As a huge fan of Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling, I’ve always admired the way his shows like Yellowstone and Landman (which I’m watching right now and absolutely loving) weave authentic, salt-of-the-earth country music into their soundtrack. It’s through his shows I discovered Whiskey Myers. They were featured on an episode of Yellowstone as the house band playing in a bar. Sheridan’s choice to spotlight bands like this help flesh out his stories that really brings them to life. He’s one of the best at building a soundtrack that becomes a part of the story, similar to Shonda Rhimes’ work on Grey’s Anatomy and James Gunn’s work on Guardians of the Galaxy.
But back to Whiskey Myers. Their 2011 album Firewater is a perfect entry point into the band. The album is steeped in storytelling that captures the pride, struggle, and complexity of modern Southern life. Lyrical gems like “Ballad of a Southern Man” confront this cultural identity with both vulnerability and a whole helluva lot of defiance. The band’s blend of Southern rock, country, and blues delivers a sound that makes me think of an updated version of 1970’s Lynyrd Skynrd who can go from heavy to sentimental in the blink of an eye. It’s a fitting soundtrack for Sheridan’s rugged, Western worlds I’ve fallen in love with over the past five years.
Standout Songs: “Ballad Of A Southern Man”, “Broken Window Serenade”, “Turn It Up”, “Virginia”
