Charley Crockett knows what it means to have the odds stacked against you. His own life story reads like a Horatio Alger tale come to life. On his latest single “Game I Can’t Win,” Crockett shares some hard-won wisdom. And with the line “That old-time feeling just up and walked away, left me with these interest rates,” he may have written one of the most relatable lines of the year. In the song’s accompanying music video, an homage to classic heist films – directed by Bobby Cochran, Crockett and his wife Taylor Grace are out robbing banks like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. “Game I Can’t Win” is a standout from Crockett’s upcoming Island Records debut Lonesome Drifter, co-produced by Crockett and GRAMMY-winner Shooter Jennings, out March 14th.
“I’ve been swinging a hammer on the scenic route for a long time now,” says Crockett. “I think that’s something most folks can relate to. I’ve been invited up to see the view from the top of the ivory towers, more than a few times in recent years. The thing is, you get up there, the view can be intoxicating. But then you get to talking with the folks who reside up there, and you realize pretty quick that they’re not even sure why they invited you up in the first place. ‘You ever been to New York City before, Charley?’ Yeah, hoss. A few times, actually. Seen it in ways you’ll never comprehend. For me, no matter how good the view is, it doesn’t change the need to keep on swinging this hammer. The work don’t stop. Not for me, not for anyone really. Like the song says, I’m playing this game for keeps.”
Crockett has quietly swung the aforementioned hammer to survive. He’s kept his head down and delivered music at a relentless pace, refining his “Gulf & Western” sound, and playing just as hard on the road to boot. Moreover, he busted ass to evolve as both a songwriter and a performer.
All of that work and life effectively prepared him to record Lonesome Drifter with Jennings. Musically, he traces a roadmap through his own myriad of influences, tipping a hat to everybody from Waylon Jennings, Bill Withers, Bob Dylan, and Woody Guthrie, drawing on countless, often unbelievable true experiences since he first left his native Texas. From the spellbinding vocal performances to the raw and rustic instrumentation to the unforgettable storytelling, Lonesome Drifter stands out as his most cohesive body of work to date. As such, the album is the sound of dues paid, strength gained, and wisdom earned shared on tape.
Crockett’s dance card for 2025 continues to fill up. In addition to the first round of “Lonesome Drifter Tour” dates announced last week, Crockett will join Willie Nelson & Family at Luck Reunion on March 13th, and four days later Crockett will play his biggest headline show to date at NRG Stadium as part of the 2025 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 17th.
Charley Crockett will be at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA on June 5th with Leon Br
ABOUT CHARLEY CROCKETT:
Some people politely wait for their turn, ask for permission, and take a shot at their dreams when the opportunity allows. Charley Crockett isn’t one of those people. He’s never just waited around, asked for permission, or let opportunity find him. Instead, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated Texas-born maverick defied the odds at every turn, tapping into a rebellious strain of country, releasing 14 albums independently, and grinding from obscurity to selling out some of the world’s most renowned venues. As Pitchfork points out, “in the decade it took Crockett to brush country stardom, the bygone era of music he loves and embodies arrived in the modern age. He is a key player in deciding where it will go next.” He has continuously pushed forward too. Since 2015, he has paved a singular path out of Texas. Beyond garnering hundreds of millions of streams, he picked up his first GRAMMY® nod for 2024’s $10 Cowboy. In the last year alone, he notably sold out Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO, the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA and two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Crockett and his music have also received praise from The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Variety. Speaking to his impact, CBS Mornings chronicled his journey, and he’s sat down for an interview on The Daily Show. Plus, he’s graced the stage for performances on Austin City Limits, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS “Saturday Sessions” in addition to playing behind NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk.”With multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning Shooter Jennings as co-producer, the same unapologetic spirit, diehard work ethic, and no-nonsense honesty drive Crockett’s Island Records debut LP, Lonesome Drifter.
Listen To Charley Crockett Here
Watch “Game I Can’t Win” Here
COACHELLA VALLEY COUNTRY 