Turnpike Troubadours Make Return to the Stage in Austin
The Turnpike Troubadours never started out to be some huge band. The best never do. This wasn’t a business venture for these boys. This was a bunch of corn fed Oklahomans from Tahlequah getting together to pick a few tunes for fun, eventually inviting their friends and family over to listen, then venturing out to play a few local bars. Even Felker wrote a couple of songs; one of them was called “Every Girl.” And now they can’t travel hundreds of miles to the capital of Texas without packing out a large capacity venue on consecutive nights, and when they start singing that song, every single voice in that venue sings alone, and goosebumps are hard to fight back.
10 years for any particular musical concern is a feat in itself—lest we forget that, or grow selfish that we even get to have a band like the Turnpike Troubadours around. The last few months have tested the band’s mettle perhaps more than any other time in their decade run. With multiple cancellations for concerns we still don’t have a full picture for, it looked like potentially we’d had our last opportunity to get those goosebumps when that opening stanza of “Every Girl” comes blasting from the stage. But it wasn’t the end. Despite all the personal adversity and health problems, despite the name of the Turnpike front man being splayed all over tabloid rags across the country, they’re still just a group of Oklahoma boys, hanging out together and playing music for fun, who over time have begun to feel more like family to each other and to their fans. And that’s hard to tear asunder.
On Friday night, November 30th, the Turnpike Troubadours took the ACL Live stage in downtown Austin after an unexpected month-long hiatus. No rust, no palpable issues that you may attribute to some of the breathless and unsubstantiated rumors swirling around the band were present, just the rush that hits you when one of your favorite bands takes the stage. Their second song “Something To Hold On To” was nothing short of epic, extended out at the end, with every one of the guys digging into the effort, like they were all blowing off steam and working out any frustrations through the music itself, and left the crowd spellbound, where they stayed most of the night.
The current queen of Texas country music, Jamie Lin Wilson, opened the show, featuring songs from her brand new album Jumping Over Rocks. Though often performing live acoustically, she had assembled a band for the show that included Bryon White of The Damn Quails, opening with the song “The Being Gone,” playing “Sweet Little Cigars” from her supergroup The Trishas, “Stars in Oklahoma” which she co-wrote with Evan Felker, as well as her stunning, must-hear song from her new album, “Death and Life.” She also would come out on stage later to sing “Pay No Rent” and “Call A Spade A Spade” with the boys.
The Turnpike set included all of the earmarks of their recent shows, including Evan Felker singing “Empty As A Drum” solo, bass player RC Edwards taking lead on a song with fiddler Kyle Nix playing bass, and they encored starting with the Saving Country Music Song of the Year, “The Bird Hunters.” But customary for the Turnpike Troubadours would be considered remarkable for many other bands. Despite the respect Evan Felker and their contributors receive as songwriters, in the live setting, few rival what Turnpike does. Even Felker was strumming the acoustic, and pounding his heel into the stage like he was on fire. “Hammerin'” Hank Early was having his way with the steel guitar and accordion, and Ryan Engleman was adding the crackly edge to the music he’s known for.
The Turnpike Troubadours are like your brothers. Sometimes life gets sideways on them. It happens to the best of us. The fact that they can bleed and stumble sometimes is what fills their songs with truth, and makes them real, just like it often did for many of the past greats in country music. That’s not to excuse last-minute cancellations or anything else. Because when that affects your specific Turnpike Troubadours experience, it undoubtedly sucks, sours your perspective, and specifically because you know just how badass these boys can be when on top of their game.
But this isn’t a corporate band. The Turnpike Troubadours aren’t radio stars. They’re guys from Oklahoma who caught something magical together almost if by accident, and they’re greatest appeal is they’re just like us. How many times has the music of the Turnpike Troubadours been there for you during tough times? It only seems fitting you would be there for them through the tough times as well. But if their show in Austin, TX Friday night was any indication, those tough times are well in the past, at least for now. And so were yours when “Every Girl” hit your ears.
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Thanks to photographer Brad Coolidge for photos below. Brad can can be found on Instagram and Twitter.
Craig Danger
December 1, 2018 @ 11:04 am
Ecstatic that they are doing live shows again. My city was one that got punted this month, and that sucked. But if I get to see them again all will be quickly forgotten in a tempest of foot-stomping glory.
daniele
December 1, 2018 @ 11:22 am
TT rules in their own peculiar way…any chance for a european tour sooner or later?….
Sana Mello
December 1, 2018 @ 11:32 am
You nailed it when you wrote “The fact that they can bleed and stumble sometimes is what fills their songs with truth..” I wish every one could remember those words as this band of brothers keep pushing forward amidst life’s unexpected twists, and in turn, provides the soundtrack for many of our lives.. Awesome piece!
Mike W.
