Koe Wetzel

Last updated
Koe Wetzel
Birth nameRopyr Madison Koe Wetzel
Born (1992-07-14) July 14, 1992 (age 31)
Pittsburg, Texas
Genres
Website koewetzelmusic.com

Ropyr Madison Koe Wetzel [2] (born July 14, 1992) [3] [4] is an American singer and songwriter. His music has been described variously as a "blend of rock and country", [4] outlaw country, [5] and "fusing country and grunge". [1]

Contents

Life and career

Wetzel was born in Pittsburg, Texas, with one of his names being a reference to outlaw country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe. [2] His mother was a touring country singer, bringing the young Koe along and his father worked in construction. He would perform on stage for the first time at age six. [6] Later, Wetzel was a linebacker at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where he decided to pursue a career as a musician instead. [2]

Wetzel formed "Koe Wetzel and Konvicts", and self-released an EP and one full-length album. His "rowdy" music and lyrics became popular among college students and young adults, and Noise Complaint, released in 2016, was considered to be his breakout album. [6] Beginning with Noise Complaint, the full name of the band was dropped, though Wetzel still performs with a bassist, one drummer, and two guitarists. [7] The band signed with Red 11 Music in Austin, TX in early 2018 while being managed by 4-Tay Management out of Stephenville, TX until 2019 when the band signed a management deal with Floating Leaf Entertainment, establishing a joint venture between Wetzel and Jeb Hurt who had previously been the band's agent at Red 11 Music.

Harold Saul High was released in 2019 to mixed reviews, [8] [9] [10] however sales were strong, and the album charted on the Billboard 200. [11]

In 2020, Wetzel released Sellout, named in reference to his signing with major label Columbia Records. [12]

Musical style

Wetzel's music is usually described as fusing genres, especially rock and country while he has been rumored to personally refer to his blend of music as "Hillbilly Punk-Rock". In his youth, Wetzel was exposed to country, hip-hop, rap, and grunge including the music of Nirvana. In an interview for American Songwriter , Wetzel described his album Harold Saul High as "...90s country meets early 2000s punk rock with early ’90s grunge and hip-hop music in the background." [12]

His lyrics often deal with mature subject matter, and are known for containing explicit language. [1] One example is the song "February 28, 2016": a song about drunkenness, and a reference to his arrest for public intoxication in Stephenville on that day. [13]

In 2019, Wetzel's performance at the Great Texas Balloon Race was the subject of some controversy, after some festival goers were offended at his refusal to make his songs more family friendly. Wetzel responded in a tongue in cheek manner, taking credit for breaking attendance records. [14]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleAlbum details [15] Peak chart positions
US
[16] 		US
Country
[11]
Out on Parole
(as Koe Wetzel and the Konvicts)
  • Release date: January 10, 2015
  • Label: none (self-released)
  • Formats: CD, digital
——
Noise Complaint
  • Release date: August 17, 2016
  • Label: YellaBush
  • Formats: CD, digital
——
Harold Saul High
  • Release date: June 21, 2019
  • Label: YellaBush
  • Formats: CD, digital, vinyl
2010
Sellout
  • Release date: November 20, 2020
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, digital, vinyl
88—
Hell Paso
  • Release date: September 16, 2022 [17]
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, digital, vinyl
123 [18]

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
TitleEP details [15]
Love and Lies*
  • Release date: June 12, 2015
  • Label: none (self-released)
  • Formats: Digital download

Charted songs

List of charted songs, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Bub.
[19] 		US
Cou.
[20] 		US
Alt.
[21] 		US
Main.
Rock
[22] 		US
Rock
[23]
"Creeps"2022328312512Hell Paso
"April Showers"————16
"Money Spent"—45——25
"Cabo"428——15
"Oklahoma Sun"————28
"Sad Song"————34
"Damn Near Normal"2024329——12Non-album single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old 97's</span> American country rock band

Old 97's is an American rock band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1992, they have released twelve studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and they have one live album. Their most recent release is titled Twelfth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folsom Prison Blues</span> Song by Johnny Cash

"Folsom Prison Blues" is a song by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Written in 1953, it was first recorded and released as a single in 1955, and later included on his debut studio album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! (1957), as the album's eleventh track. Borrowing liberally from Gordon Jenkins' 1953 song, "Crescent City Blues", the song combines elements from two popular folk styles, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash continued to use for the rest of his career. It was one of Cash's signature songs. Additionally, this recording was included on the compilation album All Aboard the Blue Train (1962). In June 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 51 on its list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time.

