Goodnight Ladies and Gentlemen

It’s with a sad heart that we announce this uneasy news: Brian has decided to retire from the Bottle Rockets. Although he’s in good health, he’s been feeling the passage of time and has lost interest in anything that distracts from or takes him away from home. Unfortunately, this means the Bottle Rockets can’t continue as we know it. This is a difficult and emotional outcome for the band, and we share the sense of loss over this ending, but it can also be framed as an opportunity for new directions.

We appreciate our fans, many who have become dear friends over the years, and we thank you for the wonderful 28-year adventure. It was a thrill and we couldn’t have asked for better people to share it with! We sincerely couldn’t have done it without your loyal support — the music lives on through you.

Forever Grateful,
The Bottle Rockets

==========================

A message from Brian Henneman…

Well friends, it’s time. Time to say “so long” I’m givin’ it up. Packin’ it in. Retiring. I’m done. Been thinkin’ about it this entire time off. I’m more certain of it than anything I’ve ever been certain of before. I’m turning 60 this year. Including my time with Uncle Tupelo, I have been doing this recording/touring thing for 30 years. I don’t consider myself too old to do it anymore, but I do consider myself too old to want to.

Every musician has their own shelf life for doing what they do. Some go on into their 80’s, some quit in their 20’s and never look back. Ol’ Number 60, that’s me. 60 o’clock, that’s quittin’ time for this guy. Kickin’ off my travelin’ shoes and slippin’ on my house shoes. Home is where my passion lies these days. That excites me now the way the band used to.

I have no problem at all with the band. That’s not why I’m leaving. It’s all about where I’m at on the walk of life. I no longer want to travel, don’t really have any burning desire to write songs anymore either. I just want to be a good husband. A good neighbor. A responsible homeowner. A little dog’s daddy. A guitar repairman. A guitar player in my kitchen, and in some local country cover band whenever that scene comes back around. That’s how I want to spend the rest of my days. I want to be home for supper and home for bedtime. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. I want to experience a “normal life” just as badly now as I did NOT want to in my youth. While I’m still healthy enough to enjoy it. Before I get ancient and impaired. Things change. That’s life. I’m ready and eager for change. Being home for a solid year made me certain of it. I don’t want to miss ANYTHING here anymore.

Mark, John, and Keith all understand where I’m at. That’s such a relief. But they’re damn good guys. The best. Those guys have been the greatest partners a man could ever have. Dedication. Devotion. Turnin’ all the night time into the day. No tellin’ what’s next for them, but knowin’ them like I do, I’d say the sky’s the limit. They all have the musical skills to do anything. A truly “hot shit” band. And, unlike me, they still have the desire to get out there and do it. And they are ULTRA professionals. Keep an eye out for ’em. I wouldn’t be one bit surprised to see them show up in phenomenal places. I am rooting for them. Them’s my boys. My team. My life partners. Please support them. I know I will. They are the longest running members the band ever had for a reason. They’re the best on so many levels. I love them forever. Gotta salute Robert Kearns, Tom Parr, and Tom Ray too. All were members of the band I’m bidding farewell to. Everybody did a great job in their own time, in their own way. Everybody.

I gotta be honest, I’m not sad that this is really finally happening. It was bound to happen someday. What does make me kinda sad is that it’s already that day. WTF??? Where did that time go??? See? That’s my point. That’s what made me go through with this. Knowing how the time goes SO fast. I wanna get goin’ on this next phase, before it passes me by as fast as everything else did. I’ve finally reached an age where things get urgent. Available decades are gettin’ slim. Gotta find what you REALLY want and go for it. So I did.

I want to sincerely thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You all supported us for so long. I will never forget that, or take it lightly. I am forever humbled and grateful. It’s been fun, but now it’s done. Surprise ending, yes. But the band had a surprise beginning too, so it seems that’s just how we roll. Maybe the band’s not done at all. Who knows? I just know I won’t be in it. ‘Cause I’m done.

