What It Is, the highly-anticipated new album from acclaimed singer/songwriter Hayes Carll, is set for release on February 15th via Dualtone Music. Carll will hit the road in February in support of the new album (see tour dates below). Following the 2016 release of the deeply-personal and cathartic Lovers and Leavers, What It Is finds Carll rejuvenated on a new creative plateau. The 12 new songs are written/co-written by Carll and address topics ranging from the ever-changing arc of relationships to our current socio-political climate, and many points between. Carll’s signature blend of literate, thoughtful songwriting, delivered with his wry wit and clever twists are on full display throughout the new collection.
For more than a decade, Hayes Carll has been highly-regarded by fans, critics and fellow artists as a songwriter’s songwriter with his own voice. He has won multiple Americana Music Awards, received a Grammy nomination, repeatedly topped the Americana radio charts, performed on national television including The Tonight Show and Austin City Limits and has had his songs recorded by artists that include Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Willis and Hard Working Americans. His albums have garnered high praise from a wide spectrum of the press, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, SPIN, People, Esquire, American Songwriter, Paste and many more.
On What It Is, Hayes Carll offers acerbic observations and pointed commentary on current relatable topics. The incendiary political climate that has permeated our nation has pushed too many to the far left or far right, while Carll makes an effort to expand the middle. The sardonic “Wild Pointy Finger” looks at how quickly we judge and condemn. “Fragile Men” points to insecurity as the root of one gender’s resistance to change, while “Times Like These” is a reminder that we are letting all the ‘noise’ out there pull us further away from who we are, thus further dividing us.
What It Is is not solely a politically driven effort. Carll sings about loss while painting a vivid image of a bar where nothing has changed in decades in “Jesus and Elvis”. He ruminates about eccentric love in “None’ya”, reminds himself to not let fear become a mental roadblock in “If I May Be So Bold” and affirms his commitment to love in the tender album closer ”I Will Stay”.
Hayes Carll opens himself up to collaborations on What It Is, featuring co-writes with Matraca Berg, Adam Landry, Lolo, Charlie Mars and Allison Moorer. Moorer is also credited as co-producer with Brad Jones returns after producing Carll’s award winning albums Trouble in Mind (2008) and KMAG YOYO (2011).
Photo credit: David McClister
HAYES CARLL 2019 TOUR DATES
January 5 – Steamboat Springs, CO – The Music Fest
February 15 – Houston, TX – Continental Club
February 16 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
February 21 – Austin, TX – Continental Club
February 23 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Nightclub
February 27 – Denton, TX – Dan’s SilverLeaf
February 28 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater
March 1 – Fort Worth, TX – Magnolia Motor Lounge
March 28 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
March 29 – Minneapolis, MN – The Cedar Cultural Center
March 30 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
March 31 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Blind Pig
April 1 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
April 3 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom
April 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
April 5 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
April 6 – Washington D.C. – City Winery
April 9 – Nelsonville, OH – Stuart’s Opera House
April 10 – Louisville, KY – Headliner’s Music Hall
April 11 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
April 25 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
April 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
April 27 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
April 28-29 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
April 30 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
May 2 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
May 4 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
May 5 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
