

EVAN HONER
Season 3 Episode 4 | 24m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
Troubadour Evan Honer’s catalogue is growing fast, and his fan base even faster.
West Coast troubadour Evan Honer is influenced by esteemed artists like Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and Colter Wall. He's become a prolific songwriter, masterfully crafting captivating stripped down songs with clever lyrics that have won over modern outlaw country, indie-folk and pop fans across the country. Honer’s catalogue is growing fast, and his fan base even faster.
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EVAN HONER
Season 3 Episode 4 | 24m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
West Coast troubadour Evan Honer is influenced by esteemed artists like Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and Colter Wall. He's become a prolific songwriter, masterfully crafting captivating stripped down songs with clever lyrics that have won over modern outlaw country, indie-folk and pop fans across the country. Honer’s catalogue is growing fast, and his fan base even faster.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- Hidden deep beneath the Cumberland Mountains in Grundy County, Tennessee lies one of the world's most magical musical adventures, "The Caverns Sessions."
Three million years in the making, pure acoustics offer music from the heart of the American experience, center stage and deep inside the mountain, this time welcoming Evan Honer.
♪ To bail out ♪ ♪ How'd I let this happen...♪ - It's deep down sound in The Caverns.
Coming up next!
(applauding and cheering) (gentle upbeat music) (gentle upbeat music) ♪ Well, I've been wondering when you'll call my phone ♪ ♪ Wondering when you'll come back home ♪ ♪ Wondering if this last goodbye ♪ ♪ Is really our last ♪ ♪ 'Cause I noticed that the pictures ♪ ♪ on your wall were gone ♪ ♪ I noticed 'cause I ended it with someone too ♪ ♪ I know we both know what we're doing is wrong ♪ ♪ But tonight I know you'll end up in my room ♪ ♪ I can't lie, you're all I see and it's the death of me ♪ ♪ Maybe not, but you surely murdered all my attempts ♪ ♪ At the chance of giving somebody all of me ♪ ♪ But what do I expect ♪ ♪ Am I a fool for running back to you each night ♪ ♪ Are we foolin' ourselves ♪ ♪ We do this every single time ♪ ♪ All I want to do is get to moving along ♪ ♪ But you put me in a bind and I'm keeping it on ♪ (gentle upbeat music) (gentle upbeat music) ♪ Well, I figure you find comfort ♪ ♪ and happiness in knowing ♪ ♪ That I'm dependent on you but I'll never admit it ♪ ♪ I'm gonna lie and tell you ♪ ♪ that I'm doing better than I'm showing ♪ ♪ 'Cause that's a conversation that I'll never revisit ♪ ♪ Well, the thing is that I tried it ♪ ♪ Going out on every Friday ♪ ♪ Trying to recreate a feeling to get me half excited ♪ ♪ As lying through my teeth telling you while we sleep ♪ ♪ That this is the last time ♪ ♪ I can't help it, I'm an addict run to you when I'm low ♪ ♪ I can't help myself but reminisce on all of the nights ♪ ♪ When we talk about how our future wedding would go ♪ ♪ I never thought we'd end up like this ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Does that make me a fool ♪ ♪ For running back to you each night ♪ ♪ Are we foolin' ourselves ♪ ♪ We do this every single time ♪ ♪ All I want to do is get to moving along ♪ ♪ But you put me in a bind and I'm keeping it on ♪ (gentle upbeat music) (gentle upbeat music) (applauding and cheering) - How are you doing, Tennessee?
(applauding and cheering) This is definitely the coolest place I've ever played.
My name's Evan Honer.
I'm gonna sing a really sad song now.
(gentle country music) ♪ She's livin' alone ♪ ♪ But there hasn't been a night that she spent sober ♪ ♪ Or told her friends to come back over ♪ ♪ A third year but rather drop out ♪ ♪ Never wanted much of nothin' ♪ ♪ Just a reason why her folks say she ain't enough and ♪ ♪ A calculated tragedy that makes it somewhat clear to see ♪ ♪ That she livin' in someone else's dream ♪ ♪ And walkin' down Mill Avenue in the dead of night ♪ ♪ Still so confused why she's even there ♪ ♪ Mentally exhausted ♪ ♪ She don't recognize herself yet ♪ ♪ And it's getting too much to bear ♪ ♪ But it's hard to tell by looking at her ♪ ♪ She seems so well put together ♪ ♪ You'd never know ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ She can't recall ♪ ♪ The last time that she spoke to both her parents ♪ ♪ And then called but no one answers ♪ ♪ So scared of disappointment ♪ ♪ Seeks approval to feel important ♪ ♪ And it kills her ♪ ♪ And she knows it ♪ ♪ And stumbling through a town she hates ♪ ♪ With the guy that she forgot his name ♪ ♪ But he doesn't mind ♪ ♪ 'Cause he only sees what she portrays ♪ ♪ And she's never known a man to stay ♪ ♪ After pulling back the blinds ♪ ♪ But it's hard to tell by looking at her ♪ ♪ She seems so well put together ♪ ♪ You'd never know ♪ ♪ You'd never know she keeps a bottle by her bed ♪ ♪ Past three nights she hasn't slept ♪ ♪ She lost fifteen pounds this week ♪ ♪ And you'd never know she's still torn up ♪ ♪ About her dad cheating on her mom ♪ ♪ And asked if she wouldn't say a thing ♪ ♪ And you'd never know she's been fakin' every smile ♪ ♪ Hasn't felt in quite a while ♪ ♪ And she's close to giving up ♪ ♪ But it's hard to tell by looking at her ♪ ♪ She seems so well put together ♪ ♪ You'd never know ♪ ♪ You'd never know ♪ (gentle country music) (applauding and cheering) - Thank you.
