Tyler Childers Signs to RCA, to Release New Album “Country Squire”

This story has been updated.
Kentucky-born resurgent country artist and fast-rising star Tyler Childers is now a major label country artist. As first reported by Saving Country Music on Wednesday (5-16), and made official during a video premier early Thursday morning, Tyler Childers is the newest signee to RCA Records, a division of Sony. The video premiered was for the song “House Fire” (see below), which had also populated through popular music sites. A new album was also announced called Country Squire coming August 2nd. It will be released through Tyler’s own imprint on RCA called Hickman Holler Records.
Those worried that Tyler Childers signing to a major label will mean a major shift in his traditional-oriented, strong Kentucky songwriting style will be sorely disappointed. Similar to the deal struck by his producer and mentor Sturgill Simpson, only with guarantees of creative freedom and a healthy signing bonus was Childers willing to sign his future to a major music outfit. Unlike Sturgill, at least for the moment, Childers has kept the strong roots influence in his music. Sturgill has returned to produce Tyler Childers for the upcoming RCA release. Just like his previous record, it was recorded at the Butcher Shoppe in Nashville, and features musicians Stuart Duncan, Miles Miller, and Russ Pahl.
Tyler Childers was previously singed with Thirty Tigers, which will continue to service his back catalog of his breakout album Purgatory from 2017, as well as the re-release of his Live on Red Barn Radio albums.
The 27-year-old from Lawrence County, Kentucky started playing music when he was 13, and learned how to sing in the church choir. After graduating from Paintsville High School, Childers attended a few semesters at a community college while pursuing a music career, releasing his first record at 19 called Bottles and Bibles. Appearing throughout Kentucky and West Virginia, Childers became a regional phenomenon, and was given a major boost when the drummer for Sturgill Simpson, Miles Miller, introduced the two. Soon Childers was signed to Thirty Tigers, and became one of the fastest-rising artists in country music. Childers regularly sells out live appearances, and will be headlining numerous festivals in 2019.
Tyler has also announced a new tour leg as part of an upcoming “Country Squier Run” tour October through December. The nine tracks from the new album will include many long-time Tyler Childers fans have heard live or seen in YouTube videos previously, including “House Fire.” Casey Campbell from Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle appears in the “House Fire” video.
Country Squier Track List:
1. “Country Squire”
2. “Bus Route”
3. “Creeker”
4. “Gemini”
5. “House Fire”
6. “Everlovin’ Hand”
7. “Peace of Mind”
8. “All Your’n”
9. “Matthew”
As you may have guessed, we have some big news coming out today. We’re happy to announce that Hickman Holler Records is teaming up with RCA Records to release my new album, Country Squire. Link in bio pic.twitter.com/PYnxlkJZXT
— Tyler Childers (@TTChilders) May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019 @ 5:42 am
Big news
May 16, 2019 @ 5:44 am
No stopping him now. Get on the Childers train, people. He’s like Mark Twain, Ralph Stanley, Jack Kerouac, and Charles Bukowski all rolled up in one big twenty-first century spliff.
Makes me want a holler.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:12 am
*One big twenty-first century joint.
FTFY 😉
May 16, 2019 @ 9:15 am
I’m with ya, but looks like the “I liked him better when” crowd may be out in force. Thought this song sounded great, who knew it was a giant step backward. Gonna sit back and be entertained here, I’m thinking…
May 16, 2019 @ 5:48 am
Track list, per iTunes :
Country squire
Bus route
Creeker
Gemini
House fire
Everlovin hand
Peace of mind
All your’n
Matthew
May 16, 2019 @ 6:04 am
The pervs out there will be disappointed “Waylon on my Willie” didn’t make the cut. 🙂
May 16, 2019 @ 6:33 am
But Everlovin Hand will make them happy
May 16, 2019 @ 6:47 am
Personally, at 9 tracks, I feel like he could have at least added “redneck Romeo”, but beggars can’t be choosers I guess (unless it’s got a different name)
May 16, 2019 @ 10:17 am
I’m so with you. That’s one of my favorites.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:04 am
I was hoping “Follow You To Virgie” would have been on it. Oh well.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:15 am
It’s on the “Live on Red Barn Radio” Album. Great song!
May 16, 2019 @ 10:37 am
I know it is but I was hoping for a studio cut. It’s also on the OurVinyl Sessions.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:12 am
“Those worried that Tyler Childers signing to a major label will mean a major shift in his traditional-oriented, strong Kentucky songwriting style will be sorely disappointed. ”
Wait, why would they be disappointed since he’s kept his traditional sound?
