Silverada Releases New Song, Announces “New Era” Ahead of New Album
There’s lots of news on the Silverada front, with a new song “Highway Man” just released, the band telling fans it’s the start of a “new era,” as well as the early announcement of their upcoming album called Living Proof set to be released on August 7th.
“Highway Man” finds the hard touring honky-tonk band from Austin, TX striking a reflective mood, inspired by the many miles and many places and people they’ve seen on the road. Whether shop talk for musicians, truckers, cowboys, and dreamers, or a dose of escapism for those landlocked with little ones and regular jobs, “Highway Man” sets you out on a lonesome high desert road alive with a sense of freedom.
The talk of a “new era” for Silverada comes after the departure of steel guitarist Zachary Moulton in March of 2025. “Highway Man” is Silverada’s first song since Moulton’s departure. Though the band performed with steel guitarist Adam “Ditch” Kurtz (American Aquarium, Joshua Ray Walker) for some shows, they have decided since to add keyboard player Parker Twomey (Paul Cauthen, solo artist) as a permanent member.
“Highway Man” marks Parker’s first appearance with the band in studio. Long-time fans of Silverada, including when they were known as Mike and the Moonpies will remember they also had a permanent keys player in John Carbone from 2011 to 2020, so keys have always had a home in the band’s sound, with Parker reprising many of those classic parts.
“These boys are the salt of the earth and I’m grateful to be a part of this brotherhood,” Parker Twomey says. “Feels like we were each individually placed here for a reason and that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be. Somewhere between the long drives, late nights, and all the miles between, it’s become something that feels like home.”
On Saturday, March 14th of SXSW in Austin, Silverada played a free show at the East End Ballroom, packing out the place with fervent fans. They played almost the whole new album in its entirety, including one or two songs for the first time live. Living Proof wasn’t recorded at Yellow Dog Studios like many of their recent releases, but at the Sonic Ranch in West Texas over a five day period—the place where Cody Jinks and many others venture to record and capture a certain mood.
Obviously without steel guitar in the mix, the sound isn’t as twangy or country. Expect more of a Tom Petty, or classic rock sound and vibe from the new songs, yet still with a country heart similar to “Highway Man.” Another song Silverada has been featuring live lately comes with the chorus “You Ain’t Doing Jack.”
No track list is yet available for Silverada’s new album, but it is currently available for pre-order in physical form, including CD, cassette, standard yellow vinyl, limited-edition fireworks vinyl, and various merch bundles.
March 28, 2026 @ 10:03 am
I will miss the steel but will give everything Mike and the boys do a chance. Instantly becomes a top release for me. The old sound was perfect which makes changing tough.
They’ve got a few classic albums under their belt imo.
March 28, 2026 @ 10:04 am
How many “New Eras” can these guys go through? Their music went to hell after the name change and I basically haven’t followed them since
March 28, 2026 @ 10:45 am
No steel guitar sucks.
Definitely making a stab for more mainstream acceptance.
March 28, 2026 @ 10:52 am
Totally understand country fans who are crestfallen by the lack of steel guitar. The idea Silverada is trying to get more “mainstream acceptance” is ridiculous. Zachary Moulton left the band. They didn’t kick him out.
March 28, 2026 @ 11:02 am
Welli i dont follow the band much but maybe there was a reason he left.
March 28, 2026 @ 11:20 am
Trigger,
Since the name change, the band has, by your admission in reviews, leaned towards more of a rock sound.
Perhaps, saying mainstream wasn’t concise enough. They definitely are aiming for more popularity than honky tonk music wasn’t providing.
