Hayes Carll

Hayes Carll came up playing open mics and honky-tonks around Texas, drawing from a mix of folk, rock, and country he heard growing up in Houston. His third album, 'KMAG YOYO,' got him wider attention in 2008, though he'd been putting out records since his debut 'Trouble in Mind' in 2002.

His songs often work with a dry, sharp wit, whether he's writing about a breakup in 'She Left Me for Jesus' or sketching a character in 'Another Like You.' He's released several albums since, like 'Lovers and Leavers' in 2016 and 'What It Is' in 2021, and has played with musicians like John Hiatt and Alison Krauss.

Carll tours with a band called The Right Arm, and his shows lean into the straightforward, storytelling side of his writing. He's kept at it without much fuss, sticking to the kind of songs that first got him noticed in those Texas bars.