Photo credit: Jason Stoltzfus
Tell us about your tour vehicle.
We tour in the Snowman. It’s a Prevost that is from a sweet spot era of production that is suited for long hauls. It has all new leather, new powertrain, new AC, and for a few hours before everyone gets on, a new bus smell, but that dissipates fast.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
It is important to maintain a healthy hospitality rider. I have coconut water, immunity liquid shots, Liquid IV, and of course, tons of Budweiser in a bottle. Health is wealth, and it is a matter of discipline and intention outweighing any dopaminergic impulses that lay indwelling in every cookie I walk by.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I don’t break strings often, maybe 2-5 a year. I am a tactile and light player when I am intentional. I am sponsored by Ernie Ball Strings and have been for 12 years now. They are the highest-frequency strings known the world over.
Where do you rehearse?
We rehearse largely at sound check sessions now and typically do 60-90 minutes of that on any given show day. And right before the show, we get together briefly in the Blue Flame lounge in the back of the Snowman to go through any of the peculiarities that I’ve composed into the setlist for that evening’s experience of music.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
One of the first songs I wrote is one we play often, and it is called ‘Luck Of The Draw.’ I like the lyric of ‘I know the oven’s off, I checked it twice.’ That came from my Dad. Many times, without his knowing, he gives me song lyrics, concepts, and directions, and I am very grateful for that.
Describe your first gig.
My first gig was busking on the street down on Lower Broadway in Nashville, TN. I would have two cans of Diet Coke, a Roland battery powered MicroCube amp, and a heart full of fire and fingers full of desire to pick the Telecaster for anyone who had the ears to hear. I would play for 4-6 hours doing that every Saturday.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I’ve been playing since I was 14 and have done that full time since that age. In the day, I play, in the night, I play, and when I dream, I typically play there, too.
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?
It has changed from tip jug loose cash to now ACH direct deposit. It’s a tad less fun and engaging that way and of course the government takes more of it.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
Fact: If you got one, you got none. You need backups of everything; cables, tuners, strings, amps, guitars, etc. Value: The difference between ‘playing,’ and ‘thinking,’ is quite substantial. It is foolish to glance over this exalting potential, and transformative and liberating to ‘play,’ as often as possible. When on the stage, there is an opportunity to recognize the sacredness of that space and to share it with the Community around you, to freely give as you’ve freely received so to speak. When not on the stage, and not being observed publicly, that is where preparation, practice, and ‘thinking,’ are more optimally deployed.