Summer in the Cities: Dolly Parton & Kings of Leon

Our Summer in the Cities tour follows the highway south to Nashville, where neon honky tonks, studio doors and back porches blur the line between everyday life and song. Don and Dude drop the needle on two Nashville born records that carry the city’s twang, storytelling swagger and late night barroom heart in every riff and chorus.

The Albums

Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors (1971)

Dolly Parton turns early 70s Nashville country into a warm, story driven set about childhood, family, faith and finding dignity when money is scarce. Live band arrangements, clear melodies and her unmistakable voice keep the focus on intimate narratives, from the patchwork pride of the title track to gentle hymns to nature and community that show how a Smoky Mountain girl became one of Nashville’s defining storytellers.

Kings of Leon – Youth and Young Manhood (2003)

Kings of Leon crash the early 2000s garage rock revival with a scruffy Southern slant, bashing out raw guitar tunes steeped in bar band grit and Pentecostal raised intensity. Close mic’d guitars, crowded room sonics and loose, unpolished performances make Youth and Young Manhood feel like a small club set, the sound of a Nashville family band kicking the doors open on the wider rock conversation.

Diggin Albums

The Pretty Reckless – Dear God (2026)

Taylor Momsen and company lean into heavy, grunge tinged hard rock on Dear God, pairing towering choruses and dark, faith questioning lyrics with modern arena ready production for a cathartic, emotionally charged listen.

Jeff the Brotherhood – We Are The Champions (2011)

Nashville duo Jeff the Brotherhood sharpen their fuzzed out garage attack into hooky, punk driven rock, mixing crunchy riffs, DIY spirit and oddball humor on a set that helped cement their cult favorite status.

Muse – The Wow! Signal (2026)

English trio Muse return to cosmic, sci fi soaked rock on The Wow! Signal, blending big riffs, industrial textures and sleek electronics while folding in outside voices like Ellie Goulding without losing their maximalist identity.

Pixies – Complete B Sides: 1988–97 (remastered 2026)

Pixies’ remastered collection of non album cuts and single flips brings their loud quiet dynamics and surreal storytelling back into focus, with fresh vinyl sound and extra live material underscoring how deep their alt rock influence runs.

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“I belonged to Nashville before I belonged to anyone.” – Brandi Carlile