Hayes Carll

Singer-songwriter, Americana, contemporary folk

In the grand scheme of Texas music, it's fair to say Hayes Carll is pulling from the Lone Star State's fine tradition of outstanding songwriters. From Townes Van Zandt to Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Steve Earle, you'd be likely to hear comparisons between all those great songwriters and the work of Hayes Carll. Fans of John Prine, Todd Snider, and Kris Kristofferson may also appreciate the creative songcrafting and socially conscious storytelling focus of Hayes Carll's work (as well as his frequent good humor). As he's been known to perform with Americana darlings like Carrie Anne Hearst (of Shovels + Rope) and Jason Isbell (formerly of Drive-By Truckers), fans of those two outfits may be interested in Carll's work as well.

KMAG YOYO (And Other American Stories) (Lost Highway Records, 2011) compare prices

Trouble in Mind (Lost Highway Records, 2008) compare prices

Little Rock (Highway 87 Music, 2005) compare prices

"Another Like You" (from KMAG YOYO And Other American Stories)
"She Left Me for Jesus" (from Trouble in Mind)
"I'm Gonna Start Living Again if It Kills Me" (from Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe)

Hayes Carll (aka Joshua Hayes Carll) was born outside of Houston, Tex., in January 1976. According to his official biography: "Born in Houston, he went to college at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas – getting a degree in History, then heading back to Crystal Beach to play for a wild assortment of people either hiding out, hanging on or getting lost in the bars along Texas’ Gulf coast."

In 2002, Carll self-released his debut album Flowers and Liquor, and the disc was well-received among the discriminating tastemakers in and around Houston. The Houston Post named him the Best New Artist of that year. Flying on the success of that release, he dropped another one a couple of years later before earning the attention of Lost Highway Records. Known for their work with some of the finest Americana, alt-country, and indie roots artists on the scene, Lost Highway delivered Carll's third solo album to considerable national praise.

The result was Trouble in Mind - a stirring songwriter record which straddled the line between country and folk with a sort of authority and creative impulse which mirrored the cross-over appeal of folks like Steve Earle and Todd Snider. The disc earned Carll a nomination for New & Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2010 Americana Music Awards, and laid the foundation for a complete embrace by the AMA of his follow-up - 2011's KMAG YOYO.

Of course, it didn't hurt that Carll made an appearance in the film Country Strong, the film in which Gwyneth Paltrow starred as a country singer, and which contained three of his songs.

Through the course of his decade-long career in the music industry, Carll has released a total of four solo albums and earned Best of the Year recognition from American Songwriter, SPIN, and Rolling Stone magazines, as well as an Americana Music Association Award for KMAG YOYO (Best Album of 2011). He's appeared on Late Night with Jools Holland and in some of the finest music festivals in North America (South by Southwest, Bonnaroo, Americana Music Association Festival, Pickathon Festival in Portland, Ore., and beyond). He travels both solo and with a band called the Gulf Coast Orchestra and has been championed as a hard-core road warrior. To catch Hayes Carll on the road, check out the tour dates on his website at HayesCarll.com.