Nashville songwriter Jonny Fritz’s work ethic and boldness have paid off in spades. It’s been a big year for Jonny with opening stints for Alabama Shakes, Deer Tick, Dawes, Shooter Jennings and kudos from CMT and Rolling Stone, among many others. He signed his deal this week (he actually signed the deal with gravy at Nashville landmark Arnold’s Country Kitchen), and his third full-length album, Dad Country, is set for release on April 16, 2013. He’s released the first single from the album, “Ain’t It Your Birthday” at Paste Magazine; it’s available for download bel0w.

Produced by Jonny and Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, recorded at Jackson Browne’s Los Angeles studio and finished up in Music City, USA; this breakthrough album balances Jonny’s trademark earthy humor and unfiltered worldview with some of his darkest material to date. Co-producer Goldsmith says, “Funny as they can be at moments, his songs access realities and experiences that we’re all familiar with but sometimes fail to consider the depths of.”

While immersing himself in the music world, Jonny began running marathons from Philadelphia to Barcelona and pounding out his signature leather works — the dog collars and guitar straps — seen all over Nashville and half the musical universe. He found himself in NYC for year trying to save a relationship, and its slow, painful unraveling (and demise) inspired Dad Country’s bleakest, heartrending tracks, including “All We Do Is Complain” and “Have You Ever Wanted to Die.”

These days, life has never been better for Jonny Fritz. He’s back in Nashville again and putting down roots- and has even gone and bought himself a house. “It just keeps getting better. Now, the band is getting paid, I’m getting paid, everybody’s happy, and we’re packing ’em in when we play.”

“This is the dream life. I couldn’t really ask for anything else.”

Track Listing

1. Goodbye Summer
2. All We Do Is Complain
3. Holy Water
4. Social Climbers
5. Ain’t It Your Birthday
6. Shut Up
7. Wrong Crowd
8. Have You Ever Wanted to Die
9. Fever Dreams
10. Trash Day
11. Suck In Your Gut
12. Instrumental