Entertainment
KOE WETZEL’S “HIGH ROAD” WITH JESSIE MURPH MARKS FOURTH RELEASE OFF FORTHCOMING ALBUM 9 LIVES OUT JULY 19
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With recent release “Sweet Dreams” sending fans into a frenzy and pushing Koe Wetzel to a Billboard Hot 100 debut and the No. 1 album on Apple Music’s country chart with just three songs available, the journeyman turned bona fide cultural force continues to tease 9 Lives, his forthcoming fifth studio album set for July 19 release on Columbia Records, via today’s release of “High Road” with MTV PUSH Artist and Billboard 21 Under 21 honoree Jessie Murph. Listen HERE and pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.
“‘High Road’ is a good example of how this album shows a different side of me than people might expect. Every record’s almost turning a new leaf, always a left turn because of how honest I am,” he admits with a laugh. “But this? It’s what the people have been expecting from me, but we hadn’t gotten there yet. It’s a grown-up version of me.”
Written by Wetzel alongside Amy Allen, Carrie Karpinen and producer Gabe Simon, “High Road” has already become a fan-favorite on social media ahead of its release with lyrics that showcase that mature level of vulnerability that defines the still hard-rocking album:
Imma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain’t messing me up like the times before
I don’t need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
Imma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road
“High Road” joins lead single “Damn Near Normal,” title track “9 Lives (Black Cat)” and recent release “Sweet Dreams” in offering an early preview of the highly anticipated new album. Wetzel offered fans a further preview of the album’s multi-faceted narrative with a special trailer introducing nine unique Koe Wetzels as MusicRow’s “genre disruptor” praised by Billboard for “music that’s unvarnished and unfiltered” showcased his comedic acting skills. Watch HERE.
The Texas-born live phenom also plans to take his new music global this year with his recently announced Damn Near Normal World Tour. Additionally, Wetzel will perform prominent sets at several festivals, including Country Jam, Rock the Country, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest, Watershed and more, plus a hometown stadium show as he joins Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour in Arlington, Texas this July.
For more information on all things Koe Wetzel and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.
9 LIVES TRACK LIST
1. “Continued” Skit
2. “9 Lives (Black Cat)” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
3. “Casamigos” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Ben Burgess, Gabe Simon)
4. “Damn Near Normal” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen, Sam Harris)
5. “Leigh” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
6. “Twister” (Ropyr Wetzel, Steve Rusch, Ben Burgess, Josh Serrato)
7. “High Road” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen)
8. “Reconsider” (Charles John Brocco, Keith Quenton Gattis)
9. “Hatchet” (Gabe Simon, Mike Coogan)
10. “Sweet Dreams” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Josh Serrato, Gabe Simon, Sam Harris)
11. “Runnin’ Low” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Gabe Simon, Ben Burgess)
12. “Bar Song” (Blake “Shy” Carter, Breyan Isaac, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Dave Gibson)
13. “Last Outlaw Alive” (Josh Serrato, Ben Burgess, Sam Harris)
DAMN NEAR NORMAL WORLD TOUR DATES
July 27 | The Woodlands, Texas || Cynthia Woods Pavilion
Aug. 7 | Missoula, Mont. || Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater
Aug. 8 | Nampa, Idaho || Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
Aug. 9 | Sandy, Utah || Sandy Amphitheater
Aug. 10 | Las Vegas, Nev. || The Theater at Virgin Hotel Hotels Las Vegas
Aug. 15 | Minneapolis, Minn. || The Armory
Aug. 16 | Council Bluffs, Iowa || Stir Cove (Harrah’s Casino)
Aug. 21 | Cleveland, Ohio || Jacobs Pavilion
Aug. 22 | Columbus, Ohio || KEMBA Live! Outdoor
Aug. 23 | Pittsburgh, Pa. || Stage AE
Aug. 24 | Washington, D.C. || The Anthem
Aug. 28 | Boston, Mass. || Roadrunner
Aug. 29 | Uncasville, Conn. || Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug. 30 | Atlantic City, N.J. || Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Aug. 31 | Reading, Pa. || Santander Arena
Sept. 4 | Charleston, W.V. || Charleston Coliseum
Sept. 5 | Roanoke, Va. || Berglund Center
