Texas Country
Every episode of The Rugged Revival featuring Texas Country — conversations with independent country, Americana, and roots artists.
Alex Williams
Alex Williams on Texas Country and Cosmic Country Influences
Get ready to discover the cosmic country sound of Alex Williams, a singer-songwriter from small town Indiana who is making waves in the music scene with his unique blend of Texas country and 70s cosmic influences.Alex Williams' journey to becoming a musician began when he started playing guitar at the age of 7. He grew up in a small town in Indiana, where he was influenced by the sounds of old country music and later discovered the works of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. As he grew older, Alex Williams began to develop his own unique sound, which blends the storytelling of country music with the cosmic influences of 70s rock. He has released a new EP with 5 songs, including older and newer tracks, and is excited to share his music with the world. In this episode, Alex Williams sits down with Camden to talk about his music, his influences, and his journey to becoming a performer. From his early days playing daytime gigs at Tootsie's to his current status as a rising star in the country music scene, Alex Williams' story is one of passion, dedication, and a willingness to take risks.If you enjoy artists like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Willie Nelson, you'll love the music of Alex Williams.00:00 Introduction to Alex Williams01:01 Alex Williams starts playing guitar at 7 years old09:04 Playing daytime gigs at Tootsie's and learning old country music10:05 Influence of Texas country and 70s cosmic country on Alex Williams' music14:07 Alex Williams' transition from a reserved person to a stage performer18:11 Release of new EP with 5 songs, including older and newer trackshttps://alexwilliamsofficial.com/https://www.instagram.com/alexwilliamsofficial/Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Milestone Episode
John Teague
Real Texas Country Music | Military Veteran John Teague from Teague Brothers Band
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery. John Teague from Teague Brothers Band is our guest in this 50th episode of The Rugged Revival Podcast! "Teague Brothers Band is an Americana Folk Country Rock group led by U.S. Army veteran and songwriter John Teague, whose roots run deep in the blue-collar soil of Winnie, Texas.Raised in a family of farmers, saddle makers, construction workers, and veterans, Teague learned early on that grit, heart, and hard work were the keys to building something real. After serving a life-changing tour in Iraq, John returned home with a deeper perspective—and a powerful voice that would soon carry across the Texas music scene and beyond.Backed by a band of road-tested musicians, the Teague Brothers Band has earned a loyal following through sweat-soaked, high-energy performances and songwriting that hits where it hurts—and heals. Their 2019 debut album Harvest Day introduced regional favorites like “Coyote,” “Rainbow Bridge,” and “Fingers and Thumbs,” and the breakout single “Don’t Want To Go Home” climbed to #2 on multiple Texas charts.With over 5 million streams and counting, the Teague Brothers Band is no longer Texas' best-kept secret.Their latest record, Wish You the World (released May 9, 2025), builds on the momentum of 2022’s Love and War with a diverse, heartfelt collection of songs produced by Derek Hames at Edgewater Studios. From the fiddle-fueled stomp of “Hotel Water” to the intimate reflection of “Tell Me Anything,” the album showcases Teague’s lyrical depth and emotional range. Tracks like “Breathe” and “Depression” offer candid, sometimes raw portraits of struggle and hope, while “Smiles” leaves listeners with a sense of hard-earned optimism. With Wish You the World, the Teague Brothers Band makes a strong case for national recognition, delivering music that’s as thoughtful as it is timeless.“We love playing music people can dance to,” Teague says, “but we also bring a little more rock 'n' roll. We fit in wherever they'll let us through the door—dancehalls, concert halls, listening rooms.”Off stage, John runs a ranch and construction business with his wife, Desirae, continuing the hands-on lifestyle that shaped his music. On stage, he and the band deliver boot-stomping shows that are as heartfelt as they are electrifying.The message is real. The music is alive. The Teague Brothers Band is just getting started."Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Pug Johnson
Pug Johnson – El Cabron Album | Texas Roots, Americana, and Louisiana Influences | Rugged Revival
Pug Johnson grew up on the outskirts of Beaumont, Texas, listening to the multicultural soundtrack of a city flanked by Louisiana, the Big Thicket, and the Gulf Coast. Those influences would resurface on his solo records, coloring Johnson's eclectic version of American roots music, turning him into a country artist whose songs reach far beyond the genre's borders. Praised by Lonesome Highway for "exploring life's darker side in places… with high spirits and wicked humor," he hits a new peak with El Cabron, an album that finds the songwriter saluting his Texas roots while also delivering universal songs about the American everyman. The album's central character — El Cabron himself — reappears in multiple songs, running up bar tabs on both sides of the Mexican border, evoking personalities from Lonesome Dove's Gus McCrae to Hunter S. Thompson to the flawed protagonists in John Prine's catalog. Rooted in equal parts fiction and autobiography, that character becomes the unlikely hero of El Cabron, an album that follows its predecessor (2022's critically-acclaimed Throwed Off and Glad) in highlighting the wry, witty songwriting of a road warrior who has shared shows with Steve Earle, Eli Young Band, Midland, and Hayes Carll.
