Dale Watson announces new album 'Call Me Lucky'
Johnny Cash’s former drummer W.S. Holland plays on first offering from Watson’s new album due out February 15, 2019 on Red House Records
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| Dale Watson |
Over the last three decades, Dale Watson has been labeled as everything from alt-country to Ameripolitan. But the most humble description may come from the title of his newest album, CALL ME LUCKY, out February 15 on Red House/Ameripolitan Records. Rolling Stone is premiering a new track from the album, "The Dumb Song," which "mixes a devilish charm with a touch of smarm as he rattles off the bad habits he won’t quit, from drinking and smoking to eating Southern fried chicken." Recorded at historic Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN, the track channels early Johnny Cash and even features Carl Perkins and Cash's former drummer, W.C. Holland, to nail the vintage sound (that's Holland shouting "Yes!" at the end of the song).
LISTEN TO THE DUMB SONG AT ROLLING STONE
A fixture of the Austin, Texas, music scene for years, Watson recorded all but one song on CALL ME LUCKY in Memphis. The album features some of Memphis’ finest as well as Dale’s longtime band, His Lone Stars, and includes a horn section on some of the tracks. In early 2018, he bought a house there and now divides his downtime equally between Texas and Tennessee. He also sold the bars he owned in Texas and purchased the fabled Memphis nightclub Hernando’s Hideaway in an effort to provide a hospitable place for touring musicians to perform.
Throughout CALL ME LUCKY, Watson’s songwriting is so descriptive that you can almost see him cruising into Memphis as he sings “Tupelo Mississippi and a ‘57 Fairlane,” a throwback tune backed by a Memphis-style horn section. Meanwhile, a Hank Williams influence seeps into “Haul Off and Do It,” which is already a favorite in Watson’s live shows. And like the music from his musical heroes, many of the new songs clock in at roughly three minutes long – sometimes less.
“I’ve always been a fan of keeping songs short,” Watson confirms. “Long ago, I went to a library and checked out Tom T. Hall’s How I Write Songs. And in there, he said it’s not about keeping the songs short, it’s keeping the point. Make your point and get out. That’s always been my way of writing. There are some songs I’ve written that go on a bit more like a story, but I guess it’s probably my ADD that I don’t drag it out too much.”
A fixture of the Austin, Texas, music scene for years, Watson recorded all but one song on CALL ME LUCKY in Memphis. The album features some of Memphis’ finest as well as Dale’s longtime band, His Lone Stars, and includes a horn section on some of the tracks. In early 2018, he bought a house there and now divides his downtime equally between Texas and Tennessee. He also sold the bars he owned in Texas and purchased the fabled Memphis nightclub Hernando’s Hideaway in an effort to provide a hospitable place for touring musicians to perform.
Throughout CALL ME LUCKY, Watson’s songwriting is so descriptive that you can almost see him cruising into Memphis as he sings “Tupelo Mississippi and a ‘57 Fairlane,” a throwback tune backed by a Memphis-style horn section. Meanwhile, a Hank Williams influence seeps into “Haul Off and Do It,” which is already a favorite in Watson’s live shows. And like the music from his musical heroes, many of the new songs clock in at roughly three minutes long – sometimes less.
“I’ve always been a fan of keeping songs short,” Watson confirms. “Long ago, I went to a library and checked out Tom T. Hall’s How I Write Songs. And in there, he said it’s not about keeping the songs short, it’s keeping the point. Make your point and get out. That’s always been my way of writing. There are some songs I’ve written that go on a bit more like a story, but I guess it’s probably my ADD that I don’t drag it out too much.”
On CALL ME LUCKY, Watson sings with fondness about his girlfriend, rockabilly singer Celine Lee, on “You Weren’t Supposed to Feel This Good,” while “Mama’s Smile” would have been perfectly suited for a young Elvis. Later, Watson’s electric guitar roars on “Who Needs This Man,” a clever number about finding a date through the personal ads. He concludes the album with “Run Away,” a country-tinged tune that echoes the records Johnny Cash made in Memphis in the 1950s.
Looking ahead, Watson will once again be a featured artist on the sold-out Outlaw Country Cruise joining Margo Price, Lucinda Williams and others. He’ll then gear up for the Sixth Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards in Memphis in February. Founded and operated by Watson, the ambitious event celebrates touring roots artists who write their own music – a winning formula that Watson has embodied for more than 30 years.
