country

Lucius: “Mad Love” [Backstage at ACL Fest]

Lush melodies, decadent fashions, and a good hang to boot. L.A.’s Lucius is no stranger to the KUTX airwaves or Studio 1A, and we always get excited with antici….pation. And they delivered. Not only did they stop by to hypnotize us with a deeply lovely performance of “Mad Love,” a song from the group’s eponymously named album about the raw and tender moments the group’s members have encountered in the last couple of years: setting down roots, creating families, and finding home, but co-lead vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laesing stuck around to answer our burning questions about all of those stellar costumes.

Lucius performs this Sunday at ACL Fest at 3:30 on the Beatbox stage.

Next of Kin: “Jekyll & Hyde” [Live in Studio 1A]

Our April 2025 Artist of the Month was Next of Kin, the country trio, made up of Lili Hickman, Madison Baker, and Caelin bring a breath of fresh country energy to the Austin music scene they’ve been part of individually for years.

In that time, the three fell in love with each other’s music, and each pair within the trio became fast friends. In 2024, Next of Kin released their debut single “Jekyll & Hyde,” to high praise and frequent airplay, portraying the same magic that brought together the Highwomen and Dolly, Linda, and Emmylou. From there, the path was set for the next year and a half leading up to their EP Homemaker, which came out last month with two successful shows at the Contintental Club and a recent announcement that Next of Kin will be performing at ACL Fest this fall.

You can see the full Studio 1A at KUTX.org where you can also find their My KUTX episode, and artist profiles on Lili and Madison. You can see Next of Kin at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Friday, June 20th.

Texas Extra: My KUTX

March was all about music for Texas Standard. We debuted our latest Texas Standard special – “Rap to the Ranch: The Ballad of Mason ‘Bric’ LaDue.” And we celebrated ten years of the show with a top 10 list of our favorite music interviews and stories from the past decade.

The first weekend in March, the music partner of our home station KUT actually let the Texas Standard team take a turn as guest DJs! Our playlist is very different from our top 10 list because these are *personal favorites in one way or another.

Please note, for podcast purposes, we couldn’t play the whole song – so you’ll just hear little teases. Here’s the playlist:

1. Asleep At The Wheel – “Bob Wills Is Still The King” (feat. Clint Black) [David Brown]

2. The Black Angels – “You On The Run” [Alexandra Hart]

3. Selena – “Tus Desprecios” [Raul Alonzo]

4. Freddy Fender – “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” [Kristen Cabrera]

5. Jess Williamson – “Chasing Spirits” [Leah Scarpelli]

6. David Halley – “Loose Diamond” [Shelly Brisbin]

7. Khruangbin – “The Infamous Bill” [Casey Cheek]

8. Scarface – “Good Girl Gone Bad” [Wells Dunbar]

9. Amanda Shires – “Mineral Wells” [Gabrielle Muñoz]

10. Margo Price – “Hands of Time” [Rhonda Fanning]

11. Black Pumas – “Colors” [Laura Rice]

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this work at supportthispodcast.org.

Chaparelle: “Playing Diamonds, Cashing Checks”

Texas band Chaparelle harkens back to a golden era of country with modern lyrics. What started as a mind-meld between Zella Day and Jesse Woods in 2023 not only evolved into a match on its way towards matrimony, but also into a trio, originally working with Beau Bedford in a producer role before he became part of the band full time. And it’s the magic among the three that puts Chaparelle on-track to be in the same discussions as Paul Cauthen, Leon Bridges, and Orville Peck (all artists Beauford has done production for).

The melodies, storytelling, and twangy vocals of Day and Woods set the group solidly in the modern era of golden country, and that power was on full display this past SXSW both out at Luck Reunion and our own show at Scholz Garten.

Now the trio is set to release their debut album Western Pleasure on April 18^th, and they’re embarking on a 39-date tour across the country in support. Austin is the second stop on the tour, playing Scoot Inn tomorrow night with Sydney Quiseng and Angel White.

Flu surge shuts down schools in North Texas

What to expect from this weekend’s State of the State address, where Gov. Greg Abbott will reveal his emergency items for the current legislative session.

Have you noticed the flu is going around? There’s actually more than one virus making folks sick at the moment. We’ll check in with a doctor.

