Yoakam returns to the Ryman

Brighter Days

For his first album of original music since 2016, Dwight Yoakam does exactly nothing different, and thank goodness for that. One of country music's most consistent stylists, Yoakam's sound has always been a nod to the Bakersfield of Buck Owens, hardcore honky-tonk played by a swinging band, and he's not about to change this far into his career, it seems. Analyzing his albums, then, boils down to which songs hit the spot best; they will all fill you up but some just taste better than others. ...

Live from Austin, TX;

In this 1988 Austin City Limits program and nearing 32 years old, Dwight Yoakam was approaching his commercial zenith. His third album, "Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room," had just been released, bringing him his only number one country singles "Streets of Bakersfield" (included here in duet with Buck Owens along with Flaco Jimenez) and "I Sang Dixie," also included. His second ACL appearance, Yoakam delivers a generous, 14-song reminder of how freakin' unusual ...

Second Hand Heart

Dwight Yoakam appears to be a many of mystery on the cover. With two side-by-side images of himself, the Kentucky honky tonker dons a trademark cowboy hat, jeans jacket and jacket and plucking his electric, legs spread and head pointed down. But there really is no mystery about Yoakam, who has been making music longer than some of the contemporary country acts have been alive. And Yoakam has a thing or two to show these young turks what country music used to be - and based on this sterling, ...