Chris Wall

Unlike countless pretenders who don a Stetson in hopes of passing for country performers, Chris Wall stands out as a genuine songwriter steeped in the world of honky tonks and genre conventions. His work shifts between witty tracks such as “Something to Shoot” from Honky Tonk Heart and warmly engaging narratives that reveal a deep personal investment in that lifestyle. Born in Newport Beach, CA, he is the son of a singer who collaborated with the Sons of the Pioneers’ Bob Nolan. Time spent on his uncle’s cattle ranch further deepened his attachment to rural surroundings over his coastal upbringing. Relocating later to Montana, he began composing country songs and, in 1987, crossed paths with Guy Clark. After exchanging material, Clark steered the emerging artist toward Jerry Jeff Walker, who attended one of Wall’s performances in Jackson Hole, WY. Impressed, Walker arranged for Wall to join recording sessions in Austin in 1988. Following those initial dates, Wall settled in the city and issued his first tape in mid-1989. Rykodisc took notice of the back-to-basics country guitarist after hearing the recording and observing his opening sets for Walker, leading to the 1990 release of the remixed and remastered Honky Tonk Heart. No Sweat followed the next year, with Tainted Angel appearing in 1998 after an extended break.