photos by Matt Simpson
“What outlaw country is to country, that’s what NINE POUND HAMMER are to punk rock. They have their own little niche, and they’ve never swayed. They’re authentic, and no one else sounds like them.” – Elwood Francis, ZZ Top
“Tonight I Let The Bottle Down” is the latest precursor of Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country, the hot-blooded new MLP from long-running Kentucky hard rockin’ cowpunk outfit NINE POUND HAMMER, nearing release next week on Reptilian Records.
NINE POUND HAMMER is in action again, bringing their classic cowpunk ragers and a handful of new country kickers to a couple of European fests and stateside audiences in time to coincide with their first new release in several years with this limited edition six-song picture disc. Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country delivers four new tracks penned by the twisted core duo of Scott Luallen and Blaine Cartwright (also of Nashville Pussy) as well as covers of “Black Rose” by Billy Joe Shaver, and “Lil Ol Wine Drinker Me” by Hank Mills and Dick Jennings, which has been recorded and performed by Dean Martin, Charlie Walker, Merle Haggard, Carl Smith, and many others.
Vocalist Scott Luallen declares, “We were sick and tired of the so-called outlaw music and wanted to call out the Jellyrollization of our beloved genre.”
Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country was recorded at Underground Studios, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Brian Pulito, produced by Brian Pulito and NINE POUND HAMMER, and completed with photography by Matt Simpson and art direction by Scott Luallen, Brittany Chapman, and Ashleigh Bills.
Regarding the new song, Luallen reveals, “This track is a heartfelt homage to the Waylon and Elvis era, lamenting a painful breakup with man’s best friend (the bottle).”
Stream NINE POUND HAMMER’s “Tonight I Let The Bottle Down” at Bandcamp HERE and other streaming points HERE.
Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country will be released digitally and on 10” vinyl picture disc on July 10th. Preorders can be placed at the Reptilian Records webshop HERE, the band’s shop HERE, and Bandcamp where the title track is streaming HERE, and digital presaves can be found HERE.
Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country Track Listing:
1. Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country
2. Burn The Whole World Down
3. Black Rose
4. Tonight I Let The Bottle Down
5. Out Of My League
6. Lil’ Ol’ Wine Drinker Me
This special country release will prime the pump for NINE POUND HAMMER’s upcoming shit-kicker rock LP coming in 2027.
In conjunction with the release of Too Outlaw For Outlaw Country, NINE POUND HAMMER will rip through the heartland of the US and the heart of Europe with several special shows. On July 3rd, they’ll play to a hometown audience in Lexington, Kentucky followed by shows in Norway and Holland on their way to play Sjock Festival in Belgium to perform alongside Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, L7, Cock Sparrer, and many more. Shows are also booked in Ohio and Michigan in October, with more live news to post.
NINE POUND HAMMER Live:
7/03/2026 Green Lantern – Lexington, KY
7/10/2026 Odal Rock Club – Austvatn, NO
7/11/2026 Vera Club – Groningen, NL
7/12/2026 Sjock Festival – Lille, BE
10/16/2026 Rt.33 Rhythm and Brews – Wapakoneta, OH
10/17/2026 Smalls – Detroit, MI
NINE POUND HAMMER:
The Sublime Mark Hendricks – bass, vocals
The Infamous Blaine Cartwright – guitar, vocals
The Fabulous Earl Crim – guitar
The Bombastic Josh Love – drums
The Stupendous Scott Luallen – vocals
Featuring:
The Legendary John Haywood – fiddle, banjo, vocals
The Iconic Ian Thomas – pedal steel
The Scintillating Sherri McGee – vocals
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