Everything you’d want out of a deluxe edition (and more).
These days, it seems like folk-country is all the rage. While, of course, Zach Bryan blew the entire subgenre into the stratosphere with his meteoric rise over the past five years, there have been plenty of stellar artists that toe the line between genres popping up seemingly weekly. With names like Sam Barber, Dylan Gossett, Wyatt Flores and more dominating with a rootsy, folk-inspired take on alternative country, Evan Honer is another name that simply shouldn’t be overlooked.
Though you can argue that a bulk of the Arizona native’s discography exists somewhere between alternative and folk, he has delivered some jaw-dropping songwriting moments that adhere fairly close to country over the years.
After breaking out in a big way in 2022 with a killer cover of Tyler Childers’ iconic, unreleased “Jersey Giant,” Honer would follow that up with a rock-solid debut album in 2023 with West on I-10. In 2024, he’d up the ante and drop his phenomenal sophomore album, Fighting For. In a year filled with stellar releases from the likes of Sturgill Simpson, Zach Top, The Red Clay Strays and many more, the record proved that he could hang with the best in the alt. country scene. In particular, “Mr. Meyers,” “Take Me As I Come” (featuring Wyatt Flores), “Greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma” and “I Hope That’s All You Need” are some standouts that let his ability to deliver some absolute gut-punches lyrically shine through.
Last year, Honer would follow up Fighting For with his third album in three years with the release of his junior album, Everything I Wanted. Once again, the Arizona native proved why he’s one of the premier songwriters in the subgenre, grappling with the desire to settle down while he lives his life on the road as a musician in his mid-20s.
Though there are still some folk-country songs present throughout, Everything I Wanted ultimately sees Honer experimenting with a more alternative and indie-pop sound. While that may be off-putting to some of the staunch traditionalists out there, it’s ultimately still a rock-solid effort thanks to his storytelling ability. After Everything I Wanted’s September 19th release, Honer would follow it up with reimagined versions of both the title track with indie rock band, Flipturn, and “Lose A Friend” with Winyah, another indie rock band from South Carolina.
Just a week after re-releasing “Lose A Friend” with Winyah, Honer would take to Instagram yesterday to announce that a deluxe edition of the record, aptly titled Everything I Wanted (& more), is out today with three brand new songs,
In the Instagram caption, Honer would note that he felt the three brand new songs should ultimately live on Everything I Wanted rather than being a collection of singles or an EP. He’d also tell fans that he’ll be taking his time with his next record, saying this will be his last release for “a little bit.”
“I felt that these songs should live on this project and not anywhere else. Very excited to move on and create the next thing whatever that may be. This will probably be my last release for a little bit so I just wanna say thank you for listening.”
As for the three new songs, they consist of “Die A Drunk,” “Lying To Your Face” featuring the up-and-coming folk singer from Nashville, Sierra Carson, and “For Myself.”
“Die A Drunk,” which is undoubtedly the lyrical standout on the deluxe edition, is easily one of the best songs on this project as a whole. Lamenting on his attempt to get sober, Honer grapples with his family’s history of addiction. Noting how his father finally got sober, he’d take aim at his grandfather and his inability to ever shake the addiction in the chorus, proclaiming he’s nothing like him.
“I can’t die a drunk
Spent too long cutting in my tongue
On bottles made a glass
This low ain’t meant to last
I am nothing like him
Say it twice so I will buy it
Passing down the shame
That’s buried in my name”
In “Lying To Your Face,” Honer and Carson battle a failing relationship, touching on distrust throughout the unique track. Easily being one of the most stripped-back, modern folk-sounding songs on the record, the pair sound incredible together.
Finally, Honer puts emphasis on mental health and self-worth on the closing track, “For Myself.” Escaping a toxic, co-dependent relationship, the “Take Me As I Come” singer reflects on losing himself trying to keep a love from dying.
“I know that I fell out of touch with checking in and keeping up
I can’t even do that for myself
I’m getting good at losing track of who I am and where I’m at trying to be somebody else”
Overall, Everything I Wanted (& more) rounds out the 2025 record incredibly well. Though I don’t think it has quite the legs that Fighting For has for traditional fans of country, it’s another impressive effort from Honer. If you’re a fan of his alternative stylings in the past, this album is nothing short of a must-listen.
“Die A Drunk”
“Lying To Your Face”
“For Myself”
It’s A Long Road Tour Dates
3/2 – WORKPLAY – Birmingham, AL *
3/3 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA *
3/5 – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL *
3/6 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC *
3/7 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC &
3/9 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC &
3/10 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA &
3/11 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA &
3/13 – Webster Hall – New York, NY &
3/14 – Royale – Boston, MA &
3/16 – The Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON @
3/17 – Bronson Centre – Ottawa, ON @
3/19 – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI @
3/20 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL @
3/21 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN @
3/26 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT ^
3/27-28 – Treefort Music Fest – Boise, ID
3/28 – The ELM – Bozeman, MT ^
3/30 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC ^
3/31 – Showbox – Seattle, WA ^
4/1 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR ^
4/3 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA ^
4/4 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
4/5 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA #
4/7 – Orpheum Theater – Flagstaff, AZ #
4/10 – La Rosa – Tucson, AZ #
4/11 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ #
4/15 – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK #
4/16 – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall – Dallas, TX #
4/18 – Two Step Inn – Georgetown, TX
* harf.
& Nicholas Jamerson
@ Michal Leah
^ Sam Burchfield
# Timmy Skelly