In any event, i really love House Fire, and i cannot wait for the album and to see him live again. He’s such a talent. You can’t teach what he does.. he just has it.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:16 am
Regularly accompanying announcements like these are bellyachers who seem to think that signing to a major label means that Tyler Childers will invariably sell out and start collaborating with Luke Bryan. If you don’t believe me, just go look at the dumpster fire that’s the Facebook comments section on this thread. And yes, I think these people will be disappointed because they love to sit on social media and hate on anything positive.
May 16, 2019 @ 3:03 pm
I read all the comments here (have not looked at the FB dumpster fire yet) then I watched the video and this song is 10 million times better than anything on mainstream country radio. No one needs to worry. Childers doesn’t seem like the sell out type and I see only positives for him signing with a major label.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:20 am
Can’t wait
May 16, 2019 @ 6:28 am
I like his rise to fame- the old fashioned way; regional success then independent success. No American Idol, the voice, or manufactured label creation.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:33 am
I like this alot. It does seemed a little more polished than previous releases.And that’s not a bad thing. Much deserved for him to get out there even more!
May 16, 2019 @ 6:36 am
Sounds like Gin, Smoke and Lies. Not bad but when you coma out with such a strong debut album, it would be hard to do better.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:39 am
Tyler’s booked at The Anthem in DC this December. A 6,000 capacity venue. That’s nearly twice the size of Sturgill’s most recent show in DC, for the Sailor’s Guide tour and he didn’t even manage to sell that out.
Safe to say Tyler blew up bigger and faster than Sturgill, despite very little to no mainstream/hipster media support? Tyler’s been entirely absent from most music blogs and mags, other than SCM. Amazing.
Last fall Tyler sold out the 9:30 Club, a 1,200 capacity venue. I wonder if he’ll sell out the 6,000 capacity Anthem too. If so, I’m feeling a sold out MSG run by next year.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:58 am
His Red Rocks show on a Monday night is close to selling out (a little over 9500 people venue).
May 16, 2019 @ 6:47 am
Don’t like House Fire at all. The drum beat is too rock-influenced (exactly the problem with mainstream stuff), Tyler’s guitar is completely lost, and the unimaginative electric guitar drowns everything out. Hope the rest of the album is better. Despite all the “guarantees” in the contract, color me worried.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:49 am
https://media.giphy.com/media/Fjr6v88OPk7U4/giphy.gif
May 16, 2019 @ 7:00 am
I am new to Childers, but I agree that House Fire sounds like a Garth Brooks cover. Or rather, like Childers lending vocals on a Garth Brooks track. In fact if you just put this song on “In Pieces” right before or after Standing Outside the Fire it would flow perfectly.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:33 am
No, it’s more akin to Turnpike’s “Gin, Smoke, Lies,” as noted by Buck above. I love it.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:42 am
Uh, this sounds nothing like that song. At least the electric guitar in GSL serves a purpose other than “more radio rock noise!”.
None of the instruments in House Fire compliment each other at all. Just layered on top of each other and glossed over. Unpleasant and inappropriate production.
To be fair, nobody layers instruments better than Turnpike.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:19 am
“nobody layers instruments better than Turnpike”
hahaha. Nothing against TT but, SERIOUSLY? Nobody?!?! Haha.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:18 am
a bit ‘jammy ‘ for my liking too .(.” what chord is this song in ? ” ) kinda loses me after a minute ..no dynamics…..kinda boring but i get how it may be good energy in a live show and an act needs that
not totally familiar with him , though , so I’ll check out more ..
May 16, 2019 @ 8:43 am
“Jammy” is right. I’d attribute a lot Tyler’s rise and popularity to the jam band crowd. Same folks who love Widespread Panic, who adopted the Black Crowes and Blues Traveler, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, Marcus King Band etc.
The last live Tyler show I saw was super long (like three hours), and there was much more of a “jam” vibe than previous shows. Sort of lost me in the second half. Love Tyler, but a lot of music sort of blends together for me. That’s the “jam” side of it.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:00 am
generally I’m not a fan of acts who are doing shows for themselves (three hours of ‘jam’ ) although there are plenty of bands who had/have huge followings based on that approach , as noted in above post .
i think crafting a song that resonates lyrically and musically relies on ‘not wearing out your welcome ‘ , as it were . jam at home , in the garage , at rehearsal …or when carlos or eric or derek trucks sits in for a song at a show .
all cool if you know that’s what you’re gonna get at a show , of course .
