1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Conversations on life, style, beauty and relationships. It's the Velvet's 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Edge podcast with Kelly Henderson. The people are going to 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: be like, what are they talking about to start, but 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: but tell them what you were just telling me. Let's 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: go right in. I'm Kevin Griffin, um the Velvet's Edge, 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: and I was just saying that velvet's Velvet's Edge sounds 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: rather provocative because it's the softest of velvet, but the 8 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: edginess of what's beyond, you know, it sounds kind of 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: thought provoking. And Velvet's Edge, I thought could sound like 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,639 Speaker 1: one of those old on Showtime back in the nineties. Uh. 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: It was a show that was hosted by David Ducovney 12 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: before he did The X Files, and he was this 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: rogue ish kind of uh commentator narrator, and he would 14 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: introduce these stories of love gone wrong and it was 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: always just on the on the edge of soft porn. 16 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: It was. It was. It wasn't that bad, but it was. 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: They were called the Red Jew Diaries and they became 18 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: the punch line of jokes on SNL and Late Night Calm, 19 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: late night shows like Conan O'Brien. So I think that 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: Velvet's Edge could be. Look, I'm just saying, Kelly, you know, 21 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: as the as the podcast explodes and becomes bigger than 22 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 1: Joe Rogan, you know, the next you need to take 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: it into you know, the video realm with maybe a 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: Netflix series, and I'll help you curate. Well, I mean, okay, yes, 25 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: let's do that. That's how we start. Well, I hate 26 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: to say because I said, I'm not going to tell 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: you what it means, because you guys do not explain 28 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: what better than as your means. Like, I've researched this, 29 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: I tried to find it. You won't say where the 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: name came from. So I was trying to kind of 31 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: dangle that in front of you. But then you basically 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: nailed what velvet means. Damn it. It's figured out the 33 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: line between what is acceptable and what just forbidden kind of. 34 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I think everyone has a little velvet and 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: a little edge though. Yes, I agree, Yeah, I agree. 36 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: Um better yeah, the whole better the ether thing. When 37 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: we first started, um, people were less interested in the 38 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,119 Speaker 1: band when we told him the real meaning of the name. 39 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: So we're like, let's let's just quit telling people the 40 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: explanation and the name is like better than Ezra. Where 41 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: did you get that? Because at the time, nobody was 42 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: named Ezra. Now people were named Ezra. Now there's Ezraconic 43 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: from Vampire Weekend, and lots of actors and kids are 44 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: being named Ezra and so. But there were so many 45 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: amazed people thought it was a biblical reference. Uh. The 46 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: best most literate explanation is on page to fifty eight 47 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: of himing Way as a Movable Feast is the line 48 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: that says anything was better than Ezra learning how to 49 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: play the bassoon, Like, why don't you guys just go 50 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: with that? I think you know what that's it, hitming 51 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: Way fan. I was like, you know, it doesn't get 52 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: any better than the pros of Hemingway and a movable feast, 53 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: And so that's what it means. There's another rumor that 54 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: you guys were doing like an open mic night or something, 55 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: and there was a band or like some sort of competition. 56 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: There's a band before you all called Ezra. So y'all 57 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: didn't have a name, so you just said better than Ezra. 58 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: That sounds like the Norm McDonald Saturday Night Live episode 59 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 1: where he said that during Weekend Update. Did he used 60 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: that line? Oh yeah, well, well Norm McDonald. Well, I 61 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: knew about it because it was my band, you know, 62 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: in the nineties when he was the host of this 63 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: this summer college the number one banded on college campuses 64 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: was better than Ezra, number two Ezra but delivered in 65 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: a Norm McDonald's last year, you know. They it was 66 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: in the top ten of the all time top ten 67 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: Norm McDonald bits. So it was very we got Suddenly 68 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: I was getting calls from Rolling Stone and stuff like, 69 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: what do you think we're like this big honor But 70 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: it was it was of a timeless bit. Oh my god, 71 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: it's such a good bit. Got to be a part 72 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: of Yeah, well you just sort of confirmed Another fun 73 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: fact from that I learned from Wikipedia today when I 74 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: was researching but that you do impressions that do you 75 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: know that's on your Wikipedia page, that that is like 76 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: one of the things that they list as one of 77 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: your major accomplishments that shipped off. Have you tried to 78 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: edit your Wikipedia? Oh no, God, I wish I could 79 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: edit it like a lot of my Google searches. So 80 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: what happened is that Wikipedia was the Wild West when 81 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: it came out. Just anybody could edit it. Anybody could 82 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: put anything they want like like my and like that photo. 83 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: I didn't put that photo. I don't know where that 84 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: photo from two thousand ten. And I'm wearing like true 85 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: religion jeans, you know, like the old school white thick 86 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: white stitching. Thank god, I'm not working at Hardy shirt 87 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: or something. I would have to quit this podcast. I 88 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: would just say, you know what, Kevin, it was so 89 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: nice to me, know what von duchess back. Have you 90 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: seen how to feel about that? Are wearing Von Dutch 91 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: ironically now? And it's suddenly just like people are kicking Crocs. 