While writing during the spring of 2022, frontman and chief songwriter for the Austin Texas based band Silverada found a wealth spring of inspiration between his back yard and the used book selection at the local goodwill. Following their 2021 release “One to Grow On,” Mike Harmeier had been on the road for a year straight and he and the band were burning out. After returning from tour the songs weren’t coming as easy either, when he found time to sneak into his tiny backyard studio.

In a search for a jumping off point to write a new album, Mike turned to some of his songwriting heroes on a search for new techniques. A long time fan of the band Wilco, he was excited to dive into his wife’s Christmas present to him, Jeff Tweedy’s two books “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back)” and “How to Write One Song.” The inspiration came almost instantaneously as he turned each page. Armed with a yellow highlighter, field notes and a pen, he began to free write, make word ladders and even steal a few lines from the books he was reading. All techniques he had never tried in his 20 plus year long career as a songwriter. This led to Mike throwing the rule book that he had abided by for years, straight out the window. In under a week, he had over 15 new songs that he was proud of and felt gave him a fresh lease and perspective on his career and future as a songsmith and bandleader.

That notion carried itself into the studio that summer when he brought the songs to the band and longtime producer Adam Odor. Over the course of 3 months, the band, which was making its first record with new drummer Taylor Englert, breathed fresh life into these tales of rebirth and acceptance that Harmeier had penned just weeks before. Again, there were no rules. While naturally diving into the soaring twin leads, that are the signature of so many of the band’s catalogue, guitarist Catlin Rutherford and pedal steel guitarist Zachary Moulton, had free reign to turn knobs to eleven and explore the new found space that these songs offered them. With Omar Oyoque on bass guitar pumping up and embellishing the subtle yet strategic chord changes that they were experimenting with, the band was finding new territory, while still maintaining the integrity of the band’s sound. When it was all said and done, Harmeier and the band were sitting on 10 brand new songs that, while still sounding like them, had evolved the entire band into a new entity with nothing but wide open terrain ahead. A new world had opened up in front of them and they were intent on seeing where it could lead.

For many years the band had felt disconnected from their long time moniker Mike and the Moonpies. They were seasoned now. They had been down the dead end roads and payed their dues. Climbed the mountains and slept in the trenches. They had toured the world, made a record at Abbey Road Studios and played the Grand Ole Opry. But they wanted more. They’re lifers. Now was the time to be who they wanted to be and tell the world who they had become—Silverada.

Silverada was released June 28, 2024 and is available here on vinyl LP & CD.