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January 30, 2019: Memphis, TN: Over his lengthy career, honky-tonk
artist Dale
Watson has found songwriting inspiration in
real-life situations and his interractions with fans. A chance email
Watson received from Texas fan David Buxkemper led to the
aforementioned "truckin' farmer" being immortalized in his
namesake song, which appears on CALL ME LUCKY, Watson's
February 15 release on Red House Records.
"Him and his granddad would watch Hee Haw, and
loved listening to truckin' songs as they were doing their
farming," Watson tells The
Boot. "So I wrote back and asked him to expound a
little bit, because he had inspired me to write a song. He ended up
telling me that he was an illegal truck driver two days out of the
year. He kinda has to sneak his crop out twice a year, because he doesn't
have the license for it," Watson added. "So I thought it
was a great story, and with a name like that -- David Buxkemper?! You
can't make that up."
Over the last three decades, Dale Watson has
been labeled as everything from alt-country to Ameripolitan. But the
most humble description may come from the title of his newest album, CALL ME LUCKY. A
fixture of the Austin, Texas, music scene for years, Watson
recorded all but one song on the album at historic Sam Phillips
Recording in
Memphis, TN. The album features some of Memphis’ finest as well as
Dale’s longtime band, His Lone Stars, and includes a horn section on
some of the tracks. In early 2018, he bought a house there and now
divides his downtime equally between Texas and Tennessee. He also
sold the bars he owned in Texas and purchased the fabled Memphis
nightclub Hernando’s Hideaway in an effort to provide a hospitable
place for touring musicians to perform.
Throughout CALL
ME LUCKY, Watson’s songwriting is so descriptive that you
can almost see him cruising into Memphis as he sings “Tupelo
Mississippi and a ‘57 Fairlane,” a throwback tune backed by a
Memphis-style horn section. Meanwhile, a Hank Williams influence
seeps into “Haul Off and Do It,” which is already a favorite in
Watson’s live shows. And like the music from his musical heroes, many
of the new songs clock in at roughly three minutes long – sometimes
less.
“I’ve always been a fan of keeping songs short,” Watson confirms.
“Long ago, I went to a library and checked out Tom T. Hall’s How I Write Songs.
And in there, he said it’s not about keeping the songs short, it’s
keeping the point. Make your point and get out. That’s always been my
way of writing. There are some songs I’ve written that go on a bit
more like a story, but I guess it’s probably my ADD that I don’t drag
it out too much.”
Watson featured artist on the sold-out Outlaw Country Cruise joining
Margo Price, Lucinda Williams and others. He’ll then gear up for the
Sixth Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards in Memphis in February.
Founded and operated by Watson, the ambitious event celebrates
touring roots artists who write their own music – a winning formula
that Watson has embodied for more than 30 years.
“I write a lot. It doesn’t mean I write good songs, but I do write a
lot of songs. So I think as with anything, you keep at it and you get
better at it. But as for writing just a simple country song, I can
accept that I’m good at that,” Watson says. “I’m just really, really
grateful to be able to do what I do for a living, for as long as I’ve
been doing it.”
Track Listing:
1. Call Me Lucky
2. The Dumb Song
3. Johnny And June
4. Tupelo Mississippi And A '57 Fairline
5. Haul Off And Do It
6. Restless
7. David Buckskimper
8. Inside View
9. You Weren't Supposed To Feel This Good
10. Mama's Smile
11. Who Needs This Man
KIND WORDS
“Honky tonk
hero recalls a celebratory Johnny Cash … very enjoyable”– MOJO
“…this album is a
toe tapping treat for anyone who likes a large helping of down home
honesty in their country music….get yourself a copy of this album,
it’s one of Dale’s best and a great addition to any collection of
good country listening” – Country Music People
“Watson mixes a
devilish charm with a touch of smarm” – Rolling Stone
“Watson infuses
every track with unashamedly blue-collar, grass roots honesty.” – American Songwriter
"He’s spent
the past two decades proving there are still powerful tales to be
told from the honky-tonk pulpit, and he's brought that
message to the faithful.” – The Nashville
Scene
“I’m one of
Dale’s biggest fans.” – Willie Nelson
“His objective
importance lies in his priceless role as devoted counter to insipid
pop-country.” – No
Depression
TOUR DATES
2/1/2019 Continental Club-
Austin, TX
2/2/2019 The 4 Star Concert Hall - Brenham, TX
2/2/2019 Confederate Square - Gonzales, TX
2/14/2019 Gruene Hall - New Braunfels, TX
2/15/2019 Luckenbach Dance Hall - Fredericksburg, TX
2/16/2019 Broken Spoke - Austin, TX
2/23/2019 Blues City Cafe - Memphis, TX
3/1/2019 Longhorn Saloon - Fort Worth, TX
3/2/2019 The Broken Spoke - Austin, TX
3/6/2019 Rollins Studio Theatre - Austin, TX
3/8/2019 Continental Club - Houston, TX
3/9/2019 Honky Tonk Texas - Silsbee, TX
3/12/2019 Gsdm- Austin, TX
3/13/2019 Daryl's House - Pawling, NY
3/14/2019 The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
3/15/2019 Roxy & Dukes Roadhouse - Dunellen, NJ
3/16/2019 Murmrr Ballroom - Brooklyn, NY
3/17/2019 My Father's Place - Roslyn, NY
3/18/2019 The Locks at Sona - Philadelphia, PA
3/19/2019 Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
3/20/2019 Godfrey Daniels - Bethlehem, PA
3/21/2019 Creative Alliance - Baltimore, MD
3/22/2019 Hard Rock Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
3/23/2019 Circuit of the Americas - Del Valle, TX
4/5/2019 Continental Club - Austin, TX
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