The Wilder Blue Announce New Album “Cinco”
At one point they were known as Hill Country. Now the go under the name The Wilder Blue. Some call them a supergroup, which is not an inaccurate description since they all were known in the Texas music scene before The Wilder Blue was formed, and since their music has been, well, pretty super. This is five guys from Texas music releasing what’s officially their fifth album. So it only seems appropriate to call it Cinco.
Singer/songwriter Zane Williams, guitarist Paul Eason, bassist Sean Rodriguez, multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers, and drummer Lyndon Hughes will release Cinco on August 28th. Produced by Lyndon Hughes and The Wilder Blue and recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, it’s said to be the band’s most “fully realized” album yet, featuring their incredible five-part harmonies, while also featuring more outside contributions than ever before.
“We set out to make an album that pairs well with campfire coffee kettles, dusty neon band signs, and sun-bleached dashboard Polaroids,” lead singer Zane Williams says. “We figured it out together, as friends, the five of us. It was exhausting and exhilarating. Our memories, now your music. We hope you enjoy ‘Cinco.’”
One such outside contributor is country music Tracy Byrd who appears one the album’s lead singles “Texas Women” (listen below). Additional musicians who appear on the album include Travis Bishop on piano/keyboards, Harrison Yount on guitar, and Steve Auburn on fiddle. A second single from the album called “Chasin’ The Sun” has been released as part of the album announcement.
Debuting in 2020, The Wilder Blue have become the favorite live band of many, earning opening gigs for the likes of Luke Combs while staying true to their sound that mixes country with classic rock and other outside influences. But it’s never just been about the sound and the personnel with this band. It’s about the unmatched chemistry they bring to the table. They’re five guys that equal something greater than the sum of their parts.
As much as success as they’ve had, there seemed to be higher importance placed on this latest album.
“There were nights we couldn’t sleep because of the ideas floating in our heads. There were times we had to walk away from each other because of the frustration. There were songs that took left turns and came out different than we had planned. There were times we were dancing and high fiving with pure joy as we listened to what we had done,” the band says ahead of the album.
TRACK LIST:
1. Sinners and Strays
2. Last Chance for Dancin’
3. When He’s Out of Sight
4. Leavin’ Town
5. The Hunt
6. Wild Western Windblown Band
7. Texas Women featuring Tracy Byrd
8. Chasin’ The Sun
9. Good Woman
10. Only the Years
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July 27, 2026 @ 6:49 pm
This song is going to be a hit.
Big one.
July 28, 2026 @ 7:02 am
“Talking” songs don’t do it for me. I’ll just leave this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaHYbBYzvas
July 28, 2026 @ 8:29 am
You gotta hear some old Red Sovine, if you haven’t. Talking songs are some of the best in the genre’s history.
July 28, 2026 @ 9:43 am
: D & Roger Miller.
July 28, 2026 @ 11:15 am
Whisperin Bill Anderson, one of the best at it…Jamey Johnson at times too
July 28, 2026 @ 10:40 am
I love singing-talking songs! I like how I now see two people using the term talking-songs for the kind of songs I also would describe like this but never know how to. I’ll keep using the term talking-songs or singing-talking songs.
Anyway, the Wilder Blue song made me think of Jerry Reed – The Bird.
I also recently posted a set of lyrics in the comment section of post dated january 1, 2026 about saving country music’s policy on AI music to a possible singing-talking song titled “This Is What My Dad Said”. I wrote the lyrics for a female musician I had sent another set of lyrics to a while back, explictly with the type of talking-singing style in mind. It doesn’t even have a chorus!
July 28, 2026 @ 12:07 pm
I sort of doubt this is going to be a hit but it is great to see a band do a kind of goofy talking verses song nowadays. The lyrics are a bit on the nose but it’s still fun. Reminds me of Tom T Hall’s “Faster Horses”
July 27, 2026 @ 7:20 pm
I love these guys! They are some of the nicest guys in music. I will certainly be buying this CD! Anxious to hear their version of Wild Western Windblown Band.
July 27, 2026 @ 9:06 pm
Damn great band with a great catalog already. Looking forward to it!
July 27, 2026 @ 9:28 pm
Damn I didn’t not realize that’s where Zane Williams went. I looked him up recently and his solo stuff is pretty old but I couldn’t remember what bands he’s been in.
July 28, 2026 @ 3:50 am
I was listening to the lyrics, and wondered how much further they would go with the state names after the first words “Texas women, Tennessee whiskey”. Then I wondered how far one could take the state thing.
I tried something for just the chorus, producing three versions using some more state names that could be used in an alternative version of the song. The succession of those three versions might be like what follows:
I said Texas women,
Tennessee whiskey
Curves that cause a Nebraska sign,
for just a brief moment in time
Don’t get no better than that if you ask me
I said Texas women,
Tennessee whiskey
Even when I’m not in Kansas anymore,
that’s what I will still be looking for
Don’t get no better than that if you ask me
I said Texas women,
Tennessee whiskey,
Some things are like the Oklahoma wind,
but I found myself a foolproof blueprint
Don’t get no better than that if you ask me
July 28, 2026 @ 4:34 am
Sounds great, these guys are really good, quality product!
July 28, 2026 @ 4:46 am
I want to visit Sonic Ranch sometime. What an incredible place to create.
July 28, 2026 @ 7:12 am
I’ve seen them a few times and they are always outstanding.