May 16, 2019 @ 9:35 am
Tyler enjoys his psychedelics, and so does a lot of his fan base. I think the trance-like “jam” aspect is what a lot of people expect and enjoy about his live shows.
I’m more of a “song” guy, like you I suspect, and much prefer memorable dynamic songs than long jams were you just sort of get in a trance and sway to the music.
However, I do think that sort of “jam” vibe is a cornerstone of bluegrass and Appalachian music in general, so it’s not totally odd that Tyler goes this way.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:32 am
Marcus King and Billy Strings (and the Allman Bros) have really opened me up to the “Southern/Bluegrass Jam Band” scene. While I don’t necessarily hear that influence in this track, I wouldn’t be opposed to it in the least bit! I feel like “Honky Tonk Flame” and the album version of “Universal Sound” definitely fit that vibe though.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:00 am
The jam band crowd may be part of Tyler’s support base, but I don’t think that’s the prevailing demo at all. I think it’s young Southern kids who really want to hear some twang and can relate to his songs. Jam banders tend to be older 50+, unless you’re talking about “psych” kids, who tend to be in their 30’s these days as well.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:41 am
His fan base is definitely mixed (has to be, considering his popularity all over the country), but I think you’re underestimating and maybe mischaracterizing his “jam” fan base – which ranges in age, but are super fervent and travel the country “on tour” with the band, attending dozens of his shows all over the place.
I’ve seen Tyler live three times in three very different parts of the country. DC, which was a mixed crowd of curious NPR nerds, bluegrass traditionalists (common in this area), and beefy farm-bros who likely drove in from rural VA and WV. Nashville, which was a mix of those southern kids you mentioned (met a bunch who drove down from KY), and jam kids I mentioned. And, LA, which looked like a mix of Bakersfield/SoCal country old-timers, bikers, and Coachella hipsters.
He’s about to sell out Red Rocks in Denver (nearly 10K capacity). That doesn’t happen without that crunchy jam crowd I’m talking about. I mean, maybe I’m totally wrong. Who really has an accurate pulse on this? Either way, it’s fascinating and I can’t be more happy for Tyler.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:41 am
Are we listening to the same song? The first minute and a half are basically vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, and banjo. After that, the beat reminds me of White House Road.
And it rules.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:02 am
Thank you for this.
May 17, 2019 @ 5:27 am
So, if it ain’t a two-step, it ain’t country?
I’d call this a country-rock bolero. Agree the instrumentation gets a little jumbled, but I almost feel that’s on purpose.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:49 am
F yea.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:08 am
Can’t Wait! Good news for us! This dude has such a big future.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:24 am
Country Squire is a great song. I heard it at Scoot Inn. I was hoping we would get a studio version of Messed Up Kid. Can’t wait for this album coming from the greatest artist in country music today.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:32 am
I dance in a similar manner after partaking in Moonshine (Or so I’ve been told).
May 16, 2019 @ 7:38 am
Wow, production ruined this like it did Whitehouse Road. What the hell is that boring electric guitar doing? So much boring copy-paste noise in the middle of this song.
Hopefully this is his radio-rock friendly song that he promised RCA. None of this sounds “traditional” at all.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:47 am
Here’s to hoping Matthew got recorded with just the guitar and fiddle just like they’ve been playing it live.
May 17, 2019 @ 4:12 am
Lmao
May 16, 2019 @ 7:51 am
Awesome, great news for him and great news for country music. Hopefully they succeed in getting his name and music out there to the masses. He’ll never be mainstream he is just too damn good and too country. Songs/ lyrics aren’t dumb enough for mainstream radio but that’s ok cause he exists in my world.
I like the new song but i feel like his voice is drowned out a little too much for me. I prefer the vocals higher than the instruments. Marked 8/2 on my calendar!
May 16, 2019 @ 7:53 am
Tyler’s headlining The Anthem, a 6,000 capacity venue, in DC this December. Almost double the capacity of the last venue Sturgill headlined here, on the Sailor’s Guide tour.
Safe to say Tyler’s more of a phenomenon than Sturgill at this point, despite not having the nearly same mainstream and crossover media coverage as Sturgill. I generally don’t hear or read about Tyler anywhere, except here and some other country/roots music blogs. Zero articles covering Tyler on Pitchfork, Stereogum, AVClub, etc. Some on NPR, though. I’m thinking that’s about to change.