I'm gonna play a song that means a whole lot to me.
(gently plays guitar) I wrote it for my grandpa.
(gently plays guitar) Um, after unfortunately his wife passed away and after seeing him interact and do just normal things, it felt like a part of him was lost and it felt like he was kind of just waiting till he could see her again.
Um, and I wrote the song about that, losing your soulmate, outliving your soulmate.
It's called "Mr.
Meyers."
(gentle country music) ♪ I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ How are you ♪ ♪ I drive a gray Oldsmobile ♪ ♪ They discontinued those in 2002 ♪ ♪ But I still like the way it feels ♪ ♪ I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ What's your name ♪ ♪ I'll be 65 next month ♪ ♪ I don't have many friends ♪ ♪ Except my buddy, James ♪ ♪ And I only met him once ♪ ♪ I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ How are things ♪ ♪ I like my coffee just plain ♪ ♪ And I'll eat at our old diner every other week ♪ ♪ But it never feels the same ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ Well, since the world took you away from me ♪ ♪ I've been countin' down the days ♪ ♪ I think my doctor is a liar ♪ ♪ I've got something ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I ever feel is pain ♪ ♪ I couldn't fathom life without you ♪ ♪ Now I'm livin' it... ♪ ♪ And it's worse than I thought ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ And I'm a wreck ♪ ♪ I don't go on walks anymore ♪ ♪ And I find it difficult ♪ ♪ Just gettin' out of bed ♪ ♪ And it's not 'cause I'm 64 ♪ ♪ Well, I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ And I'm alone ♪ ♪ My only person left me too soon ♪ ♪ And you were the reason why ♪ ♪ This place felt like home ♪ ♪ Now they're meaningless rooms ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ Well, since the world took you away from me ♪ ♪ I've been countin' down the days ♪ ♪ I think my doctor is a liar ♪ ♪ I've got something ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I ever feel is pain ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ I couldn't fathom life without you ♪ ♪ Now I'm livin' it... ♪ ♪ And it's worse than I thought ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ I'm Mr. Meyers ♪ ♪ How are you ♪ (gentle country music) (applauding and cheering) - Thank you.
- Um, I wrote this for my brother.
He's the nicest person you'll ever meet.
You meet him once for five minutes, he'll remember your name.
He'll randomly call you, and whenever, and say, "Hey, it's compliment day," and give you compliments.
And he deals with schizoaffective, which is schizophrenia and bipolar combined.
And I really, I don't understand it, so I wrote that.
I wrote the song about it.
(gentle country music) (gentle country music) ♪ I'll lock myself inside your head ♪ ♪ Try to understand what you felt ♪ ♪ When you were tied down to the table ♪ ♪ And your eyes filled up with anger ♪ ♪ And you couldn't speak ♪ ♪ On some meds I can't pronounce ♪ ♪ And all the evil you denounced ♪ ♪ But wouldn't leave ♪ (gentle country music) ♪ Well, I can't walk a mile in your shoes ♪ ♪ But there ain't a goddamn thing I wouldn't do ♪ ♪ To take a portion of your pain ♪ ♪ And break off all the bounding chains so you can stand ♪ ♪ Taller than you've ever have ♪ ♪ And feel the weight fall off your back and hands ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't see what you see ♪ ♪ And it kills me not to know ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't feel what you feel ♪ ♪ But it's eating at your bones ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't see what you see ♪ ♪ And it kills me not to know ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't feel what you feel ♪ ♪ But it's eating at your bones ♪ (gentle country music) (gentle country music) ♪ Well, it was 18 years till it showed up ♪ ♪ Held an arrow to your mind and throat ♪ ♪ And the people all around you ♪ ♪ The ones you gave your all to didn't understand ♪ ♪ But it's crazy that you kept the faith ♪ ♪ 'Cause surely that would bend or break any man ♪ ♪ Brother, I don't see what you see ♪ ♪ And it kills me not to know ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't feel what you feel ♪ ♪ But it's eating at your bones ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't see what you see ♪ ♪ And it kills me not to know ♪ ♪ Oh, brother, I don't feel what you feel ♪ ♪ But it's eating at your bones ♪ (gentle country music) (gentle country music) (applauding and cheering) - Thank you.
