HOUSTON – Texas native Austin Meade’s love of music was sparked early, growing up in a small town where his Baptist preacher father took him to rock concerts. From AC/DC to Journey and Judas Priest, those early experiences immersed him in guitar-driven storytelling that would shape his sound.
Family remains at the heart of Meade’s music and life. He balances the demands of being a husband and father of two toddlers with his career, often showing up in grease-streaked work clothes after fixing his house or helping his dad with the tour bus.
According to Meade, his parents live ten minutes away and while he’s helping him fix the tour bus, Meade has the freedom to create his own music and spend time with his kids.
His new album, Almost Famous, released Nov. 7, reflects this blend of personal history and raw rock spirit. Recorded partly in a Nashville garage and partly in his Texas bedroom studio, the album is a candid, playful exploration of nostalgia, identity, love, and humor. It weaves musical callbacks to his earlier work, creating a self-referential songbook that feels both intimate and anthemic.
Several songs on the album hold special significance. “Honey Do Ya” is a breezy, harmony-soaked love song written for his wife, cleverly playing on the phrase “honey-do list” to ask, “Honey, do you want to do this forever?” It’s a heartfelt and vulnerable track that bridges Meade’s earlier songwriting with his current style.
The closing track, “Like Father Like Son,” portrays a generational bond, tracing a lineage from Meade’s grandfather to his newborn baby. It’s a touching reflection on family legacy and the ties that shape who we are.
The title track, “Almost Famous,” is a loud, loose anthem that humorously skews the music industry and rising fame while revealing deeper threads of anxiety and purpose. Meade’s honest, unfiltered approach connects with outsiders navigating the beautiful chaos of real life. His voice carries the soulful, southern legacy of his upbringing while delivering rock ’n’ roll urgency with the heart of a family man.
Austin Meade continues to bring that energy to the stage, performing over 300 shows a year across the Southwest. Fans can catch him tonight at Scout Bar in Houston on Dec. 18 as part of his Acoustic Christmas tour with Mitchell Ferguson and Sterling Elza. Click here for tickets.
With no pretense and a beat-up guitar in hand, Austin Meade is carving out his own space in Southern alternative rock—almost famous, but with plenty more to say and do.
Watch Meade perform live on “Houston Life” at 1 p.m. on KPRC 2 or the streaming video above.
For more about his latest album and tour dates, visit www.austinmeade.com.