Die Midwestern

Coming out of the eclectic Cincinnati scene, Arlo McKinley has washed his songs in the blood of street soul, country, punk and gospel – and tattooed them onto the underground. Filled with an honest weight and gritty-hope from rustbelt city life, McKinley rolled downriver to Memphis’ Sun Studio where Grammy Award-winning producer Matt Ross-Spang gathered a working man’s all-star band to record his Oh Boy Records debut, “Die Midwestern.” McKinley’s 10 original songs bleed truth from a heart scarred by wild nights and redeemed by Sunday morning confessions. “She’s Always Around,” “Suicidal Saturday Night,” “Bag of Pills” and “Ghost” are all carved out in the key of life.

Impressing the legendary John Prine with your songwriting is a little bit like having Picasso say you're a pretty good artist.

If anything good comes out of John Prine having passed away earlier this year at the age of 73, it will be the elevated profile afforded the release of the debut solo album by Arlo McKinley, the last artist Prine signed to his Oh Boy records.