There are those artists who claim an affinity for their musical roots, but then reinvent them in ways that have scant bearing on the past. Others identify with the heartland but have no genuine stake in the actual environs. So when an artist like Corb Lund comes along and shares honesty and authenticity in a way that melds past with present, it’s indeed worthy of notice.
That’s the connection Lund carries with him as he embarks on a tour that takes him to nearly three dozen markets mostly in the Western U.S. early next year. Most of those stops will be in places where he finds there is common ground, both literally and spiritually.
“I feel a deep bond and shared roots with the audiences I perform for, especially out West,” Lund says. “Coming from a multi-generational ranching family from Alberta, Canada, and Utah before that, I relate closely to cowboy culture and its authenticity. It’s a part of the U.S. I especially enjoy touring as I feel very at home there.”
Lund is an award-winning, vintage country performer, who spent his twenties, interestingly, in an indie rock band. He embraces his rich and rustic western heritage with a style that’s unique, honest and resolute, while touching on a range of cowboy themes both past and present — from rough-and-tumble tales of lawless frontier saloons, to the sombre realities of running a modern family ranch. He sings about a life that he and his ancestors have lived themselves, paired with his quick-witted, wry observations of today’s world. As a result, his writing resonates emphatically with rural and urban audiences alike. It’s a classic sound with a twist, something of a rarity these days, but one that evokes the spirit of the American West, winning over appreciative audiences at rodeos, fairs, festivals and other events where tales of fearless explorers, determined homesteaders and committed cattle ranchers still holds a powerful sway.
Backed by his long-time honkytonk band, the Hurtin’ Albertans — Kurt Ciesla, bass; Grant Siemens, guitar; and Brady Valgardson, drums — Lund effectively amplifies those themes and fires up the crowds. It’s little wonder that the Vegas Seven noted, “Like Willie Nelson before them, they bring out the shit-kickers and hipsters in equal measure.”
“There aren’t many artists still making this kind of Western music,” Lund suggests. “Personally, I feel like I still have a real stake in it. That’s why I believe that the people that admire a vintage approach really appreciate what we do. And for us, it’s really gratifying to be able to perform it for them.”
In a very real sense then, Lund has become a true musical courier as far as that authenticity is concerned, a traditional troubadour who’s determined to keep that rugged and restless spirit alive. “It seems to have developed that way,” he nods. “I didn’t necessarily plan it, but it feels really good that that’s how it’s evolved.”
The upcoming tour is a precursor to a series of new projects Lund has planned for the coming year. He promises a carefully curated EP of unexpected cover songs that will resonate with ranchers and rockers alike, and an album of original material to follow soon after.
With nine studio albums under his belt, multiple CCMA, Juno, and international award nomination and wins, Lund is well recognized as a musical force to be reckoned with. His seventh album, Cabin Fever, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Canadian Charts; he has three gold records; and his latest release, Things That Can’t Be Undone, cemented his status as one of the best contemporary country singer/songwriters working today. The press agrees: Rolling Stone declared him one of the “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” and NPR remarked, “The album is a high mark of a long career.”
Rolling Stone Country said of Things That Can’t Be Undone that it “finds Lund flirting in fresh sonic waters, while still keeping his sardonic mix of eerie lyrics and deceptively joyful vamps well intact.” For its part, PopMatters proclaimed, “Things That Can’t Be Undone furthers the case for Corb Lund as one of the best contemporary country songwriters.”
Tour dates:
Mon.-Wed., Jan. 7-9 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COThe MusicFest
Thurs., Jan. 10 MISSOULA, MT Top Hat
Fri., Jan. 11 SPOKANE, WA The Bartlett
Sat., Jan. 12 SEATTLE, WA Tractor Tavern
Sun., Jan. 13 PORTLAND, OR McMenamins Mission Theatre
Tues., Jan. 15 SACRAMENTO, CA Goldfield Trading Post
Wed., Jan. 16 RENO, NV Virginia Street Brewhouse
Thurs., Jan. 17 PETALUMA, CA Mystic Theatre
Fri., Jan. 18 SANTA CRUZ, CA Moe’s Alley
Sat., Jan. 19 NEWPORT BEACH, CA Campus Jax
Sun., Jan. 20 LOS ANGELES, CA Resident
Tues., Jan. 22 TEMPE, AZ Yucca Tap Room
Wed., Jan. 23 TUCSON, AZ 191 Toole
Thurs., Jan. 24 ALBUQUERQUE, NM Launchpad
Fri., Jan. 25 ROSWELL, NM The Liberty Inc
Sat., Jan. 26 AMARILLO, TX Hoots Pub
Sun., Jan. 27 FORT WORTH, TX M*A*S*S
Tues.-Thurs., Jan. 29-31 KEY WEST, FL Mile 0 Festival
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 1-2 ELKO, NV National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (solo)
Tues., Feb. 5 TOMBALL, TX Main Street Crossing (solo)
Wed., Feb. 6 TOMBALL, TX Main Street Crossing (band)
Thurs., Feb. 7 DALLAS, TX Sons of Hermann Hall
Fri., Feb. 8 FREDERICKSBURG, TX Luckenbach Dance Hall
Sat., Feb. 9 NEW BRAUNFELS, TX River Road Ice House
Sun., Feb. 10 AUSTIN, TX Stubb’s Jr
Wed., Feb. 13 KANSAS CITY, MO Knuckleheads Saloon
Thurs., Feb. 14 WICHITA, KS WAVE
Fri., Feb. 15 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Ivywild School
Sat., Feb. 16 BASALT, CO The Temporary
Sun., Feb. 17 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO Chief Theatre
Wed., Feb. 20 DENVER, CO Bluebird Theater
Thurs., Feb. 21 LARAMIE, WY The Cowboy Saloon
Fri., Feb. 22 RAPID CITY, SD Hay Camp Brewing Co.
Sat., Feb. 23 BILLINGS, MT Pub Station Ballroom