Matt Hillyer is, rather simply, an artist. Few artists stick to a single, narrow path as they wander, viewing things in a more philosophically unique way than many non-artist types might. With the release of Hillyer’s debut solo album, the Lloyd Maines-produced If These Bones Could Talk in 2014, we get to see a new side to Hillyer’s country-gold vision. Hillyer as a solo artist is merely a fascinating, new chapter to a musical life that’s never been conventional and isn’t going to be anytime soon. Already known as the leader of the Dallas-based and beloved Honky-Tonk band Eleven Hundred Springs and the rockabilly-flavored Matt the Cat Trio, Hillyer has branched out to go on a musical vision quest and has come back with a sound that satisfies on all levels. Hillyer has found another gear of country storytelling that is only the beginning of a new era for him. In some ways, his solo album resembles the stone-cold country of Eleven Hundred Springs, but the new collection has increased the sonic value of everything he’s affiliated with, thanks to spreading his tattooed, whiskey-soaked wings a bit. Matt Hillyer has been known to have couples two-steppin’ in the snow, and MusicFesters laughing throughout the room with his charismatic delivery.