Last fall Tyler sold out the 1,200 capacity 9:30 Club venue in DC. If The Anthem sells out (and venues like it), and the album blows up, I predict a sold-out MSG run in NYC sometime next year.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:54 am
Dammit, double post. Sorry. First post didn’t appear for a couple hours.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:22 am
It’s because I went back to sleep after positing this article and it didn’t get approved. I’m happy for Childers, but what the hell is he doing expecting a music writer to be up and about at 7 am? 🙂
May 16, 2019 @ 8:44 am
You review and approve every post? Damn. That’s gotta be exhausting, but I guess you avoid trolls that way.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:02 am
No, most automatically post, but sometimes comments get sent to moderation for a host of reasons. It’s what keeps spam out of these comments sections.
I do read every comment though, unless I’m super busy.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:53 am
Well, Sturgill did headline Merriweather Post in 2017 and seemed to fill almost all of the seats, plus whoever was on the grass. I’d say about 10,000, maybe? But as fast as his rise was in the DC area, it seems that Childers’ rise is faster. Looks like Childers has skipped the mid-sized club level (e.g., Birchmere, Hamilton) and the small theater level (e.g., Lincoln or Lisner). Sturgill didn’t do that.
May 16, 2019 @ 2:46 pm
if Ronnie Van Zant wuz here he wood nock out all of yur teeth for wut u sed about Skynyrd that time
May 17, 2019 @ 6:19 am
If Ronnie was at my house last night, he would have heard One More From the Road being played from start to finish.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:40 am
I could do without the edgy cartoons
May 16, 2019 @ 8:55 am
Is that a dance from Mary poppins? Weird video, sounds good, but anxious to hear more.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:26 am
I was down with the Honky Tonkin’, but when it devolved into an interpretive number about the quest for fire, Swan Lake, and virgin sacrifice, I had to turn it off. Good looking lady, though.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:08 am
Y’all don’t recognize traditional Scottish/Irish dance when you see it? They took some contemporary liberties that I would have probably left out, and I agree it’s doesn’t meld well with the campfire scene. But I thought it was tasteful and appropriate, down to how they were dressed in traditional clothing.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:26 am
I’m familiar with traditional Irish/Scottish dance. That was not it. It looked to me like two students from Williams College who dropped their pre-med majors to study art history and were talked into an interpretive dance by their dorm-mate who burned her bra and is making a documentary about the subjugation of women in 19th century Appalachian coal mining settlements.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:32 am
lol. You might be right. I’ll still give them an ‘A’ for effort.
September 6, 2019 @ 10:15 pm
I loved the dance. I thought it was unique and went great with the music, which I also enjoyed. My compliments to all!
May 16, 2019 @ 8:55 am
I’m always fascinated by peoples’ perception of certain songs. Yeah, there’s more of a “rock” vibe here. Pounding drums, electric guitar, lots of reverb etc. but it’s a matter of perspective. Compared to anything on country radio these days, this sounds traditional AF.
As a guy with really broad music taste, this all sits perfectly well with me – and, at some point, Tyler’s production values and sonic palette were bound to expand. Not surprising. I’m good with it.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:43 am
I don’t judge anything based on what else I can listen to on the radio. I just listen to the song. So it is absolutely not a matter of perspective, it’s just a matter of taste.
The production of this single falls totally flat for me. I can’t get into it at all, I’m totally bored by the middle because all of the instruments are banal and tedious. This doesn’t sound like a sonically “together” band, it just sounds like a bunch of instruments on top of each other. He had the same problem on Whitehouse Road which was “Sturgill”-fied. Nothing stands out. Which is a shame because lyrically this is a pretty cool song and I like the arrangement.
Make this the first song on a “Trite, Boring Americana Music You Can Half-Listen To and Forget About” Spotify playlist and it’ll fit right in. Mr. Childer’s lyrics and his band deserve better than this radio-land production stuff. And, I actually think the majority of his fanbase prefer it the other way, too.
May 16, 2019 @ 1:19 pm
You’re entitled to your opinion, of course, and I respect that. If you don’t like the track, that’s cool. Totally valid – but, dude, don’t pretend your taste isn’t relative, subjective, and entirely based on some sort of comparison you’ve made (consciously or subconsciously) with stuff you’ve heard before, or lately. Nobody’s art is made in a vacuum, and opinions on that art aren’t made in a vacuum either.