(applauding and cheering) - The band's back.
Give it up for the band.
(applauding and cheering) This is like a punk rock song that I wrote, and it goes like this, one, two, three, four!
(upbeat rock music) ♪ This is gonna help you ♪ ♪ You've got nothing to lose ♪ ♪ What's one night strung out on the carpet ♪ ♪ Unable to move ♪ ♪ Close your eyes, dispel your doubts now ♪ ♪ A way to fill the void ♪ ♪ Drink it up until you drown out ♪ ♪ All of the piercing noise ♪ (upbeat rock music) ♪ Wake up, come down ♪ ♪ I don't like the way that I am ♪ ♪ I'm too high to bail out ♪ ♪ How'd I let this happen again ♪ (upbeat rock music) ♪ This is gonna help you ♪ ♪ A change is 'round the bend ♪ ♪ But what the hell ♪ ♪ Why don't you make it where the night won't end ♪ ♪ What's one more ♪ ♪ Soon you won't realize the pain you felt before ♪ ♪ Numb the doubt until the morning ♪ ♪ Your pride's already on the floor ♪ ♪ So you wake up, come down ♪ ♪ I don't like the way that I am ♪ ♪ I'm too high to bail out ♪ ♪ How'd I let this happen again... ♪ (upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) ♪ Wake up, come down ♪ ♪ I don't like the way that I am ♪ ♪ I'm too high to bail out ♪ ♪ How'd I let this happen again... ♪ (upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) (applauding and cheering) - Thank you guys so much.
I got one more song for you guys.
Thank you for making this experience so much better.
You guys are so cool and awesome.
I wanna be friends with all of you guys.
This song is about throwing up on the sidewalk.
(audience cheering) Yup.
(gentle country music) (gentle country music) ♪ I'm throwing up on the sidewalk ♪ ♪ It's 2:00 AM, everybody left ♪ ♪ I just embarrassed myself for an hour ♪ ♪ Now I'm sitting in a neighborhood ♪ ♪ I don't even recognize ♪ ♪ I didn't even want to go out ♪ ♪ I kind of thought it would help just a little ♪ ♪ But I'm lying to myself ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know in a week's time I won't try to realize ♪ ♪ This ain't no way to live ♪ ♪ So why does everybody brag about it ♪ ♪ I guess it easier to fill yourself with poison ♪ ♪ While your holding on to moments you can glorify ♪ ♪ And I've been stuck for awhile now ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been saying this for three damn years ♪ ♪ Am I ever gonna change ♪ ♪ Will I make it out alive ♪ ♪ Or will I crumble, will I fall ♪ ♪ Will anybody care at all ♪ ♪ Am destined to be damaged ♪ ♪ Am I too far gone ♪ ♪ Believe me when I say ♪ ♪ It ain't fair to feel this way ♪ ♪ But I'll poison myself till I'm too far gone ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ I'm driving home when I shouldn't ♪ ♪ I didn't even remember the drive ♪ ♪ How could I be so selfish ♪ ♪ Every time that I feel helpless ♪ ♪ I crossed through every single line ♪ ♪ I'm not convinced that I'm living ♪ ♪ 'Cause if I was, I'd be able to feel something ♪ ♪ Maybe it's a part of me ♪ ♪ And maybe it's just hard to see ♪ ♪ What everyone else can find ♪ ♪ It's gotta be a reason ♪ ♪ This lifestyle ain't meant for dreamers ♪ ♪ But they'll tell you it's okay to waste your 20s away ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're only young for a moment ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ And I've been stuck for a while now ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been saying this for three damn years ♪ ♪ Am I ever gonna change ♪ ♪ Will I make it out alive ♪ ♪ Will I crumble, will I fall ♪ ♪ Will anybody care at all ♪ ♪ Am I destined to be damaged ♪ ♪ Am I too far gone ♪ ♪ Believe me when I say ♪ ♪ It ain't fair to feel this way ♪ ♪ But I'll poison myself till I'm too far gone ♪ ♪ And how long will it take ♪ ♪ Till I'm beaten down, bruised and break ♪ ♪ Still you can find me in the evening ♪ ♪ I'll be too far gone ♪ (upbeat country music) (upbeat country music) ♪ Yeah, I'm too far gone... ♪ - Thank you, Tennessee.
You guys are incredible.
This is so cool.
Thank you guys so much.
We'll see you next time.
(applauding and cheering) ♪ ♪
EVAN HONER performs 'Wake Up, Come Down'
Video has Closed Captions
EVAN HONER performs 'Wake Up, Come Down.' (3m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
Troubadour Evan Honer’s catalogue is growing fast, and his fan base even faster. (30s)
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