The Wilder Blue Announce New Self-Titled Album
Ever since this Texas music supergroup formed—first under the name Hill Country, and now as The Wilder Blue—they have been spellbinding listeners with the ease in which they meld together country, classic rock, and bluegrass styles to make something immediately engaging and and critically impenetrable. The chemistry this band has discovered is so incredible, it should be studied by science.
The Wilder Blue has yet to release even one bad song, and on March 25th, they’ll release a bunch of new ones on a self-titled release that immediately becomes one of the most anticipated albums of 2022.
Recorded at Echo Lab Studios in Denton, Texas, and self-produced by the band itself, it will see solo artist and songwriter Zane Williams, songwriter and performer Paul Eason, Houston drummer Lyndon Hughes, Austin bassist Sean Rodriguez, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers make music that once made Luke Combs gush, “The melodies, the harmonies, the instrumentation, and the songs. All just Grade A” after discovering the band here at Saving Country Music.
Called a true collaborative effort and a democracy of ideas, the band was able to pay for the recording of the new album due to their unique business structure where they are supported directly by their fans in a personal subscription model called “The Hideout.” This allowed them the latitude to record on their terms of a few three-day recording sessions every few months, and to be able to record directly to tape to give the album that rich, organic feeling.
“Having studio time paid for by our fan subscribers gave us the chance to relax and spread out a little,” says Zane Williams. “What’s fun about tape is that it forces you to commit to a take. You don’t just record five million parts and go comb through them later.”
If you want a whiff of what all of this resulted in, check out the album’s lead single “Ghost of Lincoln” below. Featuring just the kind of imaginative and immediately infectious music they’re known for, it’s hard to know exactly what to call it except for “damn good.” The banjo is indicative of bluegrass, but “Ghost of Lincoln” progresses like you favorite Alabama song, yet is is untethered like a 70’s rock anthem.
Pre-order link will be added here when available.
TRACK LIST:
1. Picket Fences
2. Shadows and Moonlight
3. Feelin’ the Miles
4. Wave Dancer
5. The Birds of Youth
6. The Ol’ Guitar Picker
7. The Conversation
8. Okie Soldier
9. Build Your Wings
10. Nothin’ Like Lovin’ You
11. The Kingsnake and the Rattler
12. Ghost of Lincoln
January 27, 2022 @ 9:04 am
This band is so cool, plus they put on a great live show. And they’re still small enough that they play some really cool, small venues.
January 27, 2022 @ 9:05 am
Yes! Love ’em. Their sound just hits the spot. So effortless. Their debut was such a treat. Can’t wait for the new album.
January 27, 2022 @ 9:30 am
Very excited about this. These guys have to be one of the most underrated bands out there. The Hill Country record was so damn good.
January 27, 2022 @ 9:44 am
SMOKIN’
January 27, 2022 @ 9:50 am
I hear echoes of The Gourds’ early work in this stuff. Top shelf for sure.
January 27, 2022 @ 9:57 am
For some reason, I feel compelled to comment. This particular song, while strange, and the structure being unique with its changing time signatures; in the end won me over with the chorus and the banjo picking. A strange comparison, but Yonder Mountain String Band comes to mind upon initial listening.
Ive seen this band live. They opened for The Steelwoods last year. I was not expecting them to be great. It was like, hurry up and play, so we can get to The Steelwoods. Boy was I surprised, and in the end Zane and boys won me over, big time. They are not some hipster Americana band; at all. Zane seems to be an eccentric, but curiously authentic Texas character. Hes got a David Frizzell look , and is capable of playing some barn-burning honky-tonk music. They definitely do mix up the influences, and I would categorize them as a Country-Rock band all the way. The only mis-step of their live show, was a very odd choice in covering The Bee-Gees. The bass player sang that one, and it was so jarringly out-of -place with the rest of the set, that you had to laugh, which I think was the intended effect. They joked about it and whooped it up. But, hey it was a comedic moment, so no biggie. Great band, and I look forward to hearing this record.
January 27, 2022 @ 10:54 am
I’m among those who loved their first album enough to join the hideout. It’s been fun to watch the project develop.
January 27, 2022 @ 11:53 am
Was “The Hideout” thing worthwhile? Despite the novelty of it, I’m always really reluctant to opt into that sort of thing because you rarely get anything worthwhile from it, and I honestly don’t care how a band creates an album *before* it’s even released.
I joined the Moonpies’ Patreon in 2020 ($15/month). Similar concept. It was fine. I wanted to support the band, but I didn’t get much out of it. They released a ton of live show recordings but I didn’t get a chance to download all of ’em before they shut it down last year. I was also supposed to get a special member’s only t-shirt in the mail but, predictably, never got it.
I know bands are struggling and doing everything they can to scrape up some cash, but call me old fashioned – I just wanna buy an album, see ’em on tour, and buy a t-shirt or a koozie. I don’t need the members-only/behind-the-scenes upsell.
January 27, 2022 @ 12:39 pm
They offer just a $5 a month level and I only really remembered to login here and there because there isn’t that much going on. But they do let all members download mp3’s of work in progress, alternative tracks, and full finished albums of both the band and the members previous previous records. So there is a decent amount of material but the main point of interest was keeping dibs on how the project was coming along. Overall I’d say it’s really only worth it if you are primarily motivated to support the band.