Previously you said “none of this sounds traditional at all.” Traditional compared to what? What “tradition” do you speak of? Can you clearly define that “tradition” in a way that is irrefutable and not open to interpretation?
May 16, 2019 @ 1:41 pm
“Traditional” as in “traditional-oriented”, as written by the author of this article. I didn’t invite the comparison. I certainly don’t need Tyler to be “traditional” to enjoy his songs. I just would like them to sound good.
I just plain disagree that music has to be compared to be enjoyed. Tyler’s lyrics speak to me in a vacuum. And when the fiddle flies in Banded Clovis, I feel that in a vacuum. It doesn’t affect me because I’ve heard it similar or better or worse before, it affects me because well-placed fiddle sounds give me goosebumps.
I love Buena Vista Social Club and never listened to any other Cuban dance music, for a more direct example.
May 16, 2019 @ 2:07 pm
I gotcha. You are correct in that music doesn’t have to be compared to be enjoyed, but making a statement like “this is good” vs. “this is bad” is subjective and usually requires some frame of reference. However the statement “this sounds good TO ME” or “bad TO ME” is perfectly valid and requires no additional argument.
Regarding this track sounding “traditional” – Trigger implies that it sounds traditional in relation to Tyler’s usual style within the Kentucky/country roots music “tradition”, but you said it doesn’t at all. I tend to agree with Trigger on this. It’s not a wild deviation from what Tyler’s done before. It’s a little more produced, and a little more “rock”, for sure but nobody’s confusing this with anything but Tyler Childers.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:19 am
Great for Childers. I’m totally disappointed that we aren’t getting much new material here, though. Most of those songs he’s been playing live for about a year….some longer.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:33 am
The fetishization of marijuana has to be one of the most trite and dull aspects of modern American culture. If you promote marijuana, or advertise that you love getting high, marijuana is cool, etc., you might not necessarily be a loser, but that aspect of your personality is full-on loser.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:45 am
It certainly is a huge part of the Kentucky culture. I don’t think it representative of a loser persona near as much as being judgmental and condescending. If you don’t approve go on down the road.
May 16, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
Do you say that about the countless artists who write songs about drinking beer and whiskey too?
May 16, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
No. Alcohol has been part of our culture for millennia. Pot is alien to western culture.
May 16, 2019 @ 1:26 pm
Not a fan of pot, myself. Doesn’t agree with me. But, dude, why do you care what people ingest if it makes them feel good? Whether it be a beer, whiskey, smoke from a joint, or a chocolate chip cookie for that matter?
By the way, for a while there, before “aliens” from Asia and the Far East introduced them to us, riding a horse, playing a guitar, and shooting a gun was alien to western culture too. Where the hell would country music be without those things?
May 16, 2019 @ 2:27 pm
Pot is a transparent campaign to further anesthetize and weaken the Remnant, similar to abortion, Hollywood smut, or perpetual war. A man has as many masters as he has vices,and what is sold to you as a freedom is actually a ball and chain. Go ahead and smoke yourself dumb and impotent, it’s what your masters want.
May 16, 2019 @ 4:47 pm
Try to imagine music if it was never used.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:48 am
Is Tyler a traditionalist or a bluegrasser? The song gives me bluegrass vibes!!
It’s always great to see a Weasley find success outside of the Burrow!!
May 16, 2019 @ 10:55 am
He’s both.
He’s my new standard to tell if someone who says they like country music is telling the truth.
Have you checked out his stuff?
May 16, 2019 @ 9:56 am
Weasley is our King. Weasley is our King!!
Why be a Gryffindor when Weasley is our King.
Weasley was our independent folk hero, now he’s signed to a major label.
Weasley will make sure we win!! Cause…. Weasley is our King.
Stream “Country Squire” or else be the gillyweed in our Goblet of Fire.
Weasley is our King!!!!
May 16, 2019 @ 10:17 am
This is awesome news.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:23 am
My Redneck Romeo is going to have to just be a live performance favorite 😉
May 16, 2019 @ 1:53 pm
Ah, yeah. Love that tune.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:53 am
Awesome news. Cannot wait for this one. Ty gives us all hope.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:01 am
No Appalachian dates. That’s ok, we don’t need a promotional tour.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:05 am
This isn’t rock ‘n’ roll energy. It’s older magic that can only be commanded by the wildest of hilljacks. Country, bluegrass and old Irish folk banded together like clovis. Keep on burnin’ that honky tonk flame, TC!
