The Matthew Shane Band releases Terlingua
By Alan Shipston for Country Music News International Magazine
Clean vibrato electric guitar over pedal steel pads introduces, Terlingua, a new Texas-tinged song from The Matthew Shane Band. This mid-tempo country rock tune is about packing up and running away to Terlingua, a former mining ghost town located in the remote Big Bend region of West Texas, near the Rio Grande, approximately 12 miles from the Mexican border. Shane has a distinct Texas drawl as he sings to his lover telling her, “Told you I was gonna be gone for a long time, and it may be forever this time.”
The side stick keeps a steady rhythm as the band plays through a standard modern country arrangement while Matthew sings that “it’s too hard to turn back,” having made the decision to leave. The playing is clean and determined, highlighted by Shane’s electric solo and tasty pedal steel licks. Matthew offered this observation about his latest release, “I wrote this song based on a guy that always said, if he ever ran away from life, then he would hide out in a south Texas ghost town called Terlingua. He also said, he would be close enough to Mexico to disappear forever if need be. My late uncle inspired me to finish and release this single since it was his favorite tune. I think the cowboy in him loved it the most.”
Originating in the small deep East Texas town of Huntington, founding member Matthew Shane Parrish, born in Lufkin, sings and plays guitar. He got his roots through a combination of old Nashville country, west coast Bakersfield sound, outlaw music, rock and Texas blues. Later he found himself drawn into the Texas country music scene with a love of the traditional red dirt energy and the unique talent that sustains artists of that genre.
The Matthew Shane Band released their first debut single, You Got It, written by Matthew Shane and recorded for Roop Records of Grand Cane, Louisiana. After its release on 9/11/2020, the single came in at #118 on The Texas Country Music Charts before swiftly moving up to #50. Since then, they have released, Cupids Arrows in 2021, a song that was featured on the Texas Homegrown Songs Series and their 2022 tune, Say I Didn’t Warn You, a popular single released via major streaming platforms. The group is known for high-energy live shows across Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.