Rob Leines, a Texas–based triple–threat in songwriting, southern storytelling, and modern–day guitar prowess, is set to unveil his third studio album, Headcase, on June 14. The 10–track collection follows the enduring success of Leines’ 2021 breakout release, Blood Sweat and Beers, holding stories that occupy the intersection of blue–collared rock n’ roll and outlaw country. Ahead of the full–length record, the road–seasoned troubadour shares a glimpse of the anticipated collection with the single, “Double Wide,” out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen and share the tongue in cheek, working–class anthem here.
Before recording Headcase, Leines quit his longtime job as a welder and began touring ceaselessly in support of his second studio album, Blood Sweat and Beers. The record would go on to become a career–breaking achievement, earning the stalwart a year's worth of gigs with marquee acts like Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks. It was during this period that Leines and his two bandmates, Josh Halpern (drums), and Derrick Elliot (bass), made a name for themselves as a knockout live act and cemented their presence in the country–rock sphere.
"After putting in all those hours and all those miles, we became really confident with our ability to put on a rock show," Leines remembers. "That's what this music is: it's rock n’ roll with a cowboy hat."
Building on the momentum of the last three years, Leines sought the help of co–producers Mike Harmeier (the perennial frontman of Silverada, formerly known as Mike and the Moonpies) and Adam Odor to capture the rough–and–rowdy spirit of the band’s live spectacle and distill the gritty tales born from their journey along the road’s rugged path. With this objective in mind, the original trio, plus a slew of powerhouse guests including organ player David Percefull (owner of Yellow Dog Studios) and harmony singer Kelley Mickwee (a fellow Texas–based solo artist and member of Shinyribs), headed to Wimberly, TX, where they recorded Headcase during short breaks between shows.
"We toured for three months before we started tracking, and we went straight from a gig into the studio," Leines adds. "It meant our chops were sharp, and everything felt familiar."
For fans of Blood Sweat and Beers, Leines' guitar playing––a mix of hybrid finger–picking, blues–driven rock riffs, slide guitar, and distorted chords from a customized Gregg Tele––will feel familiar, too. Every song is rooted in that instrument, with Leines firing twin barrels of fierce fretwork and heartland hooks. At the same time, Headcase explores new territory. The breezy, bouncing "High in the Cotton," draws parallels between turbine welding and music–playing, two on–the–go jobs that require workers to spend countless days away from friends and family. Having dedicated years to both careers, Leines delivers the song's spoken–word verses in a deep, weary baritone that channels the exhaustion of a long workweek. Elsewhere, he pays tribute to his grandparents with "Goldmine," whose funky, fiery riff nods to Jerry Reed; and on the punchy "Black Lingerie," he replaces the hard–charging speed of his earlier songs for a slowed–down swagger that sounds dark, driven, and dangerous.
Together, those songs turn Headcase into an album that blends roadhouse grit with juke joint grease. It's the soundtrack for the sort of road trip that never really ends, and Leines has never sounded so dedicated to the long haul.
“Headcase is about doing whatever it takes to navigate the roads in your life,” Leines concludes. “It is the sum of the majority of my thoughts of the last couple of years; longing for a sense of home, working hard to provide a living for myself, and the burning desire to chase after something more as an artist and personality. It’s about the things we do to just keep on trucking. I like to view it as an audible look inside my head.”
Headcase, the third studio album from Rob Leines, arrives to digital streaming platforms June 14, 2024. To pre–save the album, click here. All confirmed and upcoming tour dates are below. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit RobLeines.com.
Headcase Track List
Double Wide
Headcase
Kentucky
Drive On
Honey Hole
Black Lingerie
Goldmine
Can’t Go On
High in The Cotton
Sinner
Rob Leines 2024 Tour Dates
05/30 – Moe's Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
05/31 – Brentwood Emporium – Brentwood, CA
06/01 – Roosters Honky Tonk – Bakersfield, CA
06/02 – Burgie's – Burgie's Woodlands, CA
06/04 – Indian Creek Plaza/Caldwell – Boise, ID
06/05 – Volcanic Theatre Lounge – Bend, OR
06/06 – Showbar – Portland, OR
06/07 – Slims – Slims Seattle, WA
06/08 – Chinook Festival – Naches, WA
06/09 – Harris Ridge Holler – Kooskia, ID
06/11 – Monks – Monks Missoula, MT
06/13 – Live From the Divide – Bozeman, MT
06/14 – Pub Station – Billings, MO
06/15 – Silver Dollar Bar – Jackson Hole, WY
06/19 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
06/20 – Bucks – Waterloo, NB
06/21 – Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA
06/22 – Summer Solstice Fest – Yorkville, IL
06/23 – Showboat Saloon – Wisconsin Dells, WI
06/26 – HQ – HQ Denver, CO
06/27 – Mountain Air Music Festival – Ouray, CO
06/28 – Little Bear – Evergreen, CO
06/29 – Little Bear – Evergreen, CO
7/5 – Sagebrush – Austin, Tx
7/20 – Devil’s Backbone – Fischer, TX
7/27 – White Horse – Austin, TX
8/1 – Redbird Listening Room – New Braunfels, TX
8/2 – Sagebrush – Austin, TX
8/3 – Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio, TX
8/8 – The Golden Record – St. Louis, MO
8/9 – Fitzgerald’s – Chicago, IL
8/10 – Smoke & Irons Music Fest – Barlett, IL
8/17 – Equiblues Western Festival – Saint Agreve, France
8/30 – Rock N Rye – Mammoth Lakes, CA
8/31 – Rock N Rye – Mammoth Lakes, CA
9/13 – 1890 Ice House – Meridian, KS
9/15 – Rose City Music Hall – Columbia, MO
9/20 – Gottscheer Hall – Queens, NY
9/21 – Skinny Dennis – Brooklyn, NY
9/22 – 118 North – Philadelphia, PA
9/24 – Ember Music Hall – Richmond, VA
9/25 – Thirsty Beaver – Charlotte, NC
9/26 – Bird’s Nest Listening Room – Dunn, NC
9/27 – Doc’s Tavern – Greenville, SC
9/28 – Tooney’s – McCaysville, GA
9/29 – Cherry St. Tavern – Chattanooga, TN