92 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: I know crocs are everywhere because Crocs back wears Crocs. No, 93 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: it's a lot for me to digest. Okay, but do 94 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: you or do you not? Are you a skilled mimic 95 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: or not? I mean they listed people like Aaron Neville, 96 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: Bruce Springsteen, David I had done. We know. Ezra started 97 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: off at at l s U. And we we were 98 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: we were just playing college bars all throughout the sec 99 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: support ourselves rather than have to get real jobs after 100 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: we graduated l s U. We we we would play covers, 101 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: you know, and we would play five hours, do set, 102 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: do four sets, And so you had to learn a 103 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: lot of covers, and I think that's where I just started, 104 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: um becoming um good at imitate, whether it was bios 105 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: Moses imitating the singers that I was, um, you know, 106 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: imitating or covering. I guess do you still use the 107 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: skill set? I mean you just did actually Norm McDonald 108 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: nor McDonald, Um, yeah, a few. I do. I do 109 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: a few? Are you wanting me to? I mean if 110 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: you wanted to throw something out? Is there one? Of course, 111 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: every every musician who does a podcast interview has to 112 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: show himself in the studio. I got a guitar. Uh, 113 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 1: you're welcome. People. Before this even happens, I feel like 114 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: this is this is a good one. So this is 115 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: the This is Dave Matthews singing the Velvet Edge theme song, 116 00:06:53,839 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: Stump dunder Dude. This is a vitt wit sage, bits Stone, 117 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: the bell SiGe. The line between what's forbidden what's desirable. 118 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: This is the vilvitsage. Dun Dunn and on a crashing 119 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: to beat velvets Edge and we will make a sweet podcast. 120 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that's there, you go, calls producer. Now 121 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: it makes that's that's free. You can you're saying, you said, 122 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: oh my god, that's really horrible, but that was amazing. 123 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: Stum dedum dedme. Oh my god. Actually, the first time, 124 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: what were you gonna say? I was gonna say the 125 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: first time I saw Dave Matthews with that jazz Fest, 126 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: which you are, my fellow Louisianian over here. I actually 127 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: just got back from New Orleans yesterday. You were there 128 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: for jazz Fest. I was there for jazz Fest. I 129 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: went this weekend. And you know, there's something. I don't 130 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: know if you get this feeling still, but I can 131 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: be like going about in life and then I go 132 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: home for even like a weekend, and it's like totally 133 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: resets me. It's like it reminds me of who I 134 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: am or something, because I feel like there's no place 135 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: like Louisiana. There. You're right there, there's no place like Louisiana, 136 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: especially Southern Louisiana. Correct. I grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, 137 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: which is kind of other than by US. It's just 138 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: any place USA, you know. Um, but sudden, Louisiana has 139 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 1: this thing you know, and if you live there any 140 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: amount of time and you were born there, it gets 141 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,359 Speaker 1: in your blood and you know there's that there's them 142 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: just saying that it's called local color and your native air. 143 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,719 Speaker 1: It's it's the part of you that when you grow 144 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: up someplace, especially someplace that's so unique as Louisiana, it 145 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: becomes part of your DNA. And when you're there, you're 146 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: actually kind of complete and really in your element. And 147 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: and if there's fun, there's fung su for the soul. 148 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: You know, that's a great book title. By the way, 149 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: Oh my god, do write that ship down? Um than uh, 150 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: than being in your where, your native your native air. 151 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: Really you're in your your best element. And I'm the 152 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: same way like I go down on Thursday. Um, we're playing. 153 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: We're not doing the fest this year, we're doing it 154 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: next year. Um. We're playing the House of Loose Friday 155 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: night in New Orleans in the French Quarter. Yeah. I 156 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: love that House of Blues. Actually, I feel like you 157 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: guys have played that a tome career and we we've 158 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: played that place more than any other place we've ever played. 159 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: We hold more more um sellouts there than any other 160 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 1: band that's played there. I mean hopefully, you know, considering 161 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: how many times we played there. But it's home and 162 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: we're doing um, we're doing our two thousand one record 163 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: closer from start to finish. So I can't wait to 164 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: be back and I'll be going to the fest and 165 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 1: having my not gettish meat pies and my crawfish bread 166 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: and crawfish monica. Yeah. I mean literally, I do no 167 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: gluten and no dairy in my normal daily life. So 168 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: then when you go to Louisiana, my body is like, 169 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: what the fuck? But you do do it when you're 170 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: there to I can't not it. Just yeah, you can. 171 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: You can if you're if you're gluten intolerant and you 172 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: have all that food, if you snort arobiotic, Oh, the 173 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: snorting is the way to go. It's the only way 174 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: to get into your bloodstream fastened the gluten on spot. 175 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: Oh my god. Well, you and I were talking before 176 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: the podcast because we actually met officially ish I guess 177 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: in the airport in Nashville a couple of weeks ago. 178 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: We both got, uh, we got what do you call that? 179 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: Like arrested by security for our bags. There was a 180 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: very strange medium because no words were exchanged, only our 181 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: eyes were like we were both in t s a 182 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: pre chick and we went through and they both flagged 183 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: our bags, right, which was so weird because we were 184 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,079 Speaker 1: very close behind each other. I feel like that was 185 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: a new person working the security camera. Thing in any 186 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: bag that had anything in it, like more than one thing, 187 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: they were like a run it. You know, there's there's 188 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: no consistency in T s A and you can't you know. 189 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: I guess that's just about the nature of the beasts. 