Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
We tour in a 2013 Ford E-350 named Wheelie Nelson. For the better part of a year, we have had to tour with dents in both sides because of two separate accidents. Neither were our fault and both are tied up in the legal system now so I won’t go into more detail. I’ll just say it’s been frustrating because we love that van and it’s hard to see it look like War Wagon. ?
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
It’s hard to eat healthy on the road. We mostly rely on intermittent fasting and high protein.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I used to break a string at every show (or maybe every other show) but in The Waymores outfit I get to play a little softer so I’m guessing it’s around 5 strings a year. They’re about $15/pack so I’m thankful for having calmed down on that a bit.
Where do you rehearse?
We don’t have a set rehearsal space for the full band. We rent spaces or take over our friends’ houses (Thanks Matt Dildine). In Matt’s house, I think every member of the band has broken part of his chandelier at one point or another. Kira (Annalise) and I rehearse at home if we rehearse at all and it’s usually pretty laid back. At this point, we better know what we’re doing or stop doing it.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song we ever wrote together was “Matches.” Kira had written some verses and brought them to me saying she couldn’t find a chorus and I said “you can’t find a chorus because I’ve been toting it around in my back pocket for the last twenty years” and they fit together perfectly. She’s the only person I’ve ever been able to write with.
Describe your first gig.
We had our first gig and honed our craft with a monthly residency at an Atlanta staple called Dixie Tavern. We played there for years, every Wednesday night. Sometimes to no one, sometimes to great crowds. It served its?purpose but we haven’t been in there in ages.?
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
Still to this day, when we aren’t on tour, I’m usually swinging a hammer somewhere. I do a lot of handy-man stuff or construction and I really do enjoy it. As long as I don’t have to dig a ditch, I’ll call it an okay day.
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?
As our revenue has grown, so has our team and the responsibilities that come with that. We are incredibly grateful to be in a place where our camp is expanding, even though it means our expenses have grown too. We’re building something real and with that comes investment. Our hope is that in the next 5-10 years we’ll be able to fully sustain our crew with fair salaries and stability so that we can focus less on financial stress and more on the music and the mission.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
We’ve learned there is no single roadmap to success in this industry. Today, nearly anyone can release music, which is both a beautiful opportunity and a real challenge. The playing field is wide open, but it’s also incredibly crowded.
We’ve made our fair share of missteps, including spending years with representation that held us back. But every lesson (good or bad) shaped who we are. We’ve kept hustling, stayed humble, tried to lead with kindness, and held onto our faith in the journey. And with that, we believe our moment will come.