Meanwhile in Music — album reviews, live shows, and the songs worth knowing first.

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𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝
“Living Proof“
★
@silverada
Release; August 7, 2026
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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As someone who has been catching Mike & The Moonpies for nearly 15 years; including their legendary @whitehorseatx residency that wrapped up about a dozen years ago – Living Proof feels like an absolute breath of fresh air.

We already knew Silverada could blow your speakers and light your hair on fire. That part was never in question. But when longtime steel player Zachary Moulton bowed out, it opened the door for a new chapter. In steps keyboard player Parker Twomey.

This wasn’t a change that could go unnoticed, so a change in direction was inevitable.

Living Proof still sits comfortably on the dusty shelf in your favorite honky tonk, but reach for it and you’ll find something a little different. The Texas country DNA is still there, but now it’s tangled up with the sounds that swirled through the 70’s & ’80s – reminiscent of Bob Seger, Jackson Browne & Dire Straits. The pedal steel may have left the room, but the songs gained a new kind of space.

Recorded live-sounding and impassioned at Sonic Ranch in West Texas over five days, with frontman Mike Harmeier stepping up to co-produce, Living Proof captures a band that sounds less interested in recreating the past than seeing how far they can push what comes next.

“You can sound like whatever the fuck you want to sound like,” Harmeier says – and Living Proof sounds like a band finally taking itself at its word.

There’s something liberating about that.

Harmeier has spent years writing songs about the people, places, heartbreak and highways that make Texas country what it is. On Living Proof, those stories remain, but the sonic walls around them have been knocked down a little.

The result is still Silverada – just Silverada with the windows down, the amps turned up and a whole lot more road between here and wherever they’re going next.
@meanwhile_in_music
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#NewMusic #CountryMusic #Austin #Texas #WhiteHorse

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𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Landfill Poetry
★
@rileydown
Release; Aug. 28, 2026
@ohboyrecords
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Full album in BiO!
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Riley Downing, the unmistakable raspy voice you know from The Deslondes.. he lands somewhere between velvet & corduroy. Warm, worn, comfortable and casual. On Landfill Poetry, his sophomore solo release, arriving Aug. 28th via John Prine’s Oh Boy! Records, Downing sounds exactly where he’s meant to be. It’s difficult to imagine a label better suited to both the man and his music.

Landfill Poetry strips things back a bit from his solo debut, Start It Over. Downing’s storytelling remains among the finest in Americana, and his voice continues to be one of the genre’s most distinctive instruments.

There is a humility woven throughout this record that extends well beyond the songwriting. As unpretentious as they come.. Downing embodies the kind of blue-collar authenticity that can’t be manufactured. He writes about ordinary lives with extraordinary compassion. His songs remind us that there is beauty tucked inside overlooked places & forgotten people – less is more & if you’re willing to slow down long enough to take it all in.

Downing explains, “A good handful of these songs & ideas I had kept in my bindle sack of a brain, or moved from one pile to another, but never burying them too far down to be lost forever. A true junk man or woman knows the feeling of never really wanting to throw anything away.”

That sentiment serves as the emotional backbone of Landfill Poetry. The songs are like salvaged treasures – dug up from a small box in a shed out back somewhere near Kansas City. Life’s passing moments, shelved ideas, & quiet observations given new life through Downing’s deeply human perspective.

The title track & first single off the new record, “Landfill Poetry,” sets the tone, while “Country Fool” is another standout. Truthfully, though, singling out highlights almost undersells the experience. This is an album best absorbed from beginning to end.. soak in it’s understated beauty.

In an era when so much music competes to be louder, bigger, or more immediate, Riley has leaned into subtle charm and picking on the porch.
@meanwhile_in_music

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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞
“The Diamond Saloon“
★
@chaywey
Release; August 28, 2026
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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The Diamond Saloon is a cinematic trip that’s ready for the big screen – the new concept album from Chasen Wayne & The Honky Tonk Machine. Set in Van Horn, Texas, the story follows brothers Ricky and Rex, owners of a barely surviving bar in the West Texas desert. Rex is stuck keeping the doors open, dreaming of something more, while Ricky chases the thrill of easy money, with little understanding of the danger waiting on the other side.

But this record is more than just a story. The band absolutely rips.. & it’s a wild ride.

A mostly intact lineup for the last few years, backed by extensive touring, has made this a tight, creative machine. They’ve thoughtfully orchestrated a theatrical soundscape that charges from start to finish – layers that dip, bop, sway and drive, constantly pushing the envelope.

