Raised on the plains of West Texas, Randall King honed his craft with countless nights spent strumming his guitar under the expansive skies, backlit by the stars’ neon glow. Flash forward to today, and King’s road warrior diet finds him revitalizing Country’s neo-traditional sound under a different kind of neon – the radiant glow from the signs of nearly 150 honky tonks he performs in across the country each year.
It’s this inspiration of nature and the humble establishments that have nurtured country music’s blue collar roots since its foundation that inspired King to usher people Into the Neon – to a place where rowdy roughnecking, romantic tenderness and breathtaking emotion are all welcome – with his 18-track sophomore album, due Jan. 26, 2024 via Warner Music Nashville.
“You grow wiser with age, you grow wiser while you’re working and experiencing life, and I feel like I have a deeper understanding of what my music really is,” King reflects of the growth he’s experienced since his 2022 release, Shot Glass. “We're moving into the neon era of country music. The pendulum is swinging, and you’re watching it happen… Now I just hope people get their mind blown.”
Co-produced by King alongside Jared Conrad, the project incorporates a unique blend of the influences from icons and modern masters alike who have inspired King’s sound; inclusive of the timeless ‘80s country twang of George Strait and Keith Whitley, and the blood pumping, Y2K-era rhythms of Dierks Bentley and Gary Allan.
Showcasing his ability to traverse from a toe-tapping waltzer with “When My Baby’s In Boots” to the yearning lament of “I Could Be That Rain,” King lays it all on the line with songs that could just as easily be enjoyed while slow dancing under the starry night sky or while line dancing at a local honky tonk. With the release of “Hang Of Hangin’ On,” available now, King finds himself graciously holding close to the girl he loves despite keeping “a goodbye up his sleeve” in the past.
“Think I’m getting the hang of hangin’ all this music out there,” King laughs. “I sure loved this song from the first time I heard it. Go spin your lady to this one y’all!”
Despite being in the studio recording new music in 2023, King has stayed busy on the road, recently returning from his first-ever European tour in September, Neon Overseas, with a set of 11 shows, including sold-out stops in Cologne, Germany; London England and more. As the year winds down, King will support Jon Pardi and Ian Munsick on select tour dates, while continuing to headline stops in Paso Robles, CA; Reno, NV; Salt Lake City, UT and more.
King’s 3rd Annual KingFest in Luckenbach, TX will take place on Nov. 11 with Gary P. Nunn, Jon Stork and Braxton Keith at the helm for support. For upcoming tour dates and more information, visit RandallKingMusic.com or follow @RandallKingBand across all social platforms.
Randall King’s Remaining 2023 Performances:
Oct. 21 // Corpus Christi, TX // Brewster Street Ice House
Nov. 2 // Nampa, ID // Ford Idaho Center
Nov. 3 // Reno, NV // Virginia Street Brewhouse
Nov. 4 // Paso Robles, CA // BarrelHouse Brewing Co.
Nov. 10 // Webster, TX // Rowdy's Dance Hall - Webster
Nov. 11 // Luckenbach, TX // Luckenbach Texas
Nov. 16 // Royal Oak, MI // Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov. 17 // Cleveland, OH // Agora Theater & Ballroom
Nov. 18 // Hershey, PA // GIANT Center
Nov. 30 // Independence, MO // Cable Dahmer Arena
Dec. 1 // Tulsa, OK // BOK Center
Dec. 2 // Fort Worth, TX // Dickies Arena
Dec. 9 // Salt Lake City, UT // Soundwell
Photo Credit: Yve Assad
About Randall King:
A West Texas native and self-described “old soul," Warner Music Nashville's Randall King has never wavered in his honky-tonk allegiance – in fact, he’s worn it like a badge of honor, growing with pride into a leading voice for today’s traditional country. Amassing over 270 Million streams with singles like “You In A Honky Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl” and “Mirror, Mirror,” he’s kept the twang alive in country’s mainstream while also earning acclaim through deeply personal EPs like 2020’s Leanna, and his 2022 major label album debut, Shot Glass – which landed on both Whiskey Riff’s Top 40 Country Albums of 2022 and Billboard’s All Genre 50 Best Albums of 2022 (So Far). Schooled on icons like Keith Whitley, George Strait, Alan Jackson and John Anderson, but inspired by modern masters like Dierks Bentley and Gary Allan, King first built an independent, grass-roots following on the strength of his electrifying live shows – each one a harrowing mix of rowdy roughnecking, romantic tenderness and breathtaking emotion – never asking for permission to explore his creative vision. He has since gone on to headline all across the U.S., the U.K. and Europe, where he continues to play nearly 150 shows a year and hone his craft where it matters most. Named a Country Artist to Watch by everyone from Pandora and Country Now to Music Mayhem Magazine, his sophomore major label album Into the Neon takes that craft to the next level on January 26, as King’s neo-traditional roots meet the blood-pumping rhythms and sharp, arena-sized grooves of Y2K-era country and beyond. Co-produced by King and Jared Conrad, and featuring 18 tracks, punchy sounds exist side-by-side with timeless swagger, further blurring the line between yesteryear and today – even as King renews his forever-country vows.
“Hang Of Hangin’ On” lyrics and label copy available HERE
