Photo credit: Jason Myers
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
Well, we’ve had a bunch of different touring vehicles over the years, it just depends on the type of show/tour we are on, what the distance/tour routing looks like, and how many crew/band guys I’ll need on the run. We have everything from a Ford E350 with over 300k miles on it, my Dodge Ram truck which I just sold with 400k miles on it, a 1994 Eagle bus (I love retro things and this was definitely my favorite and also happened to be Molly Hatchet’s old bus). That said, we are currently upgrading our rigs, haha.
We’ve had to make lots of repairs on all of them, usually done by ourselves. One time my bass player had to change the fuel pump in our van on the side of the road in South GA while I hooked the trailer and gear to my truck (which I just happened to have because of an acoustic date in FL) and me and the rest of the guys jumped in to get to the venue to make sound check.
Another time we got the bus stuck in sand in Navarre Beach, Florida at the venue and had to use a dump truck to pull it out because there were no tow trucks in the area. Other than that, mainly blown tires, alternators, serpentine belts, radiators all repaired usually on the side of a highway, that kind of stuff.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
If you want to eat healthy, bring a cooler and meal prep ahead of time, easy as that. Usually most of the venues feed us before and after so I just pray they have a grilled chicken sandwich but I can’t say me or the guys ever shy away if the only option is a cheeseburger or chicken tenders.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
A lot. I dig into the strings and or show is pretty high energy so I usually go through a pack or two a week at least. I’d say it’s about $5/pack or so.
Where do you rehearse?
We have had LOTS of these over the years. Everything from basements and garages to full blown studios. I remember when I first started, we rehearsed in my basement and I literally had to stand behind the hot water heater and the drummer was in the other room. Now, we haven’t been on the road much since the beginning of 2020 so anytime we rehearse we typically do it in my drummer’s studio in his basement, he has an amazing set up.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what the name of the first song I wrote was because I tried to take a stab at writing songs when I was around 11 years old. I remember the first song I ever wrote and recorded that I was ever comfortable with anyone hearing was one I wrote in high school called “Every Now and Then” and it was your typical “My girl broke up with me and I’m currently emo” type of song. If I remember right the chorus started with the lyric “So every now and then, all I’ll do is drive, roll the windows down and watch your memory blow by.” I really couldn’t tell you where that recording is today but I wish I could find it sometime.
Describe your first gig.
Oh boy, you ready for this one..? My first paying gig, I was 14 years old, and it was in the men’s section of a new Bass Pro Shop that was built in a new mall not far from where I grew up. I got paid $50 and a $50 Bass Pro gift card and I thought I was Alan Jackson because of it.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last full time job was working for Apple in a retail store. My favorite job I ever had though is split between two things. The first was working for a classic rock radio station in Young Harris, GA while I was in college up there. They literally gave me the alarm code and a key and I would come and go as I pleased, DJ’ing late at night when I wanted to, organizing their catalog, handling the UGA recap show on Monday’s, doing radio remotes, etc.
The second was coaching high school football in GA. I started coaching when I was still in high school so I knew those kids for a long time. Honestly, if Country music wasn’t my life, I’d be coaching on a sideline somewhere would be.
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?
Well, it depends on how you look at it I guess, how much is coming in verses how much has to go out. I’ve had seasons where I felt extremely blessed by the income coming in and then some where it’s like a farmer looking at a corn field in a drought. I don’t think that changes much as time goes by, that’s just life and if you are growing a business, it’s all about growing that business and that dictates where the money goes. I’ve lived through being bought steak dinners while only being able to afford a loaf of bread and some butter and slices of cheese. The more successful you get, the more expenses are incurred so my hope would be in time that number would really tip the scales.
I remember when I started out, I’d play for tips and tips alone, sometimes leaving with $20. Then it became $500 a show, then $1,000, then $3,500+. Every show is different, you have to know your market and what your worth is there.
As for royalties, that has changed considerable because I own my own masters of the recording and we have so much music released and lots more to come.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
Be patient and listen. The wisest words that usually pertain to your life are usually the ones that no one speaks directly to you. Observe what is happening and keep your blinders on while focusing on what really matters and that is YOUR road. Fans are built one hand shake, conversation, and smile at a time. Take your time and don’t rush, longevity comes from building a brand, not by just a good song or two. All of that and Pray. Pray a lot because you aren’t in control.