Prolific Texas Singer/Songwriter Charley Crockett Announces Date At Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (02/07/22) – He’s been called ‘rootsy’, ‘bluesy’, and ‘Americana’ but Texas singer/songwriter Charley Crockett prefers to balk at labels and instead view himself all of the above, with a tinge of Texas soul or simply the blues. Crockett will bring his remarkably entertaining talents to the Deadwood Mountain Grand stage on Thursday, April 7th.
It’s easy to conclude Charley Crockett is on one hell of a roll. You wouldn’t be wrong. Ten records in six years is some kind of prolific. The latest, a double LP, suggests the artist has some songs worth paying attention to. It’s clear that he’s invested as much time in the studio, recording storytelling songs, and making storytelling videos, as he has barnstorming around the United States and Europe playing live shows.
Not bad for a thirty-seven-year-old late bloomer.
Charley Crockett has been a fairly remarkable artist to follow. He’s got a sound. He’s got something to say. He has a look. And there’s a gauzy veil of mystery surrounding him suggesting he knows more than he’s letting on.
All those records in such a short amount of time have come with a “No Two Alike” guarantee, particularly the last three releases: the darkly prescient Welcome to Hard Times; the semi-autobiographical, hard-core country-roots of The Valley; and 10 for Slim, his tribute of songs by the obscure and wholly authentic Texas honky-tonk maestro James Hand.
And still, despite his penchant for pearl snaps and western hats, Charley Crockett has managed to elude being pigeon-holed. Call him neo country-western if you’d like. It’s true that few contemporaries present themselves as part of a lineage harkening back to Hank Williams and George Jones like Charley does, and even fewer can pull it off convincingly.
Call him a bluesman, if you prefer. One of Charley’s first recorded songs “Trinity River,” about that “dirty river” in North Texas, is the perfect bookend to “Trinity River Blues,” the first 78 issued by Oak Cliff blues guitar giant T-Bone Walker 92 years ago. Charley knows where genuine music comes from and doesn’t hesitate to mine each vein he digs up.
His voice is one-of-a-kind. His distinctive, plaintive vocals crack unapologetically with emotion, and he phrases his lines around the beat like a jazz singer, while he expounds upon personal relationships and the world beyond.
So, who is Charley Crockett?
Which one are you talking about?
The Lil’ G.L.’s Blue Bonanza Charley, or the Lil’ G.L.’s Honky Tonk Jubilee Charley? Or the Homeric “Jamestown Ferry” Charley? Is that new artist who graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry the same cat who played the Newport Folk Festival?
Best just to call Charley his own man.
However one may strain to describe such an enigmatic figure and his equally enigmatic music, it’s pretty obvious Charley transcends stereotype. Whatever you might think he is or isn’t, he’ll change your mind with his next song. That’s part of the fun riding shotgun with Charley Crockett. You know he’s a skilled driver familiar with all the roads. You just don’t know exactly which one he’s taking, or where he’s taking you, only that the journey will be a pleasurable one.
Now comes Charley’s tenth album in his six-year career. In the Crockett tradition, it is as ambitious and ground-breaking as each piece of recorded music he’s put out so far. And it’s not just an album. It’s a double LP of Charley Crockett originals, each song going the distance to further define this singer-songwriter-performer-artist who came out of the proverbial nowhere.
Nowhere in Charley Crockett’s case would be San Benito, the largely Hispanic farming community in the Rio Grande Valley of extreme south Texas, his birthplace. He grew up poor in a trailer surrounded by cane fields and citrus groves, raised by a single mom. Fortunately for him, music was in the thick, humid Gulf air, because the Valley has a serious musical streak running through it. There’s a museum in San Benito honoring the father of conjunto accordion, Narciso Martinez. The likeness of Tex-Mex superstar and hometown hero Freddy Fender (nee Baldemar Huerta) graces the municipal water tower. Nearby Los Fresnos was hometown of Simon Vega, who served in the Army with Elvis Presley and built the Little Graceland shrine in tribute to his GI buddy.
