30 August 2024

Irish alt-country artist Podge Lane is back with his third full-length album, ‘Multiple Dead Ends’, released today. Known for carving out a unique niche in the alt-country scene with his brash and unapologetic sound, Lane’s latest project pushes boundaries, blending electric guitar riffs and chaotic soundscapes that question life’s big moments. After making waves with his 2023 album, ‘Common Country Misconceptions’, Lane returns with ‘Multiple Dead Ends’, a 12-track exploration of self-doubt, anxiety, and the fear of ageing. The album asks, “What have I done with the time I’ve got?” and offers no easy answers. In the past year alone, Lane has kept busy, releasing winter-themed singles ‘Snow’ and ‘Hailstone’ and embarking on a non-stop tour across Ireland and the UK. His performances included headlining iconic venues like Camden’s Green Note and sharing the stage with acclaimed acts such as The Wedding Present, The Riptide Movement, Vieux Farka Touré, and Rachael Sage. Reflecting on his latest album, Lane says, “I always planned to tell my first two albums’ stories the way I did—my past and my present—and to end the trilogy with this one, my future. As someone who used to go into my parents’ room at five or six because I was afraid of turning 40, the future can be scary. So, I tried to detail my feelings of this fear of ageing through a winding narrative that never really ends, because I guess there is no end.” Throughout ‘Multiple Dead Ends’, Lane confronts his long-standing anxieties with a bold mix of sounds. Tracks like ‘My House’ and ‘Left Foot Right Foot (Panic)’ channel a playful, Harry Nilsson-esque approach, while ‘Phobophobia’ offers panicked harmonica solos and blues slides reminiscent of The White Stripes. Lane also shows a softer side in ‘The Little Things’, a vulnerable piano ballad that lays his emotions bare. Lane has been praised for blending everyday life-induced anxiety with light-hearted, witty lyrics, drawing comparisons to musical greats like John Prine and Jimmy Buffett. His latest album promises to challenge his usual deflective humour, revealing a raw and unfiltered look at his inner world. Seeking answers to the questions that never end, Podge Lane’s ‘Multiple Dead Ends’ breaks his sound apart and boldly asks, “What is going to happen now?” The album will be launched on 28th August at Little Whelan’s, Dublin, with more dates to be announced soon.   To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com