Just a damn good band.
July 28, 2026 @ 7:22 am
The band’s “Hideout” subscribers/fan group has had the album for a couple months now. I won’t spoil the details, but don’t sleep on this when it gets its general release. If you like country music, you’re gonna love this.
July 28, 2026 @ 7:43 am
I love Wilder Blue! I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album!
July 28, 2026 @ 8:37 am
Super excited about Cinco! Glad to see Zane having great success with this band. He was super cool when I used to see him all the time At Love and War in Plano a decade and a half ago. Still think Los Diablos Tejanos should be the Texas Rangers baseball team song. These guys have become one of my favorites.
July 28, 2026 @ 10:09 am
As an aside – Silverada is consistently described as the “best live band in country music” on SCM, and not to disparage those guys (they’re great), but I’d like to nominate Wilder Blue for that spot.
I’ve seen ’em live a bunch of times over the years and they always put on a really lively, entertaining show. They always seem to be having a blast onstage and when most bands just stare at their feet while playing, every band member here shines – whether it’s with rippin’ solos, leading an unexpected cover, or contributing solo vocals – not just Zane and Paul (who sometimes sings entirely in Spanish), but drummer Lyndon too. It’s impossible not to have a great time seeing these guys live, and it’s clear they love their fans and put in 110% every time.
July 28, 2026 @ 11:19 am
Agreed. Heard that Braun Brothers will be their official album release party. These guys do not disappoint.
On Silverada: Tried to like them for years, saw them live and just didn’t do it for me until I saw them in dive ballroom to 75 people. I thought for sure they would mail it in and instead they leaned into it and put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, rewarding the low attendance with something special.
July 28, 2026 @ 12:29 pm
Those small shows in divey places are always the best. Feels like a party in somebody’s basement or something. I’ve seen Silverada a bunch of times too, mostly in tiny venues – so the shows were great.
July 28, 2026 @ 2:52 pm
One rarely articulated (at least in my experience) miracle of live music is the way it can make you like something that maybe you couldn’t get into from a recording. So much modern music I’m like “Damn I bet I would love this if I saw them live.” And then after you see them live you magically connect with the recordings that you previously hadn’t. I mean it makes sense but I still find it magical.
July 29, 2026 @ 11:15 am
I saw Jake Vaadeland at Southgate House Revival’s small room on the night when there was a massive event in town that drew away all of the Southgate crowd. There were literally three of us in the room (and three of them on stage), and I was only in the audience part time, trying to split time between that room and the lvandoliers who were having a similarly low turnout downstairs.
Holy shit that man played as if there was an arena audience. One of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. Literally to 2-3 people.
July 29, 2026 @ 11:18 am
AAAARRRRGH I MEANT VADEN LANDERS, not Jake Vaadeland. They’re both amazing but I haven’t had that privilege of seeing Jake live yet.
July 28, 2026 @ 12:16 pm
Hank Jr.’s Texas Women is way better.
Their best song remains “Company Man.”
July 28, 2026 @ 2:17 pm
They are my favorite Country band out there now! So many great albums, great musicians and harmonies (and I still love the name Hill Country), and so many great songs. Looking forward to Cinco!
Would love to see them venture north to New England so I could see them live but I understand ya gotta play where you are known!
July 29, 2026 @ 8:46 am
Mine too. They’ve played DC a handful of times, so they’ve come up this far north at least. Me and a lot of country music fans up here are grateful for that, and I imagine there’s untapped market farther north in New England.
I remember seeing Joshua Ray Walker in DC years back and he talked to the crowd a little and said, “man, booking a show in DC was a gamble, I didn’t think anybody would show up”. It was a packed room. Hey you guys, the Appalachian mountain range extends up through the entire mid-Atlantic, up to Canada! There’s fans of traditional American music (including country) up here too!
July 28, 2026 @ 5:30 pm
Great band ,but texas women is just ” faster horses younger women”
July 30, 2026 @ 6:57 pm
Agreed. Pass It On Down is another song with a borrowed formula.
July 29, 2026 @ 6:16 am
Love The Wilder Blue, the highs are oh so very high with them. Very excited for this.
Curious, does anyone else feel like the album art looks incredibly AI? Obviously could just be the artist’s style, but it was definitely the first thought that popped into my mind seeing it.
July 29, 2026 @ 7:32 am
Joining their Hideout Fan Club is the most rewarding musical investment I’ve ever made. Since they are independent, these albums are crowdfunded.
Members get early access to the album, along with a treasure trove of amazing demos and work tapes from their very beginning.
And for members, they have been doing VIP pre-shows, which are unbelievably intimate. I hope they continue doing them. The guys are so personable and generous with their time. I would pay 4 times the amount for The Hideout, if it helps this band continue to thrive and create and tour. I cannot wait to see them in Chicago again in just over a month. If you get the chance to see them live, do it!
Long Live The Wilder Blue!
July 29, 2026 @ 8:50 am
I’ll second that. The “Hideout” is the one subscription/fan group I’ve gladly been a part of since the pandemic, and I can’t think of a better band who deserves the support.
July 30, 2026 @ 10:53 am
I do like this group and their sound. I just wish they would release their albums on CD.
July 30, 2026 @ 11:09 am
Huh? They do release their albums on CD. They sell all their albums on CD from their own web shop, and I see some albums are available on CD via Amazon (and probably other retailers too). Pretty sure they sell ’em at their live shows too.