May 16, 2019 @ 12:50 pm
Yep B3 Hammond and overdrive gain on the electric, those classic country bluegrass sounds
BTW “banded clovis” does not mean “a group of clovii” …
May 17, 2019 @ 8:15 am
Yes, you got me on the clovis thing. Dumb joke that at least managed to be dumb.
But you’re missing my point on the song’s energy. I’m not disputing the fact that there is an overdriven electric guitar in the mix (after a while). I’m saying the energy comes from elsewhere. It’s Tyler’s voice. It’s the fiddle. It’s the rhythm. This is definitely a country song, with some *heaven forbid* electric guitar thrown in for flavor.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:38 am
Fine song.
He will win a Grammy or two.
Tyler Childers is good…maybe he is country’s next massive superstar (…maybe not).
May 16, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
Oh no, Tyler Childers is popular and has a major record deal, now everybody has to hate him even if they previously liked him!
I enjoyed the song. Be happy about something people. And I think teaming with a major label would suit Cody Jinks well too. He’s got as much if not more fans than Childers, and his album should be out this year.
Really liked the cover art for this album also.
May 16, 2019 @ 12:51 pm
Did I miss the “Do Not Touch” sign?
May 16, 2019 @ 2:39 pm
We know it’ll be good ’cause most of us have heard a good number of these tracks.
May 16, 2019 @ 3:38 pm
Tyler’s wonderful band, The Food Stamps, were not on Purgatory. I heard that was Sturgill’s doing as producer. So my first question upon hearing about the new album was whether The Food Stamps would be on it or not. I didn’t see any mention of that in the story or the comments, so, Trigger, do you know?
BTW, since I’m addressing you directly, Trig, I just want to mention how much SCM means to me. I was a latecomer so I wish I’d found it sooner. In my day, (pre-internet) one learned about new artists and music from friends but also from hanging at the local record store. While vinyl and record stores are making a comeback, it’s still not what it once was. And, as one gets older one finds that one’s friends often do not keep up with new music. In fact, some of them are still listening to the same music you and they listened to 30 years ago. That’s not me. I cherish the old but I also have a driving interest in hearing what artists of this era are doing. There is so much music available now online, it’s just overwhelming without some sort of guideposts. That’s what SCM provides and I’m grateful.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:07 pm
Hey Rebecca,
Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you found the site.
I do know that Sturgill produced or co-produced this album, but I don’t know any details about players at the moment. My guess is this will come out soon. What I will say is Sturgill tends to want to use his own players on records he produces. He did that with Tyler’s first one, he did that with Lucette’s new album that is being released tomorrow. Perhaps the Food Stamps are on there somewhere, but I really don’t know. Sturgill takes this theory from Rick Rubin. Petty’s “Wildflowers” was the only album he didn’t do as the Heartbreakers because Rubin wanted more control over personnel.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:02 pm
Now seeing musicians listed so far as Stuart Duncan, Miles Miller, and Russ Pahl.
May 16, 2019 @ 9:11 pm
Gotta say Trig, Childers sounds far better with the Food Stamps than with Sturgill’s session guys, and it’s not particularly close. Maybe the hipsters and social media trend followers dig it more, but they’re way late to the dance as usual. Hell, for that matter, Sturgill sounded better with either Sunday Valley or the Kevin Black/Laur/Miles lineup than his current band. All of Sturgill’s produced work and last album sound watered down.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:34 pm
I’m not taking an opinion one way or another, just explaining the process. When “Purgatory” was made, The Food Stamps were still forming an identity more or less, and may have not been ready for the studio. With this new album, we’ll just have to wait and hear the results. And I haven’t confirmed they won’t be on the new record. I’ve yet to see a full list of credits.
May 17, 2019 @ 7:32 am
Totally disagree on Sturgill sounding better with his prior band. But, it is hard to compare, given that he has gone a different direction with his new band and their live shows over the past few years. Chuck Bartels on the bass is a big upgrade from Kevin Black. I think the food stamps are great and would have done fine on the album, but also understand that Sturgill is very particular. I also think it’s kind of cool to have a different sounding effort for the studio recording (and think Sturgill adds a lot to the production), and then be able to see slightly different versions of the songs with the Food Stamps live…and potentially on a professionally recorded live album in the future.
Finally, that sounds an awful lot like Chuck Bartels on the bass on House Fire. If it is, I’m definitely looking forward to hearing the rest of the album. Him and Miles (NOT just session musicians, btw) are outstanding together.
