“These Songs are for Anyone Who's Ever Felt the Need to Escape”: James Robert Webb Releases Keenly Awaited New Album, ‘Weekend Outlaw’
By Maxim Mower
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After dropping a slew of much-loved singles, such as ‘Lost In Vega$’ and ‘Time's A Wasting’, James Robert Webb has treated fans to his keenly awaited new album, Weekend Outlaw.
Those who enjoyed Webb's celebrated 2024 Ride Or Die EP will be pleased to see all six tracks from that project making the cut for Weekend Outlaw, with the Oklahoma singer-songwriter expanding that body of work and adding six stellar new offerings.
From the outset, Weekend Outlaw is permeated by a freeing sense of jubilance and energy, with James Robert Webb encouraging listeners to let loose across the galvanising album.
As we've come to expect from the seasoned country veteran, much of Weekend Outlaw finds Webb serving up a charismatic, swaggering set of vocals over a bed of wonderfully twangy electric guitars. You can hear the influences of country's greats, such as Willie and Waylon, with Webb putting his own stamp on the traditional honky-tonk sound by injecting Southern Rock textures into the mix.
Speaking to Holler ahead of the project's arrival, James Robert Webb explains, "Weekend Outlaw is a collection of stories about breaking free from the daily grind and chasing what makes you feel alive. It's about those moments when you trade in the routine for something real. These songs are for anyone who's ever felt the need to escape - but be careful, you might just discover part of yourself along the way”.
In a separate statement, Webb expands on this carpe diem spirit that underpins Weekend Outlaw, “We’re all aware of the fleetingness of life, and know we’ve got to do it now. The whole Weekend Outlaw mentality is about being true to our passions. My goal with the album is to encourage listeners to take ownership of their free time and follow the pursuits that come after clocking out on Friday night. I’d love for everyone who listens to go out and have fun in a way true to who they are, being who they want to be, not who society expects them to be”.
As a highly esteemed musculoskeletal radiologist, this is a mentality that James Robert Webb emulates, with the ‘Ride Or Die’ crooner making the most of the time when he's clocked out for the day by turning his hand to country and Americana music.
He concludes, “As I started releasing these songs, there was an overriding theme of the classic Brooks & Dunn 90’s country style with a tip of the hat to the outlaw lifestyle Waylon and Willie embodied back in the day. As those themes started to merge, the concept of Weekend Outlaw took root and evolved. Just as I’m a hard-working doctor making music on the side, many folks who have a certain professional identity from Monday through Friday long to do more with their life, whether it’s running marathons, climbing a mountain, taking a road trip or pursuing an alternate creative path. It’s all about discovering what matters most to you and having the boldness to live your authentic life”.
Weekend Outlaw keeps the momentum high for James Robert Webb, following a trio of lauded albums, 2016's Pictures, 2017's Honky Tonk Revival and 2020's self-titled record, as well as a hugely popular single in the form of ‘Okfuskee Whiskey’. The semi-autobiographical track finds Webb regaling listeners with the tale of his moonshiner great-grandfather, with the video tallying over 1.3 million views on YouTube. Such was the impact of this track, Webb teamed up with Tulsa's Red Fork Distillery to produce a special, regionally distributed whiskey of the same name.
And judging by what he has in store for the rest of 2025, it looks like there are no signs of slowing down. James Robert Webb will make his on-screen debut in the forthcoming holiday film, Music City Mistletoe, with Webb playing himself and performing his original track, ‘Fighting for a Dream’. He has also recorded ‘Merry Magical Christmas’ for the soundtrack, which Webb co-wrote with the writer and executive producer, Shantell Ogden.
‘Weekend Outlaw’ by James Robert Webb is out now via Bison Creek Records
Featured photo by Shervin Lainez
