Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road have done it again, folks. Their latest single, “Nothing Like Trouble,” is a high-octane, foot-stompin’ testament to the fact that sometimes, life’s biggest headaches make for the best stories—and the best bluegrass songs. If you’ve ever felt like the universe was conspiring against you (looking at you, Mercury in retrograde), then this song is your new anthem.
URL: https://canemillroad.com/
From the get-go, “Nothing Like Trouble” comes out swinging, with Purcell’s nimble guitar picking and Zack Vickers’ banjo work cutting through the mix like a hot knife through butter. This track doesn’t just move—it sprints. Throw in Purcell’s unmistakable vocals, which carry that perfect blend of grit and warmth, and you’ve got a song that feels like it belongs on a long-haul road trip playlist, preferably somewhere between a John Prine classic and a Tyler Childers deep cut.
The lyrics hit home for anyone who’s ever had a day (or a year) where nothing goes right. Purcell, who wrote the song after a particularly rough stretch on the road, turns his frustration into a rallying cry for embracing the chaos. It’s like when your flight gets canceled, your car breaks down, and your phone dies all in the same day—sure, you could cry, but it’s a lot more fun to laugh and turn it into a song. And that’s exactly what Purcell does here.
Speaking of chaos, the instrumentation on this track is absolutely electric. Purcell flexes his multi-instrumentalist muscles, layering in fiddle, mandolin, and dobro, while newcomer Teddy Kent locks in on bass with the kind of precision that’d make Chris Thile nod in approval. There’s a looseness to the playing, but it never feels out of control—it’s tight where it needs to be, wild where it should be, and full of the kind of joy that makes bluegrass so irresistible.
This song debuted at a SiriusXM Fish Bowl session in NYC, proving that bluegrass isn’t just for the backroads—it’s for the big city, too. It’s also the first sneak peek at Purcell’s upcoming 2025 album, and if “Nothing Like Trouble” is any indication, we’re in for a ride. Think of it as a bridge between the past and the future of the genre—there’s a little Flatt & Scruggs in its bones, a little Billy Strings in its fire, and a whole lot of heart.
Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road aren’t just riding the bluegrass wave—they’re helping shape where it’s going next. If you like your music with a little trouble, a lot of energy, and enough instrumental prowess to make even the most skeptical jam-band fan take notice, this one’s for you. Just try not to spill your coffee while you’re toe-tapping along.
Claire Uebelacker