That Valley was a perfect petri dish for a little kid with wide eyes and good ears. He could be anyone he wanted to be in this remote part of the world. When his family moved to Dallas, city life was not so kind to the kid who looked and talked different. This was where he learned the hard way how impoverished his family really was. His escape was going to live with his uncle in New Orleans, where as a teenager he developed skills free-styling and rapping, and first began performing in the streets. That led to busking on the streets of New York once he was out on his own.
He hustled hard to survive, living a transient life, taking whatever he needed, whenever he needed it, and hoping he wouldn’t get caught. He sold weed to get by, at one point working the harvest in clandestine marijuana fields in the northwest. Twice, he was convicted of a felony crime. Music provided the way out.
At thirty-two, he got serious. Even then, he chose the more difficult path, releasing his records on independent labels and inventing and reinventing his persona with carefully crafted, well-produced music videos. That top ten hit record may still elude him, but he’s built quite a fan base on his own, all his own, touring as relentlessly as he makes records, investing considerable time and money in companion videos that cumulatively add up to close to 50 million views online.
Charley has endured the collapse of the recording industry, no money, petty crime, societal ennui, the Covid-19 pandemic, open heart surgery, one-night stands, long distance rides in a van, loud truck stops and diners serving stale lukewarm coffee to get to where he is now.
His reward – and yours – is this collection of Charley Crockett originals.
Sad, uplifting, hard, and sweet, complex and delicate all at once, his songs are like life its ownself, just like the songs’ creator: like nothing you’ve heard or seen before, a genuine Texas original.
Tickets for Charley Crockett go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 8th and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, February 11th. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Theory Of A Deadman At Deadwood Mountain Grand Postponed Due To Weather
DEADWOOD, S.D. (12/11/21) – Deadwood Mountain Grand has received official word from the team with Theory of a Deadman that the Saturday, December 11 show has been postponed due to weather and a new date will be announced soon. The band was traveling from Wyoming where portions of both Interstate 80 and Interstate 25 have been closed because of inclement weather and high winds making it impossible for the band to travel.
An official quote from the band states, “Theory Fans- it is with our deepest regret to inform you that we have to postpone our show tonight at Deadwood Mountain Grand due to the road closures in WY. Stay Safe out there and stay tuned for information on the rescheduled date! “
Management at Deadwood Mountain Grand encourage all ticket holders to hang on to their tickets as they will be honored for the rescheduled date. Should anyone desire a refund, they will be available through the original ticketing outlet. If tickets were purchased through Ticketmaster, please contact Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. If tickets were purchased through Deadwood Mountain Grand, please call 605-559-1188.
Ian Munsick, Stoney Larue Headline Deadwood Mountain Grand’s Annual Red Dirt Music Festival
DEADWOOD, SD. (10/18/21) – The Deadwood Red Dirt Music Festival has become one of the biggest music festivals in the upper mid-west and event organizers are eager to bring back two incredible days of music on the Deadwood Mountain Grand stage. This year’s event, scheduled for January 14 and 15 will feature Pecos & the Rooftops, Wade Bowen and Stoney Larue on Friday night and Tyler Halverson, the Scooter Brown Band and Ian Munsick on Saturday.
The event debuted in 2015 with nearly 5,000 fans attending two days of the best in music from the Red Dirt genre. Red Dirt is the color of soil found in Oklahoma and Texas and are the homes of a music genre that spawned Outlaw Country legends like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson and created a home-grown movement of Americana, folk and alt-country sounds. Some define Red Dirt music as “country music with attitude”. Others say it’s a state of mind as much as it is a sound – a sound that successfully closes the gap between rock and country.
Regardless of definition, Red Dirt fans are loyal and came in droves in previous years to shows at Deadwood Mountain Grand. “We absolutely love this event,” said Susan Kightlinger, General Manager of the resort. “The music is incredible, the fans come to party and the atmosphere is electric. It really is one of my favorite events of the year.”
Headlining the Friday night performances will be Stoney Larue. Throw away any preconceived notions you might have about country singers — especially ones from Texas — because Stoney LaRue smashes them all. Over a nearly 20-year career, the Lone Star-born and Oklahoma-raised LaRue has transformed himself into an unlikely Renaissance man. He is a deft songwriter, informed traveler and self-aware philosopher, a troubadour who converses just as easily about Indian yogis and gurus as he does about Texas barbecue and dance halls.
