The boys in Vandoliers dropped their new EP Afterglow today, and if you’re expecting another polished Texas country record, you’re probably parked at the wrong bar.
Vandoliers have always been something different.
Part cowpunk. Part punk rock revival. Part dusty border-town mariachi band that looks like it rolled out of Terlingua at sunrise after sleeping behind the Starlight Theatre. They’re loud, rowdy, emotional, and completely unconcerned with fitting neatly into whatever box Nashville or Texas radio wants to put them in.
You either love them or hate them.
There’s not much middle ground.
Afterglow collects five songs recorded between 2022 and 2025 with Grammy-winning producer Ted Hutt. The title fits. These songs feel like the last glow from a campfire after midnight, when the crowd has gone home and all that’s left are the stories.
“Longshot” and “Compass Rose” finally escaped the vault from the Sonic Ranch sessions. “Girl on the Run” throws a punch straight at the establishment. “Sink or Swim” has already become a crowd favorite, carried by the same rebellious spirit that’s always fueled this band.
But for me, the anchor of the EP is “Nobody’s Fault But My Own.”
Frontman Jenni Rose says the song marked the point when she finally got sober from alcohol. That kind of honesty can’t be manufactured. It can’t be polished up by a record label. It either comes from experience or it doesn’t.
And that’s what Vandoliers do better than most.
They don’t sing about life from a safe distance. They drag it onto the stage, scars and all.
Afterglow isn’t just an EP. It’s a bridge between who Vandoliers were and who they’re becoming. The afterglow of one chapter and the first light of another.
Somewhere between the punk clubs, the dance halls, the desert wind, and a trumpet echoing across West Texas, Vandoliers have carved out their own lane.
And thank God they did.
— Pancho
“Some bands chase trends. Others build campfires. Vandoliers are still throwing gasoline on theirs.”
Beyonce and The Rye Boys are ruining country music
Clayton Ray Smith
“Beyonce and the Rye Boys are ruining country music,” remarked Clayton Smith in light of his new single, Cosmic Cloud of Dust, released earlier today.
I honestly don’t know where it fits in the order of genre but either way I am a die hard Rye Boys follower. Not to mention a huge supporter of Clayton Smith as a person and as a musician. Not only is Clayton the lead of the Rye Boys band , he also plays lead guitar for The Band Laredo and sometimes moonlights in the Zach Welch band. Clayton recently toured with the Vandoliers in order to maintain all of that band’s equipment.
Clayton Smith is one of the best musicians in the business in my humble opinion. If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to catch one of his shows or stream his music. You won’t be disappointed and you just might become a fan and not care who is ruining country music either.
PS what is Cow Punk in case this question ever comes up on Jeopardy.
Through a rapidly changing environment in the world of music, a pandemic and personal trials and tribulations, The Vandoliers 3rd album was conceived. This album may seem a bit different than the previous two. But change is good right?
Side A.
Travis Curry’s fiddle licks open side A of the album on “The Lighthouse, “ and you know even though the world is at high tide, your on a safe ride.
The Lighthouse, written by Vandoliers front man, Josh Fleming, is a song he originally wrote to his infant daughter.
Track 2 leads us to those ever faithful feel good, hold your beer and watch this party songs that make the Vandoliers who they are. Every Saturday night has become one of my personal favorites. I often spend time in reflection of my own life and how far I have come. The rear view mirror can sometimes be my best tool.
“Howlin’” a song about a dog. Or maybe just any one of us who have lost our way back home. Fleming says he actually wrote the song in 2019 as he watched a somewhat anxious family dog in mourning at the door of his family home. “The dog was just sitting there waiting for mom and dad to come home.” Fleming told one reporter. I mean I can totally relate to missing someone. There are some I miss more than others. There are some folks I miss that I know I’ll never see again.
In my personal life. I am a recovering alcoholic. As I write this today, I have been sober for 4835 days.. you might be thinking it’s a long time , but in my heart, I know I just have today. My literature tells me, I shall not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. My first sponsor taught me to defend your right to drink as much as my own right to stay sober. I know the world struggles right now more than ever with more than just addiction and relapse and I think the last two songs on side A, “Bless Your Drunken Heart,” and “Down and Out,” are both powerful stories about living life on life’s terms.
Rock bottom always has a vacant room for me
Joshua Fleming
Rock bottom always has a vacant room for me is one of my favorite Fleming lyrics thus far. It’s so relatable and I can feel the pains and struggles. I have been in that place more than once. I have also found ways to climb my way back up to the top. Music is a big tool I use daily to stay out of that bottomless pit of doubt and despair.
Side B
When you flip the Record, you are surprised to hear Marty Stuart. His direction to Fleming and the band bring you back to those eighties hair bands you grew up on. In my mind I can see them smashing guitars. I can smell the sulfur burning off the fireworks clapping in the distance.
“Better Run,” could be the hardest hitting song on the album. The song was written by Fleming, along with Arlis Albritton and Jeremy Drinkwine. In head banging fashion.
Mando Saenz gets songwriting credit on the next song, “Steer Me Wrong.” Travis Curry’s range of fiddle once again wins out on this sometimes love song.
“Before The Fall,” was the first single released from this album. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was heading to Austin for some more of that work stuff. I had to leave home about 5 in the morning and then I streamed the song.
It’s all about those horns. Right? Cory Graves and that horn. Dude has some serious talent. I think it’s one of the biggest concepts that keeps pulling me back to the Vandoliers. I love the flow of those damn Mariachi horns. At a show at Kessler Theater in Dallas, Joshua Fleming announced to the world that Cory was his “Secret Weapon.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Speaking of Cory Graves multi- talents, he wrote the next song on the album. “I hope your Heartache‘s a Hit,” turns the tables on your typical break-up song. It’s their loss not ours right??
“Too Drunk to Drink,” beams us back into good spirited fun with our favorite party musicians, the Vandoliers.
The album ends with “Wise County Friday Night,” a song Fleming wrote as he looked back on the early days of his relationship with his now wife.
This Dallas band of Troublemakers did great on this one. They are one of the friendliest and most welcoming band I have ever come across and they make the kinda cow-punk music I love to listen to.
The band
Josh Fleming- Lead Vocal and Acoustic Guitar,
Cory Graves- multi- instrumentalist- (Horns, Keys, Harmonica.) and backing vocals.
Travis Curry- backing vocals and fiddle
Dustin Fleming- Backing Vocals and Electric Guitar
Mark Moncrieff- Backing Vocals and Bass Gutar
Guyton Sanders- Drums
Vandoliers , release date of The Vandoliers , August 12, 2022 Kessler Theatre, Dallas Tx.
