2016 the album from the Randy rogers Band called “Nothing Shines Like Neon” made a huge impact on my TOP 50 OF 2016 list, and attracted major attention from so many media sources there was no question he was a self made powerhouse. Since then he has been heavily touring with Mr. Wade Bowen and others, playing a TON of tour dates, so it’s no wonder that it has been a few years since we heard a new album from him. We will have a full review up in time.
This portion was taken from his Publicity Representative that sent us the press release:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 21, 2019) — Randy Rogers Band announces the release of its new 11-track album Hellbent on April 26. Produced by four-time GRAMMY-winner Dave Cobb, Hellbent marks the band’s eighth studio album in almost 19 years, offering another dose of high-octane country music fueled by the group’s unique brotherhood, deep history, and fearless spirit.
The band’s first single “Crazy People” — at radio on February 15 — reflects a unique aspect of Rogers’ life growing up.
“I used to be scared of neon signs at restaurants because it had been drilled in my head that people were drinking and therefore, they were crazy,” he says, recalling his strict upbringing. “We took the irony and had some fun with it.”
For nearly two decades, Randy Rogers Band has featured the same lineup. This makes the group an anomaly in a business where bandmates come and go. What’s even more rare is Randy Rogers Band’s homegrown success on the road, where the Texas-based musicians have built a diverse, loyal audience that stretches far beyond the limits of their home state.
Last year alone, the “perpetual live favorite” (Rolling Stone) played sold-out shows coast-to-coast in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Seattle and more, with more than 50 shows to over 60,000 fans outside of Texas, and earned more than 97 Million Pandora Spins in 2018.
Hellbent builds upon that remarkable growth, capturing the energy and collaborative chemistry of the band’s live performances over nearly a dozen studio tracks.
“The guarantee of good music and a good time is what keeps fans coming back,” writes the New York Times, noting the shared passion between Randy Rogers Band’s six members. Another longtime fan of the group is Cobb, (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, “A Star Is Born”), who recorded Hellbent at RCA Studio A in Nashville.
Hellbent offers the full range of Randy Rogers Band’s countrified attack. On “You, Me and a Bottle,” Rogers delivers a love song to his wife. On “Hell Bent On a Heartache,” he tips his hat to songwriting idol Guy Clark, who wrote the track alongside Chris and Morgane Stapleton while “Wine in a Coffee Cup” paints a detailed picture of a high-powered woman taking on the business world. There’s humor, heartbreak, twang, and classic storytelling, all performed by a band of lifelong collaborators and co-writers whose chemistry has only deepened with time.
Hellbent also represents the latest chapter in Rogers’ multi-faceted career — a career that’s made good use of his musical and business skills. A college graduate with a degree in public relations, Rogers is also the co-owner of several Texas venues, including Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas, where George Strait began building a fan base in his early career. Additionally, he’s a founding partner in Big Blind Management, steering the careers of Red Shahan and Parker McCollum along the way. A fan of collaboration both inside and out of his own band, Rogers has partnered with friend Wade Bowen on the infectious Hold My Beer projects and joined forces with Lone Star legend Robert Earl Keen as The Stryker Brothers. He recently joined Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker to sing on Michael Martin Murphey’s Austinology album.
With Hellbent, though, Rogers returns to his primary priority: the band’s own music.
“We’re in it for the long haul,” he says of his band. “We’re lifers. This is obviously our way of life. This isn’t some Johnny-come-lately group of guys. We’re like an oak tree. We’re not going anywhere. We’re not hinged on whether our next single will be a No.1. We’re not hinged on an album topping the charts. We have a great and loyal fan base and we do things right. When we play our shows, people expect to have a great night and to go home satisfied. As long as we keep doing that, no change in the industry, no record deal or anything like that can make or break this band.”
The full track list for Randy Rogers Band’s Hellbent:
1. “Drinking Money”
2. “I’ll Never Get Over You”
3. “Anchors Away”
4. “Comal County”
5. “Hell Bent on a Heartache”
6. “You, Me, and a Bottle”
7. “We Never Made It to Mexico”
8. “Crazy People”
9. “Fire in the Hole”
10. “Wine in a Coffee Cup”
11. “Good One Coming On”
Here are the Randy Rogers Band’s upcoming tour dates:
March 29 – Helotes, TX @ Floore’s Country Store
March 30 – Helotes, TX @ Floore’s Country Store
April 6 – Snook, TX @ Starlight Ballroom
April 12 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
April 13 – Lubbock, TX @ The Blue Light
April 19 – Greenville, TX @ Hunt County Fair
April 25 – Stephenville, TX @ Melody Mountain Ranch
May 3 – Texarkana, TX @ Scottie’s Grill
May 10 – Lincoln, NE @ The Railyard
May 11 – Iowa City, IA @ First Avenue Club
May 24 – Biloxi, MS @ IP Casino Resort Spa – Studio A
May 31 – Ruidoso, NM @ Wingfield Park
June 1 – Graham, TX @ Young County Arena
June 29 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theater
