It’s been rumored, it’s been leaked, it’s been announced, and now, it’s been played live…
Since their return, the Turnpike Troubadours have pretty much stuck to the tried and true catalogue that made them one of, if not the best country band on the face of the planet.
But it seems like that won’t be the case much longer.
The band has played a couple unreleased songs since Evan Felker confirmed new music is on the way while headlining Red Rocks a year ago, including one called “Cat In The Rain”, but now we get to hear a song that got the world buzzing when it accidentally made its way onto TouchTunes a few weeks ago.
“Mean Old Sun” is the first track officially announced for the Tahlequah, Oklahoma band since their triumphant return to the Cain’s Ballroom stage in April of last year, and while we heard a few snippets that lucky bargoers were able to catch before it was pulled, we now get to hear the song in its entirety, thanks to a great video taken at Stagecoach.
The performance was streamed live on Amazon Music and one fan did the world a favor by saving it and putting it up on YouTube for us all to enjoy.
Spoiler alert: It’s fantastic.
It’s a self-revealing tale of hard times, survival, and pure persistence through and through.
The wild life of Evan and the band can be felt in every line:
“Empty promises I’ve given
Hollow heart beats in my chest
And every word a sterling silver
Stirs butterflies beneath your breast
Head along for the wall now honey
Still coming up like a rose
Dead still in the garden
Waiting for the reveille
And the dawn is yet to dry the dew
From all my Sunday clothes
That mean old sun better rise up soon
If it’s ever gonna set on me “
If you had any doubts that the band wouldn’t be the same, this will put your mind at ease.
What a way to kick off a Monday, let’s have a week.
