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EnglishWhat Is the Latest News on James McMurtry's Music and Band Name?
Updated
The biggest current update on jamesmcmurtry.com is a name change: the site announces "New name: James McMurtry and the martial law review!" The same announcement block also points to the album The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy, which the site presents through a set of press quotes. If you are looking for new music, a new band billing, or recent critical reception, those are the three things the official page currently leads with.
The band name change
The homepage carries a "BIG NEWS" line stating the new name: James McMurtry and the martial law review. This is the most concrete piece of news on the page — it changes how the act is billed, not just what it releases.
If you are searching for tour listings or tickets, keep in mind that dates may still appear under the shorter "James McMurtry" name, since the tour section and the solo dates use that form.
The new album and how the site frames it
The page references The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy and supports it with quotes from music press rather than a track list or release notes. The quoted sources and what each emphasizes:
| Source | What the quote highlights |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stone | Calls him "one of America's greatest living songwriters" |
| Aaron Lee Tasjan | Short, enthusiastic reaction to the new record |
| Glide Magazine | "Masterful storytelling & truth laying" on the new album |
| Lonesome Highway | Says there is "so much to digest" and ample proof of his gifts |
| American Songwriter | Describes him as "unflinchingly potent and powerfully erudite" |
| Country Universe | Calls it a "career-best collection of dense, fascinating narratives" |
| Americana UK | Praises vivid storytelling and roots rock "at its most cathartic" |
The through-line in all of these is songwriting and narrative — the reception on the official page is built around his storytelling rather than production or genre labels.
Where to go on the site for more
The homepage navigation lists Music, Tour, McMerch, Bio, and Contact Us. For the new album and other works, the Music section is the place to look; the announcement block itself only summarizes press reaction. For live dates, the Tour section is separate and is updated with the schedule.
Live dates tied to this period
The page mixes two kinds of listings:
- Regular local residencies — when he is not on the road, the site says you can find him at the Continental Club on Tuesdays at 10:00 and at the Continental Club Gallery (solo) on Wednesdays at 8:30.
- 2026 tour dates — linked from the homepage, with a run of solo dates alongside Betty Soo across the UK and Ireland in late September and October, including Evanston, Collinsville, and Boone in the US, then Chester, Glasgow, Belfast, Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin, Twyford, Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol, Nottingham, Hebden Bridge, and London.
Some of those shows carry their own ticket links on the page, and at least one — Cork on October 2 — is marked sold out, with a second Cork date added on October 3 at 1:30.
What this means if you are deciding whether to check it out
- If you follow the band by name, note the new billing: James McMurtry and the martial law review.
- If you want the new record, start with the Music section rather than the homepage quotes.
- If you want to see him live, the residencies are the reliable recurring option; the 2026 tour dates are the time-limited one, and some are already selling out.