Turnpike Troubadours

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Turnpike Troubadours
Turnpike Troubadours performing in Knoxville, TN, 2023.jpg
Turnpike Troubadours performing in 2023. L–R: Early, Engleman, Pearson (behind drum kit), Edwards, Felker, Nix.
Background information
Origin Tahlequah, Oklahoma U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 2007–2019
  • 2021–present
Labels
  • Bossier City Records
  • Thirty Tigers
Members
  • RC Edwards
  • Kyle Nix
  • Ryan Engleman
  • Evan Felker
  • Gabriel Pearson
  • Hank Early
Past members
Website turnpiketroubadours.com

The Turnpike Troubadours are an American country music band from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, founded in 2005. [1] They started their own imprint, Bossier City Records, in 2007 and have released six studio albums. Their self-titled 2015 album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

Contents

History

The band was formed in 2005 by Evan Felker and R.C. Edwards. Their debut album, Bossier City, was recorded a month after the formation of the band, in order to have a recording to sell at live shows. Felker later said the musical arrangements were "not a good representation" of what the band later became. [2]

Their sophomore album, Diamonds & Gasoline, followed in 2010. [3]

The songs "Easton and Main" and "Bossier City" were re-recorded for their 2015 self-titled album. [2]

In October 2017, the album A Long Way from Your Heart was released, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Following a string of poor performances in late 2018, stemming from Felker's insobriety, the band was forced to cancel 12 shows slated to be held in the weeks to follow, returning on November 30 to play at ACL Live. [4] Felker's personal battles continued the following year, spurring the band to cancel all remaining tour dates. It left the band's future undecided but noting a possible return to the stage once "everyone is of strong mind, body and spirit and can deliver what our fans deserve." [5] [6]

In November 2021, the band's Instagram was cleaned of all previous posts and their website displayed only the band's logo and a message that read "Coming Soon". [7] In January 2022, the band announced their long-awaited reunion and return to live performances, holding their first shows on April 8–9, 2022 at Cain's Ballroom. [8] [9] One month later, another two-night run of shows were held May 14–15 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. [10]

On August 25, 2023, the band released their album A Cat in the Rain after releasing three earlier singles: "Mean Old Sun," "Chipping Mill," and "Brought Me." [11]

Musical style, composition, and influences

Critically, the Turnpike Troubadours' musical style has been labeled as primarily country music and its respective subgenres, such as red dirt, [12] [13] [14] honky-tonk, [15] Americana, [16] neotraditional country, [17] and country rock. [18] Mark Deming of AllMusic referred to the Turnpike Troubadours as a "country-leaning roots rock band," with elements of political folk music, honky-tonk, bluegrass, Cajun music, and rock. [19]

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune , band co-founder and bassist RC Edwards identified the band's musical style as honky-tonk. [18]

Band members

Current

  • RC Edwards
  • Kyle Nix
  • Ryan Engleman
  • Evan Felker
  • Gabriel Pearson
  • Hank Early

Past

  • John Fullbright
  • Casey Sliger
  • Chad Masters
  • Giovanni "Nooch" Carnuccio III
  • Luke Savage

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales
US Country
[20]
US
[21]
US
Indie

[22]
US
Folk

[23]
US
Rock

[24]
Bossier City [25]
  • Release date: December 11, 2007
  • Label: Bossier City Records
Diamonds & Gasoline [3]
  • Release date: August 31, 2010
  • Label: Bossier City Records
Goodbye Normal Street
  • Release date: May 8, 2012
  • Label: Bossier City Records/ Thirty Tigers
14577323
The Turnpike Troubadours
  • Release date: September 18, 2015
  • Label: Bossier City Records
317325
A Long Way from Your Heart
  • Release date: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Bossier City Records
32011
A Cat in the Rain
  • Release date: August 25, 2023
  • Label: Bossier City
934
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2012"Gin, Smoke, Lies" [29] Brooke McDaniel
2015"Down Here" [30]
2023"Mean Old Sun" [31] Sterlin Harjo

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References

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  2. 1 2 Wofford, Jerry. "Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours talks on the band's success ahead of its Cain's show". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Diamonds & Gasoline". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
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