While you were sheltering at home under quarantine trying to get some sort of live music experience through a virtual concert by somebody in their living room while you watch on a computer screen, Craig Gerdes released an outlaw country classic. 

Tough as Nails is the 2nd release from the central Illinois-based singer and this time Gerdes has brought his touring band (Jake Baxter, guitar; Britton Wood, bass; & Randy Noy, drums) into the studio to nail down the road-tested sound. The result is a record that compares with the best of late 70s Hank Jr and Copperhead Road-era Steve Earle.

The title track “Tough as Nails” opens on the soft side, but continues to build and ends up with loud guitars and defiant lyrics. The Roger Alan Wade cover “If Guitars Were Guns” ups the outlaw country attitude and by the time the heavy guitar intro and steady backbeat of “Between the Cradle and the Grave” kicks into gear, Gerdes has made his intentions clear.

Then the mood suddenly shifts to the sad reflection of “Pennies, Feathers, and Dimes” and an opportunity to catch your breath before “Highwayman” picks up the tempo again. “The Hard Way” is a slow burner that gives way to the rockin’ “Most Times I Lost.”

After that adrenaline pumper, its “cryin’ in your beer” time and “That Little Girl” featuring steel guitar legend Robby Turner fills the bill just long enough to get right back into “Tonight’s Not The Night” another backbeat kicker. “Only the Road Knows” wraps up the album and gives the feeling of a show encore with Gerdes, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and a cello, singing the story of “one hell of a ride” that you know he is ready to resume. 

Tough as Nails is a collection of songs that should put Craig Gerdes on the radar of everyone who has decided that Cody Jinks and Whitey Morgan are the future of country music. You’ll want to schedule a road trip to wherever he’s playing next once we can all get out into the world again.