One of the many ways public media organizations raise funds is through vehicle donations. But how exactly does a donated car translate into a revenue stream? Texas Standard’s Sean Saldana followed one donation from driveway to dollars.

And: The 67th annual Grammy Awards take place Sunday, and once again, Texas is well-represented among the nominees. We’ll have a preview.

Next of Kin: “Mean Streak”

There’s a slight, but unlikely chance you haven’t been turned-on yet to the Austin country trio Next of Kin, but you’re certainly familiar with the work of its members: Lili Hickman, Madison Baker, and Caelin. As impressive as these three are in their own right, together they are transcendent. It’s not just the gut-stirring, deeply relatable songwriting or the great hooks, it’s the harmonies and synchronicity. Oh my God is it the harmonies and synchronicity. They truly have the same magic that brought together the Highwomen and Dolly, Linda, and Emmylou. Next of Kin is that for their generation.

“Mean Streak” is the trio’s 2^nd single. All three members trade-off on ruminations about really wanting to be mad about something or someone, but doggone it, you just can’t. So you’re just mad at yourself instead.

“Mean Streak” is out today.

Our top music stories for the year

Queue up some jams for your New Year’s Eve party with this roundup of some of our favorite music segments from 2024, featuring Beyoncé, the Jesus Lizard, Bayonne and more.

The Delines: “Left Hook Like Frazier”

You know what they say: you can take the woman out of Texas but you can never take Texas out of the woman. It’s a bit of a moot point, considering the Lone Star State sure ain’t a shining beacon of women’s rights, and that sets natives up to become ex-pats. Still, it’s a sentiment that rings true…especially in the world of music.

Like, look at singer-guitarist Amy Boone. Back at the turn of the millennium, Amy was a real boon to the Austin scene thanks to her work with The Damnations. These days though Amy’s up in Portland as frontwoman of retro country-soul quintet The Delines, sporting a twangy southern charm that’s inseparable from her vocal performances – and a perfect fit for the rhythm-and-songwriting team of prominent Richmond Fontaine veterans. But after a dozen years together and loads of lyrics that dwell on downfalls, The Delines are setting themselves up for a more optimistic outlook in 2025.

And that’s through their fifth full-length, Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom, dropping next Valentine’s Day. On top of the usual Americana-folk infusions found in their sound, Luck & Doom takes a noticeably upbeat and soulful approach to the protagonists of these eleven women-driven narratives – a welcome change of pace to those who are sick of getting punched down on. And speaking of punches, since the Tyson-Paul matchup was such a disappointment, we’re thankful for the contender that is Luck & Doom‘s lead single, “Left Hook Like Frazier”.

Good vibes from the first guitar chord all throughout its conga-and-tambourine pulse, heart-mending horns, and evocative vocals, “Left Hook Like Frazier” will easily leave a couple marks on your face. Not with a broken jaw or a disfigured ear, but with a smile and an earworm.

Maggie Rose: “No One Gets Out Alive”

Itchin’ for a sentimental dish of Southern soul ahead of Thanksgiving? You’re in luck! We’ve got a member of Nashville country royalty gracing us with her presence in just a couple days.

Yes, we’re laying out a path of petals ahead of an upcoming appearance from Maggie Rose. It’s been a decade and a half since the Potomac-born singer-songwriter-guitarist first emerged as Maggie Durante and just shy of a dozen years since the debut LP that introduced her current handle. In that time, Rose has blossomed into one of Nashville’s finest, but her sound certainly isn’t restricted to country; Rose flourishes with pretty much any genre she touches, be it pop, R&B, funk, rock, folk, and beyond – a talent that’s earned her prominent placement on bills with Kelly Clarkson, Joan Jett, and Heart.

For her latest innovation (which has already scored a Grammy nomination for “Best Americana Album”), Maggie Rose commands a crossroad of soul and country, evoking the iconic ’70s-era Laurel Canyon sound on this April’s No One Gets Out Alive. In support of the LP, Maggie’s back on the road and touring these dozen new tunes across the US. So if you want to give Rose her flowers in person, stop by ACL Live at 3Ten 8PM this Friday to catch Maggie alongside opener India Ramey. And if you’re not familiar with the new record yet, go ahead and get started with the eponymous album opener. Because at a room-and-heart-filling five-and-a-half minutes that blooms with a wide dynamic range and an enormous orchestral arrangement, we’re betting “No One Gets Out Alive” from the full-length’s introduction without falling for what may be Maggie’s magnum opus.

