In Episode 227 of Outside The Round, host Matt Burrill sits down with Rob Langdon, a rising artist who’s bringing a gritty rock edge to country music. From his early days playing dive bars in Boone, North Carolina, to touring with Ole 60, Langdon has quickly made a name for himself in Nashville’s underground scene.
Originally from Florida, Rob’s musical journey wasn’t a straight shot to Music City. His family roots are in Boone, North Carolina, and he grew up a die-hard Appalachian State fan, eventually playing baseball at App State himself. But music was always lurking in the background. While his primary focus was sports, he taught himself guitar, memorizing every Eric Church and Lynyrd Skynyrd song he could find. It started as a party trick—he even kept a list of songs pinned to the wall, letting friends pick a number to hear him play.
After college, he found himself playing acoustic sets at bars in Boone, including Woodlands Barbecue, where Eric Church and Luke Combs once cut their teeth. But before he could build a band, injuries forced him to move home to Florida, leading to a temporary detour into the cabinet-making business. Then COVID hit. Stuck at home, he picked his guitar back up, started writing again, and realized music was what he wanted to pursue full-time.
His move to Nashville wasn’t just about chasing a dream—it was about finding his people. Early on, his buddy Wales Toney brought him into the scene, introducing him to Davis Danziger, Grant Brown, Aiden Strassburg, and Carter Orion —a tight-knit crew of guys wanting to push boundaries in the country-rock space. Through them, he landed on the Ole 60 Tour, opening for the Kentucky rock-country band that’s been taking the music world by storm.
Langdon’s live shows are a high-energy mix of original songs and rowdy covers, blending his punk-rock past with his country upbringing. The moment that changed everything? Chicago 2023, when, on a whim, he and his band learned Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” in the van on the way to the show. The crowd’s reaction was insane, and it hasn’t left the setlist since.
Touring with Ole 60 has put Langdon in front of some legendary crowds and venues. Another highlight was playing the historic Hoachetown Saloon in Oklahoma, a venue with ties to Doc Holliday and the Old West, where the crowd was so wild that beer was flying through the air before he even took the stage.
Langdon’s sound blends Warped Tour energy with Nashville songwriting, and his latest releases showcase that unique fusion. His breakout single, “Shine”, has become a fan favorite at shows, resonating with anyone who’s ever been underestimated. Written with Davis Danziger, it was inspired by his own experiences in baseball—where he was often overlooked for being undersized—and his early struggles breaking into music.
Now, he’s gearing up for a massive 2025, with new music on the way, bigger shows, and plans to headline his own gigs. His next batch of songs, including two of my personal favorites “Carly’s Song” and “Superman,” continues to push his sound forward while staying true to his roots in storytelling and high-energy performance.
With a loyal crew of musicians, including drummer/producer Evan “Mud” Mayo, guitarists Ryan James Clark and Caleb “Chick” Walker and Parker ‘Pork’ Mason on bass, Rob is carving out his own rowdy lane in the country-rock revival. From playing for tips at a Boone BBQ joint to selling out venues across the country, Rob Langdon’s journey is just getting started.
🎧 Listen to Episode 227 of Outside The Round now, only on the Raised Rowdy Podcast Network.