Mississippi’s Hartle Road Rocked Larry’s with Austin-Based Moonlight Towers

Hartle Road performed Friday night at Proud Larry’s in Oxford.
Photo by Suanne Strider

The Moonlight Towers made a great decision when they decided to allow Hartle Road to open for them Friday at Proud Larry’s. The Moonlight Towers set was fantastic, but since they are based out of Austin, Texas, I would like to introduce you to Hartle Road, a Mississippi band that I’m sure you will be hearing a lot more about soon.

Lead singer Toby Hartleroad
Photo by Suanne Strider

Hartle Road rocked Proud Larry’s, led by the amazing guitar-ripping skills of Toby Hartleroad, who is also their very animated and entertaining lead singer. His stage persona is a great mixture of Buddy Holly, Damien Bone of The Weeks, with a healthy dose of Joey Ramone thrown in for good measure.

Their songs are as raw as Holly Springs (where they resided for a while) and as Mississippi as it gets. With lyrics referencing Mississippi familiarities such as “farmers tan” as well as, “I’ll kick your [expletive that starts with an “f” and ends with an “ing”] ass,” I felt like I was right back at a Mississippi Delta version of “party at the Moontower” (a reference to the film, Dazed and Confused – see previous article for explanation), except that in the Delta, it is either “party at the grain bin” or “party on the backroad.”

Hartle Road’s self-titled EP, released last February, was recorded just a few miles from Oxford at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley.

This is a great band. They, no doubt, will be making some “best of” lists this year. Good luck, guys. You deserve it. For more on the band, visit their website.

Hartle Road is:

• Toby Hartleroad – Guitar
• Maxx Hartleroad – Drums
• Tyler Carter – Synth/Guitar
• Miles Jordan – Bass

Suanne Strider is a HottyToddy.com contributor and can be reached at suannestridermusic@gmail.com.