Ryan Bingham Reveals New Album Before Jackalope Jamboree Set
Ryan Bingham had a big Friday (6-23), releasing a new song, announcing his first new album in four years, and headlining the Jackalope Jamboree in Pendleton, Oregon, backed by The Texas Gentlemen. As Bingham said from the stage Friday night, he has a big affinity for Pendleton as the home of the Pendleton Round-Up, which is the 113-year-old rodeo that regularly wins awards as the best outdoor rodeo in the world.
Bingham did his time riding in rodeos when he was younger, so Pendleton and the Round-Up loomed large in his ethos. As one of the stars of the hit series Yellowstone and someone who regularly evokes the beauty of the American West in his music, Bingham looms large for those living in the rural West like those in eastern Oregon, and a huge crowd assembled to see Bingham and cheer him on.
Bingham’s new 7-song album Watch Out for the Wolf will be released on August 11th via Ryan’s own Bingham Recording Co. distributed by Thirty Tigers. The album is said to be Bingham’s most raw and intimate work to date, and was written and recorded in the wilderness of Montana. Bingham’s idea was to try and capture a moment in time in the recorded form. It is the first album of Bingham’s career entirely produced, performed, and mixed by himself.
Ahead of the album, Ryan has released the song “Where My Wild Things Are,” which starts out with a bit of a contemporary rhythm set, contrasting with the sounds of crickets and critters in the background, giving the song a field recording aspect (listen below). Watch Out for the Wolf is now available for pre-order.
Bingham is one of many currently caught up in the drama between Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and star Kevin Costner, which has put Season 5 on hold, and will likely see the series conclude soon. But the boost independent country and roots artists like Bingham have received from the show has been significant, especially for Bingham since he appears as recurring character Walker.
But Friday night in Pendleton, there was no fiction. It was all Ryan Bingham, with the Texas Gentlemen putting a charge behind his music and making the crowd in the Pendleton grandstands erupt and stomp their feet on the towering bleachers in a thunderous ovation.
Watch Out For The Wolf Track List:
- Where My Wild Things Are
- Automated
- Shivers
- Instrumental
- River of Love
- The Devil Stole My Style
- This Life
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All photos Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos
June 24, 2023 @ 1:11 pm
Nice. Been too long since last release. Looking forward to this.
June 25, 2023 @ 3:10 am
great
June 24, 2023 @ 2:24 pm
Rad!!!! He is a very interesting dude. If you have met him and follow social media and such, he seems to be such an happy, joyous, and carefree guy that enjoys living in the moment with the surfs up pinky and thumb stuff. His lyrical content outlines a darker nature where life struggles are recognized and evaluated instead of the blissful ignorance that comes with folks that share his persona.
I love this juxtaposition and look forward to any new material he puts out. Even if it sucked, his voice and sound would make it pleasant.
June 24, 2023 @ 2:39 pm
I was there. It was a great show!!!
June 24, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
New song is very interesting. Going to take quite a few listens to figure out if I like that sound.
June 25, 2023 @ 7:07 am
I used to be a big RB fan. He seemed to lose his edge when he moved out to CA. Same for Hayes Carll when he moved to Nashville for awhile, although I see him opening for Turnpike Trubadors at the Beacon so it certainly hasnt hurt his career. Hasnt hurt RBs career either but his music seemed to lose its grit and soul. I say this having seen them both many times before and after they hung their hat in Texas. Hoping this is a good album- definitely been missing new music from him! Happy to see one finally coming out-
June 25, 2023 @ 10:16 pm
Yeah i agree, his music has taken a huge nosedive … He still has an occasional good song but nothing as good as his early stuff.
June 25, 2023 @ 8:48 am
Seven songs- Is it an EP or does it have some extended jams?
June 25, 2023 @ 10:03 am
I’m not seeing any time stamps on the songs just yet. These days you have 7-song albums and 36-song albums. Who really knows any more. Bingham has it priced as an LP, but we’ll see.
June 25, 2023 @ 9:14 am
I rediscovered Mescalito and Junky Star in the past few weeks and they’ve been in steady rotation since. Really like the slide guitar- is that Ryan playing?
June 25, 2023 @ 1:42 pm
Probably Marc Ford on Mescalito.
June 26, 2023 @ 3:04 am
I could imagine liking this if he didn’t have such bad vocals. But those vox are a deal breaker.
June 26, 2023 @ 6:29 am
Mescalito is were i went all in for roots music. Seen him live 3 times here in Rome!
June 26, 2023 @ 8:30 am
First listen I did not like the new song at all. I wasn’t a big fan of his last album either. I’m hoping the rest of the new album is better.
June 26, 2023 @ 9:03 am
If this song is indicative of a new direction, then I’m out. It’s got a monotonous repetitive riff that sounds synthesized , much like an edm type of thing. Wretched. Beyond redemption in my book. And his vocal is weird. What happened to that ragged menacing growl/ drawl he was known for?
Where’s the guy and the sound that came up with Bluebird or South Side of Heaven or Bread and Water? His first two albums he really got it right. After that, hit or miss. Junky Star had its moments. The Crazy Heart theme was epic. But not so great after that. How did he sound live? Was it the Ryan Bingham we are accustomed to?
Does he still perform a lot of material from the early records?
June 26, 2023 @ 9:52 am
Fear and Saturday Night is my 2nd favorite album of his after Mescalito. But other than that I agree with what you’re saying.
June 26, 2023 @ 12:47 pm
Great artists evolve. This record is 100% RB. So I support it and him. If you don’t like it, don’t listen. I have no issue with him and what he wants to create. I’ll listen because I appreciate him.
Do I think the Texas Gentlemen hurt him live, yes. As an opening act, they kill the energy in the venue. Will the “Yellowstone effect” make his music more mainstream, yes. Do I miss the pre-Yellowstone, pre-COVID, pre-TX gents, gritty days… yes.
But I doubt RB does. He’s successful and creating his music, his way.
June 26, 2023 @ 2:04 pm
No one special,
I appreciate the feedback. I understand what your saying. You are in with Bingham for the ride, no matter what direction the wind blows. You aren’t unusual in that regard. A classic superfan, and you are in good company.
A good artist always evolves….hmmm…yes and no. Sometimes artists get better with age, it’s true. But sometimes the early work is the best. Garth Brooks put out a couple good records in the beginning and DEVOLVED into mindless dreck. Zac Brown had a great sound early on and then got into some EDM experimentation. Bad idea. He DEVOLVED. Dierks Bentley made a great strong debut album and later works from him were highly disappointing. Hank Jr made a ton of exceptional albums in his career, but late 90s early to mid OO’s he turned in some lackluster stuff. Waylon made great records for two decades, but put out some stinkers later on. I’m open minded but critical of music when I see a misdirection. I respect people who are willing to call it as it is a lot more than a go with the flow fan. Will see about Bingham. Maybe this track is the outlier on the album and the other tracks are classic Bingham. I certainly hope so. But if this track represents a good evolution to you, then I think you will be surprised to find not many agree with you. That is all.