During the heyday of bro country in the 2010s, Jon Pardi carried the torch for hardcore country. Pardi never attempted to disguise his debt to traditional country but he never attempted to be an Americana singer, either. He was firmly within the mainstream of country music and clever enough to offer sly updates to classic sounds, which is why his 2015 album California Sunrise turned him into a star on the strength of its number one Country Airplay singles, "Head Over Boots" and "Dirt On My Boots."
Born and raised in Dixon, California, Jon Pardi fell in love with country mu...