Celebrating twenty years as a band, Reckless Kelly - Cody and Willy Braun, David Abeyta, Jay Nazz and Joe Miller - released their ninth studio album, Sunset Motel, on September 23rd. Released on their own label, No Big Deal, and distributed by Thirty Tigers, the album is flush with roots rockers and ballads that showcase the musicianship and songcraft that have made the quintet staples in the Texas scene and beyond for the past two decades. Cody, Jay, and Willy graciously took some time during AmericanaFest to sit down and talk in-depth about the album, breaking through the noise and more.

So let's start off with the album's title, why did you choose to call the record Sunset Motel?

Willy Braun (WB): I pretty much knew “Sunset Motel” the song was going to make the record and to me, that title sounded like a classic record - in the way that a lot of great bands had their own motel or hotel album. I think it’s a strong song that lent itself to some pretty good artwork and then the whole thing kind of fell into place.

In the age when digital is king, Reckless Kelly still takes great pride in making complete albums that are accompanied by exceptionally done packaging. For Sunset Motel, they once again worked with the Grammy Award winning Dodds sisters of Backstage Design Studio. The packaging comes with a map insert and a room key that, as you hover over the map/drawings, reveals many unique surprises.

Speaking of the artwork, it’s so creatively done with lots of avenues to explore, like your previous album, Long Night Moon. Once again you collaborated with the Dodds, how much input did you have or did you let them run with it?

WB: The girls [Shauna and Sara Dodds] did most of it, but Cody and I drew some of the doodles and sketches on the backside of the map, which is a good size with the cd, but is even fuller size if you get the vinyl. [There are a limited number - 1000 - of the vinyl available.]

Cody Braun (CB): Willy came up with the idea to use the red and blue colors from the old Cracker Jack boxes, where you would get that thing so you could see the messages, and then the Dodds took it and ran with it. There are some really neat things with the album; for example, if you take the key and look at the road map from afar it’s a snake coiled up…and if you put the key over Mt. Rushmore, the faces change…to ours (laughing). And like Willy said, the vinyl is incredible. It comes with postcards and stationary from the hotel, and if you place the stationary on certain spots on the map it ties in with different lyrics and all this other stuff. It’s beyond cool. 

Sam Phillips Recording Service and FAME Studios are two of the most iconic recording studios in the history of music. Made famous by the late Sam Phillips and Rick Hall, the two men helped shape the sound of Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, Blues, Soul and Country throughout the 1950s and 60s, leaving a legacy that still thrives today. For the first time, the two studios have come together to collaborate on a project that will be included on a tribute album honoring Charlie Rich later this year.

Originally performed by Charlie Rich, this new version of "Who Will The Next Fool Be" was produced by Sam’s granddaughter, Halley Phillips, and Rodney Hall, Rick Hall’s son, at Sam Phillips Recording Services in Memphis and mixed at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. In advance of its release, Hall and Phillips graciously took the time to answer some questions via email about their collaboration on the song and more.

How did the two of you, Halley and Rodney, connect and come to collaborate on the project?
We’ve been friends for years. I would say the Phillips are definitely family friends! I’ve known Halley, her Dad Jerry, and the whole family for years. Sam gave my Dad much advice in the early years. He was definitely a mentor of my Dad’s. I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with Sam as well. There has always been a lot of respect between the two families. ~ Rodney
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I completely agree with Rodney- Our families have been close for a very long time. Really the idea to collaborate happened when I was sharing with Holli how I had always wanted to record “Who Will The Next Fool Be” on a female. We were really just hanging out that night as we have become really good friends over the years. About a week passed and she called me and said “I have been thinking about that Charlie Rich song you told me about and I really love it. Would you want to record it on me?”. It all came together from there. Holli has been working with Rodney/FAME for years… I have been lately working very hard trying to build the bridge back between Muscle Shoals and Memphis again —there is just something different about these two cities… So this was the perfect opportunity for us to work together- and it happened very naturally! ~Halley 

In the past three years, California-based singer-songwriter M. Lockwood Porter has released two critically-acclaimed albums and performed all over the US, sharing the stage with acts like American Aquarium, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, and Aaron Lee Tasjan, among others. His latest album, How To Dream Again is a collection filled with honest, reflective songs dealing with relationships and social justice. In advance of the album’s release on September 16th, Lockwood Porter graciously took the time to answer some questions via email about the record, including the story behind the songs, and more. 
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Before we dive into the record, I wanted to ask how you came to music as you have degrees in English and History and were a teacher at a middle school. Was music something that was always there or came later?
Music has always been my first passion. I started playing piano in fourth grade. I was in the school band. I spent most of high school playing in punk bands. In my late teens and early twenties, though, I think I had kind of given up on the idea of becoming a professional musician. I think it was only after spending a few years in the real world that I realized, “I won’t be able to live with myself unless I really try to do music full-time.”

Your last record, 27, was critically embraced. Is this record different from it and if so, how?
This record is different from 27 because I was in a different place, both emotionally and intellectually, when I was writing it. 27 was about heartbreak and disappointment, and about trying to pick yourself up after failure. When I was writing the songs for this new album, I was in a very different place. I was starting a new relationship and it felt really great – very stable, but still exciting – and I was asking myself all sorts of questions about how to live in accordance with my values.

Were all of the songs written specifically for this album or did you have some in the pocket that fit as you put the record together?
I seem to have developed a pattern as to how I write the songs for an album. I start with nothing, and just try to write from the heart. Once I have a handful of songs I think are strong, I start to think about the themes that are emerging in the songs, and I start thinking about ways that I can write songs that approach the same themes from different angles, or that help create a sense of narrative flow. To me, a great album has no filler and a diverse set of songs, but also has some sort of thematic and sonic unity. That’s what I’m always striving for – not just great songs, but a great album.

Singer-songwriter Shari Rowe is gearing up to release her new single, “Take That Shot,” a blissful story song about following your heart and taking chances. In advance of the single’s release to radio on September 19th, Rowe kindly called to catch up, talk about the song and more.

We last spoke about a year ago after the release of your Moonshine EP. What’s been going on with you professionally since then?
This last year has been pretty exciting! I’ve been co-writing with songwriters in Nashville which has helped me improve as a writer, build my community, and open up some great opportunities. We’ve gotten more radio play, played bigger shows, did another tour of Poland, and had a busy CMA Fest. Everything has been moving along as it should with some great surprises in between.

Also, in the spring, I became a celebrity ambassador for the Red Note Foundation which is an organization based out of Arizona that supports art and music for students who maybe don’t have programs in schools or don’t have access to lessons. They supply the instruments, lessons, and give the students opportunities to perform.

Sounds like you are incredibly busy in the best way possible! With all of the traveling to Nashville did you make the move there from Arizona?
We are still in Arizona, but are traveling more to Nashville so the whole question of whether or not to relocate is on the table. We have strong fan-base and show schedule in and around Arizona, so right now we’re managing to continue to travel back and forth making some cool stops at places in between, like Louisiana to play with Uncle Si.

I couldn’t be this busy and spend so much time away from home if it weren’t for my husband. His being in the band [he plays bass], allows us to get to enjoy this hectic schedule together. We make a good team.