Recommended tracks: “Eatin’ Big Time,” “Nose On The Grindstone,” “Tom Cat and a Dandy”
Artists you may like: Sierra Ferrell, Colter Wall, Zach Bryan
Since his first album came out in 2011, Tyler Childers has been redefining the folk and country music scene with an experimental sound that has cemented his place in the charts. His new album Snipe Hunter is no exception, serving as a collection of memories and observations from his life. The Kentucky native blends traditional folk with hard-rock riffs and psychedelic textures, creating a unique sound that feels both grounded in Appalachian roots and untethered by genre conventions.
The opening track, “Eatin’ Big Time,” is a groovy blues-boogie tune that muses on living in the holler while having big-time success: “With albums gold and platinum overflowing to the ceiling / Eatin’ big time is a feelin’ with the friends that I have made.” Childers boasts his riches while still maintaining his Appalachian roots. The song sets the stage for the wonderfully strange and captivating journey Childers guides listeners through over all thirteen songs on Snipe Hunter.
“Nose On The Grindstone” is a deep cut and fan favorite that Childers released as a single on June 12. It is the sixth track on the album and it’s popular for good reason. It features a classic guitar riff behind lyrics recalling the lessons learned from his father working long, blue collar hours in comparison to a son’s struggle with addiction: “He said ‘One of these days you’ll get out of these hills / Keep your nose on the grindstone and out of the pills.’” The song proves that Childers still has a deep connection to his past and the same sound that brought him to fame in the first place.
The second to last track, “Tomcat and a Dandy,” is an old-timey song that combines a scratchy fiddle with serene chanting. The lyrics tell a story of a man traveling and falling in love before it takes a turn as he begins thinking about his own mortality. It also covers how he hopes to be remembered and celebrated: “When the curtain falls on the part I play too soon for thе ones that know’d me / Raise a toast and toss mе roses from the balcony.” It’s a song that speaks to Childers’ rural Kentucky roots and personal philosophies, coming together in an authentic and deeply resonant tune.
Snipe Hunter is a psychedelic-folk mix that gives an introspective look into the mind of Tyler Childers through the lens of memories, lessons, and musings. His career has been defined by his refusal to fit into one genre box, and Snipe Hunter proves just that. It’s an album that stays grounded in his Appalachian-Kentucky roots while exploring a deeply personal journey that fuses storytelling with experimental instrumentals, leaving listeners ready to hear it again.
Tyler Childers will begin his North American tour on August 28th in New Braunfels, TX at the REK & Friends: Applause For The Cause benefit concert for flood relief. He is also set to perform at Healing Appalachia on Sept. 19th and 20th in Ashland, KY. Tickets for his upcoming shows are available here.
Tyler Childers Tour Dates:
8.28 // New Braunfels, TX
9.19 // Ashland, KY
9.22 // Charlottesville, VA
9.24 // Camden, NJ
9.25 // Mansfield, MA
9.27 // Bristow, VA
9.29 // Forest Hills, NY
9.30 // Forest Hills, NY
10.3 // Cincinnati, OH
10.5 // Memphis, TN
10.7 // Cuyahoga Falls, OH
10.10 // Nashville, TN
10.11 // Nashville, TN
11.15 // London, UK
Keep up with Tyler Childers: Instagram // Facebook // YouTube
