Briscoe Is A Texas Duo That Demands Your Attention, And Their Brand New Record, ‘Heat Of July,’ Is Proof

Briscoe is one of country music’s best kept secrets.

But now that their brand new album is out for all to hear, that is likely to change. Titled Heat of July, the Austin, TX based duo’s sophomore record is comprised of 12 tracks that put their top notch artistry on full display, and prove they are one of the latest acts of out of Texas that demands your attention.

With a unique, genre-bending sound that runs the gamut between folk and funk, Briscoe’s catalog has something for everyone, but their latest project leans heavily into the alt-country, singer/songwriter side of their sound. Inspired by the experiences and fueled by the perspectives that have come with life on the road as road warrior touring musicians, and also by their west Texas roots and Hill Country homes, long time best friends Truett Heintzelman and Phillip Lupton are talented songwriters with an uncanny knack for turning stories into song.

Having both married their longtime partners recently, Heat of July is full of deftly penned love songs and ode’s to this country’s landscapes and natural beauty that they have traversed time and time again cutting their teeth through live shows from coast to coast. And in between those love songs to their wives and ballads fueled by this nation’s beauty, Heintzelman and Lupton managed to fit in some of the best story songs I’ve heard in in quite some time.

The album’s third track, “Roughneck” is a heartfelt love song inspired by a photo of Heintzelman’s grandfather who worked in the Texas oil fields for years. My personal favorite off the record, “Flashlights in the Canyon,” is a poignant story of life on the border that personifies desperation on multiple levels, as a Texan wary of danger on the border helps a pregnant woman in a chance encounter after she was left behind in the desert by the group she snuck across the border with. Rooted in the Lone Star state but with themes that will resonate with people no matter where they reside, Briscoe has managed to take their experiences and bring them to life for others through song. And their vocals and instrumentation sounds pretty dang good, too.

If you like captivating lyricism and killer harmonies, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m convinced that Briscoe is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the country music world, and if you give their sophomore record Heat of July a listen, I think there’s a good chance you’ll agree with me.

Here’s a few early favorites:

“Saving Grace”

“Roughnecks”

“Blue Eyes and Red Wine”

“Flashlights in the Canyon”

What a record.

I haven’t had the privilege of catching them live yet, but word on the street is that they put on a pretty amazing show, too. Here is where you can catch them live this fall and into the winter:

Briscoe Tour Dates:

10/3 – Austin City Limits Music Festival – Austin, TX^

10/3 – The Continental Club (ACL Fest Nights) – Austin, TX%

10/17 – Central Machine Works – Austin, TX

10/25 – Sip Yard – Port Aransas, TX

10/30 – House of Blues – Houston, TX+

11/1 – Echo Lounge – Dallas, TX*

11/4 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ+

11/5 – The Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA+

11/6 – SOMA – San Diego, CA+

11/12 – WOW Hall – Eugene, OR+

11/16 – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR+

11/17 – The Knitting Factory – Boise, ID+

11/20 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO!

11/21 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO!

11/22 – LuLu’s Downstairs – Manitou Springs, CO!

12/4 – Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ – Tyler, TX

12/5 – The Backyard – Waco, TX

12/6 – Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio, TX

*w/ Miles Miller
^festival/fair date

%w/ Leon II
+supporting The 502’s

!w/ Nathaniel RileyThe post Briscoe Is A Texas Duo That Demands Your Attention, And Their Brand New Record, ‘Heat Of July,’ Is Proof first appeared on Whiskey Riff.