Zachary Moulton
Zachary Moulton - From Silverada Pedal Steel to Solo Singer-Songwriter | Rugged Revival
South Texas singer-songwriter Zach Moulton steps out from behind the pedal steel after fifteen years with Silverada (Formerly Mike and The Moonpies) to tell his own stories. His debut EP, Faded Jackets, is a direct reflection of the years he spent grinding it out on the road, highs, lows and all the places he’s called home.
Cory Michael
Cory Michael - From Texas to Nashville | Rugged Revival
Join us for another engaging episode of The Rugged Revival Podcast as we sit down with the talented Cory Michael. From his roots in Texas to his musical journey through Nashville, Cory shares his experiences, challenges, and the passion that drives his music. Discover the stories behind his popular tracks like "Damn I Need a Drink" and "Mexico," and get a sneak peek into his upcoming releases. This episode is filled with laughter, insights, and a few unexpected accents!You can also watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Follow Cory Michael on Instagram for more updates on his music and upcoming shows.
Cory Cross
Cory Cross - Texas Country Musician | Instagram Live | Rugged Revival
Texas native Cory Cross has been honing his specific brand of country music for over a decade. Getting his start playing guitar in church, Cory began crafting his own songs after being inspired by songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. Now making the rounds at dance halls and dives across Texas, as well as sold out shows in Los Angeles and New York City, Cory and his band put on a performance that is equal parts rough-n-rowdy and tenderly intimate. Utilizing classic country instrumentation from steel guitars and fiddle, Cory’s band infuses their style of honky tonk with garage rock energy coming from fuzzy electrics and a thumping rhythm section. T he Burden is made up of musicians that each bring their wide and unique influences to create a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh. Cory‘s debut full length album, “There’s More”, is a culmination of years of paying dues and cutting teeth. The fourteen songs are an honest look into the life of a working musician that has lived the words he wrote. Cory Cross and the Burden have played with notable and established acts such as Joshua Ray Walker, Summer Dean, and Jeremy Pinnel. They continue to play regularly around Texas at legendary venues like Continental Club in Austin and the famous Stockyards in Fort Worth, as well as national tours through Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City.
Summer Dean
Summer Dean – The Queen of Texas Country
Summer Dean is considered by most to be the reigning queen of Texas country music. Armed with three albums, constant tours, and a hot band behind her, Summer struts onto every stage with the confidence and vulnerability of a songstress that has cemented her place among the top rank Texas tunesmiths. Her live show takes the concert goer on a ride of original songs blending bravado, vulnerability, and a novelist’s eye for detail. Whether with her full band or all by herself, listeners are treated to an authentic, funny, and honest storyteller performing her way into legendary status.
Jacob Ryan Marshall
Jacob Ryan Marshall – Young Texas Honky-Tonk Voice
Jacob Ryan Marshall has been playing music since he found his grandmother’s old Gibson guitar under the bed when he was three. He played his first two original songs in Nashville’s Bluebird Café at 15 and has been writing and playing ever since. Jacob recorded his first single in a freshman apartment at Texas A&M. A few weeks later it showed up on the Texas country streaming charts. His songs never stray far from the sound of traditional Honky Tonk country music.
Jarrod Morris
Jarrod Morris – Texas Horseshoer & Songwriter
Jarrod Morris is a horseshoer from Texas who writes songs while he's working. An indie sound and an old soul with a dedicated, modern songwriter’s heart. Jarrod is on a journey exploring different sounds and honest lyrics through the lens of the American West. #countrymusic #texasmusic #countryartist #musicpodcast #countrysingersongwriter