The result is something bigger than a collection of country songs: it’s a West Texas crime story told through honky-tonk, rock, funk and Americana, where the geography, desperation and atmosphere become characters of their own.

Featuring Chasen Wayne, Jamey Maness, Jared Standish, Alex Riegelman, Conner Church and Will Felty, with Jordan Hillman on piano and Denis O’Donnell as narrator, The Diamond Saloon feels like a record made for the stage – and one that deserves to be heard loud.

Record Release Party; August 29 at Sagebrush in South Austin.
@meanwhile_in_music
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#NewMusic #LiveMusic #Austin #TX

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𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐲𝐧
“Rattlin’ Bones“
★
@bronwynfiddle
Release; August 14, 2026
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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GRAMMY-winning artist, two-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, and former Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway member Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is entering a new chapter with Rattlin’ Bones, her new album arriving tomorrow, August 14th.

Now simply known as Bronwyn, the album marks a new direction for an artist already recognized as one of roots music’s leading fiddle players.

The album grew from a desire to create songs she’d want to play live every night with her band. Drawing from her experiences on the road and her home in Nashville, the record explores individuality, adventure and love, with plenty of room for the improvisation that has long been part of her musical identity.

“I wanted to make a record that you’d want to turn up so loud, it’d rattle your bones,” Bronwyn says.

Co-produced by Bronwyn and Brent Truitt of The SteelDrivers, Rattlin’ Bones was recorded at Truitt’s Nashville studio and the Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The album features an all-star lineup of Music City players, including Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Frank Rische, Harry Clark, Dennis Crouch, Jeff Picker, Wes Corbett, Miles Miller and former Golden Highway bandmate Dominick Leslie.

Bronwyn’s touring band – Tristan Scroggins, Frank Evans and Larry Cook also join the sessions. The album includes a duet with Nashville underground country artist Timbo and harmonies from acclaimed songwriter Darrell Scott.

With Rattlin’ Bones, Bronwyn expands beyond the role of virtuoso fiddler and introduces a more complete picture of herself as an artist, songwriter and bandleader.
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#NewMusic #Bluegrass #songwriter #Nashville

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𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐣𝐚𝐧
“Get Over It, Underdog“
★
@aaronleetasjan
Release; July 17, 2026
@blueelan
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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Aaron Lee Tasjan has never been easy to pin down. Trying to predict what he’ll do next is like reaching into a box of chocolates while blindfolded – what delicious ear candy might he deliver next? The difference is that Tasjan himself refuses to be boxed in. One album you will find him delivering a collection of live folk performances, the next leaning into indie rock full of blazing guitar work, or an Americana-country anthem. Reinvention isn’t a gimmick or a phase for Tasjan; it’s simply who he is.. & his latest effort has a taste of each.

On Get Over It, Underdog he invites listeners to peer through the proverbial peephole into his world. What you’ll find is a wide emotional spectrum, from hope, love, and optimism to anxiety, peril, and everything in between. It’s a record filled with folk poetry, rock ‘n’ roll swagger, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek wit – all reflecting the complicated world we live in.

After the Grammy recognition and critical success of 2024’s Stellar Evolution, Tasjan found himself at a creative crossroads. Despite the accolades, the realities facing independent artists felt increasingly bleak. The underdog spirit that had long fueled him was beginning to feel less like swimming against the current and more like struggling to keep his head above water. It was longtime friend Todd Snider who helped provide the perspective needed to move forward.

Rather than offering easy answers or forced optimism, Get Over It, Underdog embraces life’s contradictions. Tasjan finds beauty in the mess, humor in hardship, and hope in the everyday struggles that connect us all. It’s thoughtful without being preachy, playful without losing its emotional weight, and another reminder that ALT remains one of Americana’s most unpredictable & rewarding songwriters.

If there’s a common thread running through Tasjan’s catalog, it’s authenticity. He follows the songs wherever they lead, unconcerned with genre labels or expectations. Get Over It, Underdog is another compelling chapter in that journey.
@meanwhile_in_music

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𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐑. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
“The Great Unknowing“
★
@jrmillerwv
Release; July 17, 2026
@rounderrecords
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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John R. Miller has outdone himself with The Great Unknowing, his latest release. The West Virginian is a true songwriter’s songwriter.. and Miller continues to establish himself as one of the most compelling artists today.. recently awarded the John Prine Fellowship for Songwriting.