Hayden Butler: “Old News”

Feeling comfortable can quickly devolve into a dangerous game. One weekend you decide to kick back and relax with a six pack, then the next thing you know you’re stuck in a daily routine of gettin’ smashed and trashing your home. Yeah, substance abuse and addictive tendencies aside, that “recliner decline” is a slippery slope towards self-destruction that we all risk at some point or another.

And it’s not like it only happens to the chronically lazy. Naw, take Hayden Butler, who on top of singing and songwriting, keeps busy as a bookmaker, painter, photographer, and professional copywriter. The native Austinite’s portfolio paints the picture of a highly-driven individual who’s got the gumption to go places, and the release of Butler’s debut LP Hand of God this July only reinforces that sentiment.

Still though, Hayden’s only human, and the appeal of Lone Star-assisted hedonism can easily overcome any period of productivity. And that’s masterfully reflected in Hand of God‘s midpoint (and music video) “Old News”. So before getting off your ass to see Hayden Butler at The White Horse 10PM tomorrow night alongside Taylor Graves at 8PM and The Shiglers ’round midnight or next Thursday at 10 between Gilded Lows at 8 and Jonathan Terrell at 12, indulge in this double-wide southern rocker that treats Hayden like a Texas twist on The Wall or Citizen Kane. And if you can’t watch the wanton meltdown til the closing bell, might as well crank up “Old News” and let Butler’s simple-yet-sophisticated country twang struggle inspire you to maybe make a much-needed change in what could be problematic monotony.

Chaparelle: “Bleeding Hearts” (KUTX Pop-Up at ACL Fest)

Ask anyone about their favorite ACL Fest performance and there’s no telling what answers you’ll get. But we’re willing to wager that if you ask anyone below the age of thirty, “did you catch Chap-“, there’s a good chance your interviewee will enthusiastically finish your question with, “Chappell Roan?! She was awesome!” Yeah, there’s no doubt Chappell Roan’s among those leading the charge of younger fest attendees this year, but if you’re less in search of the Pink Pony Club and more keen on something to successfully serenade both you, your parents, and their hoss, there’s another “Chap” that was well worth checking out during Weekend One.

And that’s Chaparelle, the Southern supergroup of Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and prolific producer-composer-multi-instrumentalist Beau Bedford. Between the three? A lifetime of country music experience that, when combined, authentically encapsulates the classic midcentury sound that so many of us miss hearing on the airwaves. Based on the level of polish we’ve heard, we already see Chaparelle as a champion of twang made in and for the Lone Star State. And we’re bettin’ they’re gonna go a lot further than that after the release of their debut LP next Spring.

But in the world of country, (at least the real stuff that can’t be wrangled into Top 40 pop), high production values can only take a subpar performance so far…and Chaparelle sure ain’t a case of that. Because while the studio version of Chaparelle’s debut single from this June “Bleeding Hearts” recalls the iconic comfort of prime Patsy Cline recordings, the stripped-down acoustic-electric-vocal arrangement the trio treated us to last Friday at ACL is intimate, unadulterated talent. And like the title suggests, “Bleeding Hearts” isn’t a two-steppin’ barn-burner; it’s a surefire recipe for tears in your beer that’ll have you holding onto your Stetson for emotional support…lest you’ve got a requited love to corral.

Torin Franklin: “For the Birds”

Against the annual challenges of triple digit Texas temps, one AC reigns supreme above all the rest: air conditioning. Well…maybe also the alternating current that makes powering on fans and your Margaritaville possible. Our point is there’s another awesome contender for AC that’s also accessible all-year ’round. That of course is Austin country.

And we try not to take anyone in the Austin country circuit for granted, be they time-tested troubadours or recent up-and-comers like Torin Franklin. Torin’s a truer Texan than many of us city slickers could ever aspire to be, since he was born in Abilene before spending formative time in Corpus Christi and Houston, plus a more recent residence in Austin. Genre-wise Franklin first started off smitten by the folk purity of Bob Dylan and John Prine. But as a die-hard admirer of country heavyweights ranging from Ol’ Hank and Johnny Cash to Townes Van Zandt and Waylon Jennings, Franklin’s lately swapped out his acoustic six-string for a twangy electric and embraced a scorching southern sound on his debut album set to drop next year – For the Birds.

As of this publication, we only have one offering off For the Birds, but boy howdy is it a certified honky tonk two-stepper. Among Torin Franklin’s all-star in-studio accomplices for this record is Chase Risinger – which makes for a bit of serendipity since For the Birds‘ lead single and title track almost sounds like a companion piece to The Pendulum Hearts’ “Lost in Austin”. Yep, “For the Birds” is another lighthearted foray into the forbidden fruit of nightlife and neon that’s all-too-familiar for us here in the Live Music Capital of the World. To prime you for the weekend, we recommend getting sky high, cranking up “For the Birds” so till any flock in proximity chirps out, and pray this ain’t the day your favorite haunt finally pulls in your tab.

Valley Flower: “Valley Flower”

“Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath. “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley. “Motörhead” by Motörhead. Is there a way to introduce a new band’s brand better than by making your debut song title and project name one in the same?

Well, especially within the proving grounds of bluegrass – where instrumental choices are often near-identical and distinguishing act from act is usually a matter of vocal character – we think it’s a great strategy. And that brings us to Valley Flower. Given our place in the lush Hill Country, you might’ve already guessed that Valley Flower is based here in Austin. But that doesn’t subtract from some member’s out-of-Texas exposure and upbringings in states like Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia – worth mentioning since it’s clearly infused Valley Flower with some unique regional influences that help this quintet stand out in the fields of Central Texas bluegrass.

But it’s not like Valley Flower vilifies bluegrass as bland. Instead Valley Flower cross pollinates those iconic Appalachian sounds with the freshest petals of country, folk, and jam. And while gearing for a pair of shows in late August (The White Horse on the 21st and Sagebrush on the 24th), last week Valley Flower plucked out and presented its eponymous debut to the world, which quickly landed in the bouquet of Spotify’s New Grass playlist. And you can hear why.

In its earliest moments, “Valley Flower” blooms with a twangy ritardando before launching into an ode for life outside the city limits. And though it may seem like the energy wilts after a hair over two minutes…that’s just the halfway mark. What follows is a classic upbeat string sound, no doubt. But in context of the full composition, it’s plenty enough passion, variety, and instrumental expertise to convince us to keep Valley Flower in our viewfinder leading up to their upcoming inaugural EP.

Counterfeit Cowboy: “20 Beers”

Happy Fourth of July! As with every Independence Day, you know people are gonna be celebrating loudly, music blaring. If you’re set to watch fireworks from Lady Bird Lake, from experience we can expect a cacophony of sonics from the sea of individual bluetooth speakers. But by and large, across the Lone Star State, we’re foreseeing another July 4th full of country tunes. And while we recognize that country is often stereotyped as that blindly patriotic genre, that stance does overlook all the human nuance and contrasting aspects of American culture that songwriters have innovated with over the decades, no matter how ranch-ready their fashion may be.

So to commemorate our nation’s birthday, let’s crack open a couple cold ones with a handful of righteous DFW dudes – Counterfeit Cowboy. Despite their deceptive handle, these five fellas are actually pretty damn authentic in the Americana country corner of things, as heard in their still-limited discography that just kicked off this May. And we’ll CC y’all on Counterfeit Cowboy’s upcoming couple of live local shows – 8PM on Monday, July 29th at Hole in the Wall and again 8PM the following Monday, August 5th at Sagebrush.

But back to the big holiday. If egregious intake is in the cards for you, number one: enjoy responsibly. Number two: pair your favorite cooler pick with Counterfeit Cowboy’s second ever single that just dropped last week, “20 Beers”. Sure it’s a few shy of a full case but at just short of four minutes, “20 Beers” sates with a “Bad Baby”/Sarah Jaffe type chord progression and the soulful inclusion of wide vocal harmonies, bongos, and keys, all of which will make you want to sip united with your fellow statesmen rather than hog all the cans for yourself.

