Steve Earle & Reckless Kelly – Dead Or Gone To Dallas
- Stevie Connor
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
When Steve Earle first burst onto the scene with Guitar Town back in 1986, it was clear he wasn’t interested in playing by Nashville’s rules. His songs had grit under their fingernails, a restless energy that was equal parts country, rock, and folk, but always his own. Almost four decades later, Earle is still walking that line — still telling stories that cut deep, still making music that refuses to be boxed in.
His latest single, Dead or Gone to Dallas , is proof of that restless spirit. Written by Earle and recorded with Americana icons Reckless Kelly, the track is a barnstorming shuffle that lands somewhere between a lament and a grin. On its surface, it’s a witty observation — everyone the narrator knows is either in the ground or has packed up and left for Dallas. But beneath the humour lies a truth that feels universal: towns change, people move on, and time doesn’t wait for anyone.
“It’s just unapologetic country rock with a band behind me that knows how to do that,” Earle says of the song. And he’s right. Reckless Kelly — fronted by brothers Willy and Cody Braun — are a band forged in the crucible of American highways, festivals, and dive bars. For nearly 30 years they’ve carried the torch of outlaw country with a mix of raw authenticity and arena-ready energy. They’ve won GRAMMYs, topped charts, and headlined festivals, but what matters most is their ability to light up a room — or a field — with the kind of unfiltered sound that’s become increasingly rare.
That energy pulses through Dead or Gone to Dallas. From the first bars, the song feels alive: guitar riffs strut forward, the rhythm section shuffles with swagger, and pedal steel laces the edges with just enough twang. Earle’s voice — gravelly, weathered, but never weary—sits at the center like a grizzled storyteller leaning across the table to let you in on the joke.
Reckless Kelly doesn’t just back him up; they push the song forward, giving it the drive of a band that knows exactly how to turn a good story into a great song.
“The first time I heard the demo, I thought, ‘this is the perfect song for us to put our stamp on — it’s got that vintage Steve Earle vibe we cut our teeth on,’” recalls Willy Braun. It’s an admission that says as much about Reckless Kelly’s roots as it does about Earle’s influence. After all, few artists have shaped the Americana landscape like Steve Earle. His songs have been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Emmylou Harris, his albums have earned multiple GRAMMY Awards, and his 1988 anthem Copperhead Road has been woven so deeply into American culture that it was officially recognized as a Tennessee state song in 2023.
Earle has never been just a songwriter. He’s a novelist, a playwright, a political activist, and an actor who held his own in acclaimed series like The Wire and Tremé. But above all, he is a troubadour — one of the last of a rare breed of writers who can balance razor-sharp storytelling with a rebel heart. Dead or Gone to Dallas is a reminder that his pen hasn’t dulled, and his voice still carries the authority of someone who’s lived every word he sings.
For Reckless Kelly, this collaboration is a fitting milestone in a career that spans nearly three decades. 2025 marks not only their 30th anniversary as a band but also the 20th anniversary of their landmark album Wicked Twisted Road — a record that cemented their reputation as one of Americana’s most vital acts. To celebrate, the album is being released on vinyl for the first time, giving longtime fans and new listeners alike the chance to revisit a work that helped define a generation of roots music.
Their most recent album, The Last Frontier (2024), delivered two number 1 singles and fuelled a sold-out tour that included stops at the Ryman and AmericanaFest. Alongside their relentless touring, the band continues to host their beloved Braun Brothers Reunion Festival in Challis, Idaho — a gathering that not only showcases top Americana acts but also raises funds for their community. In a world where bands come and go, Reckless Kelly have endured, not by chasing trends but by doubling down on authenticity.
The pairing of Earle and Reckless Kelly feels both natural and symbolic. It’s not just a collaboration; it’s a dialogue between generations of Americana. Earle, the elder statesman who helped shape the genre, and Reckless Kelly, the torchbearers who’ve carried it into the 21st century, come together here to remind us of the music’s beating heart. And what a heart it is — equal parts sorrow and humour, grit and grace, longing and celebration.
Fresh off co-headlining the Calgary Folk Festival, the chemistry between Earle and Reckless Kelly is undeniable. On stage, they feed off each other’s energy; in the studio, that synergy translates into a song that feels at once timeless and urgent. There’s no mistaking the joy in making music like this — music that doesn’t pander or posture, but simply is.
In the end, Dead or Gone to Dallas is more than just a rollicking country-rock number. It’s a meditation on change, on absence, on what it means to stay or go. It’s a sly nod to mortality, delivered with the kind of wink that only Steve Earle can pull off. And it’s a showcase for Reckless Kelly’s enduring ability to elevate a song without ever overshadowing the story at its core.
As Americana continues to grow and evolve, collaborations like this matter. They remind us that the genre is less about fitting into a box and more about carrying a tradition forward—honoring the past while speaking to the present. With Dead or Gone to Dallas, Steve Earle and Reckless Kelly have given us not just a great song, but a reminder of why this music continues to matter.
Unapologetic. Unpolished. Unforgettable.
Essential Steve Earle & Reckless Kelly Listening
If Dead or Gone to Dallas leaves you hungry for more, here’s a starting point for diving deeper into both artists’ catalogs:
Steve Earle Essentials
Guitar Town (1986) – the album that started it all, a cornerstone of Americana.
Copperhead Road (1988) – Earle’s iconic outlaw anthem, now a Tennessee state song.
The Revolution Starts…Now (2004) – a GRAMMY-winning, politically charged classic.
Jerry Jeff (2022) – a heartfelt tribute to his mentor, Jerry Jeff Walker.
Alone Again (Live) (2024) – his most recent album, showcasing the troubadour at his rawest.
Reckless Kelly Essentials
Wicked Twisted Road (2005) – their landmark album, celebrating 20 years with a new vinyl edition.
Bulletproof (2008) – high-octane Americana with a political edge.
Long Night Moon (2013) – a more reflective, award-winning record.
Sunset Motel (2016) – storytelling-rich and deeply textured.
The Last Frontier (2024) – their 17th album, delivering two number 1 singles and a triumphant tour.
Together, these tracks and albums form the backbone of modern Americana — a genre that thrives on storytelling, resilience, and collaborations like this one.
STEVE EARLE
RECKLESS KELLY
