Kade Anson dropped a brand new album today. Coyotes and Matches the latest release by 301Productions
Kade’s musical sounds are a formation of the brand of music that is Texas. He has lived all over this great state and his sounds resonate from the soil he has been walking on his entire life. Kade Anson comes from the hill country , he comes from the plains, and he has climbed high up onto the Caprock.
Although he is relatively young in his age , and in his musical career, Kade is something to pay attention to. His ability to tell a story through song is a force to be heard. He tells a story about life like he has been writing songs for generations. I
Personally, I have been watching his talent grow musically since his humble beginnings in the art of songwriting and his songs just get better and better. They are the type of songs that grow on me and the more I hear one the more I like it.
Y’all give your ear the full pleasures of hearing Kades song. This album is perfectly amazing no matter where you might hang up your hat.
Payton Matous at Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos, Texas
Prayers to A Lesser God, the new EP by Payton Matous, officially released yesterday by 301Productions.
Matous is a big addition to the 301Productions team, accompanying other up and coming artists like Zach Welch and Kade Anson.
I had a chance not long ago to meet Payton and to hear him play live. Matous is a giant of a man with a unique voice. His way to twist the storms of life into song is where his talent truly lies. He is A songwriter with a song to sing. Truthful, Powerful songs that touch the darkest places in my soul. I have lived in those same haunted places and I too have found a way out. Thanks a big part to music and the written word. We do recover.
“Recovery” is a song written from a stance of coming out of that bottom. It’s a song for those who have known powerlessness and decided to take the bull by the horns approach and do something about it. It’s about getting better by working through your own inner demons and finding a spiritual connection to add light into those dark reaches of your once dark and hardened heart. In Payton Matous’ own words, “This song is like the day you got that first chip in AA, it’s the one mama is the most proud of.” I can relate. As I am writing this I have not had to take a drink or a drug for 4741 days in a row. You may think that’s a long time, but truthfully all I really have is today. I must have a conscious contact with a Power greater than myself on a daily basis and allow Him to control every area of my life. Sometimes I find that connection in a simple song.
Payton Matous explained the title of the EP. Prayers to a Lesser God is about going into any relationship with the same zeal and drive as a religious person might seek God.
Besides the heartfelt lyrics and the soulful strings of the acoustic guitar, the EP features the work of Wes Barlow of College Station, Tx on fiddle.
I have always been a huge fan of all sorts of music. A favorite part of my life is to see the music that I love in a live setting. This past weekend I did just that. Seeing Zach Welch perform “Drunkin’ Ramblins’” from the Cheatham Street stage is a moment I will not soon or probably never forget. Fellow Texas Music fan and the Curator of the best Spotify playlist I have ever heard, “The Greatest Playlist in Texas and Hence the World,” Bruce Newman, told me early on that Zach Welch should be selling out theaters maybe even stadiums. I think that his song Drunkin Ramblins is the modern day version of Garth’s Friends in Low Places. I think Zach Welch should be selling out arenas.
“This is my life, these are my friends” as Josh Abbot so simply penned in a Panhandlers song.
My girlfriend and I left the desert scape of Midland, Texas for the weekend and made the trip to a lush and green oasis of San Marcos, Texas. We took this trip entirely for the purpose of seeing Zach Welch and his Fulk Band play their brand of music. When we arrived at the venue, Cheatham Street Warehouse we almost immediately realized we had made this trip to see our friends. The group of guys that were there to play welcomed us and made us feel at home. Everyone from the musicians to the other fans attending the event showed us how appreciative they were that we’d come together in that moment in time. We had a great night met a great group of folks and made memories that we will share from now on. She and I are still relatively new on our own journey together, this weekend we conquered many firsts. Our first concert together, our first dance- which was to Jacob Ryan Marshall’s cover of a King George song- “UnWound.”
Welch’s music, A brand I have come to love this last few years. This ain’t quite country but it’s damn sure not rock. It is music that makes sense through the lyrics that make sense to me. Some of Zach’s lyrics are so relatable and parallel to my own life.
Zach Welch- Cheatham Street Warehouse 4/30/22
Opening the show that night were Jacob Ryan Marshall and Colton Mathis. Prior to the event , singer/songwriter Seth Jones had informed me that Colton was the one to watch. His music was so clear and crisp and his lyrics so tried and true. My buddy known on Twitter by his handle as TxRiverTonk of KZSM radio in San Marcos remarked how well the duo of Marshall and Mathis complimented each other during their song swap. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Mathis will be releasing his newest music, “fight” on May 4th of this year.
Jacob Ryan Marshall and Colton Mathis Cheatham Street 4/30/22
Besides seeing Zach, Jacob, and Colton, I also got to meet in person Kade Anson, and Payton Matous who are both great songwriters and members of the Texas music scene. One of the highlights of the night was when Zach Welch invited them both onto the stage to perform some of their own music. Kade who now resides in the Hill country has some West Texas sounds in his guitar from his days as a Red Raider on the Cap-Rock in Lubbock.
Peyton Matous Cheatham Street 4/30/22Kade Anson Cheatham Street 4/30/22
Another great part of the evening was meeting the newest addition to Zach Welch’s band. Fiddler, Jason Harrell made phenomenal sounds come out of his strings. Harrell is A Texas country musician who is confident enough to show up to play countrified music in a Megadeath Shirt. Harrell also has some events lined up later this summer to play his fiddle for South Texas Tweek.
We came as strangers, although many of us have followed each other on social media for some time, the introduction seemed as if we had known each other forever, and we left as friends even more solid in our bonds as lovers of Texas music.
Me and Jacob Ryan Marshall
We didn’t have to say goodbye we just said I’ll see ya down the road. I’ll be listening for ya on the radio.
Tonight I tuned into one of my favorite podcasts to hear the voice of one of my favorite new songwriters, Kade Anson.
Kade was telling host Aaron Lee Bentley on “Off Mic Off the Record” some background behind some of his songs and how he began teaching himself guitar chords while in college to put a little background noise behind his poems.
Anson attended College at Lubbock’s Texas Tech University. I could go on all night about how many singer/songwriters in today’s music scene originated from this hub of the plains. After much thought , Kade migrated to Aggie Land in Bryan/ College Station Texas , which is also a huge Texas music Mecca as it is also home to guys like Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and Rich O’Toole just to name a few.
Kade writes from his own experiences about real life situations. His songs come to him from almost nowhere and he takes the time and patience needed to turn them into masterful works of word and wisdom.
My favorites by him right now are “Sweet Ol’ Amy” and “One Less Town to Leave.” I recall spending hours one day searching Google Earth in order to find that exact spot on the map where the album art came from for “One Less Town to Leave.” Kade finally gave me some pinpoint on my direction via a shoutout on Twitter. He said the pic was taken while he was working a feedlot near New Deal.
It’s a great tune and not just because it came from the Cap- Rock.
I hope Kade Anson keeps on writing those bluesy songs about Texas.
