By the time of Mike Ethan Messick’s 2007 debut Bootlegger’s Turn, he had already been gigging just under the radar for years, road-testing his material at mostly solo shows and song swaps around the state. The CD added to his momentum, selling internationally and popping up in several Texas Music radio markets, with reviewers and bloggers comparing him to songwriters as well-respected as Steve Earle and Walt Wilkins. A move to Austin proved to be fortunate, as Messick began expanding his audience at venues like Cheatham Street Warehouse and Riley’s Tavern, as well as meeting the producer (Adam Odor) and musicians (including Mark Jungers, Jamie Wilson and members of Reckless Kelly and the Gougers) that would help him make his new album The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, a new set of Messick’s mix of honky tonk twang, folkie lyrical detail, and heartland rock starting to make waves since its January 2011 release. Honky-tonk stompers and love songs rolled in dust.