ELI YOUNG BAND PEN TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO PUT THE ‘HOME IN HOMETOWN’
New “Home In Hometown Tour” USA Dates Announced as Band Releases First New Music in 3 Years
“We’ve written 143 songs and it’s just the beginning of our next chapter”
Listen HERE
DENTON, Texas / LONDON, UK – (For immediate release) – It’s widely known how award-winning Eli Young Band formed while together in Denton, Texas attending college at University of North Texas, however their journey over the next 20+ years would lead them everywhere, seldomly seeing home in between. With notions of longing ever present in their writing, it’s no surprise as they find their center as releasing music for the first time in three years independently with both home, and those who make it so, at the core. Listen to ‘Home In Hometown‘, HERE.
A true-to-experience ballad of life on the road, and heart-on-their-sleeve marker of what they’ve learned in their years away from those they love most. With ringing guitars capturing a sense of anticipation, a steady rhythmic heartbeat and a euphoric singalong chorus, the band unpack what “home” really means.
“When you find the love of your life you’ll follow them anywhere,” shares band lead vocalist and guitarist Mike Eli who penned the song alongside Ryan Tyndell and Jeff Hyde (Eric Church’s “Springsteen” and Keith Urban’s “We Were”). “My wife, Kacey, and I started as a long distance relationship and it was tough to keep it together. When I wrote this I was digging deep into our Texas roots. I wanted to write something that felt like Pat Green or Jack Ingram would cut. And when you travel like we do, a lot of times you’re thinking about coming home and being with your family — but, it’s almost like if they meet you on the road, anywhere can be home. It just feels right. I wanted to capture that.”
The Jimmy Robbins and Eric Arjes produced track is the first release of more than 140 songs the band has written over the last few years and signifies a new chapter and a new tour.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 25th anniversary of the band’s founding, the four members of the Eli Young Band have retaken the reins of their sound and songwriting, reestablishing the go-your-own-way spirit behind their multi-Platinum hits.
Returning to their independent roots — but also the bold creative edge that launched them from the Texas live circuit into the country mainstream, and in many ways returning to their old stomping grounds — it’s an era driven by experience and a million miles of wisdom, but delivered by a band of brothers still very much in their musical prime.
“We started this thing when we were like 20 [years old], and it’s been such a crazy road and such a longer road than any of us could have conceptualized at the time,” bassist Jon Jones shares. “I think right now feels a little full circle, in a really nice way.”
“Now, we kind of get to step back into our Texas shoes. I definitely think that this new stuff finds me as a songwriter reaching deep into my personal past and our past as a band,” Eli adds. “We’re remembering where the magic was — all those songs we wanted to record for our Level record, that felt way too edgy for Country Radio at the time.”
Returning to that grassroots rawness, geared for their acclaimed live show has the band reinvigorated.
“We’ve written 143 songs and it’s just the beginning of our next chapter. Going back to Panhandle House where we recorded Level, that record started everything for us. Going back there feels like we get to remind ourselves why we started making the kind of music we make,” Eli says in closing. “When this music comes out, I think fans will know it is 100% coming from us.”
Celebrated by The Associated Press as “a smart, relevant antidote” to overdone clichés in Country music, EYB has charted 14 singles on Billboard, including four No. 1 hits with Billboard‘s No. 1 Country Song of the Year and ACM Award for Song of the Year, “Crazy Girl,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” 2x Platinum “Love Ain’t” and Platinum “Drunk Last Night.” Additionally, the band has earned multiple GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Award nominations.
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Eli Young Band press image L to R: Jon Jones (bass guitar), Chris Thompson (drums), Mike Eli (lead vocals/guitar) and James Young (lead guitar)
Photo Credit: Jeff Ray