“Take your art seriously, not yourself”
This is Tobacco Road’s philosophy for both crafting music and living life, and it shines beautifully on their latest track, “Let Me Down Easy.” Their music — and this song specifically — is full of a lighthearted youthfulness while showcasing an obvious passion for instrumentation and storytelling. Those qualities interlink to create art that represents Tobacco Road as a band, while also having a special ability to connect to listeners.
Based in East Nashville but with roots in North Carolina, Texas and Louisiana, Tobacco Road comes together to bring their spirited energy to southern rock, blues, indie-folk and even more genres to create their own distinct sound. Made up of friends Annabel Dwyer (lead vocals), cousins Hayden Robert (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Briggs McElwee (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), TJ Fink (bass, backing vocals) and Madi Schoninger (drums, backing vocals), Tobacco Road have proven their intuition for blending nostalgic influences with modern youth. This blend was brought to life in their 2025 debut EP, All in Time, where their songwriting revolving around the ever-evolving journey of your twenties is a joy both to listen to and to connect with, with “Let Me Down Easy” being an exciting continuation.
As soon as you press play, there’s a natural southern groove that starts from swaying your head to tapping your feet. It’s very fitting considering they just wrapped up their summer tour, aptly titled The Back in My Groove Tour. “Let Me Down Easy” is a track that feels like a band completely settled in their own rhythm. There’s a realness that flows through the vocals, while the song opens with a wall of harmonies that immediately make you stop whatever you’re doing:
“Hey, won’t you let me down easy / Too young, too dumb, too drunk / Too set in my ways to be out this much”
Photos via Sophie Ayers
There’s something refreshing about the way “Let Me Down Easy” swirls together southern twang, indie and country alternative without ever sounding like it’s trying to fit into the mold of its influences — it’s a scrapbook of musical and personal inspirations. Tobacco Road uses their inspirations to create something entirely their own, avoiding the trap of simply replicating what came before. Their music feels like a genuine reflection of who they are, balancing their fun-filled instrumentals with relatable, story-like lyricism.
In “Let Me Down Easy,” there’s a country-infused grittiness woven through, carried by the thump of the bass drum and a punchy, playful guitar solo. Underneath the easygoing musicality, there’s an authenticity that envelopes the track, setting you in the atmosphere of sitting around a campfire with your friends singing classic folk tunes. It’s warm and inviting, and the instruments themselves feel like characters in the free-loving, confessional story, animated and full of personality.
The stripped-back chorus near the end feels full despite the lack of instruments; the tambourine and bursting harmonies are all they need. The ending line, “I’m a buck turned loose / Just a man on the run,” sticks in your brain. The lasting drawl of “run” leaves the song with the carefree grin it carried from the very beginning.
As Tobacco Road continues to grow as artists and people, “Let Me Down Easy” is another piece of proof that their greatest strength as a band lies in making every listener feel like part of the friend group.
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