There’s a spectacular glut of euphoria-inducing songs out there. The kind that lure you out to the dancefloor, make you want to shout along at the top of your lungs, and shrug off your fears and anxieties. But if your heart thirsts for something a few ticks slower, then Evan Stepp & The Piners new single “If It Feels So Good (Why Does It Feel So Bad?)”, the first from their upcoming EP, Four More Songs, might be the long, refreshing pour you’ve been searching for.

The Atlanta quintet exists somewhere on the spectrum between the ‘90s polish of Allen Jackson and the punk twang of Lucero. This tight interplay between moods allows the band to flex their intensely collaborative spirit. The Piners include songwriter Jeremy Ray on bass, Katie Butler on keys and viola, and Steve Seachrist on pedal steel, with Butler and Seachrist also pitching in on backing vocals. The latest incarnation of the band sees Stepp assuming lead guitar duties while welcoming new drummer Paul Shaw.

Despite the changes, the band has never sounded more together. Stepp’s smooth, swooning delivery blends with the Piners, creating something that’s as much East Atlanta as it is East Nashville. You could call it country music for people who can’t stand the sight of a rebel flag. “If It Feels So Good” captures the spirit of heartsick catch-ups after high school reunions. Sure, there’s the memes about peaking in high school, but there’s more emotional heft here than that. Whether you stay, leave town, or end up having to retrace your steps, no one escapes that sobering question: “Are you really that happy?”

The song’s tear-in-the-beer hallmarks would probably fall apart or feel too saccharine in anyone els’s hands. However, Stepp & the Piners show remarkable restraint going low and slow, following lockstep in the telling of the narrative, and ultimately infusing Stepp’s lyrics with just enough ache that you’ll still feel it in the morning. “It’s my life, the only one I could find / That’s the way it goes in a settle-down town / You either pack up or you just stick around,” he croons. Meanwhile, the Piners’ measured accompaniment of moaning organ and pedal steel glides spotlights Stepp’s character-driven storytelling as they battle with spiraling feelings of regret, contentment, and shame.

Stepp’s voice has always flowed out of him like a river. In some ways, it didn’t matter what he was singing about because his voice is so alluring, and he knows how to convey emotion through it. Here, though, his voice has more definition. His vocal delivery still moves like water, but now it’s got that crystal clear quality, the kind of river where you can count the stones beneath the surface.

Who hasn’t had those days that feel like a dull blade? You know, the ones where you’re mindlessly scrolling or inventorying every cruelty. You can even enjoy that kind of rumination if given enough time. With Stepp, though, there is no doubt. “If It Feels So Good (Why Does It Feel So Bad?)” cuts deep on every listen.

Recorded at Radon Recordings in Cabbagetown, the song was inspired by Stepp digging beyond his personal biography. “Before I wrote ‘Feels So Good,’ the bulk of my songs had leaned autobiographical or were heavily influenced from a personal perspective,” he reflects. “When I wrote this song, I wanted to be intentional about creating a purely fictional story. It was truly freeing to write this way and I was kinda bummed I hadn’t done this sooner.”

Listen below.

Four More Songs is out this Fri., May 31.

Evan Stepp & the Piners will celebrate the release of Four More Songs on Sat., June 8 at Ideal Sports Bar. Supporting them will be Former Sinners of the Future, Heart Drugs, and Pearl Haggard. Show starts at 8 pm. Admission is $10. 21+ to enter.

More Info
Bandcamp: evansteppandthepiners.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @alldogsgo2evan