Forging connections with his fans is paramount for LaRue, who plays more than 200 live shows a year. His base is a fiercely loyal one, and not just within the Red Dirt region. He regularly tours throughout the entire country and has fans in some unexpected places. Chalk up his mass appeal to the way he sells his songs both onstage and on record — to listen to LaRue sing the nostalgic, Bob Seger-esque “Drowning in Moonlight” on his new album “Onward” is to hear someone with whom you share an experience.
“I thought that song would be something that’s very relatable. You want to think about your first kiss overlooking the city with the top down,” he says. “There’s something so sexy and romantic about that song. It’s dark, but it’s light at the same time.”
For LaRue, who has sold more than one million albums and singles in his career, fun means being on the road and playing live, tapping into a vast catalogue that includes influential LPs like 2005’s The Red Dirt Album and his exhilarating 2007 live document “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas”. Now, he’s excited about taking Onward to fans around the country and reminding them that not only is he still here, he isn’t going anywhere.
“You have to be willing to live it. That’s the only way to make it, and the way that I’ve made it,” says LaRue of his remarkable longevity. “But I’m not haphazard in what I’m writing or singing anymore. I’m more focused and looking ahead to what I want to achieve.”
In other words, Stoney LaRue is looking Onward.
Headlining the Saturday night performances is Ian Munsick. Breathing fresh Rocky Mountain air into the Nashville music scene, Munsick is pioneering a new brand of country. The Wyoming-born singer/songwriter’s upbringing was a mix of working the ranch and working crowds. Under the tutelage of their fiddle-playing father, Munsick and his two older brothers grew up playing everything from bluegrass to The Beatles. Incorporating elements across genres, he has now established himself as a progressive artist with an old soul.
Captivated by traditional lyrical truth and the modern soundscape, Ian followed his ear to Music City. In 2017 he released a self-titled EP, winning iHeartRadio’s Rocky Mountain Song of the Year for the rootsy “Horses Are Faster” and becoming the only artist who simultaneously qualified two tracks as finalists in the NSAI/CMT songwriting competition.
Equipped with a full ready-for-release collection of songs, the 27-year-old has signed his first major label deal with Warner Music Nashville. His debut album Coyote Cry, features his mile-high tenor underscoring self-penned songs that conjure equal parts epic adventure and down-to-earth wisdom. The record marks the dawn of western pop-laced country, pulling a thread straight from Chris LeDoux through Post Malone. Munsick’s recent releases include “Long Haul,” “Me Against the Mountain” and “Humble” – and with them, western country is being reborn.
Tickets go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 19th and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, October 22nd. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office – The Spotlight Store – or at ticketmaster.com. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND. Please be aware of third party ticket brokers as Ticketmaster is the only official ticket outlet for Deadwood Mountain Grand.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action, a 2,500 seat entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Trace Adkins Cancels Deadwood Mountain Grand Performance
DEADWOOD, S.D. (10/12/21) – Deadwood Mountain Grand received word from the management team for Trace Adkins that he will have to cancel the November 11th performance scheduled at the Resort.
Adkins released the following statement. ‘As you may have heard, Trace Adkins has joined the cast of Monarch, a new drama on Fox, set to premiere January 30th. With this news, the November 11th Trace Adkins show will be canceled. Trace thanks you for your understanding and allowing him to pursue one of his dreams. He looks forward to seeing you soon!’
Deadwood Mountain Grand’s management team is disappointed that the performance has been canceled but looks forward to possibly securing a new date in 2022.
Refunds may be received through the respective ticket outlets they were purchased from. If tickets were purchased at The Spotlight at Deadwood Mountain Grand, please call 605-559-1188 for details of your refund.
Tanya Tucker Cancels All 2021 Shows Including Concert At Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (219/11/) – Deadwood Mountain Grand has received official word that Tanya Tucker has canceled her entire 2021 tour including the show scheduled for Sunday, October 3rd at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
Citing ongoing issues from hip surgery as well as COVID-19, Tucker has made the difficult decision to postpone touring until 2022. No new date has been scheduled as of press time.
