Kristina Wrenn
When you hear the first bars of “The One You’re Waiting On” from Into the Neon, Randall King’s current album (or any of his songs for that matter) the music and King’s smooth baritone transport you instantly to another time. The depth of the stories, the tug of the heart, the clarity of his words, the wisdom earned living life, and the blood-pumping rhythms are captivating.
What King is doing creatively is traditional country that is current and modern, he grabs you with nostalgia and then fully delivers with his own style and talent. He is equally timeless and trendsetting.
You can immediately visualize the glow of neon in a smoky, dimly lit bar, hear the clanking of beer bottles being opened with church keys and delivered two per hand, then feel yourself swaying with the music just before the chorus starts. It is a familiar energy with a new vibe that is pervasive in every song and backlight to a developing career that is on fire.
Randall King built a following personally handling all aspects of his career. He was booking, managing, writing, and driving when he wasn’t catching a few winks on the floorboards. There were shows across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas. Traveling well over 100,000 miles and electrifying the Honky-Tonk bar scene, one city at a time, he put all his efforts towards his aspirations. Concurrently this talented troubadour also produced and released his debut Another Bullet EP in 2016 and a self-titled album in 2018, that is worthy of being on your playlist on repeat.
It is no wonder that he had this dedication, as music was all he envisioned since he could talk, decidedly well before he had a guitar in his hands. A West Texas native, he couldn’t escape being influenced by fellow Texan and “King of Country Music,” George Strait, but he has also been inspired by Keith Whitley, Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley. What is evident in these influences is that Randall King’s approach and sound is firmly guided by traditional country and is not bounded by region. King is a proud Texan but does not consider his sound Texas Country. With broad writing and musicality and by staying true to what shaped his vision, it is his own brand of neo-traditional country that feels like an old friend the more it is played.
The swagger and confidence of King’s music is also not a surprise, as he is extremely charming and in another hallmark of traditional country develops a strong connection in his recordings. He writes love songs to country music. With over 365 million career streams across his catalog, including fan-favorites, “You in a Honky-Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl,” and “Mirror, Mirror,” listeners are obviously hooked. His songs are a soundtrack of the important things in life, exploring a simplicity life is missing right now.
King blends the stories and notes so well given his authenticity. With Shot Glass, his Warner Music Nashville label debut, he landed on Whiskey Riff’s Top 40 Country Albums and Billboard’s All Genre 50th Best Albums of 2022. Do yourself a favor and take a listen, there is magic in his melodies, particularly in “Can’t You Feel How That Sounds.” His songs are being lauded because they resonate deeply.
In an example of King’s playful nature and ease in blending life and music, the very personal, last tune on Into the Neon, written when he realized he wanted to be the best version of himself for his girl, “I Don’t Whiskey Anymore,” uses Whiskey as a verb. It is only through total comfort with words and music that this type of thought process and change comes about. He is also very adept at using versions of Honky-Tonk, the essence of which he wears like a badge of honor, in other ways – Tik Tonk contests, Tonkin the Frio, and the song “Tonk ‘Til I Die.” There will be other iterations and uses of King words the more he writes, records, and performs.
King challenges himself to write regularly, particularly through his new Sony Music Publishing deal, and with two and three-way writes with other artists. King’s music and writing speaks for itself, but it is also interesting to note that he has written with country legend, Garth Brooks on Garth’s song “The Road I’m On,” which not only opened Brooks’ Stadium Tour that had 2 legs and 42 dates from 2019-2022 but is also in the opening credits of the three-part A&E, The Road I’m On documentary. King was able to write from a place of 1990s Garth Brooks Country. In Brooks’ words, “This kid is what country music is all about.”
Even given all that, Randall King is someone you could be friends with. He has perfected the perfect filet, with a salt rinse and Pecan Wood Rub seasoning from Red Raider Meats in Lubbock, he has attended the Kentucky Derby a couple of times, appreciating the pomp and circumstance of it all and how passionate those involved are with horse racing (fitting for someone so passionate about his vocation) and he loves a late-night taco truck. When he can take time off from the road he enjoys hunting, fishing and/or a few days at the beach. He is someone anyone could relate to – perhaps that is the secret sauce!
Randall King is headlining the Tyler Cattle Baron’s Ball this June. His will be a performance that people are talking about long after it is over. Having King will take the event back to its roots creating a Honky-Tonk for the night – a personal, congenial experience you won’t get anywhere else.
Performing at Cattle Baron’s this year is meaningful for King, as a member of his team has been in treatment recently and he believes in giving back. In response to the devastating High Plains wildfires, King partnered with Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson for the Panhandle Boys Concert (they are all local to the area) in an acoustic song swap and raised $68,000 for the firefighters and local community.
Perhaps country music in Randall King’s time can bring us back to the Americana of traditional country’s past and in turn bring us all together at the Honky-Tonk. This is not a “One Night Dance,” so buckle up for the ride and leave a space free on your dance card when you hear that song playing.