With a year off, and nothing on the books, this was the perfect intersection of time and timing. There would never be a time when leaving would disrupt less. That’s why I did it now. Didn’t wanna make a big deal outta my big deal. Wanted it to be as painless as possible.

So this is where the cowboy rides away. Goodnight now ladies and gentlemen. It’s the end of the show, now it’s time to go.

Maybe I’ll see ya at Home Depot or somethin’
Brian

# # #

March + April 2020 Tour Dates!

UPDATE: THESE SHOWS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED
Wash your hands, stay home, be safe.

3/26 : Decatur GA – Eddie’s Attic
3/27 : Athens GA – The Foundry
3/28 : Knoxville TN – The Concourse
3/29 : Akron OH – Musica
3/31 : Columbus OH – Skully’s
4/01 : Newport KY – Southgate House
4/02 : Champaign IL – City Center
4/03 : Columbia MO – The Blue Note

January 2020 Tour Dates!

Hello friends!
We’re loading up the van and heading to Miami to get on the Outlaw Country Cruise in a couple of weeks and we have a few shows happening on the way there. Hope you can join us at one of these…

Jan 21 : Columbus MS
Living Room Show – SOLD OUT

Jan 22 : New Orleans LA
Hi-Ho Lounge – with Robbie Fulks – SOLD OUT

Jan 23 : Baton Rouge LA
Red Dragon Listening Room – with Robbie Fulks – SOLD OUT

Jan 25 : Winter Haven FL
Gram Parsons Derry Down – with Robbie Fulks – SOLD OUT

Jan 26 : Gainesville FL
Living Room Show – SOLD OUT

Jan 29 – Feb 3 : Miami – Key West – Jamaica
Outlaw Country Cruise – SOLD OUT

Thanks for your continued support!
Brian, Mark, John & Keith

August & September 2019 Tour Dates!

 

We have a lot of cool shows coming up in August and September! Please join us!

August 8 : Madison WI @ McPike Park - INFO
August 9 : Washington MO @ Washington Town & Country Fair - TICKETS
August 10 : Kansas City MO @ Madrid Theatre - TICKETS #
August 11 : Springfield IL @ Boondocks - TICKETS #
August 16 : Urbana IL @ Rose Bowl Tavern - TICKETS ##
August 17 : Valparaiso IN @ Sunset Hill Farm County Park - TICKETS ###
August 27 : Rockford IL @ Anderson Japanese Gardens - FREE SHOW!
September 3 : Oklahoma City OK @ Tower Theatre - TICKETS
September 4 : Ft Worth TX @ The Post at River East - TICKETS
September 5 : Lubbock TX @ The Blue Light - TICKETS
September 6 : Roswell NM @ The Liberty - TICKETS

# with Old 97’s
## with Angie Heaton & The Fights
### with Los Lobos

Stay tuned for more dates to be announced! We’ll see you out there.

Thanks for your continued support!
Brian, Mark, John & Keith.

Summer 2019 Tour Dates

Hey Friends! We have a lot of fun shows coming up this summer. Come out and say “Hello!”

June 5 : Kennett Square PA
The Kennett Flash – TICKETS
with special guest Sarah Borges

June 6 : Troy NY
The Hangar on the Hudson – TICKETS
with special guest Sarah Borges

June 7 : Bellows Falls, VT
Roots On The River Festival – TICKETS
with Sarah Borges, James McMurtry & more!

June 8 : Bovina Center NY
Chico and Wendy’s Barn - TICKETS

June 20 : Ruston LA
Utility Brewing Company – TICKETS
with Monty Russell

June 21 : Beaumont TX
Alley Concerts at the Jefferson Theater – FREE SHOW!

June 22 : Baton Rouge LA
Bandito Fest at Galvez Plaza – TICKETS
with Old 97’s, Son Volt. Shooter Jennings & more!

