A new episode of The Building Texas Show, now live on YouTube, features Zane Adamo, frontman and fiddle player for the Bakersfield, California band The Soda Crackers. The episode highlights the band’s recent Texas–Oklahoma tour, their musical heritage, and their much-anticipated debut album launching December 1, 2025. Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rT__5w36DYU.
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—an environment where the Bakersfield Sound naturally belongs. Albert Dancehall, a restored 1920s venue between Stonewall and Blanco, provided a perfect backdrop. Its weathered wood stage and family-friendly atmosphere mirror the spaces where Western Swing and early honky-tonk music thrived.
Zane recalls the night at Albert as a powerful reminder of why these halls still matter: multi-generational families dancing together, young children twirling between boot-stomping regulars, and a crowd that truly understands the roots of the music. “The music we play is meant for dancing,” Adamo says in the episode. “It came from people who worked hard, lived through the Dust Bowl, and wanted a great time on a Friday night.”
Though known as “California country,” the Bakersfield Sound was shaped heavily by Texans and Oklahomans who migrated west during the Dust Bowl. Buck Owens, originally from Sherman, Texas, and Tommy Collins, born in Oklahoma City, helped define a style blending honky-tonk grit, country swing, and dance hall energy. Zane and The Soda Crackers are committed to reviving that lineage. Their tour included stops at iconic venues such as the Broken Spoke in Austin, historic dance halls, and a pilgrimage to Turkey, Texas—home of Bob Wills and the annual Bob Wills Day celebration.
The Soda Crackers’ upcoming self-titled album, releasing December 1, 2025, will feature 10 tracks, including 6 original songs and 4 classic covers honoring the Bakersfield Sound. It will be available on all major streaming platforms, with a limited-edition vinyl pressing including a special color variant for collectors. “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.” Fans can find updates and purchase vinyl at: thesodacrackers.bigcartel.com.
McKenzie and Adamo close the episode by highlighting 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. “This band is helping rebuild that bridge between Texas and Bakersfield,” McKenzie said. “Dance halls like Albert are where that story comes alive.”
