The Soda Crackers Bridge Bakersfield Sound with Texas Dance Hall Heritage in New Building Texas Show Episode

The Building Texas Show has released a new episode featuring Zane Adamo, frontman and fiddle player for The Soda Crackers, exploring how the Bakersfield, California band is reviving the storied Bakersfield Sound and reconnecting it with its Texas origins. The episode, now available on YouTube, documents the band's recent Texas-Oklahoma tour and their upcoming debut album scheduled for release on December 1, 2025.

Filmed shortly after the band's performance at Albert Dancehall in Albert, Texas, host Justin McKenzie explores how The Soda Crackers have embraced Texas dance hall culture, which represents the natural environment where the Bakersfield Sound originally belonged. The conversation highlights the band's musical heritage and their efforts to bridge the geographical and cultural gap between California's country music legacy and its Texas roots.

Albert Dancehall, a restored 1920s venue located between Stonewall and Blanco, provided the perfect backdrop for the interview. The venue's weathered wood stage, family-friendly atmosphere, and loyal community of dancers mirror the spaces where Western Swing and early honky-tonk music once thrived. Adamo described the night at Albert as a powerful demonstration of why these historic halls remain relevant, noting multi-generational families dancing together, young children twirling between boot-stomping regulars, and crowds that genuinely understand the music's roots. "The music we play is meant for dancing," Adamo stated in the episode. "It came from people who worked hard, lived through the Dust Bowl, and wanted a great time on a Friday night."

The Bakersfield Sound, though commonly known as "California country," was significantly shaped by Texans and Oklahomans who migrated west during the Dust Bowl era. Musical pioneers like Buck Owens, originally from Sherman, Texas, and Tommy Collins, born in Oklahoma City, helped define a style that blended honky-tonk grit, country swing, and dance hall energy. The Soda Crackers are committed to reviving this lineage through their Texas-Oklahoma tour, which included stops at iconic venues such as the Broken Spoke in Austin, various historic dance halls, and even a pilgrimage to Turkey, Texas—home of Bob Wills and the annual Bob Wills Day celebration.

The band's upcoming self-titled album, releasing December 1, 2025, will feature 10 tracks including 6 original songs written by current and former band members and 4 classic covers honoring the Bakersfield Sound tradition. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms, with a limited-edition vinyl pressing including a special color variant for collectors available through thesodacrackers.bigcartel.com. "Capturing the classic spirit is incredibly important to us," Adamo noted. "From instrumentals to dance-hall-driven arrangements, we want this album to feel like it belongs on a stage in Texas."

McKenzie and Adamo concluded the episode by emphasizing the urgent need to support historic dance halls across Texas, many of which are disappearing in places like Bakersfield. Venues such as Albert Dancehall stand as living reminders of the state's cultural heritage, where community, music, and history converge on wooden dance floors. "This band is helping rebuild that bridge between Texas and Bakersfield," McKenzie observed. "Dance halls like Albert are where that story comes alive." The Building Texas Show continues to spotlight the people, communities, and stories shaping the Lone Star State through additional episodes available at www.buildingtexasshow.com.