“I write a lot. It doesn’t mean I write good songs, but I do write a lot of songs. So I think as with anything, you keep at it and you get better at it. But as for writing just a simple country song, I can accept that I’m good at that,” Watson says. “I’m just really, really grateful to be able to do what I do for a living, for as long as I’ve been doing it.”
Look for Spring 2019 US tour dates and a UK tour in May to be announced soon.
Looking ahead, Watson will once again be a featured artist on the sold-out Outlaw Country Cruise joining Margo Price, Lucinda Williams and others. He’ll then gear up for the Sixth Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards in Memphis in February. Founded and operated by Watson, the ambitious event celebrates touring roots artists who write their own music – a winning formula that Watson has embodied for more than 30 years.
“I write a lot. It doesn’t mean I write good songs, but I do write a lot of songs. So I think as with anything, you keep at it and you get better at it. But as for writing just a simple country song, I can accept that I’m good at that,” Watson says. “I’m just really, really grateful to be able to do what I do for a living, for as long as I’ve been doing it.”
Look for Spring 2019 US tour dates and a UK tour in May to be announced soon.
For Dale’s full tour schedule, please visit www.dalewatson.com.
Track Listing:
1. Call Me Lucky
2. The Dumb Song
3. Johnny And June
4. Tupelo Mississippi And A '57 Fairline
5. Haul Off And Do It
6. Restless
7. David Buckskimper
8. Inside View
9. You Weren't Supposed To Feel This Good
10. Mama's Smile
11. Who Needs This Man
KIND WORDS
“Watson infuses every track with unashamedly blue-collar, grass roots honesty.” – American Songwriter
"He’s spent the past two decades proving there are still powerful tales to be told from the honky-tonk pulpit, and he's brought that message to the faithful.” – The Nashville Scene
“I’m one of Dale’s biggest fans.” – Willie Nelson
“His objective importance lies in his priceless role as devoted counter to insipid pop-country.” – No Depression
TOUR DATES
Nov 21 - Fredericksburg, TX - Luckenbach Dance Hall
Nov 22 - Austin, TX - Continental Club
Nov 24 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Nov 30 - McKinney, TX - Hanks Bar and Grill
Dec 6 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Dec 11 - Las Vegas, NV - Gilley's Saloon at Treasure Hall
Dec 13 - Austin, TX - Palmer Events Center
Dec 14 - Austin, TX - Continental Club
Dec 15 - Dripping Springs, TX - Mercer Street Dance Hall
Dec 20 - Wimberly, TX - Wimberly Methodist Church
Dec 22 - Austin, TX - White Horse
Dec 28 - Houston, TX - Rockefellers
Dec 29 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Dec 30 - Turkey, TX - Bob Wills Event Center
Dec 31 - Fort Worth, TX - Longhorn Saloon
Jan 3 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 5 - Coupland, TX - Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall
Jan 10 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 12 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Jan 17 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 18 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
Jan 19 - San Angelo, TX - Wells Fargo Pavilion
Jan 25 - Bartlett, TN - Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center
Jan 26 - Tampa, FL - Skipper's Smokehouse
Jan 27 - Tampa, FL - Norwegian Cruise Line
Feb 15 - Fredericksburg, TX - Luckenbach Dance Hall
Feb 16 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Nov 22 - Austin, TX - Continental Club
Nov 24 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Nov 30 - McKinney, TX - Hanks Bar and Grill
Dec 6 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Dec 11 - Las Vegas, NV - Gilley's Saloon at Treasure Hall
Dec 13 - Austin, TX - Palmer Events Center
Dec 14 - Austin, TX - Continental Club
Dec 15 - Dripping Springs, TX - Mercer Street Dance Hall
Dec 20 - Wimberly, TX - Wimberly Methodist Church
Dec 22 - Austin, TX - White Horse
Dec 28 - Houston, TX - Rockefellers
Dec 29 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Dec 30 - Turkey, TX - Bob Wills Event Center
Dec 31 - Fort Worth, TX - Longhorn Saloon
Jan 3 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 5 - Coupland, TX - Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall
Jan 10 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 12 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
Jan 17 - Austin, TX - The Highball
Jan 18 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
Jan 19 - San Angelo, TX - Wells Fargo Pavilion
Jan 25 - Bartlett, TN - Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center
Jan 26 - Tampa, FL - Skipper's Smokehouse
Jan 27 - Tampa, FL - Norwegian Cruise Line
Feb 15 - Fredericksburg, TX - Luckenbach Dance Hall
Feb 16 - Austin, TX - Broken Spoke
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