Hear Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen’s Wistful ‘In My Arms Instead’

“I wrote this song so people could dance and love each other,” singer-songwriter Randy Rogers remarks to the audience at the top of “In My Arms Instead” from the live album Watch This with pal Wade Bowen.

But it’s not a high-energy workout he’s got in mind — the plaintive tune from Randy Rogers Bands’ self-titled 2008 album is much more suited for an intimate couples dance. While the crowd sings enthusiastically to Rogers and Sean McConnell’s forlorn portrait of haunting memories, the friends’ gentle, complimentary acoustic guitar work serves to enhance the pain of the story.

Watch This follows Rogers and Bowen’s acclaimed studio collection Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 and reflects the origins of their musical collaboration. The pair originally started touring together eight years ago before recording a full album together, performing selections from their separate catalogs. As such, Watch This — recorded at House of Blues in Dallas and Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas — leans heavily on their separate catalogs across its 19 tracks.

Watch This will be available June 3rd and a tour will follow. Rogers and Bowen’s next scheduled date is June 8th at Hurricane Harry’s in College Station, Texas.