Eli Locke Schools Fans With 'Country 101' EP

"The title track, "Country 101" delivers everything fans love about traditional country music while adding Locke's unique touch, showcasing his natural ability to tell timeless stories in an instantly relatable way. His musical influences, from classic country to contemporary hits, are woven seamlessly throughout the EP, setting him apart as one of the genre's next breakout stars."

https://www.antimusic.com/p/24/1213eli_locke_schools_fans_with_country_101_ep

Music Preview: Eli Locke is a musician locked to the truth - Jonny Whiteside, LA TIMES

Locke's approach is an appealing mixture of traditional and contemporary country and, as showcased on songs like his bittersweet tale of romance gone sour, "Tail Lights," and the boozy honky-tonk hookup anthem "3,2,1 (Ask Her to Dance)," he displays an emotionally convincing vocal style. As a lyricist, he has a command of some critical genre elements — an amiable sense of irony and a simple, direct use of language.

In performance, his Locke & Loaded Band is a powerhouse of fast-moving, hard shuffling country. "Our music is more on the traditional side of country and we try to always be authentic, drawing from the sounds of heroes like Merle Haggard, George Strait," Locke said. "These days I'm drawn to both the honky-tonk feel of the Bakersfield sound and a lot of Texas country and red dirt music." [Read More]