Recommendations of the Editorial team
Decades before he released a dance floor album, Sturgill Simpson was already spreading good vibes – with the microphone in hand.
In a newly surfaced video, a young Simpson can be seen sharing charming bars about the school prom with two pals. “I’m gonna tell you a little something ’bout prom / That’s the night they got it going on,” he raps in the clip. “Eating breakfast at the Continental with my crew / Doing that thing, getting to you.” Anyone who sees this immediately understands how, years later, this teenager could become someone who writes a song called “Make America Fuk Again.”
Simpson released the rollicking disco delight Mutiny After Midnight last month – his second album under his alter ego Johnny Blue Skies. Aside from a brief appearance on YouTube, the album was released exclusively in physical formats: cherry red vinyl and cassette. Despite this, it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.
Chaos as a concept
“We originally planned a physical-only release for at least four to six weeks to support and show solidarity with independent record stores – and to advocate for an increasingly lost, tangible connection between music and music fans,” said Simpson. “There were a few bumps in the road – and a few opportunities – so we’ve made a few adjustments in the moment, which have only led to more fun and chaos. Personally, I’m all for chaos. Plus, I’ve always wanted to leak my own album…”
This fall, Simpson and his band The Dark Clouds will embark on the Mutiny for the Masses Tour, which kicks off September 4th in Austin, Texas. In a post on Wednesday, the singer emphasized that ticket prices remain the same as last year. “Inflation, fuel and all other tour-related costs have increased exponentially over the last year,” he wrote. “But unfortunately our ticket prices – despite claims to the contrary – are not. The most expensive and cheapest tickets cost exactly the same, and the average ticket price is identical. I know this because I insisted on it.”
