In the late 19th century, a budding young musician by the name of Huddie William Ledbetter left his home in Harrison County, Texas after his father sought to discourage the boy’s artistic ambitions by referring to Huddie’s guitar as a “starvation box,” cursed to bring only poverty and famine. That young man would go on to have an unimaginably profound impact on music, becoming internationally recognized as folk blues pioneer Lead Belly. Over a hundred years later, Lead Belly’s musical lineage continues, and his story still provides inspiration for artists, including country outlaw and fellow Texan Dale Watson who is set to release a new acoustic album that puts Watson’s own starvation box front and center.
Starvation Box begins with the captivating title track, which Watson co-wrote with CMA award-winning songwriter Mike Henderson, of Chris Stapleton’s “Broken Halos” fame. The song rides a bluesy 12-string guitar riff backed by a sparse rhythm track that gives ample room for Watson’s leathery baritone voice.
As Watson explains, “Living in Marshall, TX, the area so influential to Lead Belly, I went down the Lead Belly rabbit hole. It led me to a 1957 Stella 12-string guitar just like the one Lead Belly had, which his father called a ‘starvation box.’ I knew I had to write that song as an ode to Lead Belly. What I wrote was ok but with Mike Henderson’s additions and of course, his slide guitar and harmonica, I think we came up with a fitting tribute that I hope people like.”
Single stream/download: https://orcd.co/dalewatson_starvationboxsingle
There’s plenty more bluesy, folk and roots rock in store on Starvation Box, the album, including an ode to Elvis Presley’s mechanic, “Billy Strawn,” a fantastic cover of Percy Mayfield’s “Like A Stranger In My Own Hometown,” and the superb closer, a gospel rave-up called “Ain’t Nobody Everybody Loved.” Catch it on CD and digitally available everywhere on July 7!
CD pre-order: https://cleorecs.com/store/?s=dale+watson+starvation+box&post_type=prod…
Digital pre-save: https://orcd.co/dalewatson_starvationboxalbum
'STARVATION BOX' TRACK LISTING:
1. Starvation Box
2. Whatever Happened To The Cadillac
3. That's Where The Money Goes
4. Nothingville
5. Billy Strawn
6. I Ain't Been Livin' Right
7. Adios
8. Streets Of Gold
9. Down Down Down Down
10. Two Peas In A Pod
11. Like A Stranger In My Hometown
12. Ain't Nobody Everybody Loved
Dale Watson On Tour:
15 Jun Nash County Arts Council (Solo Show) Nashville, NC
16 Jun Neighborhood Theater ( Solo Show) Charlotte, NC
17 Jun Bogue Sound Distillery (Solo Show) Bogue, NC
19 Jun Continental Club Austin, TX
20 Jun Main Street Crossing Tomball, TX
21 Jun Main Street Steakhouse & Bar Danbury, TX
25 Jun Mercer Street DanceHall Dripping Springs, TX
01 Jul Broken Spoke Austin, TX 02 Jul Gruene Hall New Braunfels, TX
DALE WATSON EUROPEAN TOUR:
06 Jul Poppodium Twente | Metropool Enschede, Netherlands
08 Jul Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht, Netherlands
09 Jul Patronaat Haarlem, Netherlands
11 Jul Stiftinga Norsk Country Treff Breim, Norway
14 Jul Stiftinga Norsk Country Treff Breim, Norway
21 Jul Texan Theater | Greenville Greenville, TX
22 Jul Cultural Activities Center Temple, TX
28 Jul Goode Company Armadillo Palace Houston, TX
03 Aug Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe Galveston, TX
04 Aug The Bugle Boy La Grange, TX
11 Aug The Post at River East Fort Worth, TX
18 Aug Oriental Theater Denver Denver, CO
20 Aug The State Room Salt Lake City, UT
21 Aug Neurolux Lounge Boise, ID
22 Aug Brewminatti Prosser, WA
23 Aug Polaris Hall Portland, OR
24 Aug Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA
26 Aug The Spa at Blue Lake Casino & Hotel Blue Lake, CA
27 Aug Hopmonk Tavern Novato, CA
28 Aug Zebulon Los Angeles, CA
29 Aug The Cordova Bar San Diego, CA
30 Aug Club Congress Tucson, AZ
31 Aug Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
02 Sep Broken Spoke Austin, TX
24 Sep Eddie's Attic Decatur, GA
19 Oct The Southgate House Revival Newport, KY
22 Nov Luckenbach Texas Fredericksburg, TX
