500 Miles & Counting: The Story Behind 49 Winchester's New Album, Leavin' This Holler

Looking at Castlewood, Virginia on a map won’t reveal much to the casual eye.

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, the town has a few schools, a quarry and a handful of convenience stores, all of which serve the population of over 900 people that call the Southwest Virginia town home.

A deeper glance at its history, though, reveals all the secrets that those mountains hold; stories of frontiersmen, stolen land, tribal honor and fearless acts of treason. All these tales cement the possibility that those still residing in the area – attending those schools, working at the quarry and shopping at the convenience stores – are possible descendents of such hushed folklore.

There are many small towns like Castlewood; towns with conjectured histories and communities deeply tied to their origins. Though, no matter the location, each member plays a critical role in handing down accounts of the past and maintaining traditions for the future. Yet, no matter their resistance, all are eventually faced with the same life crossroads: stay or leave.

Many choose to proudly remain, aiding the efforts to retain the legacy of their home and community. A few others, meanwhile, courageously act on the complicated longing to leave; no matter the distance they travel or the experiences they conquer though, the town is always calling to them in one form or another. They can never truly leave.

This indescribable feeling of longing, history and resounding love is permeates throughout the entirety of 49 Winchester’s new album, Leavin’ This Holler. With a distinctive blend of genres, their fifth album finds the band exploring their Castlewood origins, while offering reflections of their current journey in life and love. All of this produces memorable results, while noticeably evolving the creative approach taken on 2022’s breakthrough Fortune Favors the Bold.

Within the first few seconds of speaking with frontman Isaac Gibson, it’s evident how much he embodies his upbringing along with the gritty spirit of Leavin’ This Holler. He’s a devoted musician’s musician, one with a firm grip on his artistic vision. He’s not alone either, united in effort with his bandmates, Bus Shelton, Chase Chafin, Noah Patrick, Tim Hall and Justin Louthian. It is clear that their connection exceeds far beyond the labels of a band and more devoutly of a true brotherhood, one that, even with considerable growth and success, remains firmly tied to the goals they set for each other in Castlewood. After all, they were the courageous few that made the choice to leave together.

Because of this, it’s easy for him to respond when asked how they stay centered together on this path;: “It’s particularly easy for us to stay rooted because of the situation we have with the band. Lifelong friends from the same little town. For most of us in the band - the founding four anyway - this the only musical project that we’ve ever been a part of, so it’s been the only way to express our creativity. It works organically.”

Leavin’ This Holler, while their fifth album, is only their second released with New West Records. 49 Winchester started out independent, but soon garnered interest from more established labels before eventually choosing a home at New West in 2021. Of the beginning of the relationship, Gibson ponders: “For the first record, they took a chance on this band of hillbillies out of Virginia. I’m sure they knew what to expect in terms of the sound, but at the same time, they probably didn’t. We’re an eclectic bunch that draws a lot of influence from all over the place.”

Over the last few years, this relationship with New West has further strengthened the band’s commitment to each other. This connection has allowed them to follow their instincts, further explore their own creativity and expand their sound, all of which were critical goals for them from the very beginning. It’s an area that Gibson takes great pride in: “We feel like we’re carrying a torch for New West and that’s something we’re really proud of. We knew that they were the one label that was going to let us go in and make the records we wanted to make. That was really important to us.”

This desire has produced another record that ranges in diversity, from the groovy ‘Hillbilly Happy’ to head over heels in love of ‘Yearnin’ For You’, both serving as strong contenders for deserved radio domination. Yet it’s the title track and closer, ‘Anchor,’ that offer the true essence of the record.

Gibson shares that the title track was originally written to be much faster, with a beat on the snare. After collaborating on the song with the band and producer Stewart Myers, he reflected on the true meaning of the lyrics, ultimately creating an alternative version. “We decided to slow it down. It turned the song into the real emotional heart of the record. It allowed me to convey the message a little easier at that pace and for us to sonically experiment.”

This experimentation gave them courage, fortifying their ideas to add a brilliant vocal feature from Maggie Antone, along with an impactful outro from the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. What results is a cinematic feel that stings; a haunting testament to bravely leaving what’s known for what’s not.

Similarly, closer ‘Anchor’ is soul stirring and nearly impossible to resist due to its distinct poetic lyrical structure. Gibson remembers, “I wrote that song when I was 18 or 19. The song is as old as the band is and it’s one of the first songs I ever wrote. It’s more raw, open and honest, which is the way that I used to write songs. It's a little more abstract, before I cultivated a skill to pull ideas together in a really tactful way. It’s just a young songwriter pouring his heart out.” 

The history attached to the song found the band wanting to breathe new life into its sound, one which specifically relies on Gibson’s vocal performance. It’s one that finds him dynamically soaring, inspired by the guttural commitment and struggle to keep hope alive. When asked about the experience, he explains; “Vocally speaking, that's the heaviest, loudest vocal I’ve ever laid down. I was screaming the chorus in the studios and rattling the windows. It was cool to flex that part of my vocal range. I think it delivered what the song needed.”

At its core, Leavin’ This Holler finds 49 Winchester honorably remembering their past in Castlewood, while taking firm steps towards an artistic future of their own design. The album, which showcases their abilities to transform their own traditions by going “faster, louder and meaner everyday,” is an assured signature turning point that hints at what’s to come for them.

Even with this success, though, it doesn’t mean 49 Winchester is slowing down anytime soon, nor are they backing down in their tireless pursuit for artistic growth. Gibson notes. “For the rest of the year, we’ve got a lot of killer bucket list stuff coming up for us. Right now, we’ve got our first ever headline West coast run, playing LA and Sacramento. It’s a really heavy touring schedule, which is where we feel like we shine”.

“We’re road dogs,” Gibson concludes, “Our comfortable place is being 500 miles down the road every night, again and again.” This trait of theirs should be no surprise, as finding comfort in the unknown is what created Castlewood after all. Their driving force is to forage in the wilderness and create a vision not even fully understood yet by the seeker, all which demands daily risk taking and a stern grip of resounding faith. This desire not only makes Leavin’ This Holler such a thrilling listen, but what makes 49 Winchester a band to embrace. These “road dogs” are making every mile count.

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