Eli Young Band & Jimmy Buffett

Fusing a young man's take on heartland rock with the tougher side of Texas country music and the cocky enthusiasm of alt country firebrands, Eli Young Band (co-led by Mike Eli and James Young) became a potent draw in the Southwest and beyond on the strength of local airplay and extensive touring. Early singles "That's the Way" and "When It Rains" scored significant airplay around Texas, and a deal with Republic in 2008 garnered a Top 20 country hit with "Always the Love Songs." Eli Young Band's third album, Life at Best (2011), delivered a pair of country chart-toppers, the AC...