Charley Crockett Brings Cinematic Vision to “Run Horse Run”
Charley Crockett has a new album called Welcome To Hard Times coming out July 31st, and though sometimes album releases can blend into the background, and with how prolific Crockett has been recently (he just released a 30-song field recordings album earlier this year), maybe this one is just floating on the periphery of your radar. But Welcome To Hard Times feels like it’s got some additional gusto behind it, and is worth paying extra attention to.
The song and video for the title track released in May already had us intrigued, but now Crockett has released the song “Run Horse Run” with its Spaghetti Western vibe and Johnny Cash cadence, and it’s accompanied by another video that fits into a greater narrative that he’s looking to build through the album. It’s one of multiple videos Crockett shot in the Sierra Nevada with co-director Bobby Cochran, with two of the constants being an alarm clock and a canary yellow rotary phone.
Producer Mark Neill understood Crockett’s vision for this album, and that it had a visual component to it. “Mark understood where I wanted to take the music,” says Charley Crockett. “He heard what I had written and he said: ‘This is a movie. We have to tell this story.’”
A lot is being made about Charley Crockett at the moment, because a lot is being made about race at the moment. With his multicultural background (part white, black, and Jewish, with Creole experiences mixed in there, and a direct line to Davy Crockett), Charley recognizes this has become a fixation by many, but he’s not fond of labels, and would rather the music speak for itself.
“I have some ethnic diversity and I’m also someone who has had the privilege of being exposed to a diverse and rich range of regional culture throughout my life—all of it has had impact and made me the man I am today … Real country music is for everyone. If radio would play this kind of music, people would respond in a big way, just like they do at the live shows.”
One thing you can call Charley Crockett is real country, and real good. Perhaps the clock in the videos symbolizes how the time for him is now, and the phone is him answering the call. Charley says the inspiration behind “Run Horse Run” is as an underdog, you have to work extra hard to achieve what others might have land right in their lap. You have to come from the back of the field, and hope to surprise everyone at the finish line.
Welcome to Hard Times is now available for pre-order.
Who cares
July 3, 2020 @ 9:24 am
I have no idea why I like his music, but I do. Must be some CIA inspired undercurrent mind fixating tremors of sound or some other BS. But I like his music and it grows without me knowing why.
I have nothing useful to say obviously, but keep listening to his music and you just end up sitting back and enjoying it.
Tex Hex
July 3, 2020 @ 9:52 am
Arguably the hardest working man in independent country music. Eight albums in five years. Man’s got style for days too, and these videos are like mini-movies. Love ‘em.
I’ve missed so many concerts this year because of the ‘rona shutdown, but the only ones that really bummed me out to miss were the Moonpies and Charley Crockett. Seen the former, but still haven’t seen the latter. Hope Charley comes around to DC again sooner than later.
Di Harris
July 3, 2020 @ 8:03 pm
I do not know how in the hell Universal, Orlando has gotten away with tens of thousands of people +, through the gates, at the theme park, since 5 June 2020.
And, a lot of music festivals all over the country have been, and are, being cancelled.
If i was involved in any way, shape, or form, with these events, government officials at local, state, and federal offices would be answering my ?’s.
Somebody needs to start demanding answers.
Mary Rebecca Gavin
July 3, 2020 @ 8:31 pm
Two words. Ron DeSantis.
Di Harris
July 3, 2020 @ 8:43 pm
That does not answer the question(s) of why music festivals are being cancelled.
Those venues are in the U.S. of A.
The real answer is because big corporate is bleeding millions upon millions upon millions.
Disney, Japan, is open.
CountryKnight
July 4, 2020 @ 5:17 am
Because Universal, unlike Disney, has studied the numbers and realized it is possible to be safe.
And I say that as a huge Disney fan.
Dutch CDC: 98% of infections go without barely any symptoms
[6:26 PM]
In the technical briefing that Van Dissel(head of CDC) gave to the House of Representatives on June 25, it follows that 98 percent of people who become infected have no or hardly any symptoms of disease. Out of a thousand people who get the virus, 3.5 people end up in intensive care. Virtually all those under the age of 70 had one or more serious underlying conditions. The majority had serious heart conditions. With these figures, RIVM can no longer maintain that COVID-19 is more dangerous than an average flu wave.
