Casey Donahew’s new album All Night Party, out this past Friday, is a sonic exploration of possibilities. From the beer-raising “Feels This Right” and Kip Moore co-write “College Years” to the island-grooving “That Got The Girl” to the songs of the rodeo, All Night Party offers a distinct series of grooves. “White Trash Bay” harkens to his success with songs like “Double-Wide Dream,” while “Kiss Me” is banjo-infused and highly danceable. “There’s always cowboy songs on every record,” Donahew says.
“I’ve always liked to do a broad range of songs on all our records,” the Texan continues. “I don’t think any of our records have a similar sound from start to finish. I write songs and sometimes some of them go together and some don’t. I’m always looking for what speaks to me, what means something to me. I love the storytelling, and I still love to rock and roll, still love party songs, fun songs, try to do a little bit of everything.”
The result is a record that both flows easily from start to finish and has an offering for every mood. “Josie Escalido,” a standout on the album, paints a narrative over mariachi stylings. Donahew wrote all but two on the record. “Most of my songwriting takes place on the bus with the guys in the band,” he says. “I don’t finish stuff I don’t love.” For All Night Party, selecting songs was driven by the songs that had stood the test from the first note.
“I write songs that I like and if I find myself singing along when I’m working on it then that’s what we record,” Donahew says. “So far we’ve got fans that have the same taste in music as us.”
For over 13 years, it’s been a taste that fans have continued to share; Texas native’s fan base is one that is growing rapidly, filling rooms across the nation. His is a particularly loyal fanbase, due in part to his dedication to connect with each and every one: Donahew and his band have spent as much as 10 hours straight meeting fans.
“We just focus on putting together a show that people want to come back and see,” Donahew says of his live show. “I think it’s just an art that I was drawn to as a fan when I was listening to music – [growing up] I was a big Elvis fan, a big Garth fan, a big Pat Green fan. Those guys that could get onstage and just draw you in and make you feel like you were part of the show is something I’ve always aspired to.”
Listen below and grab All Night Party on iTunes.