Every so often, a cover comes along that makes you stop mid-scroll and mutter, “Alright then… that’s serious.” That’s precisely what Alter Ego Rehab have managed with Souvenirs, their two-track tribute to John Prine, and honestly — bloody hell — it hits harder than it has any right to.

Let’s get this out of the way early: this isn’t some polite nod to a legend, nor is it a cosplay exercise dressed up as Americana reverence. Alter Ego Rehab doesn’t try to sound like Prine, and thank God for that. Instead, they treat his songs the way they should be treated — as stories that still apply.

The project focuses on “Angel From Montgomery” and “Sam Stone,” and both are handled with an intelligence that’s rare in tribute releases. There’s no grandstanding here, just a clear sense that the band understands exactly what these songs carry.

“Angel From Montgomery” is the immediate standout. It’s steady, grounded, and quietly devastating in places. Randy Riddle’s vocals don’t push. That’s the trick. The song isn’t about escape fantasies or big emotional moments; it’s about staying put while the years tick by. Alter Ego Rehab let that reality sit where it belongs, without forcing it into something shinier or louder.

“Sam Stone” goes in even heavier. The decision to give the track a vintage, almost old-radio feel is a cracking one. It creates distance, like you’re overhearing a story that was never meant to be told in public. The song’s power comes from what isn’t emphasised, and the band clearly understands that hammering the point would ruin it.

What’s refreshing — genuinely refreshing — is that Souvenirs doesn’t explain itself. There’s no attempt to modernise Prine, no need to spell out relevance with flashing lights. The band trusts the material, and more importantly, trusts the listener. In an era where everything is over-contextualised and over-sold, that confidence is worth its weight in gold.

There’s also a broader point here. Alter Ego Rehab slot neatly into a growing space within modern Americana and roots music, artists more concerned with honesty than heritage, more interested in story than style. They don’t romanticise struggle, but they don’t tidy it up either. That makes them a perfect fit for Prine’s world, which was never about heroes but about people trying to get through life.

By the time Souvenirs wraps up, it’s clear this isn’t a side project or a vanity exercise. It feels integrated, and really, that’s the highest compliment you can pay a tribute.

Bloody well done.

Watch “Angel From Montgomery”:

Watch “Sam Stone”: