The Indiana Boys’ debut album, Muddy Boots plays like an Indiana summer – sweet and dreamy, easygoing yet still sharp and astute.

I think part of why I relate to artists like the Indiana Boys and why they fit the region so well is that Americana music is like the growing season. Each listen ripens your appreciation like slow growing fruit. You start to pick up on the interplay between the banjo and mandolin, or lyrics like “The rumbling in my stomach said the twinges of regret had begun” start to stand out.

The music isn’t complicated, but it’s rich with culture, humor, and adept solos.

Pay special attention to the last three songs, written by Indiana Boys’ banjo player, Joe Bolinger. A wordsmith, Bolinger’s stories are vivid and gripping. Kenan Rainwater pulls the album together with a commanding and alluring vocals.

The album is named, I believe, after Muddy Boots Cafe in Nashville, where you’ll often see the boys on the calendar. The best way to grab the album is to go to one of their shows and pick one up. A great live band with lots of synergy. I expect their albums to only get better as they grow together, as Indiana Boys are wont to do.

Album recorded at Farmfresh Studios