Di Harris
July 4, 2020 @ 6:15 am
Finally,
Thank you CountryKnight.
Have been trying to get people to engage their common sense. (Do not mean that as a slam, or a put down). But, enough is enough.
Be forewarned however, that Fauci & company are putting the alarm(s) out about all kinds of new unkown diseases/viruses, coming out of China. Anything to generate the almighty $, for your new vaccinations, huh guys?
Time to demand that the music festivals be allowed.
Businesses open.
Time to open up the world.
Time to get the destructive rioters off the streets.
Especially those rioters who are shooting windows out of vehicles (while said vehicles are occupied).
Time to call out the Guard.
CountryKnight
July 4, 2020 @ 8:54 am
No problem, Di. I also follow Michael Levitt on Twitter. He is a noted medical expert.
Yeah, well, Fauci has been wrong more often than not. And I do love how now he and the media are pushing the whole unknown side effects plot. Good grief. They shift from talking point to talking point.
Absolutely agree! Reopen and stop the statue destroyers.
It is all common sense, really. Unfortunately, the NCAA might shut down football from what I have heard. All those degrees and no common sense.
Ben
July 6, 2020 @ 8:20 am
The fact that you are bringing up the riots shows your biases and more than likely that you are consuming too much Fox News and/or breitbart.
Danny
July 5, 2020 @ 7:12 am
There is no accredited sites that are posting these Dutch figures. The only sites this information is on are conspiraciy peddling bs sites and posting this on a US page as if it is official is both laughable as well as very irresponsible.
Danny
July 5, 2020 @ 7:41 am
In fact the fatality rate in the Netherlands of infected people was at times 12%(!) So quoting percentages of people being unaffected at 98% is just obtuse.
Peddling those numbers to an American audience where the number of infections far overshadow those in the Netherlands is in my opinion directly contributing to the death of people.
CountryKnight
July 6, 2020 @ 11:11 am
Guess thing, your opinion is irrelevant.
Keep tilting at windmills, Danny Boy.
Sweden never did our measures and they are golden.
https://i.imgur.com/2WhOSaK.png
Danny
July 6, 2020 @ 11:49 am
That is some serious stream of conscience posting you are doing there or is it just alcohol talking?
A. Your bs about the Netherlands remains just that; bs.
B. Posting facts has nothing to do with “my opinion”. I also see no refutation of my points but since these don’t exist I am not surprised.
C. Posting a picture of the country with the highest deathtoll of all nordic countries and claiming they did well is plain idiotic. 12% of the people that got corona have died in one of the most widespread people in Europe. Yeah, you are an idiot who knows f#%^* all about what they want to run their mouth about.
Enjoy your Flavor Aid!
Ryan
July 8, 2020 @ 6:11 am
THIS! As an ER nurse I can tell you the vast majority are minor if any symptoms. I will also tell you you can be 27 and just unlucky and end up intubated… That is the exception though. I say take precautions, assess your own acceptable risk levels, but the entire lock down situation was disastrous. Now the anecdote of the 27 year old happens with flu as well. I have seen all kinds of things from the flu. I will say I think it is much better to happen now, than during the fall, if we kept social distancing and had the peak occur in Fl during the fall, that would of been a disaster. We regularly are at capacity due to flu season. Having both at the same time would of led to NY like experience in Fl.
I cannot wait to be able to see Charley live again, saw him open for JD McPherson, talk about a lively combo!
Ryan
July 8, 2020 @ 6:15 am
Where in the world did they have 12% mortality rate? It is now estimated by the CDC to be around 0.26%… 0.004 mortality rate with a asymptomatic rate of approx 35%…
Jack W
July 8, 2020 @ 7:28 am
In Sweden (the country that commenter CountryKnight thinks is golden), the mortality rate as of today is about 7.4% (5.4K deaths/73K cases). The percentage of the Swedish population that has died of COVID-19 is about 0.052% (5.4K/10.3M). The percentage of the US population that has died of COVID-19 is about 0.039% (130K/330M).
