Hayes Carll's Channel

Hayes Carll is an odd mix. Wildly literate, utterly slackerly, impossibly romantic, absolutely a slave to the music, the 36-year old Texan is completely committed to the truth and unafraid to skewer pomposity, hypocrisy and small-minded thinking.

In a world of shallow and shallower, where it's all groove and gloss, that might seem a hopeless proposition. Last year, "Another Like You," Carll's stereotype's attract duet of polar opposites, was American Songwriter's #1 Song of 2011 -- and KMAG YOYO was the Americana Music Association's #1 Album, as well as making Best of Lists for Rolling Stone, SPIN and a New York Times Critics Choice.

Like so many Texans before him, there's no agony in the ecstasy -- just the wonder of capturing the perfect character in the song. When you're 6 beers down on a 12 pack night, you know Hayes Carll understands. At a time like that -- whether in your own backyard or some jam-packed bar -- that's the best kind of friend to have.

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