You probably know the vibe. You’re driving down a backroad, or maybe just sitting in your living room feeling a bit restless, and that heavy, swampy guitar riff starts thumping. Then the horns kick in. Not like a high school marching band, but like a soulful, grit-covered explosion. That’s the opening of Whiskey Myers John Wayne, a track that basically redefined what Southern rock could sound like in the 2020s.
Honestly, it caught a lot of people off guard. Before the Tornillo album dropped in 2022, Whiskey Myers was already the king of the "Red Dirt" scene, but this was different. It wasn’t just a country song. It was a manifesto.
What is Whiskey Myers John Wayne actually about?
Most people hear the title and think of the "Duke." They expect a song about horses, cowboys, and black-and-white westerns. But Cody Cannon—the band's frontman and the guy who wrote the lyrics alongside Jamey Gleaves and Tony Kent—isn't usually that literal.
The song is more about an internal state of mind. It’s about survival. It’s about that feeling of being "locked up all by myself" and watching the world "go up in flames" while you just sit in the shade and let the beat roll on. There is a raw, unapologetic independence in the lyrics. It’s about not needing anyone else’s permission to exist or to grow your own way.
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Some fans have debated whether there’s a political undercurrent, but if you listen to Cody Cannon talk, he’s pretty clear that he’s just a musician, not a preacher. He writes what he feels. In Whiskey Myers John Wayne, what he feels is a sense of unabashed confidence despite a "tumultuous past." It’s that "fake it until it’s true" kind of grit. You put on the armor. You act like the hero of your own movie, even when the world around you looks like a wreck.
The Sonic Ranch and the "Tornillo" Sound
To understand the song, you have to understand where it was born. The band recorded the album at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. It's this massive studio complex right on the border, surrounded by pecan orchards and a whole lot of nothing.
The environment bled into the music.
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They decided to add a brass section. They brought in the McCrary Sisters for those haunting, gospel-infused background vocals. The result? A "Spaghetti Western" soul-rock hybrid. It’s heavy. It’s groovy. It’s got a wah-wah guitar solo that feels like it was ripped straight out of a 1970s heist movie.
That Danny Trejo Music Video (Yes, Really)
If the song is a trip, the music video is a full-blown cinematic fever dream. Directed by Nayip Ramos, it features none other than the legendary Danny Trejo.
It’s basically a Spaghetti Space Western.
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The band members are deputized as space-cowboy bounty hunters sent to bring Trejo to justice. You’ve got laser guns, an old Mexican church, and Trejo looking as intimidating as ever while eating a taco. It shouldn’t work. On paper, "Southern rock band chases Machete through space" sounds like a bad B-movie plot. But because Whiskey Myers never takes themselves too seriously—while taking the music very seriously—it’s a masterpiece of the genre.
Key Facts About the Track
- Release Date: February 18, 2022 (as a lead single).
- Album: Tornillo (Released July 29, 2022).
- Writers: Cody Cannon, Jamey Gleaves, Tony Kent.
- Chart Success: It was the No. 17 most-played Americana song of 2022.
Why the song still hits in 2026
It’s been a few years since Tornillo came out, and the band has even released a newer project since then (Whomp Whack Thunder in 2025). Yet, Whiskey Myers John Wayne remains a staple of their live sets. I saw them play it at Stagecoach not long ago, and the energy was insane.
The song represents a shift. It’s when Whiskey Myers stopped being "that band from Yellowstone" and became a group that could headline stadiums on their own terms. They aren't trying to fit into a Nashville box. They aren't trying to be pure Texas country. They’re just... Whiskey Myers.
When you hear those first few notes, you know exactly who it is. That’s the mark of a classic.
How to get the most out of this track today:
- Listen to the transition: Play the 47-second instrumental track "Tornillo" first. It’s designed to bleed directly into "John Wayne," and the transition is one of the coolest moments in modern rock production.
- Watch the live version: Check out their 2025 live performances. The way they’ve integrated the brass section into their touring act brings a whole new layer of "big band" energy to the grit.
- Check the credits: Look into the work of the McCrary Sisters. Their contribution to the "John Wayne" chorus is what gives the song its spiritual, "world-on-fire" weight.