Ghost Hounds have been here before, on the heels of releasing an impassioned, well-crafted album that’s as technically brilliant as it is sonically astounding. But not quite like this. Not so intimate, not so in line with their truest form. A seven-piece country-rock ensemble, it was only a matter of time before the group was bubbling over with human emotion, reaching fiercely for a way to once again tie together their varying kinetic energies. As the name of their newest LP suggests, Ghost Hounds have been moving closer to this moment – to this place – for a while. It’s as if every project prior was a vital steppingstone on their journey homeward. Aptly, Almost Home presents like a lush ecosystem furnished abundantly with surging heat and cool resolve, the two coalescing in a chemical reaction akin to pastoral lightning. While the high-octane track “You’ll Never Find Me” sears deftly into the soul with its smoldering vocals and darkly evocative tone, gentler numbers like “Before You Leave” featuring Lainey Wilson conjure the dormant yet everpresent pain of ephemerality. The album concludes with “Long Ride Home” featuring Patty Griffin – a rhythmic, galloping retrospective that glides forward on its flawless harmony — but this end is merely the beginning for a band with so much still in store. As they continue their journey, Ghost Hounds stopped to talk with SPIN about the many paths already paved and the fresh ones to come.
SPIN: How does Almost Home differ from anything you’ve done before?
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SAVNT (vocals): This is the first album I’ve been part of creating, so I have a different perspective on it. With Almost Home, it feels like we’ve tapped into a super emotional space. The previous albums were more in-your-face rock n’ roll.
Tyler (lead guitar): I echo that. This album covers a lot more subject matter than the others and is a little more vulnerable. It’s also more musically dynamic. There’s more acoustic spread; more slide guitar; more Kristin Weber, our unbelievable fiddle player; and the band and lyrics are more matched-up in a way that I’m really proud of.
SPIN: What’s the common thread that runs through all the tracks and unites them to ultimately create Almost Home?
SAVNT: I tend to describe the album as the tale of a relationship from beginning to end. It’s an emotional soundscape. From “She Runs Hot” where we’re meeting this beautiful girl, to building a home with this person to watching the dismantling of that relationship and even a song like “Past the Point of Rescue” where we’re questioning, like, is this really the end? It’s very reflective.
Tyler: The word “scrapbook” comes to mind when I think of this album. There are periods of moving on, reflection, and this idea that even when certain parts of your life die they’re still with you. This album has hope strewn throughout everything; it’s never completely dismal. That’s to say, “almost home” can feel like, “damn, we’re never gonna get there,” but it can also be a joyous thing, and I think at different points in each song, you feel both hope and despair.
SPIN: Which track was the most difficult to complete or presented the most problems along the way?
SAVNT: For me, it was “Broken Roses.” On the first recording, I was just focused on getting the track pitch perfect. But when Thomas (guitar, primary songwriter) initially wrote the song, he intended for it to be full of [intensity], so I had to go back and focus on what the words were really saying to deliver that emotion.
Tyler: Mine is a tie. “Before You Leave” and “House a Home.” The first one, it was the overall production and just going back and forth trying to figure out how delicate the song was. And with [the latter], it was about defining the characters. It took a minute to blend those two songs into the mix, but once they settled, it was like “Okay, there it is, this is good.”
SPIN: Favorite track?
SAVNT: “Before You Leave,” because I love the story on that one and just being able to play with Lainey Wilson in the studio. And “You’ll Never Find Me” because that was the moment when I truly felt the magic of being in this band, even after all we’ve achieved together.
Tyler: “Broken Roses.” That song, to me, defines the eb and flow between Thomas and I. We really found our yin and yang in that track, and the tones we achieved defined what was to come on the rest of the record. It marked a pivotal point for me.
SPIN: You’ve toured with a number of rock legends – GnR, Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Bob Seger – and have two heavy-hitting country/folk collaborations on this new album (Lainey Wilson, Patty Griffin). Who are some other dream collaborations?
SAVNT: I want to do a song with Chris Stapleton so bad. I think he’s one of the greatest soul artists we have right now. I mean, of course he’s country, but he’s also definitely soul.
Tyler: I wanna collaborate with Joey Landreth and/or the Brothers Landreth. Joey is probably the best living slide player right now, and his vocals are like a mix of Michael McDonald and old Black soul.
SPIN: With a band the size of a small basketball team, what does everyone contribute beyond their musicality?
SAVNT: Tyler helps keep us all organized and informed, which I love. Then we have Kristin who is kind of, like, the jokester of the group, she’s always got a sarcastic remark that keeps us on our toes. When you get Tyler and Kristin together, it’s a wrap. But Kristin is also, like, the heart of the band – she just kind of gets everyone. Then there’s, Uncle Joe…
Tyler: Joe (keys) to me is cool and collected. If I need a definitive opinion on something that I’m in the weeds with musically, Joe is just never wrong. Bennett is our wildcard, definitely a wildcard (bass). When I think of Sydney (drums), I think dedication – that dude never complains, he’s just there with a smile, ready to rock. Thomas is intentionality; he knows the most simplistic way to achieve the most meaning. SAVNT is warmth, undeniable warmth. Whatever day I’m having, he’s there with a hug & smile and you just know everything’s gonna be okay.
SPIN: Of course you hope the record performs well, but beyond that, what’s the goal with this LP?
SAVNT: I want this band to get awards. I want us to be validated in that way by the fans who truly love us.
Tyler: To gain new fans, to play shows, and to meet other artists that dig it.
SPIN: What’s next surrounding this album and in general?
SAVNT: We have a new blues record coming out that’s just awaiting a few finishing touches, so that’s really exciting.
Tyler: Yes, and Ghost Hounds and Gibson Records are teamed up with the Lawrence Brothers and Supercross, so for the rest of the year we’ll be rolling out that very exciting collaboration. You’ll be seeing us at the races, on the television, with our name on trucks rolling down the highway, and debuting a new version of “Last Train to Nowhere” — the Supercross cut. Word is we’ll also be doing some work with St. Jude’s, putting on shows and giving back to those that have given to us; that’s what our 2025 is all about.
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