Chicago-based alternative country and indie-rock band Case Oats is known for its lyric-forward, confessional songwriting led by Casey Gomez Walker. Formed around 2018 when Walker — a writer and poet who grew up in a small town in Missouri — connected with seasoned drummer Spencer Tweedy, the project quickly developed a lived-in, unvarnished sound that perfectly complements Walker’s wry, full-bodied storytelling. The band’s name, “Case Oats,” comes from an old screen name chosen in tribute to Walker’s late pet hamster, a detail noted in Rolling Stone. The core lineup features Walker on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Tweedy (known for work with Jeff Tweedy, Waxahatchee, Mavis Staples, and Norah Jones) on drums and production, Max Subar on guitar and pedal steel, Jason Ashworth on bass, and Scott Daniel on fiddle, with Nolan Chin contributing piano and organ on recordings and select live performances. Blending alternative country warmth with indie-rock sensibilities, Case Oats creates arrangements that feel porch-sitting and familiar, allowing the lyrics to remain front and center. In March 2025, they signed to North Carolina’s Merge Records and released their debut album, Last Missouri Exit, on August 22, 2025. The record reflects on early adulthood, transition, and the tension between past and future — its title referencing the final highway sign before crossing from Missouri into Illinois — and has earned praise from outlets including NPR and Paste, as well as appearances at South by Southwest.