Legendary ‘Hardcore Troubadour’ Steve Earle and the current version of his backing country rock band The Dukes – – guitarist Chris Masterson, fiddle player Eleanor Whitmore, bassist Kelly Looney, and new members drummer Brad Pemberton and pedal steel player Ricky Ray Jackson – will release ‘So You Wannabe an Outlaw’ on June 16 on Warner Bros. Records.
Musician, songwriter, actor and author Steve Earle’s first album for Warner Bros. Records since 1997’s ‘El Corazón’, explores his Texas country songwriting roots and features collaborations with Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Billy Joe Shaver and Miranda Lambert.
This is not the first time Earle and Miranda Lambert have collaborated. Sort of. Lambert gave co-writer’s credit to Steve Earle after the similarities to his song “I Feel Alright” and her song ‘Kerosene’ from her debut album was raised. It’s reported that Lambert admitted to unconsciously copying the melody and structure, saying “I didn’t purposefully plagiarize his song — but unconsciously I copied it almost exactly. I guess I’d listened to it so much that I just kind of had it in there.”
“There’s nothing ‘retro’ about this record,” Earle says. “I’m just acknowledging where I’m coming from.” So You Wannabe an Outlaw is the first recording he has made in Austin, TX. Earle has lived in New York City for the past decade. “Look, I’m always gonna be a Texan, no matter what I do,” he says. “And I’m always going to be somebody who learned their craft in Nashville. It’s who I am.”
‘So You Wannabe an Outlaw’ is an homage to outlaw music and is dedicated to the late Waylon Jennings. “I was out to unapologetically ‘channel’ Waylon as best as I could.” Earle says. “This record was all about me playing’ on the back pick-up of a ’66 Fender Telecaster on an entire record for the first time in my life. The vocal part of it is a little different. I certainly don’t sound like Waylon Jennings. I moved to Nashville in November of 1974, and right after that Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger came out. I was around when Waylon was recording Dreaming My Dreams. Guitar Town (Earle’s 1986 chart-topping, Grammy Award-winning debut album) wound up being kind of my version of those types of songs,” Earle recalls.
The album was produced by Richard Bennett and recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin.
Earle hasn’t always embraced his alt.country past preferring to guide his career into more of a folk direction. “….Outlaw” appears to be a return to form. Is this a crass attempt to cash in on the resurgence of classic country spearheaded by the success of Chris Stapleton and early Sturgill Simpson? Who cares? Easrlevwas a pivotal figure in laying the groundwork that allowed those artists to build a career. I, for one, say welcome home!
This summer, Earle will lead his fourth annual songwriting intensive, Camp Copperhead, in upstate New York from June 26-30, 2017. The all-inclusive, four-day music vacation and fully immersive learning experience will take place at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY, about half an hour west of Woodstock. Primary instructor Earle will be joined this year by special guest instructors Jackie Greene and Dar Williams. Details can be found at http://camp-copperhead.com/.
The album is available for pre-order today via Amazon. Those who pre-order will receive an instant download of the album track “Lookin’ For A Woman.”
The track listing for ‘So You Wannabe An Outlaw’:
So You Wanna Be An Outlaw (feat. Willie Nelson)
Lookin’ For A Woman
The Firebreak Line
News From Colorado
If Mama Coulda Seen Me
Fixin’ To Die
This Is How It Ends (feat. Miranda Lambert)
The Girl On The Mountain
You Broke My Heart
Walkin’ In LA (feat. Johnny Bush)
Sunset Highway
Goodbye Michelangelo
Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks (covers):
Ain’t No God In Mexico (Billy Joe Shaver)
Sister’s Coming Home/Down At The Corner Beer Joint (Willie Nelson)
The Local Memory (Willie Nelson)
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (Waylon Jennings)
Camp Copperhead:
06/26 Big Indian, NY Camp Copperhead
06/27 Big Indian, NY Camp Copperhead
06/28 Big Indian, NY Camp Copperhead
06/29 Big Indian, NY Camp Copperhead
06/30 Big Indian, NY Camp Copperhead
Steve Earle and The Dukes’ upcoming tour dates are as follows:
07/01 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amphitheater w/Ryan Bingham
07/02 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amphitheater w/Ryan Bingham
07/03 Houston, TX House of Blues
07/04 Austin, TX Willie Nelson’s Picnic
07/06 Dallas, TX House of Blues
07/07 Jackson, MS Duling Hall
07/08 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
07/09 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
07/11 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
07/13 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall
07/14 Durham, NC The Carolina Theatre
07/15 Mount Solon, VA Natural Chimeny’s Park / Red Wing Roots Music Festival
07/16 Charleston, WV Culture Center / Mountain Stage w/ Larry Groce – Radio Show
07/18 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
07/20 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
07/21 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium (w/ Lucero)
07/22 Marietta, GA Peoples Bank Theatre
07/23 Kent, OH Kent Stage
07/25 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk
07/26 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk
07/28 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino-Mustang Lounge
07/29 Clear Lake, IA Surf Ballroom
07/30 Apple Valley, MN Minnesota Zoo-Weesner Family
08/01 Omaha, NE Slowdown
08/03 Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen
08/04 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
08/05 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
08/07 Alb, NM Kimo Theatre
08/08 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
08/10 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up
08/11 W. Hollywood, CA The Troubadour
08/12 W. Hollywood, CA The Troubadour
08/14 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
08/15 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
08/16 Boise, ID Egyptian theatre
08/18 Billings, MT Zoo Montana
08/19 Deadwood, SD Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel
09/07 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
09/08 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Parker Playhouse (w/ Los Lobos)
09/09 Clearwater, FL Capitol Theatre
09/10 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre (w/ Los Lobos)
09/16 Fredericton, NB Harvest Jazz + Blues Festival
09/26 Winnipeg, MB, CAN Burton Cummings Theatre
09/27 Regina, SK, CAN Casino Regina
09/28 Calgary, AB, CAN Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
09/29 Enoch, AB, CAN River Cree Resort & Casino
The album is available for pre-order today via all digital retailers. Those who pre-order will receive an instant download of the album track “Lookin’ For A Woman.”