Turnpike Troubadours Review

Turnpike Troubadours create music that feels both uniquely theirs and deeply familiar, their songs filled with hilarious details from small-town Oklahoma life.

Evan Felker leads this band comprised of guitarist Ryan Engleman, bassist RC Edwards and drummer Gabe Pearson as well as steel guitar player Hank Early from Oklahoma’s Red Dirt scene to become one of the top Americana bands today.

Frontman Evan Felker

Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker is widely recognized for his innovative songwriting. With emotive vocals and tight instrumental melodies that bring his songs to life, Evan tells stories that are relatable to all audiences with an unconventional yet classic country sound that everyone enjoys listening to.

After an extended hiatus, the band has reunited. Members include bassist RC Edwards, lead guitarist Ryan Engleman, fiddle player Kyle Nix and drummer Gabe Pearson; in addition to this new lineup Felker has achieved sobriety and addressed his alcohol abuse issues successfully.

Now back on tour and preparing to release their next album, it is wonderful seeing them back together again. Their music is excellent and they have many fans. Their performance would do very well in any setting from Oklahoma back porches to country music festivals – this band should definitely be kept an eye on.

Bassist R.C. Edwards

Turnpike Troubadours had become one of the premier Americana bands with five genre-defining albums released and an army of loyal fans; yet when frontman Evan Felker began spiraling into addiction, Turnpike Troubadours decided to suspend touring until “we feel that all members are healthy in mind, body, and spirit”.

Edwards has not remained quiet about his displeasure with Felker’s actions, which contributed to the hiatus. Yet at the same time he’s been quietly working on creating their next album set for release later this year.

Turnpike presents an honest and vulnerable portrait of the fallout from Felker’s spiral and the subsequent self-improvement that occurred while they were apart, musical themes about maturing into your age without the aid of crutches from youth providing poignancy that fans haven’t heard from Turnpike before; country duo Muscadine Bloodline will act as their regular opening act since returning.

Drummer Gabe Pearson

The name of The 38’s band reflects their roots: in part it was inspired by Oklahoma toll roads (such as Cherokee and Kickapoo turnpikes), while also paying homage to folk heroes like Woody Guthrie. Furthermore, most members are from Oklahoma with strong ties to Texas country music scenes; Nix, Pomeroy and Pearson as well as multi-instrumentalist Adam Duran and bassist Bill Corbin all belong.

Turnpike Troubadours stand apart from traditional country-rock outfits with their gritty lead vocals, tight instrumental melodies, and emotive songwriting from lead singer/guitarist Felker’s gritty lead vocals, tight instrumental melodies, and emotive songwriting by way of vocalist/guitarist Felker’s gritty lead vocals, tight instrumental melodies, evocative songwriting capabilities and emotive songwriting of frontman Jeff Felker. Following the success of their junior project Mean Old Sun in 2022 was another banner year for them, playing larger venues such as Cain’s Ballroom in Tula and Red Rocks Amphitheater Colorado before recording new album A Long Way From Your Heart which debuted as part of an ode to modern rural life; its blend of populist political folk of Woody Guthrie with Waylon Jennings outlaw-styled honky tonk along with bluegrass, Cajun rock dynamics made this album an ode to modern rural life as seen through Bluegrass Cajun rock dynamics as well as bluegrass Cajun rock dynamics as part of modern rural life!

Accordion player Hank Early

Turnpike Troubadours of Tahlequah, Oklahoma have won fans through their story-driven country music for more than just its lyrics; rather they’ve built up an extremely loyal following over their career as five musicians that form an ensemble sound.

Bossier City Records was launched in 2007 with their debut album Goodbye Normal Street and A Long Way From Your Heart reaching the Top 10 on both Billboard 200 and Country Album charts that year.

Turnpike Troubadours stand as an example of integrity in an age where most are out to make themselves a name in life. After an 11-year hiatus that ended with 2021’s hiatus of A Cat in the Rain LP release – an honest and heartfelt collection of raw narratives that celebrate everyday blue-collar life.