“Howdy” has become somewhat of a universal term. It is most commonly associated with Western culture and is known as a casual greeting between cowboys but in Athens, Georgia, the hometown of The Howdies, the roots of the word run deeper. The Howdies are the latest country sensation to emerge from the musically rich city and their love for up-tempo twang and their hometown seeps through the charm of their music.
To the band, which consists of Austin Darnell, Shoni Rancher, Rob Hibbs, Seth Barham, Johnny Watson, and Tyler Key, a “Howdy” is a quick drink order at your favorite dive bar. When you ask for a howdy you get a half-full glass shot. The key part of that for The Howdies is that the glass is half full, not half empty. This explains the title of the band’s debut record, Howdies All Around, which is due to be released on September 29 and Glide has the premiere of the video for the latest single “Hello, Jukebox”
The story of The Howdies is the stuff of legend. At the time of their meeting, duel frontmen Austin Darnell and Shoni Rancher were living two different lives. Darnell had been a staple in the Athens country scene, playing live for over two decades and finding inspiration in country albums from the ’50s and ’60s. Rancher, on the other hand, gravitated towards the ’70s scene listening to acts like Willie and Jerry Jeff, and had never played a live show in his life before joining The Howdies. It was a sunny Sunday in Athens when the band made their live debut in front of some notable audience members, the two most important being T. Hardy Morris and David Barbe, who fell in love with the band’s sound instantly. The pair would go on to produce Howdies All Around with “Hello, Jukebox” being the latest sneak peek into the 11-song outing.
“Hello Jukebox, is a little tune about the power of the pool hall and the joy of the jukebox”, says Darnell on the band’s latest single, “An ode to all the rundown barrooms and back rooms.” The Howdies captured that energy perfectly with high-flying melodies and a jumping arrangement that is as enticing as the cheap drinks they’re singing about. The song features a searing guitar solo for the perfect addition to the infectious twang that flows through the song. The Howdies captured the feeling of a bustling dive bar brimming with kinship and laughter and put it to a melody for an unforgettable single to what is promising to be a landmark release in 2023.
Check out the Joshua Shoemaker-directed music video for “Hello, Jukebox” below and pre-order Howdies All Around, out September 29, below:
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Howdies All Around Pre-Order Link:
One Response
How do I get the CD of The Howdies music?