WQMX Rising Star Showcases have had some fun acts recently, and up and comers Walker McGuire added to it with a great show last Thursday night. Even though they only played a seven-song set, it gave the duo a chance to showcase their true talent. The set was over and people were asking for more. Jordan Walker has an amazingly unique voice and Johnny McGuire’s voice is the yin to the yang of Walker’s voice. Nothing about their music sounds like anything on the radio lately. They play Modern Country but in their own way.
McGuire’s love of Classic Rock artists like Tom Petty and Walker’s love of old school country like Don Williams combine to take their music in their own creative direction. Their lyrics are relatable to anyone who listens and their vocals pull the audience in even deeper. Once they started their set it was hard for anyone to leave the room. Walker McGuire kept the show light and fun, telling stories of how their songs were written and even poked fun at one of their crew. It was hard not to have a good time!
They opened their set with their song “Back Together.” A song about a long night of drinking caused by the loneliness of a breakup. It has a good head bobbing, feet tapping beat. Anyone who has faced a breakup has had a night where they went crazy just trying to get over the breakup, and then wake up the next day trying to piece it all back together. Their guitar strumming sounds as though it comes effortlessly, perfectly in tune and together.
Taking the set in a fun direction, they told the crowd how they were sent on a trip to Cancun to write a few songs. Instead of writing songs however, they had their own kind of fun. It included a few days with a girl whose name they could not remember, leading to the writing of “Ol’ What’s Her Name.” This fun upbeat song had everyone singing along by the end.
“Mysteries of the World,” a song inspired by DB Cooper. This song took three writing sessions, about 24 hours to write and will be on their first record coming out this September! It’s a beautifully written ballad full of so many questions that life makes you think about. Questions like, “How you look even better in the morning, wrapped up laying in my bed”, and “… How you ended up with me…”.
Their next song, “I’m On It” was written by fellow country musicians Old Dominion. This song is a slower song with interesting lyrics. It’s about a breakup and how the girl will never actually forget him and how he will always be there. Someone made the joke how it was kinda like a stalker anthem (#creepycute). However, when you break up with someone, you hope they never forget you and they always regret their decision. So, all in all it is a very relatable song.
My personal favorite song from the entire set was “American Dream.” Everyone knows the typical American Dream; a house, car, and a family. The everyday grind and routine each person goes through to make their dreams come true. “It’s a hell of a fight, surviving that American Dream” is part of the chorus and there is not one person in the room that was not able to completely understand how they felt.
Walker then told a story about an ex. One who apparently is now happily married to a 55-year-old man and drives a Lexus, but he’s not mad. The story had everyone laughing. This ex was the inspiration behind their next song, “Best Kinda Bad.” It was an upbeat tempo song and Walker and McGuire’s harmonies were showcased perfectly.
They closed the show with their current radio single “Till Tomorrow.” A ballad dealing with a break up again. All their break up songs makes one wonder how many girls have broken up with these talented young men and are now kicking themselves! Once again the whole song was a sing along. It was hard not to when the lyrics are so easy to understand and everyone has been in the position to think “I swear I’ll never love you again, till tomorrow.”
Walker McGuire at WQMX Rising Star Showcase. (Photos by Catelynn Rickenbacker/CCM)
Every one of their songs is a situation that every single person has been through. The ability to take these situations and transform them into beautiful or fun lyrics is a talent in and of itself. The harmonies seem effortless to both and the guitars seem like they just belong in their hands. Not all bands sound good when they play acoustic but Walker McGuire put on one amazing acoustic performance.
Not only are they great on stage but they are extremely down to earth. I had the opportunity to sit down with them and chat for a few minutes. So many up and comers have an over inflated ego from the girls that throw themselves at them but they seemed like guys you would just shoot pool with and have a beer on a Friday night.
They even get star struck like everyone else. McGuire recently had the opportunity to meet the drummer of Black Crowes, Steve Gorman, and bought him a bottle of whiskey. Walker says he went “total fan girl” and almost wet himself when he ran into the shortstop for the Cincinnati reds at the airport. When asked if they had the chance to tour with any other artist Walker chose Jason Aldean and McGuire chose Eric Church, neither of which is a bad option!
I asked them what they were currently working on and was told they are finishing up their upcoming first album. It will be out in September. One of the biggest reasons they were given the amazing opportunity to make an album is the fact that their music has been streamed on Spotify more than 18 million times! When they aren’t working on their music Walker likes to spend time with his dogs and they both play golf and recreational sports in Nashville.
To all those people who have dreams of becoming the next being thing in country music they offered up the following advice; Johnny- “Move to Nashville!” And Jordan- “Just do it! YOLO.” If you have the dream, you have to make it happen. Walker McGuire has spent years getting to where they are and now their hard work is finally paying off.
