Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Kelsey Waldon’s new song, “Tall and Mighty,” is debuting today. Watch/share the official music video HERE.
Of the song, Waldon reflects, “I’d been having conversations with my peers in this business, especially all my girlfriends who are such amazing songwriters in their own right, talking about this journey and all the smoke and mirrors of trying to live up to your dream. There have been times when I’ve tried to prove the wrong thing, but I’m through with that now. I’m not trying to be anybody but myself, and to write songs that show what’s in my heart and on my mind.”
“Tall and Mighty” is the second song unveiled from Waldon’s highly anticipated new album, No Regular Dog, which will be released August 12 via Oh Boy Records (pre-order here). Ahead of the release, album track, “Sweet Little Girl,” recently debuted, of which Billboard praises, “she sings over instrumentation that recalls the freewheeling best of ’70s country music, as Waldon’s vocal embodies a certain bruised innocence.” Watch the official music video HERE.
Produced by Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker) and recorded at Los Angeles’ Dave’s Room Studio, No Regular Dog is rooted in deep self-reflection and features Waldon’s most personal songwriting to date. With these eleven songs, including “Season’s Ending,” a tribute to Waldon’s mentor John Prine, and “Simple as Love,” the first love song she’s written, Waldon solidifies her position as one of music’s most authentic voices—turning the harsh truths of loss, self-doubt and sacrifice into songs that soothe and brighten the soul. Greatly influenced by sounds of the past, the record highlights the immense depth of Waldon’s musicality, mining inspiration from mid-century bluegrass, ‘60s soul and ‘70s country-rock.
In celebration of the new music, Waldon will embark on her nationwide “No Regular Dog Tour” later this summer with headline shows at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory, Philadelphia’s MilkBoy, Seattle’s Tractor Tavern, Portland’s Polaris Hall, Austin’s 3TEN ACL, Fort Worth’s Tulips FTW, Lexington’s The Burl, Los Angeles’ Hotel Café and Nashville’s Basement East among several others. See below for complete itinerary. Full ticket details can be found at http://www.kelseywaldon.com/tour.
Reflecting on the record, Waldon shares, “I hope that these songs are able to live with people and help make the world a little better, because I think that’s a big part of what my job is. At the end of the day, I’m so thankful for my passion for music because it’s sustained me throughout my whole life, and now I want it to do the same for other people. And if anyone’s struggling, I hope they can recognize the ‘No Regular Dog’ within themselves, and start to see how much they’re really worth.” Additionally, Jennings shares, “Kelsey Waldon is a top shelf artist who feels a deep responsibility to country music, the preservation of its history, and the quality of its future. I would say country music is in good hands.”
In addition to Waldon (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Jennings (piano, organ, synths), No Regular Dog also features Waldon’s touring band—Nate Felty (drums), Alec Newnam (bass) and Brett Resnick (pedal steel), alongside special guests Doug Pettibone (dobro, guitar) and Aubrey Richmond (fiddle), as well as background vocals from Kyshona Armstrong, Mickie Conley, Maureen Murphy and Kristen Rogers.
No Regular Dog is Waldon’s fourth studio album and the follow up to 2019’s White Noise/ White Lines—her Oh Boy Records debut. Released to overwhelming critical praise, the record landed on several “Best of 2019” lists including NPR Music, Paste, Stereogum, The Fader, The Bitter Southerner and Rolling Stone, who declared, “a stunning album that gave voice to rural folk…while Waldon’s work is often referred to as steeped in the past, it’s actually focused on rewriting perceptions to shape a more vibrant, complete future.” Additionally, NPR Music praised, “she’s undoubtedly proving to be a force. Growing up in a small Kentucky town, Waldon has a lot to say about emotional and personal independence throughout her music” and American Songwriter proclaimed, “her finest, most personal and diverse work yet, one that pushes boundaries yet remains firmly ensconced in the roots folk/country genre she calls home.”
Raised in Monkey’s Eyebrow, KY and now based outside of Nashville, Waldon has performed across the world, including shows with John Prine, Tanya Tucker, Brandy Clark, Jamey Johnson, The Steeldrivers and Tyler Childers in addition to her own extensive headline tours.
NO REGULAR DOG TRACKLIST
1. No Regular Dog
2. Sweet Little Girl
3. Tall and Mighty
4. You Can’t Ever Tell
5. Season’s Ending
6. History Repeats Itself
7. Backwater Blues
8. Simple as Love
9. Peace Alone (Reap What You Sow)
10. Progress Again
11. The Dog (Outro)
KELSEY WALDON CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
June 22—Dublin, Ireland—Oh Boy Records Goes to Europe 2022
July 14—Spring Green, WI—Shitty Barn
July 15—Chicago, IL— Country on Western Music Festival at Barney Callaghan’s Pub
July 16—St. Louis, MO—Old Rock House
August 4—Middlesboro, KY—Levitt Amp
August 11—Vienna, VA—Jammin Java
August 12—Brooklyn, NY—The Knitting Factory
August 13—Philadelphia, PA—MilkBoy
August 25—Newport, KY—Southgate House
August 26—Gary, IN—Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana – Café Stage
August 27—Indianapolis, IN—The Hi-Fi
October 5—Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark
October 7—Davenport, IA—Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel
October 8—St. Paul, MN—Turf Club
October 9—Madison, WI—High Noon Saloon
October 11—Columbia, MO—Rose Music Hall
October 12—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
October 14—Denver, CO—Cervantes’ Other Side
October 15—Fort Collins, CO—The Coast
October 18—Salt Lake City, UT—The State Room
October 20—Spokane, WA—Lucky You Lounge
October 21—Seattle, WA—Tractor Tavern
October 22—Portland, OR—Polaris Hall
October 25—Arcata, CA—Arcata Theatre Lounge
October 27—Felton, CA—Felton Music Hall
October 28—Los Angeles, CA—The Hotel Café
October 30—Palm Springs, CA—The Alibi
November 2—Phoenix, AZ—Last Exit Live
November 4—Austin, TX—3TEN ACL
November 5—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall - Upstairs
November 6—Fort Worth, TX—Tulips FTW
November 8—Oklahoma City, OK—Ponyboy
November 10—Louisville, KY—Zanzabar
November 11—Lexington, KY—The Burl
November 12—Bowling Green, KY—The Warehouse at Mt. Victor
November 30—Boston, MA—Café 939
December 2—Pittsburgh, PA—Club Café
December 3—Huntington, WV—The Loud
December 9—Carrboro, NC—Cat’s Cradle
December 10—Charlotte, NC—The Evening Muse
December 15—Atlanta, GA—Smith’s Olde Bar
December 16—Nashville, TN—The Basement East
