You know you want to.
Wetzel is an expert at reading the room.
(I know what his name is, I just like saying it this way, Sissy retorts.)
Koe Wetzel has earned a rowdy reputation; he seeks to show at least a little bit of his vulnerable side on the new album ‘9 Lives.‘Jody Domingue*
I wanted to take care of people, and take care of my family.
Now, having the means to do that, its awesome.
Id feel the same way if I were working road construction.
His was a low-income upbringing, which is typical for this part of the state.
Had it not been for music, Id have done the same thing.
Sometimes that means gone off the rails.
In 2016, Wetzel got drunk and was arrested for public intoxication.
Wetzel has never been shy about his sins, and on9 Liveshe leans even harder into his misdeeds.
Theres even a cover of Depression & Obsession, by the late rapper XXXTentacion.
We were just kind of making songs, Wetzel says.
His house is dotted with taxidermy mounts of various exotic game, but hes arguably more obsessed with noodling.
And hes decided its once again time to hit the water.
Its so dangerous that it cannot be done alone.
In several states, its illegal.
As soon as I had her, I could tell how big she was.
Once she went to going crazy, it was just, Holy fuck!
This time, though, there are no fish home.
Im an adrenaline junkie, he says.
There is plenty of that fuck it attitude on9 Lives.
Both Gattis andRobison diedin 2023.
Growing up, Charlie Robison was my favorite of all-time, Wetzel says.
And Casey corrected me.
He goes, No, man.
I wanted it to be an ode to them.
This is not lost on him.
Its fucking insane, bro, he says of the artists who paved the way.
Bowen is one of those.
His fans are nuts and amazing, Bowen tellsRolling Stone.
They can look at you like youre from outer space sometimes, because youre not playing what Koe does.
But the albums final track lays bare Wetzels trad-country bona fides.
We just got fucking annihilated, Wetzel says.
Now Im going to bed.
To me, that song is Texas and Red Dirt.
Later this month, Wetzel will kick off his Damn Near Normal world tour in the Woodlands, Texas.
In the U.S., its a tour of arenas and amphitheaters.
In the U.K. and Germany, hell hit rock clubs.
Hes already fretting about his setlist.
I want people to look at me and see more than just a one-way artist, Wetzel says.
Whether he likes it or not.