June 23 : New Orleans LA
House of Blues New Orleans – TICKETS
with Old 97’s

July 6 : Lake View IA
Stone Pier Summer Concert Series – INFO

July 25 : Decatur, GA
Eddie’s Attic – TICKETS

July 26 : Charlotte NC
Neighborhood Theatre – TICKETS
with American Aquarium

July 27 : Norfolk VA
Virginia Arts Festival – TICKETS

August 3 : Beaver Dam KY
Country Boy Brewing Fest
at Beaver Dam Amphitheater – TICKETS
with The Band of Heathens & More!

August 8 : Madison WI
McPike Park – INFO

August 9 : Washington MO
Washington Town & Country Fair – TICKETS

August 17 : Valparaiso IN
Sunset Hill Farm County Park – TICKETS
with Los Lobos

August 27 : Rockford IL
Anderson Japanese Gardens – FREE SHOW!

Stay tuned for more dates to be announced! We’ll see you out there.

May Tour Dates in Texas and Oklahoma!

 

We’re super excited to be getting down to Texas and Oklahoma for a few shows in May. Please join us!

5/8 : Houston TX
House of Blues Houston – w/ Old 97’s

5/9 : Oklahoma City OK
The Jones Assembly – w/ Old 97’s

5/10 : Dallas TX
The Blue Light

5/11 : Austin TX
The Continental Club
* early show, starts at 7:30pm

5/11 : Fredericksburg TX
The Backyard Amphitheater
* CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

5/12 : San Antonio TX
Sam’s Burger Joint – w/ Old 97’s

Info and tickets

Bottle Rockets are going on the Outlaw Country Cruise!

 

We’re very excited to announce we’ll be performing on the Outlaw Country Cruise in 2020! For more information and pricing go to OutlawCountryCruise.com You don’t want to miss this! It’s “Bad Time to be an Outlaw” but a good time to go on an #OutlawCruise!

Lineup:
The Mavericks, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shooter Jennings, Son Volt, Elizabeth Cook, Waco Brothers, Carlene Carter, Kinky Friedman, Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, Jesse Dayton, BOTTLE ROCKETS, Robbie Fulks, Jim Lauderdale, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, NRBQ, The Long Ryders, Jason Ringenberg, Warner Hodges, The Yahoos, Jesse Malin, Sarah Borges, Rosie Flores, Deke Dickerson, The Mastersons, Jaime Wyatt, Sarah Gayle Meech, Waylon Payne, Paula Nelson Band, Folk Uke, Heybale!, Dallas Wayne, Roger Alan Wade, Mojo Nixon, and more to be announced..

Bottle Rockets “Bit Logic” 2019 Tour Dates!

We’re gearing up for our first batch of tour dates in 2019. Very excited to get back out on the road to play songs from our new album “Bit Logic” plus a bunch old favorites! Come out and celebrate with us.

Jan 25 : Springfield MO – Southbound Bar and Grill
Jan 26 : Tulsa OK – Mercury Lounge
Jan 27 : Norman OK – Living Room Show
Jan 29 : Tomball TX – Main Street Crossing
Jan 30 : Austin TX – 3Ten @ ACL Live
Jan 31 : Fort Worth TX – Magnolia Motor Lounge
Feb 1 : New Braunfels TX – Gruene Hall
Feb 2 : Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
Feb 28 : Sellersville PA – Sellersville Theater *
March 1 : Alexandria VA – The Birchmere Music Hall *
March 2 : Ashbury Park NJ – The Wonder Bar *
March 3 : Boston MA – City Winery *
March 5 : New York NY – City Winery *
March 6 : Old Saybrook CT – The Kate *
March 7 : Pawling NY – Daryl’s House Club *
March 8 : Roslyn NY – My Father’s Place *
March 9 : Roslyn NY – My Father’s Place *
* with Marshall Crenshaw

Info and ticket links here:
https://bottlerocketsmusic.com/tour-dates/