Tex Hex
July 4, 2020 @ 8:32 am
Just FYI – Crockett himself was about to set out on tour again a few weeks back but opted out last minute because of his heart condition. He’s almost died once, so can’t fault him for cancelling.
Sucks for him as much as, if not more than, it sucks for the fans. Not to go down the rabbit hole on this, but this virus is legitimately dangerous for people with pre-existing health conditions.
Di Harris
July 4, 2020 @ 8:46 am
Appreciate your viewpoint, Tex.
Wish Crockett well.
Love his Run Horse Run video.
Too fun!
Like his voice too.
Happy 4th Everyone!
♥️ 🇺🇸 !
Bill from Wisconsin
July 4, 2020 @ 1:21 pm
I was surprised or worried about him running in the video because of his heart issues not long ago!
Ryan
July 8, 2020 @ 6:16 am
I should of clarified the 0.004 mortality rate was for symptomatic individuals. IF you are under 49 your mortality rate is 0.0325% as of the latest estimates.
Ryan
July 8, 2020 @ 9:09 am
Case mortality rate is not the same as overall mortality rate… You have to remember that case mortality rates tend to be higher due to a good portion of those seeking care are the sicker of those that have contracted the illness versus overall cases versus mortality rate… the numbers you are quoting is very different from actual mortality rates. Again, the majority now accept the mortality rate to be below 1% by a large margin, and was predicted to be in that range even from the early days of the virus by epidemiologist.
Plenty of serology studies(which are now believed to under count thanks to T Cell immunity playing a more important roll long term and the short term detection of antibodies), have shown infection rates are magnitudes higher than previously expected. sometimes as high as 80x higher in certain counties.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html
Wobblyhorse
July 4, 2020 @ 9:55 am
Every release is unique and fresh, too. It’s not just the same sound and subjects regurgitated. He always manages to make each release feel different than the last, but still with that Charley Crockett country blues vibe
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
July 3, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
Not sure if this is news-worthy, but I did find it pretty cool that Koe Wetzel just got signed to Columbia. Texas country is definitely moving faster into the mainstream’s contiousness. It’s too bad his last two singles felt so dull.
CountryKnight
July 3, 2020 @ 2:40 pm
When I first heard him opening for TT, I wasn’t too impressed but I did enjoy his stage presence. I decided to explore his catalog and I am glad I did. He is definitely an acquired taste but his music flavor is rich.
His work ethic and drive are top notch. He knows how to blend genres without letting one dominate.
Di Harris
July 3, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
Oh Yeah …
DJ
July 3, 2020 @ 3:09 pm
I loved the scenery, liked the music and his voice- can’t say much for his hat though.
Normal Street
July 3, 2020 @ 3:09 pm
I am liking the sound of this. It will be interesting to hear the rest of the album. I don’t know what it will be like, but I am pretty sure it will be good!
JB-Chicago
July 3, 2020 @ 3:17 pm
FYI – He’s on the Ditty TV Concert Series this weekend. Sun Jul 5th 8:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT) repeats the next morning. Those guys over there do an amazing job! The Flatland Cavalry show was one of the best productions I watched during the lockdown. Kudo’s to those guys @ Ditty TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfkWD9pvsLo&feature=youtu.be
https://dittytv.com/schedule/
Bill from Wisconsin
July 4, 2020 @ 6:19 am
Yes, thankful I get Ditty on Circle TV. The Chuck Mead and Wylie E. Hubbard episodes were great also. I will have to dig in to YouTube for any I missed.
Wilson Pick It
July 4, 2020 @ 6:57 am
He plays both kinds of music, Country *and* Western.
Dawg Fan
July 4, 2020 @ 7:15 am
Good stuff! I like the Ghost Riders In The Sky vibe going on it.
Jentucky
July 4, 2020 @ 10:36 am
Talk about a crack band. These guys are killing it, so I wish they’d bring the vocals down or bring up the band… in all his recordings.
Bruce A
July 4, 2020 @ 11:57 am
I was lucky enough to see Charley last year at a small 500 person venue. If you ever get the chance to see him, don’t let it pass you by.