May 17, 2019 @ 5:12 pm
Trig, he’s been backed by the Food Stamps for years. They have and did have an identity at the time of the Purgatory recordings. Those guys played all over the Mid Ohio Valley fora good bit. Has to be a studio choice driven by the producer, but it totally changes the sound. I was as big a fan of Sunday Valley and High Top/MMSICM as you, but can’t get behind Sturgill as a producer. His vision turns into watered down versions of the real thing. His studio handle ought to be 3.2…
May 17, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
I agree with you 100%
May 17, 2019 @ 11:00 pm
Couldn’t disagree more…about Sturgill’s production “watering down” anything. The exact opposite is true in my opinion. You can’t compare a live performance to a studio recording, in any case. It’s simply impossible. Ultimately, I think Tyler has chosen the perfect mix of both worlds, with the Sturgill produced albums and the food stamps as a live band. That’s not to say I wouldn’t love to see a studio album featuring the food stamps soon. But up to now, i think he’s made good choices with the direction of his two studio albums.
May 17, 2019 @ 11:06 pm
Definitely not trying to run down the Food Stamps. All I’m saying is that at the time Purgatory was recorded, their level of experience was X, and now it’s X times 10. I think it would be somewhat disingenuous if they weren’t somewhat involved in the album, but we also know how Sturgill works. I think we need to wait until we see the full liner notes and listen to the actual album before we comes to any hard conclusions about this.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:14 pm
”And, as one gets older one finds that one’s friends often do not keep up with new music. In fact, some of them are still listening to the same music you and they listened to 30 years ago.”
rebecca …i hear ya loud and clear . i am so burned out , angry and frustrated by the ‘classic rock’ time warp the media has so many people zombied-out on i feel like Finch in NETWORK . i have very few friends my age genuinely interested in new artists , new music ( no matter the genre ) new songwriting . how can you eat chicken EVERY day and night for 30-40 years without going over the edge ? my honest take is that NOT being interested in the at least SOME newer music says more about you than just not being interested in the music .
i will say that , like so many people , i think that in general music is not as good as it once was . no …that is NOT ‘old-guy-speak’ .that’s the observation of a lifetime musician/writer/producer/vocalist who is a fan of nearly ALL genres . Movies were better and more diverse too ,but that’s another topic for another discussion .
Quincy Jones , when asked what he thinks of newer artists answered with a great observation .” They don’t do their homework ” . and I completely get what he means and agree . yes there are some great players and acts around . unfortunately they are not to be found on mainstream whereas they WERE back in the day . it is so ‘safe’ ( Luke Combs ) its borders on non-stop boredom .
But back to your point …..there is indeed some VERY worthwhile music being made outside of mainstream which is completely accessible emotionally …….and physically when you take the time to learn where to find it . and THAT seems to be what an older generation won’t do ….TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND THE TIME TO FIND IT ! support the good stuff …spread the word , encourage the artists ‘ doing their homework ‘ .
May 17, 2019 @ 6:15 am
That is the beauty of something like Spotify. Yeah, I know, there are drawbacks (e.g., artists don’t make shit) but it does allow me to listen to an amazing variety of things. I grew up in the 70s and guess what – I heard those songs. Some were very good and from time to time I like to hear them again, but I also like to hear new stuff. I’m right now listening to an LA via Brooklyn band named Dommengang that I have never heard of, but am totally digging. But I’m with you, there is some interesting stuff out there if you are willing to dig for it. For some people music means enough for them to do that, not so much others. No problem. We all can do our own thing.
May 16, 2019 @ 6:06 pm
Really enjoy the song. That video though….yeah not a fan.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
This is how you go mainstream. I’m looking at you Sturgill Simpson.
May 16, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
I really hope this comment is sarcasm…
May 16, 2019 @ 9:18 pm
Seems like an appropriate comment. This ain’t nowhere near the Childers that a lot of us could see in/around KY/WV/S OH for 10-15 bucks a show until Purgatory blew up. Sturgill’s production ideas are killing the Childers and the Food Stamps sound. There were several rearrangements on Purgatory that were far worse than what you’d hear at a typical show. This first song sounds like more of that.
Tyler is hitting it big; hopefully the next album leaves Sturgill and the studio musicians at home. Seems like a watering down for wider appeal approach. The Black Keys did the same thing about 10 years ago on the rock side of the fence. Everything after Magic Potion was garbage.
