Hunter Riley

I know the rose was a big part of my branding and being recognized by people but now I’ve got something I’m proud of being recognized for! Shout out to the big homie Les!

I’m not sure what’s more embarrassing, being caught off guard in my casual bum attire like this, or when someone recognizes me for music and TikTok rants in public now lol.

My music journey began a long time ago in Odessa, TX. My first radio play I ever got was in Texas and when “Small Town Dream” reached national radio play, my biggest support was Texas. Even after I stopped pursuing radio ETX continued to play new music of mine. Being invited to play at the Texas Country Music Awards in 2019 and all the other cool things that I’ve experienced in the Lone Star State is not only humbling but feels like a fever dream sometimes.

But thank you to those that I met yesterday in Sulphur Springs and thank you for not only listening to my music but making a dude that just plays a guitar feel important for the day. Can’t wait to bring some shows to y’all! (I’ll work on my awkward photo poses for the future)

I don’t like to do politics. I believe all politicians are leeches of society and the government is full of terrible people. So I’m not conservative, I’m not liberal I’m me.

But what happened yesterday to Charlie Kirk is horrific. He had view points I agreed with and viewpoints I didn’t agree with. But that’s the world. The minute we all feel that we should all be the same is the minute we have lost purpose in this life. The man didn’t deserve to die over his opinions and his voice.

As artists it’s our job to connect with people and speak on issues in the world. It’s scary cause that’s what he was doing. My voice in this world is small, (I’m self aware) but if I can say anything that might even effect one person on this situation it’s this;

To silence someone is fear of hearing truth. Ignorance is easily ignored. Life is precious and it is short, ALL life is priceless. Violence leaves destruction, not solutions. It is harder to love and easier to hate, but love carries no weight. We are not doomed as a society but we are damaged. Extremely damaged and we cannot continue to break it and expect it to be fixed. Instead of divide, and anger and hatred and ignorance, maybe today we should take some notes from Charlie’s example. Talk to someone you don’t know. Talk to someone different than you. Don’t try to change each other but instead have conversation that opens your mind to other viewpoints. Leave the person in a better state of mind than you met them.

Shout out to William Smith for some great shots from the End of Summer Festival. I usually hate photos of myself but these were cool man. Thank you

What A Day

Played a festival in Purvis, MS from 5-6 then hit Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS from 9-1 and now heading home in the wee hours of the morning. Saw some familiar faces at both shows and met some new ones. Even had a group come out and say that they follow me on TikTok and had to come out and see what I sounded like live and for some reason even took a few pics with my mug.

Tonight someone asked at Hard Rock if I thought I’d be famous one day and I laughed and said I’m already the most famous dude in my hometown. The reality is I see “fame” as a bi-product of creating something people relate to. It makes me feel great that people appreciate what I do with music and can relate to it. It blows my mind that people would drive hours just to hear me beat a guitar.

I’m not wealthy by a long shot. I’m not famous by a long shot. Just a dude playing music. So when you come out to a show please don’t hesitate to come say hey and talk. I want to know who YOU ARE and know more about the people supporting this art, and when I tell you thank you for coming, please know I mean that from the deepest part of me. -HR

Livingston, AL - Saturday Night!

Come on out for a good time starting up at 9:00! I wanna meet some new faces and see some returning ones!

So last night, I tried to perform a TikTok live for childhood leukemia and I got demonetized. This is something I’m pretty passionate about, and it really, REALLY angered me that onlyfans girls can ask for money for themselves at any time of the day or that bums can get online and ask for “gifts” to pay their bills. So I’m taking a consensus, would you guys tune in if I started doing lives on Facebook?

I’m tired of social media only glorifying the worst in society and I want to bring out the good in it but I’m gonna need help getting the word out. Cause even my response video on tiktok to this demonetization was flagged and hidden from my viewers.