"Took a whole lot of miles to know what I know now," sings Will Hoge on
"Growing Up Around Here," the opening track off of his tenth studio album,
Small Town Dreams. "I'm kinda proud of growing up around here."
It's been a whole lot of miles, indeed: miles on the road, driving the bus himself
from venue to venue since the nineties; miles to and from Nashville writing
rooms, where he's spent hours penning songs – some for him, some for others;
miles exploring lands outside of his native Franklin, Tennessee, chasing the
spirits of his musical heroes. Roads meet, roads split, roads led to home.
Hoge has spent countless years and miles on the road, but he’s just recently
recorded the magic fans love, on “Solo & Live – December 2015” released in
March 2016. Known for his connection with audiences as well as his impressive
vocal ability, he recorded the album in December of last year. The collection
captures the full experience of Hoge’s show – an event that’s never predictable.
Hoge’s unique connection with his fans lies in his ability to stir up somber,
acoustic moments in one turn and then spring a hard-rocking, plugged-in
number the next. "The magic happens in the unsafe moments," he says. The
album showcases songs from Small Town Dreams as well as older entries from
his catalog, including crowd favorites “Through Missing You,” “Jesus Came to
Tennessee” and “When I get My Wings,” among others.