Local Texas Bands Releasing New Music, Bands From Out of Town Coming to Your City on Tour – We Have It All for You in This Month’s #TexasTunes.

#1 Jake Worthington

Jake Worthington was born and raised on the traditional sounds of country music. Now, the bonafide cowboy breathes fresh life into an American classic sound with the announcement of his 13-track debut album, “Jake Worthington,” releasing April 7 via Big Loud Records. Armed with an unmistakable drawl, sawing fiddles, slippery steel guitars, shuffling rhythms, and saloon-style piano runs, Worthington released two stand out honky-tonk hits: “State You Left Me In” and “Next New Thing.”

 Matching country’s emotional elements to an in-the-moment story, “State You Left Me In” is a slow, solemn track penned by Worthington with Timothy Baker and Roger Springer, leading as the album’s opener and pointing the way forward like a buzzing neon sign. Highlighting both his traditional dedication and youthful vigor, the accompanying music video shot at a farmhouse in Kosse, Texas, and directed by Justin Clough transports viewers back to the time of the cowboy, a modern take on throwback-style country music video. He’s touring all around Texas in April and May.

#2 MUNA

MUNA is coming to Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on April 26 for a show in Austin. MUNA finished 2022 on yet another career high, with the trio topping year end lists including Billboard, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, TIME Magazine, and the band was also named Consequence’s Band of the Year. It was a fitting way to finish the year that saw them release MUNA, a career defining record and one that elevated them to new heights here in the US and around the world. 

Now they are ready to take 2023 by storm with this headline tour that will include stops at Coachella and Bonnaroo Music Festival. It will be a triumphant return for a band whose live show is known for its electricity and sincerity which The Atlantic called “joyful and glorious and wonderfully queer.” MUNA are also excited to be joining Taylor Swift for nine dates on her 2023 North American stadium tour. They recently covered Swift’s classic “august” as part of their Spotify Singles Session at Electric Lady studio.

#3 Rayland Baxter 

Rayland Baxter – the inimitable Nashville artist – is setting out on his Spring tour. Rayland will be playing in Austin at 3TEN ACL Live on April 8. 

Rayland Baxter released his gorgeous new album “If I Were A Butterfly” last year. It’s an album that tackles the feelings of loss for his father, the legendary Bucky Baxter. It’s his first full length studio album since 2018 and features members of the Alabama Shakes, Cage The Elephant, Shakey Graves, Lennon Stella and most importantly, his dad. The groovy, harmony-laden track is a fascinating foray into the sounds of “If I Were A Butterfly,” and its lush instrumentation compliments Baxter’s warm vocals and introspective lyrics perfectly. Listen here! 

#4 Cape Crush

Cape Crush is a power-pop/emo band hailing from the North Shore of Massachusetts. The band consists of scene-veterans Ali Lipman on guitar and vocals, James Christopher on guitar, Jake Letizia on bass, and Cody Rico on drums. The band will release its debut EP ‘San Souci’ on April 14 via Ancient Injury Records. The title track is now streaming everywhere, along with a lyric video. “San Souci” deals with the bittersweet emotions of leaving behind people and places you’ve begrudgingly learned to love.

With their debut EP on the horizon, Cape Crush is ready to take the music world by storm. Their infectious energy and heartfelt lyrics have already earned them a dedicated following, and fans are eagerly anticipating what the future holds for this exciting new band. San Souci – released on Ancient Injury Records is available everywhere music is streamed on April 14.

#5 West Texas Exiles

There’s Texas, and then there’s West Texas. You can leave it behind but you can’t let it go. Nobody knows that better than the newly formed West Texas Exiles. Love of music and a restlessness to escape their hometowns brought them together in Austin. With an upcoming EP under their belts, they nonetheless have a deep catalog among the 3 singers/songwriters: Marco Gutierrez (Dirty River Boys), Daniel Davis, and Colin Gilmore; backed by bassist / producer Eric Harrison and drummer Trinidad Leal (DRB, Dixie Witch, Grady, Honky).

With influences from The Flatlanders and Buddy Holly to Augustana and Jason Isbell, they are reinvigorating the music scene with a modern interpretation of the lone star vernacular. Grounded in rhythmic and lyrical honesty, the Exile sound is the vastness of the West Texas sky and the energy of a world where nothing stands still for long. The first single “New Moon Foe” coincided with a tour in May 2022. The second single “Hotel Tomorrow” evokes the ghosts of southwestern Americana at its snakebit best, but it’s the eponymous track, “Exile” where the group’s intentions are declared most strikingly– this band of outsiders isn’t just waltzing across Texas, they are riding into the sunset in search of new horizons “while I still got my boots on my feet.” They’re touring all across Texas this month. 

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Cover Photo courtesy Te NGuyen, Unsplash

Gracie Watt is a regular contributor to Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, with a degree in Journalism. Watt is also a Lifestyle Producer at NBC-affiliate KXAN’s Studio 512. When she’s not writing, Watt enjoys singing, playing the guitar and doing volunteer work.