May 18, 2019 @ 7:11 am
I was poking fun at the original poster saying this is how you go mainstream, in the process chiding Simpson, when Simpson has produced both of Childers studio albums.
May 17, 2019 @ 9:51 pm
Yup, best way to kill your sound and get a Grammy nomination is to get Sturgill Simpson in the studio.
May 16, 2019 @ 7:36 pm
How much you think that signing bonus was from RCA? A million?
May 17, 2019 @ 8:59 am
However talented and popular on the live circuit, a niche Kentucky country/roots guy like Tyler ain’t a getting $1M signing bonus for a label debut. He probably got a nice advance, recoupable against sales, though.
May 16, 2019 @ 10:18 pm
Like the song, like the art, like the instrumentation. I only dislike the mix. I appreciate that the Food Stamps aren’t on this album, or Purgatory. I know people say “It sounds just like the album” as a compliment at a live show, but it bores me. Give me something raw to look forward to in concert. John Prine as another example of someone who has done this.
May 17, 2019 @ 8:11 am
I agree. His vocals are buried in the YouTube mix. Maybe they did that on purpose and the record will be better. I hope so. With a voice as mountain and raw as Tyler’s, you want it front, center, and loud.
No Nashville sheen!
May 17, 2019 @ 9:02 am
Agreed. Upon several more spins last night, I’m not super happy with how low Tyler’s vocals are in the mix.
May 16, 2019 @ 11:57 pm
This is so surreal to me. I’m from a tiny town in Eastern Kentucky-a town nobody’s heard of-and Tyler lives here with his wife (she’s from here). She sang at my mother-in-law’s funeral. She reads my books. We’ve hung out. When you live inside of the bubble it’s sometimes hard to see what the rest of the world sees. Knowing that he’s getting national attention is pretty amazing.
May 17, 2019 @ 9:25 am
Who the hell told Sturgill he’s a producer? Tyler has got a few great songs no doubt but this production is trash. I can’t even understand what he is saying. Taking a page from the Sturgill playbook I suppose. I guess it’s served him well so what do I know.
May 17, 2019 @ 11:05 pm
Really? Do we now have to endure “I can’t understand him” criticisms with Tyler too? With Sturgill I can see where the criticisms are coming from with certain songs, but Tyler is objectively not hard to understand in this song or any of his other Sturgill-produced recordings.
May 18, 2019 @ 9:53 am
I understand him fine. Not this song though . If that’s hard for you to endure then that’s your problem champ. Cobb is a producer. Sturgill isn’t much of one.
May 17, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
Just support the kid or not
May 18, 2019 @ 5:11 am
I meant to comment on this days ago, so it might go unnoticed now, but the album cover artwork is interesting. If you look at the full image, below Tyler’s feet is a modified version of “Leviathan’s Cross” also known as “Satan’s Cross”.
https://symbolism.fandom.com/wiki/The_Leviathan_Cross
Gasp, is Tyler in league with Satan, like Robert John was? Traded his soul for musical prowess and quick success?!!! Trigger, can you confirm?
Or, simply commentary on every man’s struggle with demons? Hmm.
July 1, 2019 @ 6:16 pm
He’s hanging with that Col Tony Moore who has a full size bahpomet tattoo on his chest, and constantly seen with other satantic symbols. Lord I hope it isn’t true, I will pray for Tyler’s soul.
May 18, 2019 @ 5:56 pm
Jesus Christ people love to complain. If “fans” had it their way Tyler would sing into a tin can and occasionally pluck his guitar. It’d be soooooo much more “intimate” and “raw” that way. Boy it must be terrible to get bummed out hearing fiddle, banjo, steel and country style electric guitar on a song and think it sounds overproduced. I apologize for the snark but honestly every single comment section pertaining to Tyler Childers from here to YouTube to IG, is 90% people complaining that it’s not just him and his guitar. Personally I enjoy the diversity he has, going from solo acoustic to bluegrass to honky tonk and having it all sound excellent and stone cold country. Really enjoy House Fire, listened about 10 times, can’t wait to hear the new album.
May 18, 2019 @ 10:35 pm
People are complaining because the song sounds like shit. Tyler can play a dam keytar for all I care, as long as it sounds good.
The mix on this song is bad.
May 22, 2019 @ 5:45 am
You need to read the review on Farce the Music. Link is scrolling across the home page of SCM. Priceless, and so accurate.