January 27, 2022 @ 1:21 pm
Cool, thanks for the feedback. Glad it was worthwhile.
January 27, 2022 @ 1:15 pm
We all do what we can to support the music, and I don’t think any of us need to feel obligated to support bands beyond buying their music, seeing their shows, and telling our friends about them, which is stuff we’d be doing anyway. But, for some fans who really connect with a band or artist, perhaps they feel good giving that little extra a month. Maybe there’s just one or two bands they do this with. Maybe they did it through the pandemic when musicians were especially suffering, but have pulled back now. It shouldn’t feel obligatory, but I also don’t think bands should feel guilty trying to figure out more holistic ways to support themselves.
January 27, 2022 @ 1:37 pm
Yeah, not a knock. I admire the creative ways bands keep the wheels turning to support themselves and fulfill the wants and needs of fans. I’ve never felt obligated, but as an aside (again, not a knock on Wilder Blue or any other band) in the couple circumstances where I’ve opted-in to support bands in this way (special memberships, access, VIP stuff etc.) it’s kinda been more trouble than it’s worth (the content doesn’t come through, updates don’t happen, merch doesn’t get shipped or arrive etc.) and it creates a feeling that it was all more of a charity situation rather than a straight-forward exchange of dollars for goods and services.
January 27, 2022 @ 2:02 pm
I’ve known Zane quite a while and the reasoning behind joining the hideout does buck the trend of how music is made, and I for one am ok with that, no label exec or producer telling them how to do it.
These are good guys, with families and kids so I am happy to help them make the music they want not what a stuffed shirt sitting behind a desk thinks they should make.
January 27, 2022 @ 2:22 pm
@Michael
That’s cool but, as an aside, I think the stereotype of the overbearing label-exec dictating everything from behind a desk (including the creative direction of the artist) is a bit outdated.
99% of my favorite artists, in country and outside country, are 100% independent – frequently booking their own gigs, their own studio time (or recording at home), writing and recording all their own stuff, doing their own artwork, and navigating all the production and distribution themselves (or at most, farming that part out).
It’s not unusual, by any stretch, for successful artists these days to have 100% creative and business freedom – but I get that the trope of the “outlaw” thumbing their nose at those “label suits” is still a powerful one. Sturgill Simpson’s made a whole career out of that trope, despite benefiting heavily from major label dollars and influence.
January 27, 2022 @ 5:53 pm
It all goes back to what I have heard called “The Golden Rule”. Those with the gold make the rules.
The guys don’t have to ask permission, just get to make the music they want to make. And yes, I am sure there are musicians that have creative control, but the people or persons signing the checks will have a say to.some extent.
Knowing Zane for as long as I have, I can certainly tell when there was a producer in his ear, versus not.
Either way, I just hope good things continue to happen for the band.
January 27, 2022 @ 11:35 am
I’ve been listening to their song “Dixie Darling”
And in the lyrics you can hear the line: “A wilder blue”
Has their current name coming from that line or
is it just a coincidence…? Anyway a beautiful song!
“Dixie Darling’, did you find what you were after
A greener pasture
A wilder blue…
When I think about the things that really matter
I always wish that I had mattered more to you”
January 27, 2022 @ 12:14 pm
Pretty sure they took the name “Wilder Blue” from that lyric.
January 27, 2022 @ 12:35 pm
Wow! Cool stuff. I missed Hill Country, I now need to go back and check that out while I wait for this one!
January 27, 2022 @ 2:14 pm
I wonder if there first album did well why the name change? I did miss these guys so I went back to check out their earlier stuff. The biggest surprise of the day was when I opened up iTunes to find them and a picture or Walker Hayes popped up. WTF. The dudes older than me??!! I cannot believe someone over 30 sings that Applebee’s song that my 4 year old likes. My mind is blown.
January 27, 2022 @ 5:42 pm
Name change was due to copyright issue with a restaurant.
January 27, 2022 @ 3:53 pm
Cool, fresh, stone cold, and fizzing. Big fan.
January 27, 2022 @ 3:58 pm
These guys fucking rip.
Similar to someone else I can’t quite remember
January 27, 2022 @ 6:37 pm
Love The Conversation. Reminds me of 70’s Eagles with Glenn Frey.
January 27, 2022 @ 6:57 pm
Pretty much everything a country music aficionado would want.
January 27, 2022 @ 9:56 pm
Loved their first album and looking forward to this one!
January 28, 2022 @ 6:49 am
Great news and a wonderful video.
I have let my membership to The Hideout slip recently but to show people the value of being a member – I had most of these songs downloaded from there last summer. Final mixes too.
January 28, 2022 @ 7:28 am
Really liked first album. This song is great. Can’t wait for more.
January 28, 2022 @ 8:46 am
This album is worthy of the Eagles. I’ll leave it at that.
January 28, 2022 @ 4:01 pm
These guys are the country music fans guilt free version of Midland. I’m pretty sure they are who Midland wants to be when they grow up. Awesome stuff
January 29, 2022 @ 3:13 pm
Still need to grab their first album. I have always like Zane Williams’ and Paul Eason’s music. Sure this album will be great too!
January 30, 2022 @ 12:00 pm
What a great song! Super-tight cohesive sound with a Jam-Band-vibe, like you’d hear at a weekend Jam Band music/camping festival. Thanks for the heads up!