The genre-bending superstar country group is on the road promoting a new album
Honky-tonking superstars Turnpike Troubadours stampeded through 25 songs at the Anthem in DC on Friday (Nov 7th), featuring hits and new numbers from their April 2025 release The Price of Admission.
The proudly Tahlequah, Oklahoma-bred Turnpike Troubadours—led by the prairie-wailing voice of Evan Felker—started with the mellow “The Bird Hunters,” before slowly building in tempo on “Kansas City Southern,” and a driving double-whammy of “Gin, Smoke, Lies,” and “Before the Devil Knows We’re Dead.”
Everything they do has a driving beat behind it. The harder the Troubadours thumped out their tunes, the harder the crowd reacted. Just ask the guy having a big time by clanking his class ring against the rail in my section. The faster the music, the harder the ‘ca-chunk.’
Indeed, Turnpike Troubadours pulsate real country music from the stage. Theirs is an unapologetic sound born in midwestern red dirt and refined to defy genre. Take “A Tornado Warning,” a story song about the mundanity of twister alarms in the flattest parts of the country. Felker’s distinctive vocals narrate as a soaring fiddle lick that dares the imagination to picture it playing the part of the dancing twister.
Fans shouted every word to every number—even the new ones. At times, the packed crowd drowned out the band. Especially on the anthemic “Whole Damn Town,” with the room shouting the refrain “The whole damn town’s in love with you.” Perhaps they were telling the Troubadours the same?
Their older hits “7&7” and “The Mercury” sounded record perfect, over a decade after their respective releases. Fans knew they were coming from the first note, which is a sign of the kind of loyalty that sustains a musical act for decades.
Trampled by Turtles opened the night after a short set by rising country artist Leon Majcen. The bluegrass-forward Turtles delivered a set tribute to their genre-defying artistry. What do I mean? I have never once said, “They’re rocking up there!” about a bluegrass band. Presented live, their hit “Codeine” is delivered at about one and a half times the original’s speed, with an almost punk rock sensibility.
The latter third of Turnpike Troubadours’ set included a few mellow numbers, including the thoughtful “Heaven Passing Through” from the new album. Felker asked for phone lights during the song, and it seemed nearly everyone in the Anthem complied.
The rest of the band—six members in all, including Felker—were incredibly tight musicians. Hank Early, in particular, switched between a variety of string instruments with ease. The variety of strings across each number, being central to the uniqueness of Turnpike Troubadours’ sound, it’s fair to say Early is their silent weapon.
Their show at the Anthem was the most packed I’ve seen the venue this year. But being one of country music’s hottest acts was far from a given. In 2018, they were on an ascent that suffered from an emerging reputation for inconsistent concerts thanks to Felker’s addiction.
Felker got sober, and Turnpike Troubadours have returned to the road—bigger and better than ever. I mention that chapter to highlight that the band’s success isn’t simply great music finding an audience. Theirs is a story of triumph of real demons—the kind country music is often written about.
