me on the VIP list. I pulled around back to the crew parking lot driving through a neighborhood of homes that I’m sure go for 3 or 4 million to get there mind you. My buddy is the front of house sound engineer and I guess Tyler hasn’t gotten to the point of taking his own yet (which I’m sure will soon be fixed in the near future) so he tells me he’s mixing him and they already did a good soundcheck. He said I could sit with him at the board. From my perspective the crowd was at least 90% Prine devotees who’d never heard of Tyler but I did see the odd younger Childers fan with a Jinks shirt on.Tyler came on and won the crowd over quickly, got a great reaction over the 10 song set all while thanking Mr. Prine and crew for the invitation to be there. No new songs not even House Fire which I think would be a great opener. Tyler left with a gracious wave to a standing ovation and many new fans.
These people mostly older than me (58) came to see the legend and he delivered, sounded great and powerful all while yacking it up with anecdotes in between songs. It was 40 years ago almost to the day he shook my hand in the Warner/Elektra/Atlantic warehouse here up the street that I worked at when I he was touring Pink Caddilac. I thought he was coolest and he just dripped with “it”. Ironically………….he still does.
June 7, 2019 @ 12:29 pm
Call me crazy, but I think both these songs could make it on mainstream radio.
June 9, 2019 @ 6:15 am
You’re crazy (unless it’s 1993)
June 7, 2019 @ 12:40 pm
As a good a place as any to ask – for all the knowledgeable folks and fans here (including Trigger) willing to help a relative country newbie out, who would you say Mike and The Moonpies are most influence by, or most resemble, musically?
I absolutely love those guys’ sound and style, but can’t quite pin down what to dive into next that comes close (in terms of influences). Guessing 80’s era George Strait and Dwight Yoakam. Any essential artists and albums I should check out? Thanks.
June 7, 2019 @ 1:20 pm
Bump.
Agree that they are awesome. Curious to what people say to this one. Nothing comes to mind for me right away, they seem to borrow just a little bit from a lot of stuff with a good dose of earnest originality? I don’t consider myself knowledgeable though.
June 7, 2019 @ 1:21 pm
Zac who?
Thomas who?
June 7, 2019 @ 1:46 pm
Too good to be overlooked:
Korey Rose – Thousand Miles Gone – 9 Tracks – Released (06/06)
Neo-Traditional / Duet with Tim Culpepper on “The Day Keith Whitley Died” & a duet with Ashton Shepherd “Rockin’ Years” (cover of the #1 Dolly Parton feat. Ricky Van Shelton duet) + my highlight “Somebody Must’ve Said A Prayer”
June 7, 2019 @ 2:04 pm
Btw, did anybody else notice some other surprise news today? Cody Jinks announced (on Facebook) his next album called After The Fire, dropping October 4th.
June 7, 2019 @ 3:25 pm
maybe his beard actually caught fire so he shaved it lol
June 7, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
Listened to both those songs on the way to work. Loved the Moonpies song. Dillon Carmichael’s hit me as a bit formulaic and slick, but it might just be enough so to get some radio play. Gonna love that Sturgill song from what little I’ve heard.
June 7, 2019 @ 4:18 pm
Great new song from Mike and the Moonpies, my favorite Texas and country band, and as said above great guys and a really tight unit, I’m a big steel fan and Zach Moulton is at the top of his game . Really looking forward to the whole album.
June 8, 2019 @ 11:11 am
For anybody that’s skeptical of Trigger calling Mike & The Moonpies the “current best live act,” I can’t urge you strongly enough to get to their next show near you and check them out for yourself. Saw them again last night (/this morning), this time at The Blue Light in Lubbock celebrating the release of “You Look Good in Neon.” Incredible, incredible set. One of my favorites of the last couple years.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:50 am
The Moonpies are heroic for staying true. Even their name is linoleum coubters bad coffee and vinyl seats. I tell people, and they go “Moonpies? Come on.”
Heroes.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:08 am
A thought on Sturgill: I came across a video of him playing an acoustic set at Radio City NYC (i think) from last year. In it he says that he was about to have his third son in October, and then was planning to take a year off to watch him grow up.
That timeline would work – i.e. new album in or around October, and virtual silence until sometime soon when a single needs to start the promotion cycle.
June 10, 2019 @ 12:16 pm
Exactly…I think Sturgill has been nothing but straightforward and anybody who thinks he contradicts himself is just not paying good attention… Anyway, within the week some folks will get a big surprise I suspect.
June 10, 2019 @ 5:38 pm
Trigger is the Sturgill song the one off of The Dead Don’t die? I hope not so we’d be getting two songs.