Song of the Day

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October 3, 2022

Alex Williams: “Old Before My Time”

By: Jack Anderson

Here in the U.S., we’ve enjoyed nearly a century of transcontinental and interstate routes, thanks to our highway system. Because of its introduction amidst advents in recording technology and decades-long development alongside advances in songwriting, tunes about cruising have taken American artists pretty far. And everyone’s got their favorite so no need to list ’em all out here. That said, the point of a good road playlist is to pack too many tracks in so you don’t have repeats, right? With that in mind, today we introduce you to a must-have piece of musical migration, courtesy of Indianapolis singer-guitarist Alex Williams.

With the release of his 2017 Nashville-produced debut Better Than Myself, Williams seemed like a shoe-in successor to the Outlaw Country throne. But the following five years of touring and temptation eventually influenced Williams to shy away from a bandana-bound sense of recklessness and write a new batch of horizon-affixed, road-weary personal reflections. The result, Waging Peace, is set for release on October 21st in the thick of a national tour. This dozen-track trek evokes everyone from Jerry Reed, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Allman Brothers all the way to Texas treasures like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, boldly opening up a throttle of cross-genre twang. So buckle up for Waging Peace‘s release Friday after next, and rev up for a practice run right now with the LP’s latest Haggard-esque trailblazer, “Old Before My Time”!


Episodes

April 3, 2026

The Stacks: “Dope Demise” [Live In Studio 1A]

Kerrville, TX native Jake Ames grew-up saturated in the local folk scene, garnering influence from his local DJ father and the town’s famous annual folk festival. Notions of these folk and psych influences flow through his own music, in his solo sets and his band The Stacks. Ames has a Tuesday night residency at the […]

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April 2, 2026

American Sharks: “Not Dead Yet”

On-and-off again metal-punk trio American Sharks are back once again with another slew of tracks that might be considered abrasive if they weren’t also so darn catchy. They’re about to embark on a full US tour with Austin power group Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol in support of the Sharks’ new album Not Dead Yet, their […]

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April 1, 2026

Jess Helios and the Crew: “Flight”

“Flight” by Jess Helios and The Crew began as a song about revolution, but grew into something more personal, tapping into inner truth and rising to a higher state of mind. It offers a glimpse into their unreleased album Apollo 95, a cinematic, genre-blending journey through grief, love, and the full spectrum of human emotion, where […]

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March 30, 2026

Valley Flower: “Mountain Don’t Care”

After spending 2025 rising from humble five-piece to a staple of the Central Texas bluegrass scene, Austin’s Valley Flower are back with the new single “Mountain Don’t Care,” a song true to their special blend of folk, bluegrass, and country. A bit more traditional than last year’s, “Run Buddy,” “Mountain Don’t Care,” a brooding track […]

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March 27, 2026

Bananner Man: “Banana Lands”

Bannaner Man was born in the Cavendish Islands in the rarely explored Citric Sea. After splitting for Corpus Christi, he found himself in Austin, busking on 6th Street before playing bass for Austin notables Magna Carda and Los Coast. After becoming a Dad, Bananner Man took pity on put-upon parents forced to listen to emetic, […]

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March 26, 2026

Lene: “I Wanna Be Your Lover”

Pianist and singer Lene moved to Austin back in 2023, already having seen musical success in Europe: having been a contestant on X Factor: Italia and performing at festivals in Italy and Portugal. She left Italy for love, but a move across the world leads to a shift in identity, and her lush song “I […]

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March 24, 2026

Dorio: “Plastic Heart” [Live In Studio 1A]

There’s something about every song by Austin’s Dorio that’s just sweet, sticky, and timeless. It simultaneously takes me to a certain sunny side of the 90’s; my old, cozy, West Campus apartment; and some of the best new music I’ve been listening to all year. It’s also something none of us around here can stop listening […]

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March 23, 2026

Maria Taylor: “Never Thought I’d Feel New”

The feeling of being perpetually confined by your own thoughts is ugly and burdensome. When we root for ourselves and finally find ourselves on the other side of the chrysalis, life is colorful once again, and the feeling of mentally reentering and contributing to the world in a meaningful way is unparalled. This sentiment echoes […]

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