by Wyatt Combs
Texas songwriter Hayes Carll has built a career on writing truth into songs. You can just tell his songs are genuine, and for many, he will be known as a true legend of American songwriting. I recently had the great privilege of speaking with Hayes as he prepares to roll into Tampa, and I can attest, the man is as genuine as he seems. Right now, you have an opportunity to see him perform with what he calls “probably the best band I’ve ever had” at one of Tampa’s most iconic intimate music venues, Skipper’s Smokehouse, on November 4th.
Hayes said, “It’s been a while since I’ve played Skipper’s. I think my first time down there was probably ’07 or something. I’ve played Tampa at least three times over the years, but it’s been quite a while. I’m really looking forward to it.”
For longtime Tampa music fans, Skipper’s Smokehouse needs no introduction, a laid-back, oak-shaded landmark that has hosted some of the best roots, blues, and Americana acts for decades. It’s the perfect setting for Carll’s brand of raw storytelling and plainspoken wisdom.
Carll’s been at this a long time. His first out-of-state tour dates back to 2002. “In my early days, when I was just getting going, we used to tour a lot harder, if not better,” he joked. “We’d go everywhere, whenever we could. I was doing 200-plus shows a year back then.”
These days, he’s learned the value of pacing himself. “We’ve been out three weeks,” he said of his current run. “We’re playing with Tyler Childers tomorrow in Ohio, and that’ll be the end of this run with the band. Three weeks is kind of the point where everybody starts to unravel a little bit,” he added with a laugh. “It’s good to get in the groove, but then you need to go home, recover, spend time with family and friends, and gear up to do it again.”
Hayes mentioned that harmony between home and the road has been a long time coming. “It’s hard to keep everything in place when you’re going all the time,” he said. “These days, it’s a better work-life balance. I can still get out there, still connect with people, but also make life and career work a little better.”
Hayes also spoke about recent shows with his side project Hayes and the Heathens, a collaboration that includes members of the acclaimed Austin band The Band of Heathens. “We’ve got a few shows with them, and then we throw our annual festival down in Lockhart, Texas, called Everybody’s Somebody Fest.”
In addition to Hayes and the Heathens, this year’s lineup also included James McMurtry, Jaime Wyatt, and Matt Tedder, among others. “We each do a little individual set, and then we come together at the end of the night and finish as the band,” Carll explained. “It’s a blast, just a bunch of friends getting together to play music.”
Carll also spoke warmly about opening for Tyler Childers, one of country music’s most respected artists. “It’s a really special thing,” he said. “I’m a fan of his music, but I’m more so an admirer of the man. As a performer, it’s pretty wild to stand in front of 20,000 people and play. It’s not always my most comfortable spot, I started off in small folk clubs, but it’s exhilarating.”
Carll has a remarkable new album out this year called We’re Only Human, so I wanted to learn a bit more about it. He told me that it was recorded in Austin, Texas, at the studio of Gordy Quist from The Band of Heathens. “He has a beautiful studio down there, and we had done our Hayes and Heathens record there. I just had such a good time working with him that it felt like the natural spot to create this record.”
“The message kind of stemmed from a lot of personal work I was doing,” he explained. “I was getting tired of having the same conversations with myself. I didn’t feel the level of peace that I wanted to have, I was just getting sick of it. So a lot of this was me trying to figure out ways to live easier, to have more grace for myself and others, to still my mind, and just get to a more solid spot.”
Unlike some of his earlier records, he said this one evolved more organically. “Usually I go in with most of the record done, but this time I started with a bunch of ideas, some finished, some not. Once we got the players assembled and caught the vibe we were looking for, it inspired me to keep writing and honing in on the message. I’d record something, then feel like I could do it better, take a few days to write more, and come back. So it stretched out over a couple months.”
The result of that constant refining is an album that’s both deeply personal to Hayes and also universally relatable. It’s hard not to walk away with some wisdom for your own life after listening to the album.
Two songs, “Progress of Man” and “Good People,” capture the record’s dual nature: one a sharp commentary on modern chaos, the other a gentle reminder of shared humanity.
“‘Progress of Man’ is probably my most judgmental or frustrated song on the record,” Carll said. “Most of the album’s about peace, healing, stillness, calm, and acceptance, but that one’s me just pushing back against the noise. Every time I pick up my phone or turn on the news, it’s like everyone’s shouting their opinions at me, making me feel guilty or wrong for not agreeing. It just gets overwhelming.”
He paused. “‘Good People’ is kind of the opposite of that. It’s about seeing the humanity in each other, finding what we have in common. We all have our disagreements, but I don’t think leading with conflict is the best path. If we start with our shared experience, the fact that we’re all just trying to make the most of our time here, that’s a much better place to begin.”
With a catalog that balances sharp satire, tender introspection, and classic American songwriting, Hayes Carll continues to be one of music’s most grounded and genuine voices, and with the help of his incredible band, the November 4th show at Skipper’s Smokehouse promises to be an amazing night full of stories, laughter, and, most importantly, connection with good people. Be sure to get your ticket and check out his latest album We’re Only Human, streaming everywhere.
Hayes Carll Live at Skipper’s Smokehouse
910 Skipper Road, Tampa, FL
Tuesday, November 4, 2025