Classic John R. Miller is on full display here – a master class in storytelling. Full of wry whit, journeys, questions, and the truths we all wrestle with along the way. The Great Unknowing is a record that requires some attention, filled with those perfectly placed one-liners and hidden gems that stop you in your tracks for a scratch of the head and force you to ponder.

Musically, the album is equally impressive. The band is locked in, creating a wide range of soundscapes that evolve naturally across all 16 tracks without ever feeling disjointed.

For The Great Unknowing, Miller intentionally stepped away from the familiar. “My goal was to get into a room with a bunch of people that I didn’t already have a rapport with and track the record live,” he shared – hoping to spark new creativity through a fresh environment.

That vision took him west to Tulsa’s newly reopened Church Studio, the legendary home of Leon Russell. There, he assembled a remarkable group of local musicians, including John Fullbright on keys and Muskrat Jones on pedal steel and dobro. Despite many not having a previous history with Miller’s music, the chemistry was immediate. The core album came together in just three days, leaving time to capture a few covers along the way.

At a whopping 16 tracks, The Great Unknowing is a commitment, but one that never feels like a chore. It’s the perfect companion for a dusty backroad drive, a quiet stretch of highway, or any moment where reflection takes the wheel.

John R. Miller didn’t just make another record. He created a place to wander.
@meanwhile_in_music

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𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐆𝐮𝐲 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧
“soft hands, hard times“
Pop
★
@rlybigguy
Release; June 26, 2026
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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The all-new project, Big Guy & The Very Large Men, is the latest creative venture from songwriter James Droll. Best known for his work in the electronic and pop worlds, Droll has spent years writing songs performed by artists including Joy Oladokun and Noah Kahan.

With his seven-song EP, soft hands, hard times, Droll steps into deeply personal territory. The project explores the joy, vulnerability, heartbreak, and beautiful mess of embracing an authentic queer identity while growing up – and ultimately finding yourself.. in the cultural crossroads of the Bible Belt. Raised on a llama farm in Pleasantville, Ohio, Droll was immersed in a family deeply rooted in the evangelical church, an upbringing that echoes throughout these songs without ever defining them.

As compelling as the backstory is, the real magic lies in the music. While soft hands, hard times may be labeled as pop, it is Americana-adjacent at its core. The result is a collection of songs that blur genre lines with effortless confidence, pairing sharp storytelling, emotional imagery and a wit that’s as disarming as it is unforgettable.

Tender, clever, and emotionally resonant, soft hands, hard times looks fearlessly at the ghosts that shaped Droll’s past while embracing the hope, freedom, and uncertainty of the road ahead.
@meanwhile_in_music
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#NewMusic #Nashville #Ohio #Queer #pride

Color me grateful to live in a place and time, and in a city capable of delivering a Sunday afternoon as joyful as the one we were gifted today.

The always wonderful Melissa Carper tee’d things off, followed by the incomparable Jaime Wyatt. You can’t ask for a much better end to the weekend. Here they are covering an old Flatlanders’ tune.. Dallas.

All of it brought to you by one of Austin’s finest honky-tonks, Sagebrush.

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𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝
“Volume Two“
Folk
★
@sustoisreal @hollerchoirmusic
Release; May 29, 2026
@_missingpiecerecords
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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Meanwhile In Music has never been shy about showing SUSTO some love, but what’s not to love? Justin Osborne remains one of our favorite voices in Americana-adjacent music – a songwriter capable of delivering personal and rich observations on life, loss, and redemption without ever losing sight of humor, humanity, or heart.

Released May 29th, SUSTO Stringband Volume Two arrived with the unenviable task of following one of our favorite releases of the past couple years. Thankfully, rather than trying to outdo its predecessor, Vol. Two expands the world that Osborne and company began building on the first installment, deepening the collection while maintaining everything that made it special.

Osborne writes with conviction. His songs arrive thoughtful and evocative – tackling heavy themes like suicide, substance abuse, grief, and quiet gestures of America’s failing healthcare system. Yet he’s equally capable of delivering something wildly entertaining. That’s the magic of SUSTO: profound reflection and genuine fun can coexist in the same breath. “E-350,” an anthem of sorts for touring musicians that depicts a grumpy landlord and his sewer line throwing shade on the beloved tour van.