The official release from Tucker’s camp states:
“Hey Y’all. With my damn hip still healing slowly but surely, and my increasing concerns with covid-19, I've made the heartbreaking decision to cancel all 2021 dates. It pains me to do this, but I must keep my fans, band and crew safe. I love my team, and most of all, I love you, the fans. We’ll be back in 2022 ready to kick some ass”.
All my love, Tanya ❤️🌹
Fans who have purchased tickets may receive refunds through the respective ticket outlets they purchased from. If tickets were purchased through the Deadwood Mountain Grand Spotlight Store, please call 605-559-1188 for details of your refund.
Wild West Songwriter’s Festival To Celebrate 10 Years In Deadwood October 7 - 9
DEADWOOD, S.D. (09/09/21) – Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flats, O.A.R., Jason Mraz and many more A-List artists will be represented by their songwriting partners at the 10th annual Wild West Songwriter’s Festival, October 7-9 in historic Deadwood, SD.
Dubbed one of the “best live music festivals for fans” and one of the “top ten songwriter’s festivals you don’t want to miss” the three-day event produced by Deadwood Mountain Grand in partnership with the Deadwood Chamber & Visitors Bureau will feature songwriters that have produced or co-written hits that have been nominated for nearly 100 Grammy Awards
The festival will feature three days of free “writer’s rounds” which will feature songwriters who are excellent performers in their own right, singing the hits they have written and telling the story behind the music. These rounds are fan favorites most notably because they are able to listen to songs that have sold millions across the world in very intimate venues throughout the historic town of Deadwood.
“This is by far one of my favorite events every year,” said Deadwood Mountain Grand General Manager Susan Kightlinger. “The songwriters are amazing performers and the stories they tell about how and why they wrote the songs is an absolute thrill.”
In addition to the popular writer’s rounds, the event will also feature local rounds spearheaded by local singer/songwriter Heath Johnson and the South Dakota Songwriter’s Association featuring amazing regional artists.
Saturday night will feature a free Songwriter’s Showcase in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center. This event will feature the songwriter’s newest material and well as old favorites. The event is free of charge with a donation requested that will go to local music programs at the Lead-Deadwood School District.
All of the Thursday, Friday and Saturday writer’s rounds are free to the public and it is recommended to arrive early to the intimate sized venues.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-0386. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the newly restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action, a 2,000 seat entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Chancey Williams To Bring His Wild Costume Party To Deadwood!
(Deadwood, SD) If you attend school at the University of Wyoming or if you’ve been to Laramie much in recent years, you probably know all about the annual alter-ego party Chancey Williams throws, called “White Trash Bash!” Now the fast-rising country star has decided to bring the event to the regional party headquarters of Deadwood on October 30. Deadwood Mountain Grand announced this afternoon that Chancey Williams: White Trash Bash will go on sale Monday August 30, produced by A Rorey Lemmel Bucker.
“Every time Chancey Williams has been here, it has been a huge party,” commented Deadwood Mountain Grand General Manager Susan Kightlinger, “but this takes it to a whole new level.” The big costume party coincides with the annual Deadweird celebration in the historic Black Hills town.
“It’s no secret we like to party,” said Chancey Williams, “and when we heard we could take our crazy ‘White Trash Bash,’ to Deadwood for Halloween, well, who wouldn’t want to do that?” The popular singer/songwriter, who grew up on a ranch in nearby Moorcroft, WY said fans can expect a fun show, “We want everyone come dressed up in their own version of what a White Trash Bash means to them. The Deadwood Mountain Grand crew will too. I’m going to do my best to get Susan in costume and maybe even Rorey Lemmel.”
Tickets to Chancey Williams: White Trash Bash go on sale Monday at Deadwood Mountain Grand and Ticketmaster. Most of the house will be general admission, but a limited number of stage-front VIP tickets with its own dedicated bar will be available. For more information contact the ticket office at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
BHSU Introduces Deadwood Mountain Grand Field
SPEARFISH, S.D. (08/04/21) Black Hills State Athletics and Deadwood Mountain Grand have announced a partnership to provide Deadwood Mountain Grand the naming rights to the playing surface at Lyle Hare Stadium, now named Deadwood Mountain Grand Field.
