Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mac Leaphart is proud to announce the release of his highly anticipated album, Motel Breakfast, which will be available tomorrow on all major streaming platforms and in stores. This collection of twelve tracks marks a significant evolution in Leaphart's sound, offering listeners a vibrant blend of honky-tonk rock and roll and thoughtful storytelling.
Following the success of his 2021 album Music City Joke, which cracked the Top 40 on the Americana charts, Leaphart set out to create an album built for the stage. "Motel Breakfast came from me wanting to fill the holes in my setlist," Leaphart explains. "I wanted to write songs that were built for the stage, that could keep toes tapping even in a dive bar where folks didn't necessarily come to listen to music."
Produced by Brad Jones at Alex the Great Studios in Nashville, Motel Breakfast features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Fats Kaplin on pedal steel and fiddle, Matt Menefee on various string instruments, and Kenny Vaughan on electric guitar for the track "Ain't No Pistol." The album's sound is described as "loose and fun," with Leaphart aiming for a laid-back vibe reminiscent of Jerry Jeff Walker's recordings.
The album's twelve tracks, including the previously released singles "Rock & Roll Hey," "Pony, MT," and "Rosey," showcase Leaphart's growth as a songwriter and performer. From the opening track, "Rock & Roll Hey," which sets the tone with its "unfeigned casualness," to the poignant title track, "Motel Breakfast," each song offers a unique glimpse into Leaphart's world.
Highlights of the album include:
"Shake a Leg": An ode to throwing caution to the wind, inspired by a chance encounter at a courthouse.
"Girl From Tuscaloosa": A love song written for Leaphart's wife, designed to make her smile and dance.
"Ain't No Pistol": A tribute to the no-nonsense people in our lives, featuring guitar work from Kenny Vaughan.
"Letters From the Earth": A cover of Ben Bedford's song that adds a touch of melancholy to the otherwise upbeat album.
Inspired by the greasy cool of the Rolling Stones, the primordial rock & roll of Chuck Berry, and the storytelling of Billy Joe Shaver, Motel Breakfast turns a new page for an artist who's been running the roads for 15 years. "There's a lot of Americana acts out there pulling on heartstrings, but who's making them dance?" Leaphart posits. "I'm bringing a good-time element but not skimping on craft, heart, or wit."
The album's creation was a journey in itself, involving multiple recording sessions and a period of intense writing. "I took a few months off, didn't play any shows, and I just wrote like it was my job," Leaphart reveals. This dedication has resulted in an album that promises to fill what Leaphart sees as a hole in Americana music – "upbeat and intelligent songwriting, à la Jerry Jeff Walker, Dr. Hook & Doug Sahm."
Motel Breakfast is available tomorrow on all major streaming platforms and in select stores. Music critics and playlist curators are encouraged to consider this album for coverage and inclusion, particularly those looking for fresh, danceable Americana that doesn't sacrifice lyrical depth.
About Mac Leaphart
Mac Leaphart is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for his compelling narratives and emotive vocals. A South Carolina native, Leaphart kickstarted his career playing the state's Lowcountry bar scene before moving to Nashville. In 2018, he was named a winner of the prestigious Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition, which propelled the creation of his acclaimed 2021 album Music City Joke. Blending influences from John Prine to the Rolling Stones, Leaphart crafts songs that resonate with humor, depth, and honky-tonk spirit. With Motel Breakfast, Leaphart continues to solidify his position as a notable voice in modern country and Americana music, offering a sound that's both fresh and familiar.
