Photo credit: Emmanuel Afolabi
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
Right now, we drive a 15 passenger Chevy Express, a big white van that pulls a 10×12 trailer behind it full of our gear. Back in July of 2018, a drunk driver drove head on into us on a back road near Athens, Georgia. We were about 0.7 miles from the festival we were trying to get to and a red Ford Ranger came swinging around a snakey turn and wasn’t slowing down for anybody. He swung right into our lane going 65mph while we were going about 40-50mph, and hit us head on. I saw my life flash before my eyes in that moment, that’s for sure.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
In the morning I try to eat as clean as possible, some cereal, granola, banana, avocado, some carbs, high fat, low sugar, good fiber. Lunch is usually a Chick-Fil-A if we’re lucky, or Chipotle if we’re really lucky. I try to eat light snacks before the show, maybe some hummus or guac, and then after the show I’ll grab some local Asian food if I can. I love Thai and Korean, but also I’m open. I try to stay away from dairy as much as possible, it doesn’t agree with me.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I really don’t break many strings a year, I’d say I go through 4-6 packs of strings a year. I should probably change them more often honestly, ha.
Where do you rehearse?
Lately we’ve been rehearsing at my friend Charlie Treat’s house in his basement. It’s a perfect rehearsal space for a band our size.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
“And I know you’re waiting, waiting by the phone.” That’s from the first song I ever finished called “Home”.
Describe your first gig.
My first gig ever was at a spot called Riddle Ale House in Granite Run, PA. I was about 16 years old and in my first band called Yet To Be Seen. The band name was given to us from the hostess of that restaurant because someone asked her where the band was and she said, “They’re yet to be seen”, and we just so happened to hear her.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last day job was an evening job working as a server at Fin & Pearl, a nice seafood restaurant that isn’t here in Nashville anymore, but it was great. I worked in restaurants all throughout high school and college. If it wasn’t for Americorps and Rebuilding Together I wouldn’t be in Nashville, so I’d have to say that was one of my favorite jobs.
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 has certainly taken a hit since the digital age of music began, but my generation saw that coming and also took advantage of it. I knew that it would be more and more challenging to make money from music as time went on, but I also trust that I can always make a living from it. I’m not trying to become filthy rich, I just want to make enough to support my team and take care of my family and the people I love. 5-10 years from now it will probably be harder to make money from music sales, but live music will never go away, and I plan on playing for at least the next 40-60 years of my life, so I’ll have that. Who knows, I might even diversify my income in ways by then too if I’m smart.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I wish I knew that a pandemic would shift my entire career, but I also feel like I was given all the tools I needed to figure it out along the way. Putting a team together is one of the most important things that I’ve learned in this industry. A team that you can trust in the boat with you. Also, I would have stressed more the importance of diversity if I could have gone back to my early self. I’ve grasped that now, but the industry here in Nashville needs active integration and desegregation, and that’s everyone’s job, especially mine.