Photo credit: Bill Reynolds
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
We pound the pavement in a Mercedes Sprinter van and pull a trailer behind it. We got it new in July 2015 and have put 208,000 miles on her. It’s a she; we named her Kelsy. She’s been phenomenally reliable. Aside from the A/C leaking a bit and the broken floor heaters, we haven’t had any big repairs.
Back in the day we used to rent vans from Montana raft companies; those machines were awful and we broke down often. I fondly recall a breakdown in Ashland, Oregon that lasted 3 days. It was a blast actually and we all fell in love with that town.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
We’ve found that stopping at Whole Foods first thing in the morning is the most democratic and healthy approach to meeting band and crew nutritional needs. There’s something there for everyone… usually. It’s not the cheapest, but we try to eat pretty damn clean when we travel. It’s a long term health investment. That said, when we’re in California we hit taco stands almost daily. Cheap and delicious.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I haven’t done the exact math but it’s a lot. I very rarely break a string on stage, but I change all my strings every other show. I have boxes and boxes in the van at all time. Thankfully, we have a deal with D’Addario and they graciously discount our strings.
Where do you rehearse?
When we’re on tour we like to rehearse in the green room an hour before we play and usually close the space off for band members only to help us focus and get in the proper headspace.
If we’re working on new material we like to find a cabin or an Airbnb out in the woods and hunker down for a few days without distraction. It’s immensely productive.
Last year in Nashville before a gig, we we’re warming up in our green room and Bela Fleck popped in to introduce himself (as if we didn’t know who he was) and say hey. We were completely caught off guard, wholly star struck and really fumbled our words.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
“Mending the Fence” from our self titled debut album was the first song I ever wrote. That chorus has become a bit embarrassing to sing, “I guess this is why they say the broken heart’s the worst”. I meant it though, dammit.
It was an early and invaluable lesson in songwriting though – vulnerability and authenticity. The more honest and off the cuff I am within my songwriting, the better my songs seem to land. People listen and resonate with genuineness.
Describe your first gig.
I met a friend in college who was studying jazz piano; he somehow convinced me to take an improv class. I lugged my Fender Strat and tube amp into class and upon the downbeat of “Autumn Leaves” it was very apparent that I had made a big mistake. I had no business being there. But I ended up getting a gig “accompanying” him a hotel bar playing lounge music. We made 100 bucks and the wheels were set in motion. Luckily I gave up pretending to play jazz and never set foot back in that class.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last full time job was working at Whole Foods in 2012 in Santa Rosa, California; I was slicing artisan meats and cheeses. I didn’t last very long there. I’m much better suited for the other side of deli display glass.
My favorite job ever was working for the National Park Service in Glacier National Park. I was a campground maintenance man for two summers. It changed my life.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
I lived basically gig to gig for a lot of years, just barely scraping by; food stamps and pissed-off rent collectors litter my youth. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s all part of the process. I’m certainly not rich by any stretch of the mind. But the fact that I get to travel around the country playing original music with my best friends is invaluable. I’m so happy right now. Money and numbers are necessary tools; I’m not afraid of them anymore and will always be learning to circumnavigate.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I try to stay present now amidst the chaos and enjoy the adventure more. Not that I ever wasn’t at any one point, but I think it’s easy to get lost out here. That’s what this all is – one giant adventure. Ten years ago I read Kerouac and wanted to go on the road. So I did. I’m starting to journal more. I wish I would have kept a daily log the last 8 years. What a blur of amazing and interesting moments.