Edit: An earlier version of this article stated that tickets would also be available to purchase in-store at Ralph’s Records. This unfortunately will not be the case. The final paragraph has been updated.
I knew it was eventually going to happen. It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. Finally, the news has come through. The Turnpike Troubadours are finally returning to Lubbock, Texas for the first time since announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2019.
Forming in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 2005, The Turnpike Troubadours are one of the most influential and legendary bands in the Red Dirt Country music scene. Tied together by frontman Evan Felker’s poetic writing, Kyle Nix’s insane fiddle playing, Ryan Englemen’s searing guitar licks, and a powerful rhythm section of Gabe Pearson and R.C. Edwards, the band is full of freakishly talented musicians and people amazing at their craft. Their debut album, Diamonds & Gasoline, is a stone-cold classic. Every Girl and 7 & 7 are absolute anthems in the red dirt world, the title track is one of the genre’s greatest love songs, and Long Hot Summer Day makes me want to run through a brick wall every time I hear that fiddle intro.
Diamonds & Gasoline was only the beginning though. The band is now four albums deep with a fifth on the way (allegedly produced by Shooter Jennings) and their discography is one of the best probably in all of country music. Goodbye Normal Street has some of its biggest hits with Gin, Smoke, Lies, Wrecked, and what many call their best song, Good Lord Lorrie, a song about a rollercoaster of a relationship. Their self-titled album in 2015 and 2017’s A Long Way From Your Heart kept up the great work and The Bird Hunters on their self-titled album is what I think to be their best song. The band slowly grew bigger and bigger, gaining national attention, selling out bigger shows, and headlining big festivals. They also gained a reputation as a rowdy live band that would always bring energetic and passionate crowds wherever they went.
Then, in 2018, things started falling apart as the band would cancel shows and pull out of festival slots on short notice. A run of shows opening for Miranda Lambert was canceled halfway through the tour and Felker’s issues with substance abuse began affecting the band’s live shows. The band first took time off in October 2018 to address the issue and were off the road for a few months before coming back. They started strong but in May 2019, the band announced that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus saying, “We want nothing more than the opportunity for us to heal, and to not put all of you through this ever again. To have a chance for any of this, we need to cancel all of our remaining tour dates. Turnpike Troubadours will go on an indefinite hiatus until a time we feel that everyone is of strong mind, body and spirit and can deliver what our fans deserve.” It seemed like we may not ever see or hear from them again after R.C. Edwards started a solo project, Ryan Engleman began playing for Reckless Kelly, and Kyle Nix started a solo project with Gabe Pearson in tow.
Then, in November 2021, the band started teasing a reunion, first with a message on their website saying, “Stay tuned,” then by posting a new image of the band on all of their, and finally, announcing their first show back at Red Rocks Amphitheater. The band has been playing sporadic shows across the country ever since then including a headlining slot at KOKE Fest which I am still grateful that I got to be at.
I can confidently say that the band sounds better than ever before and I’ve said this a million times but it never gets less true. They look just as happy being back on stage together as we are to see them back on stage together. Also, Dawes and Jamie Lin Wilson are opening this show which is an absolutely incredible opener duo. Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday, February 24th at 10 am through www.selectaseatlubbock.com. For more information, visit www.unitedsupermarketsarena.com. There will also be pre-sale through the band’s email list. Their pre-sale begins THIS WEDNESDAY, February 22, at 10 AM CST. You can sign up for that at https://www.turnpiketroubadours.com. This show will sell out extremely fast so plan accordingly.
Until then, let’s all enjoy the sweet fiddle sounds of The Bird Hunters…
Loading ...