Donahew brings 'All Night Party' to Shooters

Casey Donahew
Submitted photo
Casey Donahew Submitted photo

Texas country star Casey Donahew graces the Shooter's Sports Bar stage on Saturday, Jan. 28, armed with songs from his new album, "All Night Party."

Donahew, who rose through the ranks of Texas country artists to gain a wider following, just released "All Night Party" this past August. Out on Almost Country Records with the lead single "Kiss Me," the album paired Donahew with a producer, Josh Leo, who possesses longtime hit-making experience.

For Donahew, this was the first time not producing an album on his own, but that hasn't changed his music, he says.

"You know, I don't really change the writing process. I still try to write most of the songs that we do," Donahew said this week. Since day one, he says, everything he's worked on is with the aim of getting better as he goes along, but here they have a Nashville producer to lend a hand and help them make something better.

Leo's production credits include Alabama, and he's produced and written nearly 30 chart-topping singles. Leo's worked with "just a ridiculous list of superstars," Donahew said, and it's music from the era when Donahew fell in love with country music.

Donahew's worked hard through the years to build his career, following in the footsteps of many other celebrated Texas country artists. His work on "All Night Party" follows other successful independent albums he's released, including "Double Wide Dream" and "Standoff."

On this album, as with others, there are a few rodeo songs to hear, a familiar theme for Donahew. The one "out-of-the-box song," he says, is actually his favorite number, kind of a throwback, Marty Robbins-style song with a mariachi feel to it. It's a ballad called "Josie Escalido."

"I think Josh was instrumental on bringing that song to life on the recording," Donahew said.

As always, he's proud of hailing from his home state.

"You know, I'm just really proud that we're from Texas. We started out here in Fort Worth. This is home and this is where our roots are based," Donahew said. They've tried to take this sound national, and the past six or seven years have seen this become successful, as it has for many Texas artists, he said.

"I think it's an exciting time to be an independent artist. I think there's opportunities and I think the sound is spreading across the country," Donahew said.

For him and his band, life is a "never-ending tour," as he described it. They just had a big swing through the heart of middle America. And he said the new songs have been greeted with the audience singing along.

Here in Texarkana, Donahew fans should expect him to share at Shooter's what they've come to expect from him.

"We made our reputation for 15 years entertaining people and that idea never changes. We want to come put on a show, get them excited," Donahew said.

He's not sure when the last time was that he performed in Texarkana, but he suspects it's been a spell.

"Come on to the show. Let's have a good time," Donahew urged.

(Show starts at 10 a.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. More info and ticket purchase: ShootersTexarkana.com.) 

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