Alternative Airplay is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played songs on alternative and modern rock radio stations. Introduced as Modern Rock Tracks, the chart served as a companion to the Mainstream Rock chart, and its creation was prompted by the explosion of alternative music on American radio in the late 1980s. During the first several years of the chart, it regularly featured music that did not receive commercial radio airplay anywhere but on a few modern rock and college rock radio stations. This included many electronic and post-punk artists. Gradually, as alternative rock became more mainstream, alternative and mainstream rock radio stations began playing many of the same songs. By the late 2000s, the genres became more fully differentiated with only limited crossover. The Alternative Airplay chart features more alternative rock, indie pop, and pop punk artists while the Mainstream Rock chart leans towards more guitar-tinged blues rock, hard rock, and heavy metal.

Post-grunge is an offshoot of grunge that has a less abrasive or intense tone than traditional grunge. Originally, the term was used almost pejoratively to label mid-1990s rock bands such as Bush, Candlebox, Collective Soul, Live, Foo Fighters, and Silverchair, that emulated the original sound of grunge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am Not My Hair</span> 2005 single by India.Arie

"I Am Not My Hair" is a song by American soul and R&B singer–songwriter India.Arie from her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006). Written by Arie, Shannon Sanders, and Drew Ramsey, it was released as the album's lead single in late 2005 to moderate chart success. The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards. A remix version of "I Am Not My Hair" featuring Akon was also released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Know My Name</span> 2006 single by Chris Cornell

"You Know My Name" is the theme song of the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, performed by American musician Chris Cornell, who wrote and produced it jointly with David Arnold, the soundtrack's composer. The film producers chose Cornell because they wanted a strong male singer. Cornell and Arnold tried to make the song a replacement theme for the character instead of the "James Bond Theme" reflecting the agent's inexperience in Casino Royale, as well as an introduction to Daniel Craig's grittier and more emotional portrayal of Bond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Should've Been a Cowboy</span> 1993 single by Toby Keith

"Should've Been a Cowboy" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released on February 12, 1993, as his debut single and the first from his self-titled debut album. On June 5, 1993, the song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It also peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Keys discography</span>

American rock band The Black Keys have released 11 studio albums, two EPs, a live album, 21 singles, and 22 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramore discography</span>

The American rock band Paramore has released six studio albums, five extended plays, two live albums, twenty-eight singles, one video album, thirty music videos, and one remix album. The band was formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004 by lead vocalist Hayley Williams with guitarists Josh Farro and Taylor York, bassist Jeremy Davis, and drummer Zac Farro. In 2005, Paramore signed with the New York City-based Fueled by Ramen and released their debut album entitled All We Know Is Falling. Three singles were released from the album, but none of them charted. The album did not chart in the Billboard 200 either, although it peaked at number thirty in the Billboard Top Heatseekers. All We Know Is Falling received gold certification in the United Kingdom and in July 2014 the RIAA certified the album gold in the United States.

Hot Rock & Alternative Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. From its debut on June 20, 2009, through October 13, 2012, the chart ranked the airplay of songs across alternative, mainstream rock, and triple A radio stations in the United States. Beginning with the chart dated October 20, 2012, the chart has followed the methodology of the Billboard Hot 100 by incorporating digital download sales, streaming data, and radio airplay of rock songs over all formats. From that time until mid-2020, only the performance of core rock songs, including those with an "alternative bent", were tabulated and ranked for the chart. With the chart dated June 13, 2020, Billboard revamped the chart to permit a broader selection of songs considered alternative "hybrids" with other genres and renamed it to Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.

<i>The Sellout</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Macy Gray

The Sellout is the fifth studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on June 22, 2010, by Concord Records. The album's lead single, "Beauty in the World" was released in April 2010. Upon its release, The Sellout received generally mixed reviews from most music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waxahatchee</span> American indie music project

Waxahatchee is an American indie music project, formed in 2010 by American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield following the split of her previous band P.S. Eliot. The band is named after Waxahatchee Creek, in Alabama, where Crutchfield grew up. Originally an acoustic solo project, her recordings now tend to involve a full backing band. As Waxahatchee, has released five solo albums to date: American Weekend (2012), Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017) and Saint Cloud (2020). A sixth, Tigers Blood, is set for release in 2024. Away from Waxahatchee, Crutchfield was also a member of alt-country duo Plains alongside Jess Williamson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Johnson</span> American country singer (born 1987)

Cody Daniel Johnson is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has self-released six albums, including Gotta Be Me, which debuted at number two on Billboard's Country Albums chart, before releasing his first major-label album, Ain't Nothin' to It, in January 2019. He released his second major-label album, Human: The Double Album, in October 2021. Johnson's style is classified as contemporary country and neo-traditionalist country, drawing influences from artists like George Strait and Willie Nelson. His song "'Til You Can't" won two awards at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022.

