12 January 8-14, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Landman Is a Music Man Taylor Sheridan is taking North Texas musicians to the masses with the songs in his breakout show. BY ALYSSA FIELDS W eekly, millions sink into big couches in front of flat screens and travel to a West Texas boomtown filled with drama and Southern charm. Land- man, penned by Fort Worth-native- turned-Hollywood-mogul Taylor Sheridan, has garnered the approval of critics and Western revivalists alike. The show, shot primarily in North Texas and occasionally in downtown Dallas, often feels like a love letter to the area and its people from the man who decided to bring show business back to his hometown. Sheridan doesn’t just take viewers to Texas through drawls and wide-brims, but through the sounds and strums of artists who love the Lone Star State just as much as he does. The show’s soundtrack is chock-full of North Texas artists, from Billboard chart toppers to the local gig economy. The episode that streamed on Peacock on Dec. 28 had most people talking about a scene with 70-year-old star Billy Bob Thorn- ton’s pharmaceutical-assisted erection, but Denton resident Isaac Hoskins was talking about how cool it is to have his music fea- tured in Sheridan’s work. His 2022 country song, “Panhandle Wind,” which played in that week’s episode, isn’t the local artist’s only song to make it into one of the award-winning writer’s se- ries. His song “H-Town Turnaround” ap- peared in an episode of Yellowstone. “Nobody knows who I am, that’s true,” he said. “But I had a song featured in that show that I think is one of my better songs; it’s at a little over 2 million streams. I would never have had those types of numbers without [the show].” Lightning struck when Sheridan once co- incidentally walked into Magnolia Motor Lounge in Fort Worth, where Hoskins was playing in 2019. “It was pretty wild,” Hoskins said. “It continues to make my life more interest- ing, to say the least. I’ve gotten to meet a ton of really great folks, some really suc- cessful, down-to-earth people. And I’ve learned a lot about the business and about myself, too. It’s been a fantastic experi- ence, for sure.” Sheridan’s love for Texas extends beyond promoting local artists. After years of cut- ting his teeth and riding off major success with his debut television series Yellowstone, Sheridan traded tinsel for cows and opened a production studio, SGS Studios, in Fort Worth. It is the largest film studio in the state and a key puzzle piece in the state’s on- going initiative to rival California’s film in- dustry dominance. “It’s remarkable that somebody would find success and then bring all of that and have the juice, if you will, to pull all of that industry back to his home,” Hoskins said. “He doesn’t play games, but he also rewards people for being honest and on time and working hard, and all the things that go along with what most people would proba- bly say are Texan values.” The Landman soundtrack is full of the kind of heartfelt songs that make you want to drive fast down a dirt road, and many of them are from our very own. Here’s a defini- tive list for your next road trip playlist: “Debtor’s Blues” by Vincent Neal Emerson Season one, episode one: “Landman” Vincent Neal Emerson was born in Van Zandt County and cut his teeth busking in Fort Worth. The folk artist is currently tour- ing the country but has no dates scheduled for North Texas at this time. “Take Me Home” by Tanner Usrey Season one, episode one: “Landman” Tanner Usrey is another local best-kept-se- cret. The Americana singer from Prosper has a show at Billy Bob’s Texas in March to celebrate his birthday. Tickets start at $20. “Change the Game” by Cody Jinks Season one, episode eight: “Clumsy, This Life” Cody Jinks is where country meets heavy metal. The rocker, who grew up in Haltom City on the fringes of Fort Worth, has a show next week at The Studio at The Bomb Fac- tory. Tickets are $82, resale. “Ain’t Done Losing Yet” by Charley Crockett Season one, episode nine: “Wolf Camp” Charley Crockett is one of our favorite musi- cians, whom we get to claim as our own. The country breakout spent a lot of time in Dal- las and was a regular in Deep Ellum venues before making it big. “9 Lives (Black Cat)” by Koe Wetzel Season one, episode 10: “The Crumbs of Hope” Wetzel, one of the biggest names in country- grunge, grew up in an East Texas town called Pittsburg. They’re technically our neighbors, so we’re happy to claim East Texas as well. Wetzel is set to play the up- coming Lone Star Smokeout in Arlington this April. “I Found Blue” by The Reverend Horton Heat Season two, episode four: “The String of Second Chances” This boisterous trio formed in the ’80s and became a Deep Ellum swing staple at the height of the neighborhood’s golden era. If you want to see them soon, the band has a show at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton on Jan. 23 “Panhandle Wind” by Isaac Hoskins Season two, episode seven: “Forever is An In- stant” Hoskins is playing a show at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton in April. “Drink Don’t Need No Mix” by Shaboozey ft. BigXThaPlug Season two, episode seven: “Forever is an Instant” Arguably one of Dallas’ most prominent artists right now, BigXThaPlug hasn’t come home for a show since he was arrested in Dallas the night before his I Hope You’re Happy album release party. The party, hosted by a local Wingstop, was under- standably canceled. Earlier this year, the rapper dropped out as the opener for Lil Baby’s WHAM World Tour, which in- cluded a Dallas concert, leaving us to won- der if he’ll ever come back. Maybe if Sheridan asks nicely. Monica Schipper/Getty Images Landman creator Taylor Sheridan has brought more eyes and ears to the North Texas arts scene in recent years. ▼ Music