Jenny Parrott: “When I’m In Need of a Loving God”

Omnichord milestones seem to come once every couple decades. Just look at the space between Eurythmics’ “Love Is a Stranger”, Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood”, and Meshell Ndegeocello’s Grammy-winning The Omnichord Real Book from last year. From those big three alone, we think it’s fair to say this kooky little electronic contraption’s not just a novelty. Instead its chock full of possibilities, even within genres you might not expect.

For further proof, we can just point to Jenny Parrott. You might’ve seen or heard this Connecticut-born Austinite play with swing folk trio Shotgun Party or with the indie folk duo Loves It!, both of which overlap with another of Parrott’s biggest prides: their solo career. And as Parrott eases into parenthood and approaches their forties, last weekend they released their fourth LP, Love Spell, which is less a full-length seduction and more a fourteen-track foray into the complex spectrum that is that most amorous emotion.

Yes, with a bit of soul, a bit of avant-folk, and plenty of Omnichord, Love Spell is inspiring piece of universal acceptance and eclectic adoration, all bolstered by the Omnichord’s idiosyncratic clicks and blips alongside Parrott’s piercing falsetto. We recommend sitting down with the record in full, starting off with the album opener and music video, “When I’m In Need of a Loving God”, because with its heartwarming harmonies, balance of acoustic, electric and synthetic, and featherweight vocal performance, it’s beautifully profound – no matter your religious upbringing – or lack thereof.

The Lonesome Heroes: “Placebo Sun”

It’s nifty how different sorts of sporty recreation mingle with specific subgenres of music; think surf, skate punk, or yacht rock. But since you can also just longboard down the access road, sippin’ Ocean Spray to some classic Fleetwood Mac without a care in the world, the rules clearly aren’t hard and fast. What’s most important is the meditation in motion, a flow state inspired by the movement of the music itself.

So even though roller skating may be most closely associated to disco (at least historically speaking), there’s an Austin outfit putting those trucks on a whole new set of wheels. That’s The Lonesome Heroes, who’ve endured the rinks of the local live scene (and far beyond) for nearly twenty years now, weaving between the best parts of indie, country, and Americana. Most recently, this veteran quintet scored another milestone with their sixth LP Seasons Change, which has already racked up some impressive streaming numbers in the short time since its November release.

And in line with frontman Rich Russell’s decision to open up the record’s writing process to a few Austin friends, these hometown heroes are lookin’ a little less lonesome in the album opener “Placebo Sun”‘s new music video…as a matter of fact they rounded up a whole roller posse to kick off their boots and strap on some skates! To fully soak up the authentic cosmic Americana radiance of “Placebo Sun”, you’ll have to keep The Lonesome Heroes company 10PM tonight at Hotel Vegas ahead of Alien Eyelid at 10:45, Shinglers at 11:30, and Automatic Weekend half past midnight, no paddling, skiing or interstellar travel required…maybe just a show-stealing, shot-bombing pooch.

Creekbed Carter Hogan: “If I Was”

In the past half decade, we’ve witnessed some surprisingly progressive turns in the historically conservative field of folk and country music; be it Orville Peck eclipsing his contemporaries in the mainstream, a Tracy Chapman cover dominating charts, Kacey Musgraves’ ongoing expansion of the genre’s inclusiveness, or Lil Nas X making people debate what even constitutes a country tune. It’s beyond refreshing to watch these tides shift, and thankfully for us Austinites, it’s not just a national trend.

So while we can certainly point to Pelvis Wrestley’s Benjamin Violet as a force for the androgynous queer cowboy visual aesthetic, when it comes to clear-cut alt-country and folk music, we gotta give kudos to Creekbed Carter Hogan. See, in the short time since Hogan shared their debut 2021 Good St Riddance, we’ve seen huge leaps not just in terms of musical maturity, but indeed through major milestones like legally changing their name, having their uterus removed, and publishing their first book. And through this transition, CCH has created a powerful advantage that makes him stand out in the crowded world of Americana-country-folk, and that’s his unique vocal register, much higher than the majority of men but not necessarily feminine in character.

Well, following up last Spring’s Split EP, Creekbed Carter Hogan is taking things to the next level with their eponymous sophomore full-length Creekbed Carter, out March 22nd. Style-wise it maintains the same blunt, clever, and intrinsically queer twist on roots music we’ve come to adore. But strictly speaking to audio quality, it’s a huge step up from the CCH’s relatively lo-fi discography thus far, with glistening sonics that’ll fill a stereo just as well as it could the Grande Ole Opry. Based on what we’ve heard so far, we’re even willing to wager that Creekbed Carter could challenge Golden Hour when it comes to the finest mixes in acoustic music. So as these Texas temps slowly creep up, crawl into the Creekbed with Hogan for a single release show 8PM this Saturday at Radio/East alongside Large Brush Collection, Kind Keith, and Leila Sunier. Until then, show Hogan some love in the streambed by giving a spin to the record’s first offering, “If I Was”. Because at five-and-a-half minutes, bordered by the prettiest instrumental string arrangement we’ve heard all year (which includes Pelvis Wrestley’s Zach Wiggs on pedal steel and Little Mazarn’s Lindsey Verrill on bass), and joined by Large Brush Collection’s Nora Predey and Grabiela Torres in its climax, “If I Was” marks a melancholy beginning for trans folk’s next generation.

Texas Extra: 50 years after ‘Viva Terlingua’

The album was recorded in a rundown dancehall 50 years ago. Today it’s like hearing a time capsule. Some consider “Viva Terlingua” the quintessential Texas record. But why?

Texas Standard’s David Brown had a conversation about this on our program last week. But for on-air we had to cut out a lot of interesting details and detours. We saved the best ones and put it all together for you as a podcast extra. Check it out — it’s beautifully produced by Texas Standard director Leah Scarpelli.

Miles Miller: “In A Daze”

It’s a fairly standard practice for future superstars to start off jockeying stools in dimly lit dives with the mere support of liquid courage and maybe a couple clapping barflies. Modern Americana icons like Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson sure wouldn’t be where they are today without those musty salad days. So now that they’ve struck it big and perform with larger ensembles, it’s unsurprising that their backing players abide by similar standards. A mutual member of both Simpson’s and Childers’ outfits? Drummer Miles Miller. Born in Kentucky and now based in Austin, Miller doesn’t just thrive in the world of percussion; guitar and vocals enticed Miller’s talents far before his recruitment in Simpson’s band at the turns of the 2010s. Now, playing with Sturgill is the gig of a lifetime, but once COVID hit, after decade behind the kit, Miller stopped millin’ around, picked up the six-string and pen, and went to work. Miller began fleshing out his inaugural entry as a solo singer-songwriter last January and finally emerges anew this weekend with Solid Gold. Smelting together some of the finest ores of Americana, country, and folk, the twelve well-tempered tunes on Solid Gold drop on Friday, with a release show 8:30PM that same evening at Sam’s Town Point with opener Tony Kamel and closers The Swindlers. So before you let the Bud Lights and brats flow tomorrow on what’s set to be a sunny day, take a trip across the pond to Dublin, drizzling in both rain and dry stout, and ditch those pesky calendar updates with “In A Daze”.

Lucinda Williams: “Stolen Moments”

If you’re a longtime lover of KUTX, then you know we couldn’t have made the trip of our first ten years without Lucinda Williams riding shotgun. Like car wheels on a gravel road, this Americana-country-folk-rock darling’s given our airwaves some extra Texas texture and, beginning with her 11th LP Where the Spirit Meets the Bone, has grown alongside us considerably over the past decade.

Yet along that proverbial gravel path that is life, Lucinda did recently run into a bit of a bump in the road. Shortly after squeezing out Good Souls Better Angels mere weeks into the global COVID-19 shutdown, Williams suffered a stroke. This would’ve been a reasonable career-ender for most approaching their seventies, but for Lucinda’s still got plenty of loose ends to tie up.

This Friday the triple Grammy-winner returns with her fifteenth full-length, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, an awesome encapsulation of Williams’ perseverant spirit and seasoned wisdom surrounding her craft. Lucinda Williams celebrates with an in-store performance 5PM next Monday at Waterloo Records hosted by KUTX’s Jody Denberg, where stories like “Stolen Moments” will enrich rather than rob our precious time.