Kyle Nix is far more than just a world class fiddle player… he can write songs with the best of them, too, as heard in his latest album After the Flood, Vol. 1.
Known by many as a member of the Turnpike Troubadours, Nix is one of the greatest fiddle players of all time, and is an integral piece of Turnpike’s signature sound.
Just last week, Nix and Turnpike packed out shows at the Beacon Theater in New York City before playing the York State Fair in Pennsylvania and opening for Luke Combs at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. To cap off that five day run, the Turnpike Troubadours burned down the Newport Folk Festival with a set that featured a Tyler Childers sit-in for their classic “The Bird Hunters” and a cover of John Prine’s “Paradise.”
If you’re at all familiar with Turnpike, then you know Kyle Nix was sawing away, bringing the energy at each show. But what you may not know yet, is that Nix is also the frontman of his own band Kyle Nix & the 38’s, and this past Friday, in the midst of these shows, they released their record After the Flood, Vol. 1.
And let me tell you, this record is awesome. Proof of Nix’s impressive songwriting prowess, it’s country music in its truest form.
If you’ve followed Nix’s career at all over the last few years, then you’re likely familiar with his 2020 solo project Lightning on the Mountain & Other Short Stories, a cleverly written concept album full of fictitious tales and entertaining storylines. Since then, the Turnpike Troubadours have gotten back together, and with a mild touring schedule, Nix found the time to create his full band Kyle Nix & the 38’s.
Aside from Nix as the main songwriter, fiddle player, and vocalist, the 38’s includes Ken Pomeroy on guitar and vocals, former American Aquarium bassist Bill Corbin, Turnpike Troubadours drummer Gabe Pearson, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kevin Haystack” Foster, and Adam Duran contributing vocals and guitar as well. An all star cast of musicians, Kyle Nix & the 38’s didn’t just record a spectacular album, but they play the songs even better live.
Nix’s second record and first with the 38’s, After the Flood, Vol. 1 is an extremely introspective and personal record written during an especially vulnerable time in Nix’s life. The Turnpike Troubadours were on an indefinite hiatus, Covid was making things nearly impossible for musicians to thrive, and Nix’s mentor and best friend, fiddle legend Byron Berline, had passed away in summer 2021.
As Nix tried to come to terms with everything going on in his life, he admittedly leaned too much on the bottle to alter his difficult reality, and by summer 2022, Nix’s relationship with his wife had unraveled toward divorce following nearly a decade together.
Putting pen to paper to reflect the last couple of years and in an effort to articulate his feelings, Nix wrote his way out of the darkest time in his life, and the result is 13 original tracks full of cleverly poignant lyricism and sonically adventurous instrumentation. While this album may have come from a dark, lonely place for Nix, it’s just further proof that diamonds form from pressure, and After the Flood, Vol. 1 is a country music gem.
Here’s a few of my early favorites:
“5 Ft & Bulletproof”
“Hell & Half of Georgia”
“One More Thing”
“Train to Tennessee”
“Another Bad Dream”
