Willi Carlisle’s Universal Bubba: a Tyler Childers–produced double album moves forward with momentum, and a playful new single arrives with a video to match. After debuting the throwback folk motion “Mason Jar At The Center Of The World” and the barroom drive “Marlboro Vinyassa,” Carlisle has now shared another fresh track that comes with a wildly entertaining video.
Gas Station presents itself as a Southern-fried road trip anthem about survive-on-the-road meals sourced from the local gas station. Musically it already earns its keep, but the release is elevated by a video in which Carlisle and a troupe of Muppet-inspired puppets roll up to a gas station to nosh on hot dogs for dinner. The result is a light, exuberant romp that culminates in a high-spirited burst of energy.
Carlisle offered vivid notes about crafting “Gas Station” with Childers and co-producer Kenny Miles: When we started tracking, the song felt like a sturdy draft, something that could be proofed or set aside like dough in a fridge. Still, I connected with it—it’s essentially my life in a tune: all this effort, hauling, pounding the highway, singing for hours, just to have dinner at the gas station. We were deep into two weeks of sessions before we reached this track, and I kept wondering if we would cut it. Then Tyler walked into the room, wild-eyed, guitar in hand, barefoot, a touch worn down. He had a notion, and he shifted my fairly simple blues progression into a feel that was sharper, more direct. It became more honest. We stood up, sang, tweaked lines here and there, and debated. We cut a take with the drummer, gathered around with pen, paper, and instruments, and Tyler proposed replacing “good old days” with “goodle days.” Kenny kept nodding, correcting missteps. We kept shaping verses, deciding that my chorus still worked. Suddenly it hit me—this was a cowrite. Yet the red light was on and the tape was rolling. We were writing and recording in tandem. It felt wildly free. In the end, it seemed natural that both of us would sing it, so we doubled the choruses.
Tyler’s quip at the top captures the energy we tapped into—a spirit of “knife fight at apple day” that seems to mirror the whole record. The project is meant to feel like the glow of a Civil War reenactment after a night of heavy drinking, a late-night search for romance at a cattle auction, the surreal rush of a square dance after dropping acid. Yes, Childers’ voice is present alongside Carlisle, and yes, one of the puppets is styled to resemble Childers himself. The clip was directed by Mike Vanata, and you can watch it below.
The Universal Bubba is scheduled for release on November 6 through Signature Sounds. Pre-order is available here.
