Country music legend Robert Earl Keen may have “retired” from full time touring a couple years back, but that doesn’t mean he’s done for good.
The Houston, TX native best known for timeless hits like “Feeling Good Again” and “The Road Goes on Forever” burned down the road on an extensive farewell tour of sorts during the summer of 2022, after more than 40 years of full time touring, and left many fans thinking that’d be it, that he’d ride off into Lone Star sunset never to be heard from, or at least heard live again. Luckily, that turned out not to be the case, as Keen has played a select number of shows since, and even released a full album titled Western Chill in April 2023.
But if you haven’t listened to the album, you’re not alone. The 14-track record was only released in a physical box set that also featured a live concert DVD in which Keen and company performed the album and an accompanying 92-page graphic novel, among other exclusive supplemental content only to be heard by the dedicated fans who purchased. Luckily, though, Keen is now rolling out a digital release of Western Chill, and the first single hit streaming platforms today.
Written alongside Taylor Lee Titus and Dean Dillon, the latter of whom has famously penned several of George Strait’s biggest hits, Keen’s freshly available track “Let’s Valet” is an on-brand, stripped back country tune with tastefully simple instrumentation, catchy and clever lyricism, and the beloved near-the-border feel that has been present in many of Keen’s hits over the years.
Give it a listen here:
And for reference, here’s the full tracklist for Keen’s forthcoming digital release Western Chill, available everywhere June 7.
“Western Chill”
“Blue Light” (ft. Bill Whetbeck)
“Waves” (ft. Brian Beken)
“Hello Stranger” (ft. Kym Warner)
“The City” (ft. Brian Beken)
“Let’s Valet”
“Balmorhea”
“Marfa”
“Bone and Flowers” (ft. Bill Whetbeck)
“Sweet Summer Rain”
“Mister Mockingbird”
“Mr. Blues on the Run” (ft. Bill Whetbeck)
“Walking On”
“Rippling Waters”
Though not necessary in tandem with the upcoming release of Western Chill, Keen recently announced a relatively limited run of shows in which he and the band will alternate in performing two of his classic albums all the way through – 1997’s Picnic and 2003’s Farm Fresh Onions. Here’s a song from each for reference:
“Undone” – Picinic
“Let the Music Play” – Farm Fresh Onions
I recommend grabbing a ticket while they’re still available, because Robert Earl Keen is one of the most entertaining performers and storytellers country music has to offer.
Tour Dates
5/10-11 – Whitewater Amphitheater – New Braunfels, TX*
5/26 – Lone Star Jam – Round Rock, TX
6/1 – Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN
6/2 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
6/3 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
6/5 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
6/7 – Carolina Theatre – Durham, NC
6/8 – The Ramkat – Winston-Salem, NC
6/9 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA
6/14 – Texas Trust CU Theatre – Grand Prairie, TX
8/6-8/8 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
*supporting Willie Nelson
