Erik Huey’s 2nd solo album, Fort Defiance (due out February 13th, 2026 via APPALACHIAN A.F – PRE-ORDER), was produced by “The Godfather of Americana” Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll guitarist (Joan Jett, Del-Lords, Steve Earle & The Dukes) and producer (Bottle Rockets, Jimbo Mathus, Yayhoos, Sarah Borges). It features guest vocal appearances by Tommy Stinson (The Replacements, Guns & Roses), Sarah Borges, and musical backing from Baltimore power pop phenoms Starbelly, who toured the US and internationally with Erik after his last album.
The son of four generations of coal miners, Erik grew up along the banks of the Monongahela River in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. He came of age on The Clash, X and the Sex Pistols, but never truly escaped his Appalachian roots. From the cowpunk on-ramp of The Blasters, The Beat Farmers, Jason & the Scorchers, and Dwight Yoakam, he wandered upstream along the Hillbilly Highway until he rediscovered Johnny Cash and George Jones—artists he’d listened to as a kid in the cab of his Uncle Jack’s 18-wheeler.
Fort Defiance boasts a range of diverse styles while retaining its cohesive outlaw country swagger: upbeat roots rock anthems like the title track and “The Gutter & The Stars,” twang-laden sing-alongs (“40 Tons of Speed,” “Things You Left Behind,” and “All Out of Angels”), the Celtic punk of “Ghosts of The Chelsea Hotel”, 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll (“The Hatfield Action” and “King of Tears”), and gripping Americana ballads (“Grievous Angels” and “Cutlass Supreme”). It even includes a punk-inspired cover of the mid-80s Bob Dylan classic “Jokerman.”
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Ghosts of The Chelsea Hotel” and its accompanying video. Set to footage of Erik haunting the hallways of the legendary New York City hotel, the song starts as a heartfelt work of folksy power pop before kicking into a cranked up rocker fit for the dive bar. Through it all, Erik recounts vivid memories through his lyrics while also making references to some of his favorite tunes about the Chelsea. The result is a rock and roll ode to crazier times.
Erik describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“I used to stay in the Chelsea Hotel back in the 90s when it was decidedly less posh than it is today. Inspired by the hotel’s creative lineage, I’ve created some of my own epic Rock ‘n’ Roll stories in the Chelsea over the years. This song is an homage to one of my all-time favorite songs–Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No. 2,” and details a relationship that ended at the hotel, and the need to go back there to look for answers. Cliff Hillis of Starbelly co-wrote the music with me, and he suggested a waltz to, as Mr. Cohen would say, “dance me to the end of love.” And then it gets a little Irish.”
WATCH:
