Son Volt To Release New Album Honky Tonk In March

Alt-country pioneer Jay Farrar has his sights set on March 2013. In addition to releasing his memoir, Falling Cars and Junkyard Dogs, Farrar will also join up with his band, Son Volt, to release their first album in four years, Honky Tonk, on Rounder Records.

The follow-up to 2009’s American Central Dust, Honky Tonk showcases a more acoustic-based side of Son Volt, in the tradition of classic Bakersfield honky tonk music.

Farrar credits his time jamming on pedal steel with St. Louis band Colonel Ford with inspiring him to explore honky tonk music.

But Farrar says this album is far from a nostalgia trip.

“I wanted these songs to sound more contemporary and modern,” Farrar says. “There was no strict adherence to methodology of the past.”

Instead Farrar says the band will explore the same lyrical vein they explored in American Central Dust.

“Honky tonk music is about heartache, heartbreak, the road,” Farrar says. “I was always averse to using certain words in songs, including ‘love’ and ‘heart.’ But I started using them on American Central Dust, and now I guess the floodgates have opened.”

Following the release of the record, Son Volt are scheduled to hit the road in support of Honky Tonk. Check out the tracklist for Honky Tonk and Son Volt’s Spring 2013 tour dates below.

Honky Tonk Tracklist:

1. Hearts and Minds
2. Brick Walls
3. Wild Side
4. Down the Highway
5. Bakersfield
6. Livin’ On
7. Tears of Change
8. Angel of the Blues
9. Seawall
10. Barricades
11. Shine On

Son Volt Spring 2013 Tour Dates:

April 10 – Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN
April 11 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
April 12 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
April 13 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
April 14 – Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN
April 16 – WorkPlay Theatre – Birmingham, AL
April 17 – The Parish – New Orleans, LA
April 18 – Continental Club – Houston, TX
April 19 – Old Settler’s Music Festival – Austin, TX
April 20 – Sons of Herman Hall – Dallas, TX