Wastin' Whiskey

"Wastin' Whiskey" is a song recorded by Canadian country group James Barker Band. The group's frontman James Barker wrote the song with Jared Keim and Travis Wood, while Todd Clark produced the track.[1]

"Wastin' Whiskey"
Single by James Barker Band
ReleasedMarch 25, 2022 (2022-03-25)
GenreCountry
Length3:10
LabelStarseed
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Todd Clark
James Barker Band singles chronology
"New Old Trucks"
(2021)		 "Wastin' Whiskey"
(2022)		 "Meet Your Mama"
(2023)
Lyric Video
"Wastin' Whiskey" on YouTube

Background

The band previewed "Wastin' Whiskey" on multiple social media platforms including Twitter and TikTok prior to its release.[2][3] They also promoted the release of the track with a video titled "Wastin' Whiskey Roulette" where each of the band members took sips of unknown liquids out of shot glasses.[4] The song is part of a large crop of new music the band intended to release as a potential album including "Over All Over Again" and "New Old Trucks".[2] James Barker cited the song as the group's first "fan-driven" single, as the initial clip of the song that the band posted to TikTok quickly received over one million views in under a month,[5] prompting the band to choose it as their next release to radio.[3] He said that the song "came together in just a few hours – everything from the lyrics to production" and that most of the original vocals are the ones on the final version of the track.[3]

Critical reception

Nanci Dagg of Canadian Beats Media stated that the song "takes listeners back to the all-too-relatable agony of not being able to get over a broken heart, regardless of how many drinks you down," noting "heartbreak-fuelled electric guitar licks and Barker's smooth vocals".[3] Lauren Lee of Front Porch Music favourably reviewed the track, saying that the band "perfectly [captures] that oh-so-relatable feeling of desperation that comes with the end of a relationship – the inability to move on, no matter how deeply you try to drown your sorrows".[6]

Accolades
Year Association Category Result Ref
2023 Canadian Country Music Association Single of the Year Nominated [7]

Commercial performance

"Wastin' Whiskey" reached a peak of number two on the Billboard Canada Country chart for the week of August 27, 2022,[8] marking the band's tenth top ten hit.[9] It also reached a peak of number 67 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the same week.[10] It has been certified Gold by Music Canada.[11]

Charts
Chart performance for "Wastin' Whiskey"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 67
Canada Country (Billboard)[8] 2

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[11] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Wastin' Whiskey - Single by James Barker Band". Spotify. March 25, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  2. Weaver, Matthew (January 27, 2022). "[LISTEN] James Barker Band preview another new song... and it sounds fantastic [UPDATED]". Country 104.
  3. Dagg, Nanci (March 29, 2022). "James Barker Band delivers what could be another #1 single with the release of "Wastin' Whiskey"". Canadian Beats Media.
  4. Gosse, Ryan (March 23, 2022). "James Barker Band Play "Wastin' Whiskey Roulette"". 93.5 Country.
  5. Derdeyn, Stuart (June 3, 2022). "Q&A: James Barker Band talks platinum hits, Tik Tok and more". Vancouver Sun.
  6. Lee, Lauren (May 19, 2022). "James Barker Band Helps Drown Your Sorrows In "Wastin' Whiskey"". Front Porch Music. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  7. "2023 CCMA Awards Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. July 13, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023.
  8. "Canada Country chart for August 27, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  9. Canada Country peaks:
  10. "Canadian Hot 100: August 27, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  11. "Canadian single certifications – James Barker Band – Wastin' Whiskey". Music Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
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