Riding off into the sunset.
After a decade in the genre, viciously fighting against bro-country and penning some of the most insane tracks in country history, such as “F**k You B**ch,” “Eatin’ P***y/Kicking A**” and “Drop ‘Em Out,” Wheeler Walker Jr. has officially announced his retirement from country music today.
At this point in his career, I doubt that he truly needs an introduction. However, if you’re somehow unfamiliar with Wheeler, he is a character/singer created by Ben Hoffman, an actor and comedian who has written with the likes of Norm McDonald and starred in shows such as Arrested Development. With that being said, he’s had a long history of being pretty respected among some of the best in the genre, famously appearing with both Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson all the way back in 2018 for a performance of “Sit On My Face.”
Throughout his career, Walker Jr. has scored five #1 albums on Billboard’s Comedy Albums chart, with two of those debuting inside the Top 10 on the Country Albums chart as well. In fact, he’s the first artist ever to simultaneously chart on both upon the release of his debut album, Redneck Sh*t, back in 2016.
Back to the retirement itself, the “Born to F***” singer would say in a statement that he “can’t do this anymore,” before commenting on the fact that every song in Nashville is written by “twelve idiots named Chase,” which is likely a shot at Chase Matthew, who has scored hits with abhorrent songs such as “Darlin'” and “We All Grow Up.” Additionally, he’d joke that he doesn’t want to be around when country music becomes “fully AI.”
“I can’t do this anymore. Every song in Nashville is written by twelve idiots named Chase about trucks they don’t own and farms they never worked on. I really don’t wanna be around when country music becomes fully AI, which sadly will be better than most of the crap they’re putting out now.”
In tandem with his retirement, Walker Jr. announced his final tour, Pullin’ Out: The Farewell Tour, as well as his final album, Pullin’ Out, which will be released on Friday, September 25th.
As for the album, he will once again be working with the legendary Dave Cobb, who has produced the likes of Chris Stapleton’s Traveller, Jason Isbell’s Southeastern, Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds In Country Music, The Red Clay Strays’ Made By These Moments and many more. This will mark the sixth time and final time the pair have teamed up for project.
As for the tour, it will begin on October 15th in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at The Intersection before wrapping up on May 15th in Nashville at the Mother Church itself, The Ryman Auditorium. Along the way, Walker Jr. will be hitting the likes of Los Angeles, Boston, Austin, Detroit, Denver, Seattle and many more cities across the U.S. and Canada on the lengthy set of 58 shows.
In addition to the retirement announcement, new album and tour, Walker Jr. dropped the first single off Pullin’ Out, fittingly titled “F*** This Bar,” which I would embed, but thanks to the explicit nature of the material, YouTube won’t allow me.
Pullin’ Out: The Farewell Tour Dates
Oct. 15: Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Intersection
Oct. 16: Pittsburgh – Roxian Theatre Presented by Citizens
Oct. 17: Beaver Dam, Ky. – Beaver Dam Amphitheater
Oct. 19: Madison, Wisc.- The Sylvee
Oct. 21: Davenport, Iowa – Capitol Theatre
Oct. 22: Detroit – The Fillmore Detroit
Oct. 23: Cincinnati – Bogart’s
Oct. 24: Indianapolis – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Nov. 5: Jordan, N.Y. – Kegs Canalside
Nov. 6: Huntington, N.Y. – The Paramount in concert with Northwell
Nov. 7: New Haven, Conn. – Toad’s Place
Nov. 8: Boston – Citizens House of Blues
Nov. 10: Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick
Nov. 12: Montreal, QC – MTELUS
Nov. 13: Ottawa, ON – HISTORY
Nov. 14: London, ON – London Music Hall
Nov. 15: Toronto, ON – HISTORY
Nov. 17: Sayreville, N.J. – Starland Ballroom
Nov. 19: Columbus, Ohio – The Bluestone
Nov. 20: Cleveland, Ohio – The Agora
Nov. 21: Charles Town, W. Va. – Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Feb. 24: Milwaukee – The Rave / Eagles Club
Feb. 25: St. Louis – The Factory
Feb. 26: Kansas City, Mo. – Uptown Theater
Feb. 27: Denver – Summit Music Hall
Feb. 28: La Vista, Neb. – The Astro Theater
March 2: Tulsa, Okla. – Cain’s Ballroom
March 4: Austin, Texas – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
March 5: Dallas – The Bomb Factory
March 6: Houston – House of Blues Houston
March 7: Corpus Christi, Texas – Brewster Street Icehouse
March 9: Odessa, Texas – Dos Amigos
March 11: Albuquerque, N.M. – Revel
March 12: Tempe, Ariz. – Marquee Theatre
March 13: Del Mar, Calif. – The Sound
March 16: Los Angeles – Troubadour
March 18: Napa, Calif. – Uptown Theatre
March 19: Reno, Nev. – Grand Sierra Resort
March 20: Salt Lake City – The Complex
March 21: Boise, Idaho – Treefort Music Hall
March 23: Eugene, Ore. – McDonald Theatre
March 25: Portland, Ore. – Roseland Theater
March 26: Seattle – Showbox SoDo
March 27: Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
March 30: Kelowna, BC – Kelowna Community Theatre
April 1: Calgary, AB – Event Centre @ Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
April 2: Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
April 3: Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre
April 5: Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
April 7: Green Bay, Wis. – EPIC Event Center
April 8: Minneapolis – First Avenue
April 9: West Des Moines, Iowa – Val Air Ballroom
April 10: Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live
April 22: Richmond, Va. – The National
April 23: Raleigh, N.C. – Bowstring
April 24: Atlanta – The Eastern
May 15: Nashville – Ryman Auditorium