"Yellow Jacket athletics is excited to be partnering with Deadwood Mountain Grand, and we can't say enough about the opportunity it provides us to enhance the student-athlete experience as we continue to move the needle forward here at BHSU," said Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations, Thayer Trenhaile.
With the partnership, Black Hills State athletics continues to work towards positively impacting its student-athletes and the communities it serves across the Black Hills and Western South Dakota.
"We are thrilled to partner with Black Hills State Athletics as the naming rights sponsor for the playing surface at Lyle Hare Stadium, now named Deadwood Mountain Grand Field," said Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino Director, Tyler Nold. "We are committed to our local community and hope our partnership will help promote Black Hills State Athletics for years to come."
Deadwood Mountain Grand's logo will be added to the playing surface, LED scoreboard structures, and entrances at Lyle Hare Stadium.
"This partnership will have a big impact on our goal to provide a top-tier experience for our student-athletes," said BHSU Athletic Director, Padraic McMeel. "We'd like to thank Deadwood Mountain Grand for joining the Yellow Jacket family, and we look forward to the history that will take place on Deadwood Mountain Grand Field."
The Yellow Jackets will play their first game at the newly-named Deadwood Mountain Grand Field on Sept. 2, 2021, when they host Dickinson State.
About Deadwood Mountain Grand
Deadwood Mountain Grand is the premier entertainment resort in the heart of Deadwood. Located in the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Company ore processing plant, Deadwood Mountain Grand features a 98-room luxury hotel, a state-of-the-art sportsbook & casino, an energetic restaurant & sports bar, a 3,000 seat entertainment & event center, and a multi-level parking garage. For more information, visit deadwoodmountaingrand.com.
Deadwood Mayor Designates August 2nd "Dale Morris Day" In Deadwood
DEADWOOD, S.D. (08/02/21) – The City of Deadwood and Deadwood Historic Preservation held a recognition luncheon for Dale Morris and family, owners of Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort on Monday, August 2nd.
The luncheon was to celebrate the donation of a Conservation Easement on approximately five and half acres of land adjacent to the Homestake Mining Company’s Slime Plant, home to Deadwood Mountain Grand. The donation will protect in perpetuity this significant land parcel overlooking historic downtown by never allowing commercial development on the property.
Deadwood Mayor David Ruth presented Morris with a proclamation declaring Monday, August 2nd, Dale Morris Day in Deadwood. The proclamation states that “Dale Morris, owner of Deadwood Mountain Grand believes the recreational and aesthetic opportunities offered by leaving the land in its natural state far outweigh any monetary opportunities from development.”
The Morris family understands the recreational and aesthetic opportunities of leaving the land in its natural state. “We are dedicated to the communities of Deadwood and Lead,” said Zack Morris, Morris’s grandson. “It is only fitting that all who ‘hit the trail’ have full access to the property to enjoy an uninterrupted view of all the hills surrounding the historic district.”
Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Officer, Kevin Kuchenbecker, said the easement will help maintain Deadwood’s historic character for generations to come. “The Historic Preservation Commission has been working for several years to protect the viewshed surrounding the National Historic Landmark. This is a significant step in securing Deadwood’s preservation future.”
Deadwood Mayor Dave Ruth echoes Kuchenbecker’s statement. “The City is extremely thankful to the Morris family’s commitment to Deadwood through the donation of this Conservation Easement which has a lasting, long-term preservation impact.”
In a brief statement following the Mayor’s proclamation, Morris said the donation is a “win-win” for both the community and Deadwood Mountain Grand. He added that he was “humbled” by the designation.
Deadwood Mountain Grand General Manager Susan Kightlinger believes the agreement shows the dedication to community by the Morris family. “Deadwood Mountain Grand is a family-owned business, with a culture that encourages giving back,” said Kightlinger. “We have a commitment to our staff and the community to do what’s right for Deadwood.”
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the newly restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action, a 2,500 seat entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Koe Wetzel Will Give Us ‘Something To Talk About’ When He Rocks Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (06/28/21) – Some artists break one or two rules. Koe Wetzel breaks pretty much all of them, and he’ll be bringing his wild and raucous show to Deadwood Mountain Grand on Wednesday, November 17th.
