Josh Abbott Band is a Texas country band originally from Lubbock, composed of Josh Abbott, Edward Villanueva (percussion), David Fralin (keys/mandolin/harmonica/harmony vocals), Jimmy Hartman (bass guitar, harmony vocals), Kris Farrow (electric guitar, harmony vocals), and Adam Hill (fiddle). Former recent members include Preston Wait (fiddle, guitar, steel guitar), Caleb Keeter (guitar), Austin Davis (banjo), and Cale Richardson (guitar).
Biography Josh Abbott founded the band in 2006 in Lubbock, Texas while attending Texas Tech University, where he was a member of the Texas Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta. He founded the band while in grad school with fraternity brothers Austin Davis, Neel Huey, and Andrew Hurt. The band recorded a 4-song demo including "Taste" in 2007 along with fiddler Preston Wait and began touring in 2008. Huey and Hurt dropped out to pursue careers while Preston Wait and Eddie Villanueva officially joined. The band then recorded their debut album “Scapegoat” in 2008 as well. Caleb Keeter and James Hertless joined in 2010, with Hertless eventually departing in 2018.
The sophomore album, She's Like Texas, followed in 2010 and entered the Top Country Albums chart. Michael Berick of Allmusic rated it four stars out of five, comparing it to Steve Earle and saying that Abbott's songwriting showed "maturity".
"She's Like Texas" includes the single "Oh, Tonight", which entered the Country Songs chart in early 2011 at #59 and peaked at #44.
In August 2015, the band announced their fourth studio album, titled Front Row Seat, a concept album detailing Abbott's relationship and failed marriage.
Josh Abbott Band's single "Wasn't That Drunk", featuring Carly Pearce, was released to radio on March 21, 2016. The band made their national television debut with the single on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on May 31, 2016, and performed "Amnesia" on CONAN on January 18, 2017.
On August 18, 2017, Josh Abbott Band released their 5th studio album, Until My Voice Goes Out, which included a string and horn section.
The band performed at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest, the scene of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
In November 2020, the band released their 6th studio album, The Highway Kind, produced by Marshall Altman. This album featured songs like "Settle Me Down", "The Luckiest" and "The Highway Kind" which have become mainstays in the band's catalog.
The band toured consistently throughout Texas and the United States, and reconvened in 2022 to record their 7th studio album, Somewhere Down The Road.
Discography Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales US Country US US Indie US Heat Scapegoat Release date: March 31, 2008 Label: Pretty Damn Tough — — — — She's Like Texas Release date: February 16, 2010 Label: Pretty Damn Tough 28 — 28 5 Small Town Family Dream Release date: April 24, 2012 Label: Pretty Damn Tough 5 15 2 —US: 67,000 Front Row Seat Release date: November 6, 2015 Label: Pretty Damn Tough, Reviver 9 39 1 —US: 21,400 Until My Voice Goes Out Release date: August 18, 2017 Label: Pretty Damn Tough, Reviver 22 141 6 —US: 5,100 The Highway Kind Release date: November 13, 2020 Label: Pretty Damn Tough — — — — — Somewhere Down The Road Release date: January 26, 2024 Label: Pretty Damn Tough — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chartpositions Sales US Country US Tuesday Night Release date: September 23, 2014 Label: Atlantic 12 58 Catching Fire Release date: June 28, 2019 Label: Pretty Damn Tough — —US: 700 The Encore Release date: September 26, 2025 Label: Pretty Damn Tough — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US Country US Country Airplay US Bubbling 2010 "She's Like Texas" — — She's Like Texas "Road Trippin'" — — 2011 "Oh, Tonight" (with Kacey Musgraves) 44 — "My Texas" (with Pat Green) — — Small Town Family Dream 2012 "Touch" 41 8 "I'll Sing About Mine" — — 2013 "She Will Be Free" — — — 2014 "Hangin' Around" 44 47 — Tuesday Night 2015 "Amnesia" 45 56 — Front Row Seat 2016 "Wasn't That Drunk" (with Carly Pearce) 46 37 — "Amnesia" (re-release) — — — 2017 "Texas Women, Tennessee Whiskey" — — — Until My Voice Goes Out 2018 "Girl Down in Texas" — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Other certified songs Year SingleCertifications Album 2020 "Settle Me Down" RIAA: Gold The Highway Kind
Music videos Year Video Director 2010 "She's Like Texas" Evan Kaufmann "Road Trippin'" 2011 "Oh, Tonight" (with Kacey Musgraves) 2012 "Touch" 2013 "I'll Sing About Mine" "She Will Be Free" 2016 "Wasn't That Drunk" (with Carly Pearce) Zack Morris "Wasn't That Drunk" (with Carly Pearce) Evan Kaufmann 2017 "Amnesia" Evan Kaufmann 2018 "Girl Down in Texas" Shaun Silva/Wes Edwards
References