Sam Outlaw’s Tenderheart Proves He’s Just That

In the lead track from his sophomore album, Tenderheart, Sam Outlaw proves he’s precisely that: a sweetie, albeit one with a tough-guy name. That’s not to say the Outlaw appellation isn’t earned — it’s Sam’s mother’s maiden name, and there’s surely an independent streak to his career, which started at the late-breaking age of 31 with the release of his 2015 debut, Angeleno.

The video for “Everyone’s Looking For Home” was directed by Max Cutrone and Jordan Lovelis and features iPhone footage from Sam Outlaw, and it’s a testament to the conflicted nature of wandering. Alternating between tour footage and actual home videos of his wife and newborn child, it’s a moving three-minute distillation of his new life, with a mariachi breakdown to boot.

“This is essentially a song to myself,” Outlaw told The FADER. “A reflection of the life I’ve chosen and all the things I've had to ‘un-choose” along with it’ … It was difficult to leave home when it was just me and my wife, but now that I have a son it’s often unbearable to be away. So why do this shit? Because there’s that thing inside that says it’s what I’m supposed to do. Accepting that is only the first step, though — and the self-important "hero’s journey” crap only gets in the way of seeing what I’m supposed to see and learning what I’m supposed to learn.”

Tenderheart comes out April 14 via Six Shooter Records. Outlaw will be touring the country throughout the spring with the woman behind my favorite acoustic guitar song of the last year.

April 13 – Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic #
April 14 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge #
April 15 – Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s Tap Room #
April 17 – Washington DC @ Songbyrd #
April 18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle #
April 20 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge #
April 21 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott #
April 22 – Portland, ME @ Portland House of Music #
April 25 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
April 26 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark *
April 27 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement *
April 28 – Goshen, IN @ Ignition Garage *
April 29 – Evanston, IL @ SPACE *
May 1 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall *
May 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
May 4 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium *
May 5 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Icon Lounge *
May 6 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr. *
May 9 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room *
May 10 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Blue Door *
May 11 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s
May 12 – Austin, TX @ Cactus Café *
May 13 – Eden, TX @ The Green Apple Arts Center
May 16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
May 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room *
May 19 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
May 20 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
May 21 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
May 23 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir *
May 25 – San Francisco, CA The Chapel *
May 30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
May 31 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah *
June 1 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour *
June 2 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s *
June 3 – Bakersfield, CA @ B-Ryder’s *
Special Guests
# Dori Freeman
* Michaela Anne