JR Carroll does not fit the traditional label of “country music” but his songs often feature a fiddle and a banjo. He falls more into the category of alt-country, somewhere between indie, folk, gospel and red dirt with a dash of southern rock and a hint of twang.
His cover of Wheatus’ smash hit ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ will make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about genre norms.
Carroll grew up in the church, leading a small-town Oklahoma choir by piano and by voice. The Tulsa-native eventually picked up the acoustic guitar, which led him to write his first EP, Long Story Short. It, like the rest of his music, draws inspiration from artists ranging from Ryan Adams and Tyler Childers and John Moreland to Kings of Leon, Jason Isbell and the Avett Brothers. There is a massive wave of alt-country artists on the rise and he is next up. (If he’s not up already!)
You might already know JR Carroll’s name because of his association to Zach Bryan. They are very good friends as boys from the Sooner State. Carroll typically goes out on tour with Bryan as his keyboardist.
Although Carroll got his first opportunity to hit the road with Bryan, he has since carved his own path and recently played his own headlining shows across in nine different states over the last few months. One of those stops was in Nashville at the historic EXIT/IN.
Hhis fans refused to leave when the show ended and begged for one more song. JR Carroll returned to the stage for an encore performance of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ that I cannot comprehend— and I mean that in a good way. On one hand, it is punk rock. On the other hand, it is bluegrass with a banjo. What?!
This seems to be one of Carroll’s go-to covers while on tour and it sounds just as good every time.
There is still time to buy stock in JR Carroll before his inevitable explosion but the bandwagon has already left the station so you better hop on now. Next thing you know, you’ll be paying $50+ for a stadium show instead of $15 at the local honky tonk. Tulsa is on the come up!