The Texas-born singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer kicks out hard rock hooks with a twang bred in rough and tumble dives, yet meant for stadium stages. For as much as he unapologetically trail blazes between grunge, country, Americana, and damn near everything else under the sun, this maverick broke through the old-fashioned way—he busted his ass.
Since 2015, he has quietly sold over 200,000 units independently, cranked out 100 million streams and views, and went from playing bars with chicken wire in front of the stage to hosting and headlining his own packed-to-the-gills “Koe Wetzel’s Incredible Music Festival” surrounded by fireworks and thousands of screaming fans.
On his third album and debut for Columbia Records, Koe continues to set the rulebook on fire by simply being himself. “We live what we write, man,” he exclaims. “I don’t make anything up. Everything I’m singing is true. Authenticity is the most important thing to me. All of the music is me.”
He began “living” music as a kid. Hailing from Pittsburg, TX, he accompanied mom as she performed on the Opry circuit. As they went town-to-town, he watched his mother belt out country classics from the side of the stage. Grandpa introduced him to Creedence Clearwater Revival. Meanwhile, dad bumped hip-hop gems from The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and 50 Cent. In addition to listening to Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Willie Nelson, he developed a passion for alternative rock.
In eighth grade, a cousin shared an iPod playlist and opened Koe’s eyes to Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. “I turned into a rock head,” he smiles. He dusted off an old guitar received as a Christmas gift and quickly came to a key realization. “I figured out you could get girls easier,” he recalls. In between performing, he played football as a linebacker for his high school and eventually Tarleton State University. Even with the 5am practices, he spent all night writing, jamming, and recording. After an ankle injury and subsequent six month-hiatus, he dropped out of college in his sophomore year and went all-in for his career.
Within eighteen months of throwing down four-nights-a-week around Texas and Oklahoma, shows began to sellout. Koe’s 2017 debut Noise Complaint became a phenomenon powered by “February 28, 2016” [19.2 million Spotify streams], “Something To Talk About”[15 million Spotify streams], “Love” [12.9 million Spotify streams], “Fuss & Fight” [11.9 million Spotify streams], and more.
Mind you, he managed to pull this off without a label, agent, or traditional structure to speak of. “We did everything on our own,” he goes on. “We also like to get drunk and have a good time, so me being arrested a couple of times probably helped out a bit,” he laughs.
The momentum continued with 2019’s Harold Saul High and its singles “Ragweed” and “Forever” as more sold-out shows ensued. Following a relentless grind, he surprise-released the 2020 anthem “Kuntry & Wistern,” which exploded right out of the gate trending on Apple Music and garnering praise from The Boot who wrote “Wetzel has earned a reputation as one of the Lone Star State’s most high-energy and engaging performers.” Soon after, Koe inked a deal with Columbia Records.
As usual, he pulls no punches with the hook, “I think I’ve lost my mind, at least that’s what you told me,” over a palm-muted clean guitar. “I’ve always listened to a big variety of artists, and that inspires me to this day,” he continues. “I might be creating lyrics in a hip-hop sense, chords in a rock sense, and melodies in a country way. All of those elements combine within the process of making music.”
That inimitable style shines on the single “Sundy or Mundy.” A bass groan gives way to vivid verses before the chorus climbs over a wall of distortion and a guitar lead rings out. “It’s about losing your mind,” he explains. “When you’re sitting there in the studio, you can forget what day it is. It was written from the same perspective. You get delirious and numb to the whole situation. It’s got a gritty and heavy sound, but the choruses go down smooth and steady.”
As he smashes more rules, Koe Wetzel emerges as the outlaw the 21st century needed all along. “Whatever you’re going through, I want to help you go through it,” he leaves off. “I know I’m not the only one who feels the way I do. I hope maybe this helps you build a better life. When I’m onstage, it’s carefree. There’s not a worry in the world. I don’t think about my troubles or what’s going on in my life. It’s just about the music and the fans. You don’t need anything else.”
Tickets for Koe Wetzel go on sale on Friday, July 2nd. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action, a 3,000 seat entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