March 28, 2026 @ 12:45 pm
The name change was an attempt to get over the strange hump that kept this band way smaller than their appeal and critical acclaim seemed to demand. So yes, it was an attempt to become more “popular.” But that’s way different from “mainstream acceptance,” like they’re trying to launch country radio hits or show up on the CMA Awards. Not having steel guitar in the band was not a conscious decision. Zach Moulton left the band. Chemistry has always been super important with this band, and they looked for new members, and found a keyboard player to help fill out the sound—something they’ve had in the past. I wouldn’t even rule out them having steel guitar in the future. Bass player Omar is a steel guitar player himself. This is me playing fantasy football, but I think he could totally get behind the steel for a few of their songs where it’s more essential to the sound, have Parker who also plays guitar pick up the bass, and make up for what Zach left behind.
Either way, I don’t think this band is under the illusion they’re breaking out into the “mainstream” anytime soon. They just want to be the best version of themselves in this moment in their career they can be.
March 28, 2026 @ 10:16 am
I really like this song, while I still miss the Moonpie name, I will more than likely get this album like I have on their last several.
March 28, 2026 @ 10:58 am
The Silverada album has just grown with me over time. Songs like load out, anywhere but here, and radio wave are right among their best
March 28, 2026 @ 11:10 am
Really like this song. Sounds like Silverada to me, just more keys forward. Not sure the classic rock (aka Tom Petty) sound is any more or less marketable than straight up country. Just ask Rob Baird, The Vegabonds, Red Hill Valleys or even Joe Stamm Band. Those guys aren’t exactly burning up the charts. Now had Mike and the boys said we’re gonna chase that Noah Kahn or Sam Barber sound I’d be out like a light. So I gotta agree with Trigger, this change in direction is not about chasing anything, it’s about adapting to the pieces and parts they got and I for one like it.
March 28, 2026 @ 11:33 am
Wow that’s disappointing
March 28, 2026 @ 12:24 pm
Another good song. I’ll miss the steel but I like the new sound, which really isn’t all that different from what they’ve been doing. Unfortunately, and I can’t fully place my finger on why, but I’ve just not cared as much about “Silverada” since they changed the name. For a while they were right there with Turnpike for me as one of my absolute favorites. I still like them, but changing the name followed by the pretentious explanation that they’d “grown past” it just cooled me on them.
The name change just feels like a really bad decision, that I think killed a lot of their momentum which was pretty strong at the time. And they botched it even worse because their music at least on Apple Music is still split with some of their songs including from one of my favorite albums ever “One to Grow On” still under the Moonpies name, with other music under the Silverada name. Oh well, the music continues to be good, and I’ll keep listening.
March 28, 2026 @ 1:07 pm
Even though the steel guitar will be missed and I sympathize with how bittersweet and even a bit concerning this development is…………I’m not worried about them misplacing their country soul and integrity as long as the descriptive storytelling and earnestness of their songwriting remains intact: of which I believe “Highway Man” fits the latter.
“Highway Man”, to my ears, sounds more immediate without feeling watered down or compromised. It’s something I can potentially see some adult alternative stations playing.
March 28, 2026 @ 1:45 pm
FFS, how many years need to pass before people stop whining about the name change?
This band has put out phenomenal records for more than a decade straight, and half the comments on any Silverada article have to bemoan the fact that a bunch of grown ass men “didn’t want to be called Moonpies anymore”.
Last album was great, album before that might have been one of the best country albums of the last decade. And if you actually pay the money and make it to a show, they still kill live. WTF are we complaining about? Keys fit the composition of this track perfectly, and it’s a classic, well written road dog song that they’ve delivered the goods on a dozen times in their career to date.
Seeing these cats again with Kelsey Waldon in June. Can’t wait.
March 28, 2026 @ 1:53 pm
I was disappointed when first hearing “Highway Man”. Not much steel work in it, now I guess we know why.
Not to hijack the thread, but for those who enjoy great steel guitar work a song that was just released I’m really liking is “Rather Have Love” by Bonnie Montgomery and Melissa Carper.
Not sure who’s playing steel on it, but they did a great job!
March 28, 2026 @ 1:58 pm
Pretty sure that’s the Professor of Twang Kevin Skrla on steel guitar on that Bonnie Montgomery/Melissa Carper track.