Erik Vincent Huey

Fort Defiance

Orchard Music Group/Sony

Erik Vincent Huey is the son of four generations of coal miners. He grew up along the banks of the Monongahela River in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Coming of age, he listened to The Clash, X, and the Sex Pistols, but he never truly escaped his Appalachian roots. From the cowpunk on-ramp of The Blasters, The Beat Farmers, Jason & the Scorchers, and Dwight Yoakam, he wandered upstream along the Hillbilly Highway until rediscovering Johnny Cash and George Jones—artists he first heard as a kid riding in the cab of his Uncle Jack’s 18-wheeler.

Under the nom de plume Cletus McKoy, Erik is the longtime frontman of The Surreal McCoys, a cowpunk “hipster doofus band” with two albums to their credit. The band gained national attention through airplay of their mashup single “Whole Lotta Folsom” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country.

Erik explains, “After the introspective, geographic deep dive of Appalachian Gothic, I wanted to make a record that was simply a collection of songs, without a unifying narrative. This record is about achieving escape into the larger world.” That vision takes shape on Fort Defiance, produced by “The Godfather of Americana” Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, the legendary rock ’n’ roll guitarist known for his work with Joan Jett, The Del-Lords, and Steve Earle & the Dukes, as well as his production work with Bottle Rockets, Jimbo Mathus, and Sarah Borges.

The album features vocal appearances by Tommy Stinson of The Replacements and Guns N’ Roses, along with backing vocals from Baltimore power-pop favorites Starbelly. The core band includes Bryan Ewald on guitar and organ, Cliff Hills on guitar, Dennis Schocket on bass, and Greg Schroeder on drums. Additional musicians include bassist Keith Christopher, guitarist Tim Smith, and drummer Phil Cimino. The album was recorded at Ambel’s Cowboy Technical Services studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and serves as the follow-up to 2023’s Appalachian Gothic.

The album opens with “All Out of Angels,” co-written by Erik and Ambel, as Erik sings, “I’m all out of angels and so far from home… never felt so all alone. I got no one to save me from what I’ve become. I’m all out of angels, but I’m dying for one.” “Grievous Angels,” written by Erik, follows with a road-worn anthem as he sings, “Grievous angels out there on the road, searchin’ for that sacred chord… risk it all for rock ’n’ roll, still believing that a song can save our souls.”

The title track, “Fort Defiance,” written by Erik and Dennis Schocket, finds Erik chanting, “The river’s flowing full of tears and the moon is dripping blood. The horizon is on fire, I got washed out in the flood. I’m going out for one last ride, midnight’s breath against my skin.”

“Ghosts of the Chelsea,” with music by Cliff Hills and lyrics by Erik, captures isolation and obsession as Erik moans, “When it’s raining all day long, I feel less guilty when I drink… soon I’m back to where you left me, in the Chelsea Hotel.” “Cutlass Supreme” follows as an instrumental interlude.

“Jokerman” is a bold cover of the Bob Dylan song, delivered with reverence and grit as Erik sings, “Standing on the waters, casting your bread… Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune.”

“The Gutter & the Stars,” with music by Ambel and lyrics by Erik, contrasts survival and aspiration as he cries, “Don’t show me all your medals, baby, I want to see your scars. I’ll show you the gutter, baby, if you show me the stars.”

The next four songs are written entirely by Erik. On “The Things You Left Behind,” he catalogs heartbreak through memory and objects, singing, “An old love letter never sent… the lipstick that you used to write ‘Goodbye’ on the mirror last night.”

“40 Tons of Speed” is a vivid portrait of his Uncle Jack, a truck driver who lived fast and free, dodging authority and making friends at every truck stop along the way. “The Hatfield Action” explodes with barroom energy as Erik wails, “Juke joints jumpin’ on a summer night… everybody goin’ crazy for that Hatfield Action.”

The album closes with “The King of Texas,” a mournful ballad of lost love and lingering grief as Erik croons, “Since you left me on that sunny day, my skies are filled with rain… can’t even find the strength to take your photos down.”

Erik Vincent Huey is a formidable talent, a singer-songwriter whose second full-length solo album Fort Defiance will be released on February 13, 2026. Call it Americana. Call it outlaw country. Whatever the label, Erik Vincent Huey is here to stay. This is a highly recommended recording.

Richard Ludmerer

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