Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker Stuns With Acoustic Version Of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again” In Honor Of His 70th Birthday

Singing one for Robert Earl Keen.

Evan Felker is honoring one of his musical icons for his 70th birthday. Robert Earl Keen just turned 70 years old on January 11th, and to honor the living legend, a few of his friends are getting together to cover some of their favorite songs from his spanning catalog. While all the performances laid down as a part of the “Three 20’s and a 10” project are incredible, the Turnpike Troubadours‘ Evan Felker stunned with an acoustic performance of “Feelin’ Good Again.”

“We’re celebrating Robert Earl Keen’s 70th birthday with a very special “Three 20’s and a 10” Tribute featuring favorite REK covers from familiar faces like Cody Canada, Evan Felker, Hayes Carll, Wade Bowen, Parker McCollum, and more! Kicking things off is a snippet from Evan Felker performing “’Feelin’ Good Again.’ Honoring the years, the miles, and the music.”

View this post on Instagram

Recorded live from Fort Worth, the cover appears to have been taped before (or after) Evan Felker performed as the musical guest for the Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo’s Grand Entry Gala, which was held at the iconic Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.

Before diving into the tune, Felker shared a few words for REK as he celebrated the start of 70.

“Hey Robert Earl, I hope you’re enjoying your dry January as much as I am. Um, Happy Birthday, buddy. Happy 70th birthday. And thanks for all you’ve done to inspire folks around playing music. We’re going to do my favorite one of yours for you.” 

Felker and his backing band then dive into a stunning performance of the iconic song. “Feelin’ Good Again” is one of Keen’s most well-loved songs, and over the years, many theories have emerged about what the lyrics truly mean. In 2020, Keen finally gave a backstory on what the song meant, and at its core, “Feelin’ Good Again” is about “Returning home after a long time gone.”

Earl then dove deeper into the song’s inspiration, noting that lyrics come from spending time at a little hole-in-the-wall bar down the street from his home.

“I lived in Bandera, Texas. When I would come home, it would occasionally be really late — this was back when I didn’t have a bus. And there was this place called Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon that you could go to, still exists. So I would come home and my wife would be asleep. Now, the other way, just about half a block, was Arkey’s. Lit up with a big silver dollar, and it says ‘Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar’ on it. And I would go there. Not to avoid going home, but to decompress from traveling — I would still be pretty awake. Even past 2:00 a.m.”

You can see that he’s not kidding at all when you compare his words to the lyrics. Keen’s soft melody depicts him strolling into a bar, feeling a sense of warmth wash over him as he enters, seeing his old friends and hearing some of his favorite tunes. While it’s not the traditional sense of coming home after being gone for a long time, places like this bar are a second home to many folks, and we all know that nostalgic feeling of walking into a place you love and miss.

“So I strolled across old Main Street
Walked down a flight of stairs
Stepped into the hall and saw all my friends were there
A neon sign was flashin’, ‘Welcome, come on in’
It feels so good feelin’ good again”

Keen continues:

“There is a bar and you walk down from the steps to get there. And in the cellar, which is the bar, was all of Arkey’s stuff. He had velvet paintings of Elvis and Dolly, and this great jukebox, and this corner stage where he would play every Friday and Saturday night. Arkey said actually that he built that place because he was kicked out of every honky-tonk in Texas … So Arkey’s was just a comfortable place to go and there was always people at a table, and it was a beer joint. So anyway, there it is. There’s the inspiration to the song.”

Keen also noted that all the characters in the song, like Perkins, are real people, and the events are based on what happened during those late nights at Arkey’s. If you’re a songwriter, this is your sign not to pass on penning a love letter of sorts to your favorite local watering hole, because it led REK to pen one of his most influential songs.

If you like REK’s “Feelin’ Good Again,” you will adore Evan Felker’s acoustic take on the classic.

Turn it all the way up.

The post Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker Stuns With Acoustic Version Of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again” In Honor Of His 70th Birthday first appeared on Whiskey Riff.