The Cadillac Three premiere 'Graffiti' video -- exclusive

Firebrand Southern rockers the Cadillac Three — staffed by singer-guitarist Jaren Johnston, bassist-steel guitarist Kelby Ray, and drummer Neil Mason — first broke through in 2013 with their barnburner of a debut single “The South.” With swaggering guitars and some of the genre’s biggest names as guests (Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, and Eli Young Band’s Mike Eli all lend vocals) it was a scorching introduction. 2014’s boozy “Party Like You” and last summer’s swampy charmer “White Lightning” have each lived up to the hype, with “Lightning” cracking the Country Radio Top 40.

Their latest, “Graffiti,” is a sleeker affair: a smoldering mid-tempo rocker polished with arena-stomping gloss. Written two years ago by Mason, the drummer says the song was inspired by a conversation about his childhood in Music City. “One of my co-writers, Corey Crowder, and myself were talking about growing up in a small town, surrounded by the backdrop of of the local water tower, train tracks, your high school, and riding around late at night with your friends — that young, rebellious feeling. We ended up with ‘Graffiti.'”

Today, EW is excited to premier the song’s gritty new video. Shot in London during their sold-out European tour earlier this year, Ray says the town lent itself easily to the theme. “East London had a ton of amazing graffiti,” he says. “We had a blast all day — except for being crammed in that damn taxi.”

Johnston, who has written big hits for Keith Urban, Jake Owen, and Tim McGraw, also grew up in Nashville and says the tune brought him right back. “I fell in love with the story when Neil played it for me on the bus,” the singer recalls. “I remember being a kid and seeing names spray-painted on the little bridge going into Shelby Park. ‘Kori loves Chad 4 eva’ — that was Kori Pickle and Chad Minchee. I knew them. [And] I remember thinking they were ‘small town famous.'”

“Graffiti” is streaming below. A list of all upcoming tour and festival dates is available on the group’s website.