December 1, 2018 @ 11:53 am
I’m happy to see them playing shows again and hopefully the rough patch for the band/band members has passed. That being said, they do need to rebuild some trust with me before I plunk down cash for a concert of theirs. Canceling two shows in Missouri within a couple months has made me leery of committing to once of their shows until I see they can string some dates together on a consistent basis without some personal issue cropping up.
Love the band and their music, so I’m rooting for them!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
December 1, 2018 @ 12:56 pm
PPFFFFFFTTTTTT
barf.
I like TT as much as the next guy.
At least I used to.
But these guys have kicked their fanbase in the shins a lot these last few months and it isn’t something that “putting on a really good show” is going to fix.
A lot of shafted fans need make-up shows, and a lot of effort needs to be put in.
You can’t just sweep all this mess under the rug and act like a bunch of people didn’t get smacked in the face by whatever irresponsible mess these guys got into.
and I realise that these things take time, and that the most important part is that these guys have their personal lives together again.
BUT
let’s hope that we aren’t so overjoyed that these guys are back that we forget who goofed up in the first place.
labradors do that. you kick a labrador and pour hot water on him when you leave for work and he’s still excited to see you when you get back.
Trigger
December 1, 2018 @ 1:18 pm
What a wet blanket comment.
By the way, there’s only a few select things that will cause me to make another man’s business my own. One of them is kicking a dog.
theres my kids n thats my wife but whose that Lil Dale runin my life
December 1, 2018 @ 11:08 pm
yaller just scissoring eech Uther I lost my shurt betten on bama and u no sum thin elss trigg I like Midland and I dont care wut yall say
Chuck
December 2, 2018 @ 4:58 am
The fuck?
theres my kids n thats my wife but whose that Lil Dale runin my life
December 2, 2018 @ 9:32 am
wach that mouth boy I do not want to hafta pull down yur britches in front of all thees pretty laddys and tan yur hide now get the hell outta here befor I reelly get mad
Fuzzy TwoShirts
December 2, 2018 @ 1:59 pm
If wanting the fans who deserve make up shows to get make-up shows makes me a wet blanket then fine.
But these guys have built up quite a bit of bad blood with their last few months of drama.
and I think a lot of fans are owed some apologies, explanations, discounted merch (not free merch, almost never a good excuse for free merch) or discounted tickets or at least maybe some upgraded seats for fans who drove long distances for cancelled shows.
Something to show the fans that they are valued.
and I don’t own any dogs right now. Had dogs all my life and found out I’m a cat person.
last dog was a yellow lab, not very bright but very nice, best dog ever, except for when she took my flannel coat and started sleeping on it all the time.
I guess I smelled nice.
But as much as I work It’s not fair to a social animal to be stuck in my empty house, so I do better with cats.
my current cat is a rescue with a vision impairment.
Rusty Trombone
December 2, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
Guessing you still refuse to listen to George Jones LP’s and immediately change the dial should he appear on any medium within ear shot. Waylon once cancelled a concert, better cover your ears and chant nah nah nah if he ever gets played. Lets not even get started on that Merle Haggard fella
Fuzzy TwoShirts
December 3, 2018 @ 12:59 pm
not the point.
If I paid to go to a show, then I’d want a refund, and I’d be pretty steamed if everyone acted like it never happened.
Enix
December 5, 2018 @ 8:17 am
They’re rescheduling shows and people got a refund to the canceled ones. Go be a drama queen somewhere else.
RD
December 3, 2018 @ 8:53 am
I was talking to a cop a couple weeks ago. He was talking about his “partner” and the other “officer.” He was talking about a dog. I laughed in his face. He didn’t find it funny. This country has jumped the shark. Dogs instead of kids. Welcome to Weimerica.
Black Boots
December 1, 2018 @ 2:58 pm
I’m convinced you wake up each day absolutely salivating at what you can complain about next.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
December 2, 2018 @ 2:02 pm
Believe it or not I’m actually easy to get along with, I just don’t like ineptitude, selfishness, and irresponsibility.
I like to be left to my own devices and I in turn try not to bother people around me.
For instance, I like to just go into a store, buy what I need and leave without having to take extra steps or waste extra time.
I don’t interrupt people when they’re trying to shop, I don’t like being interrupted.
But I don’t have a lot of patience for things that fore-thought, responsibility, or just being aware of yourself would solve.
The Original WTF Guy
December 2, 2018 @ 5:26 pm
“I like to be left to my own devices and I in turn try not to bother people around me.”
Then why in hell are you posting on a board like this?
Fantastic news that TT is back on the road and as good as ever. Was able to see them just over a year ago for the first and only time and they were great. Very much looking forward to seeing them again.
Big Cat
December 1, 2018 @ 1:08 pm
Awesome. Glad to hear.
We’ve all got our own issues and good music helps us get through it. We need these guys.
TXMUSICJIM
December 1, 2018 @ 1:55 pm
Play on boys glad y’all are back!!!
Jennifer Rodgers Dennis
December 1, 2018 @ 2:25 pm
I do not believe that the whole band has healed this quickly,and if so then they are badly mistaken …. Alcohol and drug abuse doesn’t just go away in 30 days they owe it to their fans to be 💯 percent before even considering to start playing again!!!
Mike W.
December 1, 2018 @ 3:50 pm
Was there ever any actual evidence that alcohol and drugs were the issue for the break? I always assumed that was arm-chair internet doctors giving their “expert” opinions after watching some YouTube footage and reading WebMD.
If you wish to work on the assumption that alcohol and drugs were a factor (again, with no hard evidence), then I don’t think it’s fair for you or me or anyone else to say what does and does not work. Addiction is unique to every individual and so are the treatments.
North Woods Country
December 2, 2018 @ 12:42 pm
Do we need absolute proof to connect the dots? There were reports of on-stage drunkenness and word-slurring long before this happened. He’s not the first and won’t be the last. Good on him for going to treatment, if that is indeed, and likely is, the case.
Scooter
December 5, 2018 @ 1:55 pm
I know I’m a few days late to the game…..but THANK YOU for this comment. So much detailed “information” from commenters who most likely have no idea what’s really been going on behind the scenes, based on absolutely no hard evidence. Well, according to Trigger’s review of this recent show, the band seems to have “healed that quickly.” Maybe it wasn’t “DRUGS & ALCOHOL!” after all? There are other personal issues that people need time to deal with, after all. And more to the point, we can only speculate, which makes it pointless to even try to draw any conclusions. Let’s just be happy that the boys are back and hope they continue to flourish like they have in the recent past.
I’ve drunkenly slurred words before too, and I never needed help for drugs & alcohol! (My stage was much smaller though, if karaoke counts.)
Long live TPT!
Travis
December 1, 2018 @ 3:05 pm
I think Dan said it best in “The Birdhunters” when he said, “Looks like you still got it. That’s what we came here to do. Well, it’s light enough still, at the foot of the hill. We could kick up a single or two”
This song and this line is a great metaphor for the Troubadours. They proved they still got it… and no matter what’s going on with them… this great band of brothers can always bring it. Might as well have been “Dan” on the side of the stage rooting them on.
LG
December 2, 2018 @ 11:28 am
So many of their songs have what I like to call the truth of life in them. I’m always rooting for them them because I feel like they’re always rooting for for me. I mean, I never even met a single one of those guys, but so many of these songs feel like chatting with old friend, if you know what I mean.
Teresa Havens
December 1, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
I 100% agree with you. I love their music but I don’t think the issues are completely in the past. However, I wish them well and all success💙💚💜❤.
TxMusic
December 1, 2018 @ 7:13 pm
Love that they’’ve got things patched together. Hopefully they continue down this path.
ScottG
December 1, 2018 @ 10:50 pm
Good.
sbach66
December 2, 2018 @ 9:35 am
Dear stans – stay the hell away from this thread.
(It won’t happen, but I can dream, can’t I?)
Seth of Lampasas
December 2, 2018 @ 9:48 am
I love this band, but we’ve read about other “triumphant returns”, so I have a hard time retiring this to the filing cabinet for future use on Behind The Music. And like you said, there hasn’t been an official statement about what the issue is or if it’s even been dealt with. Another thing to think about is there aren’t any bands, I would assume, that wouldn’t do everything they could do to make the date for ACL. But enough with the negativity I guess, and I hope this is a new road for these guys.
Doyle Hargraves
December 2, 2018 @ 8:55 pm
To all you tuning sum bitches saying you can’t trust TT and they have to prove to you that they deserve your money in the future. Keep it. They cancelled some shows and I’m sure they refunded your money. They don’t owe you shit. Not even an explanation. You can’t say how much you can’t stand polished crap country then criticize a real band for being too real. just stfu.
Erv
December 3, 2018 @ 7:08 am
Thank you Doyle. Hopefully all the “on the fence” fans found their way back on the other side.
bean
December 5, 2018 @ 2:16 pm
Nope, they didn’t refund me my money. Get off your soap box. No one cares.
Erv
December 3, 2018 @ 7:03 am
Thanks for that.
Jacob W.
December 3, 2018 @ 1:55 pm
Good point trigger. I’d punch my brother in the nose if he stood me up though, I’d still love him, but definitely punch him in the nose.
OMFS88
December 4, 2018 @ 2:26 pm
Hopefully a sign of smooth sailing ahead
Dale Concord
December 9, 2018 @ 6:16 am
Who gives a shit? Still one of the most boring bands ever. Evan is a crap songwriter who aims his words at half-wits. They are way over rated !