Turnpike Troubadours

Turnpike Troubadours
Turnpike Troubadours performing in 2023. L–R: Early, Engleman, Pearson (behind drum kit), Edwards, Felker, Nix.
Background information
Origin	Tahlequah, Oklahoma U.S.
Genres	Red dirt honky-tonk Americana neotraditional country country rock roots rock
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	John Fullbright Casey Sliger Chad Masters Giovanni Carnuccio III Luke Savage
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.

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

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions					Sales
		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	14	57	7	3	23	US: 66,000[26]
The Turnpike Troubadours	Release date: September 18, 2015 Label: Bossier City Records	3	17	3	2	5	US: 34,800[27]
A Long Way from Your Heart	Release date: October 20, 2017 Label: Bossier City Records	3	20	1	1	—	US: 29,100[28]
A Cat in the Rain	Release date: August 25, 2023 Label: Bossier City	9	34	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

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

References

1. Liptak, Carena (December 10, 2021). "Who Are the Turnpike Troubadours? A Timeline of the Band's Rise, Hiatus and Return". Country Now. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
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. "Diamonds & Gasoline". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
4. Freeman, Jon (October 30, 2018). "Turnpike Troubadours Cancel Concerts for 'Situation That Needs Our Complete Attention'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
5. Freeman, Jon (May 31, 2019). "Turnpike Troubadours Cancel Tour Dates, Announce Hiatus". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
6. Crutchmer, Josh (May 3, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours Talk Anticipated New Comeback Album and Real Reason Behind the Breakup". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
7. Liebig, Lorie (November 30, 2021). "Turnpike Troubadours Reunite, Announce 2022 Show". The Boot. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
8. "Turnpike Troubadours will play Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa". www.fox23.com. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
9. Crutchmer, Josh (April 9, 2022). "Turnpike Troubadours Reunited to Play Their First Show in 3 Years -- Grown Men Cried". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
10. Crutchmer, Josh (November 30, 2021). "Exclusive: Turnpike Troubadours Talk Unexpected Hiatus, Newfound Sobriety, and Surprise Reunion". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
11. Winograd, Jeremy (August 20, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours 'A Cat in the Rain' Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
12. Freeman, Jon (August 24, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours' Triumphant Return". Spin. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
13. Wickstrom, Matt (August 2, 2022). "CONCERT REVIEW: Turnpike Troubadours' Red Dirt Reunion Rocks Nashville's Ryman Auditorium". The Boot. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
14. Vonder Haar, Pete (May 8, 2022). "The Turnpike Troubadours Bring Red Dirt Country Back To Houston". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
15. Wolgamott, L. Kent (August 25, 2023). "Avett Brothers and Turnpike Troubadours combine for strong arena show in Lincoln". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
16. Crutchmer, Josh (October 9, 2023). "Jason Isbell Says Evan Felker's Comeback Spurred Him to Join Turnpike Troubadours' Arena Shows". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
17. C. Mac, Sam (February 28, 2023). "A guide to all the artists playing the Houston Rodeo this year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
18. Stewart, Allison (January 17, 2019). "Turnpike Troubadours are giving that road thing a go again". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
19. Leggett, Steve. "Turnpike Troubadours Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
20. "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Country Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
    • A Cat in the Rain: "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
21. "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
    • A Cat in the Rain: @billboardcharts (September 5, 2023). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." (Tweet). Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
22. "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Independent Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
23. "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Folk Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
24. "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Rock Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
25. "Bossier City". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
26. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
27. Bjorke, Matt (January 19, 2016). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: January 19, 2016". Roughstock. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
28. Bjorke, Matt (March 27, 2018). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: March 27, 2018". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
29. "CMT : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Gin, Smoke, Lies". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
30. "CMT : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Down Here". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
31. "Mean Old Sun : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Mean Old Sun". Retrieved December 17, 2024.

External links

• Official website