Ian Noe is pulling ZERO punches on this new record.
For all intents and purposes, Appalachia has become one of the epicenters for today’s biggest and brightest stars in the flourishing independent/alternative scene. Of course, you have the staples of the genre such as Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton hailing from Kentucky.
With that being said, however, once you expand out and include the likes of both Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, it truly shows just how talented the region is, with other stellar acts such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Sierra Ferrell, 49 Winchester, Brit Taylor, Cole Chaney, Ole 60, John R. Miller, Low Gap, Nolan Taylor and many more hailing from the region.
One artist who has continually flown under the radar is none other than Ian Noe.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Kentucky native, there was a time when it felt like he was going to be the next big thing flying out of the alternative country scene. This was thanks to his phenomenal debut album, Between the Country, back in 2019, which contains phenomenal tracks such as “Letter to Madeline,” “Meth Head,” “Dead on the River (Rolling Down)” and more. Since then, however, he’s only released one album, River Fools & Mountain Saints, in 2022.
That all changed today with the release of his third studio album, Canyon Falls Trailer Band, which is described a 16-track concept album which follows the titular, fictional band who will “perform for one night only as a showcase seeking industry approval.”
Given how inherent the frustration with the music industry is with many artists such as Noe and his Appalachian counterparts, it was album that’s ripe with potential, commentary and stellar storytelling – especially from a writer like Noe. And it’s safe to say he delivered it tenfold.
Simply put, Canyon Falls Trailer Band is yet another contender for 2026 Album of the Year, being chalked full of gorgeous bluegrass-inspired instrumentation and stellar storytelling from the Kentucky native, highlighted by tracks such as “Kentucky Hurricane,” “Bible Country,” “Leeann,” “She’s Familiar (In the Strangest Ways)” and more.
With that being said, however, there’s one song in particular that caught everyone’s attention: none other than “Kickin’ It In Nashville.”
As the album’s closer, the track takes aim at the current state of the genre and Music City, particularly the homogenized nature of the country radio. After a laying down three verses, which criticizes how country radio likes to play it safe with songs that aren’t “too short or too long” and major labels that prey upon young artists who are simply trying to follow their dreams of making it in music, Noe name-checks some of the biggest artists in the game currently in the chorus.
Coming out firing, the “Letters to Madeline” singer immediately fires at Ernest, HARDY, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, essentially calling them out as a group of wannabe George Jones’s.
“It’s the home of Ernie and HARDY
Morgan and old Luke Combs
Just because you like to party
Don’t make ‘ya George Jones”
Though it doesn’t appear to be directed at the aforementioned group, Noe then goes on to criticize artists who have had their careers bought-and-paid-for throughout the years, remarking that their daddies had some money to burn and paid for a song to be cut on an album.
Said you had a big cut on a record
After daddy had a little bit to burn
That’s when all the rivers dried like the desert
That’s when every road took some might dark turns ”
In case the callout on the song wasn’t enough, Noe and Co. would then take to Nashville and erect a billboard on Church Street in Nashville near the intersection on 9th Avenue that bears the chorus’ lyrics calling out Ernest, HARDY, Wallen and Combs.
For someone who is notoriously social media-hesitant and quiet as Noe is between shows and projects, it’s undoubtedly an unexpected move from the Kentucky native. And honestly, it comes off a pretty unnecessary and petty (especially the billboard and the PR email that says “don’t sleep on this beef.”) This was in the press release:
“With lyrics namechecking HARDY, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs before quipping that liking to party doesn’t make you George Jones, the song takes thinly veiled, comedic pot shots at some of Nashville’s biggest stars.”
Cool, man…
Look, I understand that there’s a lot of lame music in the mainstream, but to go after some of the most accomplished acts in the business, the guys who have really carved out their own lanes in the industry and are now selling out stadiums… when you’re someone as relatively unknown as Ian Noe, you’re just pissing in the wind. Ian is a great songwriter… let the music do the talking.
Only time will tell how the song and billboard age in the eyes of the public, but based on early reactions in our Instagram comments, it seems as if he’s not making any new fans with this high-profile callout of some of the genre (and Nashville’s) biggest stars.
“Kickin’ It In Nashville”
Canyon Falls Trailer Band Tracklist
1.) Canyon Falls Trailer Band
2.) The Heidelberg Fisherman’s Ball
3.) Tobacco Moon
4.) She’s Familiar (In the Strangest Ways)
5.) Kentucky Hurricane
6.) What I’d Give
7.) Redneck Mess
8.) Antarctica
9.) Another Night Like That
10.) Bible County
11.) Leeann
12.) Return of the Interstellar Angels
13.) Whiskey to Work
14.) Jukebox Blues (For Blaze Foley)
15.) Dixie Speed
16.) Kickin’ It in Nashville