Of course, none of this works without The Holler Choir String Band. Their musicianship serves as both engine and glue, carrying these stories effortlessly from one song to the next. The performances are loose where they should be, precise when they need to be, and consistently engaging throughout. This time around, the circle widens a bit with guest appearances from Joshua Hedley, Morgan Wade, and Madeline Dierauf.

SUSTO Stringband Vol. I set a remarkably high bar around these parts. Matching those expectations would have been an accomplishment on its own. Volume Two does more than that – it reinforces just how special this collection of musicians has become. Essential listening doesn’t have to be a classic, but these records have made their mark.
@meanwhile_in_music
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#NewMusic #music #LiveMusic #Americana #Texas

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𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐲
“Villain Era“
Country
★
@indiarameymusic
Release; May 8, 2026
@copacorecords @blueelan
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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India Ramey has been quietly building a catalogue to be proud of, & her newest release, Villain Era, is no exception. From the opening track, Ramey & her band march through the record with a ferocity that signals a clear shift into self preservation – and a sharpened sense of what she will & won’t tolerate.

Fueled by that conviction & a fresh set of songs, Ramey left the South for the first time & traveled to Los Angeles to record with two-time Grammy-nominated producer Eric Corne. Together, they crafted a soundscape that is both cinematic and cathartic.

Ramey described her vision to Corne as “Johnny Cash & Loretta Lynn rising from the dead to score a Quentin Tarantino film,” & the sessions fully deliver on that concept. To bring the project to life, Corne assembled an all-star band, including Ted Russell Kamp, Eugene Edwards, Chris Masterson, Eleanor Whitmore, Kevin Brown, Boo Bernstein, and Haley Spence Brown.

Villain Era arrives with all the bumps & bruises you’d expect from a dusty road of potholes & fractured relationships, but Ramey transforms them into something almost celebratory. With a sly sense of humor, she whips some of life’s toughest defeats into deceptively sweet, harmonious lashings of the tongue.

The record moves fluidly through country noir textures – drifting between psychedelic high desert haze, snake-charming spaghetti western energy & rockabilly swagger – all anchored by a voice that’s not only powerful but laced with intentional wit & attitude. There’s a constant undercurrent of charm that reads like a smiling “fuck you very much.” That grin is not only consistent but contagious, as you can’t help but mirror it when listening to tracks like “Cryin’ In My Lingerie,” echoing the storytelling spirit of John Prine. The song feels like it could have been a natural duet for the two – sharp, funny, and soaked in devastating truth.

Villain Era rewards repeat listens, revealing more of its clever wordplay & layered one-liners each time – best experienced loud and often. 🍷 🌹
@meanwhile_in_music

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𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
“I’m People”
★
@hissgoldenmessenger
Release; May 1, 2026
@chrysalisrecs
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Listen up! Full album in BiO!
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Sometimes you hit play and you know you’ve landed on exactly what you needed. That’s the feeling I got with Hiss Golden Messenger’s latest release – I’m People, the first on Chrysalis Records.

The record plays with a purpose – finding balance between fight & flight.. it wanders through heartbreak, the quiet reckonings of getting older, the weight & wonders of life and the kind of longing that doesn’t always resolve cleanly. There’s disillusionment here too – but it never settles. Instead, the album arrives somewhere harder to come by: a durable, hard-earned sense of persistence – even after everything’s been worn down to the bone.

There’s a subtle mastery in the details. “Mercy Ave.” is a standout track – deceptively simple, yet intricately built. Hand drums pulse beneath saxophone & flute, while background vocals drift in and out like a second thought you can’t quite shake. That aesthetic carries through I’m People – simple complexities, carefully layered textures, & tones that never tip into excess, allowing MC Taylor’s writing to move naturally, his words settling into the rhythms.

Hiss Golden Messenger is the vehicle for North Carolina songwriter MC Taylor – a voice that’s long operated in a space of soulful folk and surrounding areas.

Produced alongside Josh Kaufman at Dreamland Recording Studios – an old church just outside Woodstock – I’m People carries a lived-in warmth. You can envision it in the making: musicians gathered in a circle, light spilling through stained glass windows onto guitars, drums, & upright bass. Nothing rushed, nothing forced.

The all-star cast of collaborators deepens that world.. Bruce Hornsby, Sam Beam, Marcus King, Sara Watkins, Amy Helm, Eric D. Johnson, and members of Dawes all contribute to a sound that feels immediate, human, and fully alive.

What did I do when the final track played through on I’m People? I hit play again.
@meanwhile_in_music