Superheaven is an American alternative rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a borough outside of Philadelphia and within the Philadelphia metro area. Their music has been described as reminiscent of 1990s grunge and shoegaze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland (band)</span> American country music band

Midland is an American country music group formed in 2014 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The band members are Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, and Cameron Duddy. Through Big Machine Records, the band has released two EPs, their self-titled EP and The Last Resort. They have released three studio albums, On the Rocks, Let It Roll and The Last Resort: Greetings From, which have accounted for seven charted singles on the Billboard country chart: "Drinkin' Problem", Burn Out", "Make a Little", "Mr. Lonely", "Cheatin' Songs", "Sunrise Tells the Story" and "Longneck Way to Go". Midland's musical style is known as neotraditional country and country rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Pumas</span> American psychedelic soul band

Black Pumas is an American psychedelic soul band based in Austin, Texas, led by singer/songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada. The group received its first Grammy Award nomination in 2020 for Best New Artist.

Thomas MacDonald is a Canadian rapper and singer. He first rose to prominence with the release of his 2017 debut single "Dear Rappers". His 2021 single, "Fake Woke" marked his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2024 single, "Facts" peaked at number 16 on the chart, and number 42 on the Canadian Hot 100. Known for his extensive tattoos and political lyrics, his rhetoric has been described as right-wing and anti-establishment, with heavy criticism of "woke" culture.

<i>Mainstream Sellout</i> 2022 studio album by Machine Gun Kelly

Mainstream Sellout is the sixth studio album by American musician Machine Gun Kelly, released on March 25, 2022, through Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records. It is his second collaborative project with drummer and producer Travis Barker, following 2020's Tickets to My Downfall. The album was initially announced in August 2021 under the title Born with Horns, before being renamed in January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papercuts (Machine Gun Kelly song)</span> 2021 single by Machine Gun Kelly

"Papercuts" is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly, released on August 11, 2021, as the first single from his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout (2022). The song features drumming and production from collaborator Travis Barker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emo Girl</span> 2022 single by Machine Gun Kelly and Willow

"Emo Girl" is a song by American musicians Machine Gun Kelly and Willow. Produced by Travis Barker, the song was released on February 4, 2022, as the second single off of Kelly's sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout, following "Papercuts".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stefano, Angela (2020-11-20). "Interview: Koe Wetzel Sticks to His Guns on First Major-Label Album, 'Sellout'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  2. 1 2 3 Durchholz, Daniel (16 June 2021). "Outlaw country artist Koe Wetzel has moved to a major label, but don't call him a sellout". STLtoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  3. ↑ "Koe's Black & Red Birthday Bash". dailytexascountry.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  4. 1 2 Nicholson, Jessica (2021-06-22). "Texas Artist Koe Wetzel Talks His First Major Label Album: "We're Not Going To Change for Anybody"". CMT News. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  5. ↑ Kent, Roy (2021-06-04). "Country music artist Koe Wetzel to perform July 3 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  6. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Koe Wetzel: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  7. ↑ "KOE WETZEL". Chilifest 2020 Official Website. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  8. ↑ Trigger (2019-06-24). "Album Review – Koe Wetzel's "Harold Saul High"". Saving Country Music. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  9. ↑ Fox, Chris (2019-06-19). "Koe Wetzel Earns High Marks in "Harold Saul High" |" . Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  10. ↑ Kephart, Zackary (2019-06-27). "Album Review: Koe Wetzel – 'Harold Saul High'". The Musical Divide. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  11. 1 2 "Black Pumas, Hatchie and Koe Wetzel Debut On Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  12. 1 2 "Koe Wetzel Reassures the Masses That He'll Never Change on 'Sellout'". American Songwriter. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  13. ↑ Langeler, Wes (2021-02-28). "Happy February 28th, AKA Koe Wetzel Day". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  14. ↑ "Koe Wetzel throws shade at Great Texas Balloon Race over apology". KETK.com | FOX51.com. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  15. 1 2 "Koe Wetzel and the Konvicts Songs". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  16. ↑ "Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  17. ↑ Hollabaugh, Lorie (September 16, 2022). "Koe Wetzel Welcomes You To 'Hell Paso' On New Project". MusicRow . Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ http://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2022_0926.pdf
  19. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 1, 2022". Billboard . Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Hot Country Songs: October 1, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  21. ↑ Peaks on the Alternative Airplay chart:
  22. ↑ Peaks on the Mainstream Rock chart:
  23. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: October 1, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.