Sept. 6 | Columbia, S.C. || Colonial Life Arena
Sept. 7 | Cary, N.C. || Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Sept. 12 | Kansas City, Kan. || Azura Amphitheater
Sept. 13 | Camdenton, Mo. || Ozarks Amphitheater
Sept. 18 | St. Louis, Mo. || Chaifetz Arena
Sept. 20 | Huntsville, Ala. || The Orion Amphitheater
Sept. 21 | Macon, Ga. || Atrium Health Amphitheater
Sept. 25 | Alexandria, La. || Rapides Parish Coliseum
Sept. 26 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. || Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater
Sept. 27 | Nashville, Tenn. || Ascend Amphitheater
Sept. 28 | Little Rock, Ark. || First Security Amphitheater
Oct. 3 | Pikeville, Ky. || Appalachian Wireless Arena
Oct. 4 | Indianapolis, Ind. || Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Oct. 5 | Evansville, Ind. || Ford Center
Oct. 10 | Abilene, Texas || Expo Center of Taylor County
Oct. 11 | Lubbock, Texas || Cooks Garage
Oct. 13 | Morrison, Colo. || Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Oct. 26 | Manchester, U.K. || Academy 3
Oct. 27 | London, U.K. || The Garage
Oct. 30 | Glasgow, U.K. || Oran Mor
Oct. 31 | Birmingham, U.K. || Academy 2
Nov. 1 | Leeds, U.K. || Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3 | Amsterdam, Netherlands || Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5 | Hamburg, Germany || Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6 | Berlin, Germany || Frannz Club
Nov. 7 | Cologne, Germany || Club Volta
Nov. 10 | Stockholm, Sweden || Nalen
Nov. 11 | Oslo, Norway || Rockefeller Music Hall
Nov. 13 | Copenhagen, Denmark || Lille Vega
ADDITIONAL SHOWS
June 8 | Nashville, Tenn. || SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour / Spotify House
June 21 | Grand Junction, Colo. || Country Jam
June 29 | Poplar Bluff, Mo. || Rock The Country
July 18 | Twin Lakes, Wis. || Country Thunder Wisconsin
July 26 | Arlington, Texas || AT&T Stadium (with Morgan Wallen)
July 31 | Davenport, Iowa || Mississippi Valley Fair
Aug. 1 | Detroit Lakes, Minn. || WE Fest
Aug. 3 | Sweet Home, Ore. || Oregon Jamboree Music Festival
Aug. 4 | George, Wash. || Watershed Festival
Aug. 17 | Wichita, Kan. || Bulls, Bands and Barrels
Sept. 14 | Prior, Okla. || Born & Raised
Sept. 19 | Louisville, Ky. || Bourbon & Beyond
ABOUT KOE WETZEL
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” plus the Gold-certified “Good Die Young” and “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.6 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel will open for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour this July and play prominent sets at festivals like Country Thunder and Watershed this summer, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is set for release July 19.
ABOUT JESSIE MURPH
19-year-old powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Jessie Murph has been having an exciting 2024. Most recently she released her new single, “Cold,” to rave reviews and brought her sold-out global headline tour to North America after hitting major markets abroad and 40 cities across the U.S. & Canada. Earlier this year, Jessie, who was featured as MTV’s PUSH artist in January, showcased her soulful side with “Son of a Bitch.” The Billboard 21 Under 21 honoree’s latest single comes on the heels of her hit track, “Wild Ones,” with Jelly Roll, which has tallied over 200M streams worldwide since release in October, broke through top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart. Jessie and Jelly Roll teamed up to perform the critically and commercially acclaimed track on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and are nominated for Best Music Collaboration at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards.
2023 proved to be another standout year for Jessie who released her debut mixtape drowning in February to high praise. In May, she dropped “Cowboys and Angels,” which, along with her single “Texas (ft. Maren Morris),” ushered in a new era that etches raw emotion through her strikingly sincere songs laced with soul-gripping storytelling, hip hop-infused production and alternative experimentation anchored by her modest pop appeal. Named an ‘Artist to Watch’ by Genius,Pandora and Amazon Music, Jessie also collaborated with Diplo and Polo G on “Heartbroken,” which hit the Top 40 at pop radio in the U.S. Between praise from various outlets including SPIN,Rolling Stone, Flaunt Magazine, NYLON and amassing over 1 billion streams globally, Jessie is just getting started.