190 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: It's everywhere, but every time it's for me, it's always 191 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: contact Solution that they opened liquid. I'm like, come on, 192 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: its contact solution, right, Like, what am I actually going 193 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: to do? Girl? You know? And then we were just 194 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: laughing about it. But then suddenly we were in the 195 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: line for coffee shop and I stole a child's right 196 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: I was. I was thinking to myself, I think I 197 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: know that guy somehow, and then I observed you steal 198 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: a coffee from a child, and I was like, I 199 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: hope I don't know that guy, because uh that it 200 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: really was. I mean, technically I was taking the child's dream, 201 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: but I thought it I thought it was my milk Lotte. Yeah, 202 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: it was actually a hot chocolate with the hot chocolate, 203 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 1: so I gave it to the kid and he was 204 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: a little put off, but um, yeah, and did rectify. 205 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: Then you went on your plane. I sat on my 206 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: plane and I was like, oh my god, that's Kevin Griffin. 207 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: It all hit me at the same time, and I 208 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: messaged you because growing up in Louisiana, I literally could 209 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: not tell you how many big moments of my life 210 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: like that. The background music was that deluxe album. I 211 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: mean I know it front to back. I'm like the 212 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,079 Speaker 1: biggest better than as our fan, and so I couldn't 213 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: believe it didn't recognize you. It mean was the mask. 214 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: But but they brought us together and now you're here. 215 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: So the TSA brought us together. Thank you know, um yeah, 216 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: and you're Louisiana and then you I was like, who 217 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: is this person? Velvit's edge and we got two thousand 218 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: instagrams and so here we are, so and here we are. 219 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: We were trying to go through um just my my management. 220 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: Here in my management and then uh my pilgrimage. Uh 221 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: is it sweet talk? Yes? Uh Jensen. I was like 222 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: I already am talking to her. Yeah, I found you. 223 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: I got to somehow, So here we are. You have 224 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: all this crossover. But yes, okay, so I have to 225 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: know everything about better Than Ezra and also like you 226 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: have a whole another life now that we need to 227 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: talk about. But um, like I said, I grew up 228 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: on this album. I mean good all of the music. 229 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: I know, you guys know all these songs, and but 230 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: I love talking to it. And every every musician unless 231 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: they unless they're a jerk, ye loves to hear about 232 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: how an album is part of your life and the song. 233 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: Really you never get tired of that, No, I mean 234 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: if because it's so it's it's just a it's a 235 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: blessing to be able to be part of someone's life 236 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: and when you've been playing for a while and hopefully 237 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: that's that's what's that's the most rewarding thing about your 238 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: career in music? How did I affect people's lives and 239 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: how did I be a part of their happiness? And 240 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: it sounds, you know, silly, but it's really true, So 241 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: go ahead, you don't have to make excuse Well no, 242 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: I actually think that makes total sense too, because I 243 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: would imagine it's much like anything else, Like when I 244 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: do this podcast, the content is interesting to me. I 245 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: want to talk about it, but what really fills me 246 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: up is when people message me and they say, oh 247 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: my god, when you said this, it really reminded me 248 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: of this in my life. And so it's this human 249 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: connection piece that we all really really long for. It 250 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: is in with music. I might have written those songs, um, 251 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: but once you you write them and you record them, 252 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: then there they leave. They they are child, they really are. 253 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: They go and they become part of another person's life 254 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: in there and the soundtracks of their life, and they 255 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: have their own interpretation what the song means, often a 256 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: lot more eloquent and deeper than may you what you 257 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: were thinking when you wrote it, you know. And uh 258 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: so it's just really cool to hear how songs, you know, 259 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: permeate people's lives. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I had my 260 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: first kiss to a better better than song, Yes, I 261 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: think so. I wish I could remember, I know, I mean, 262 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: it was a really long time ago at this point, 263 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: but well I was really young then, but I don't think. Yeah, 264 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: maybe two thousands for you, but yeah, I um, I think. 265 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: I mean it wasn't good because that was like the big, big, 266 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: big major hit that everyone remembers. I used to love Rosaliah. 267 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: That was like in Southern Girl, I mean, because I 268 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: was a Southern girl. It was just you know, you 269 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: make the song about yourself, about yourself. You know, Rosalia 270 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: was about I. I I had left Baton Rouge. Um. You know, 271 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: Ezra was a four piece. I did know that in 272 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: our my good friend and member committed suicide money and 273 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: when that happened, what what was just just a fun 274 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: party band, you know, having being you know, you were 275 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: like pirates in a in a in a custom van 276 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: traveling throughout the country, you know, playing music. It just changed, 277 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: you know, And I wanted to get out of town. 278 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: I'd graduated from l s U in the fall of 279 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: eighty nine, and so I my girlfriend at the time, UM, 280 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: moved to Santa Fe for a few months, and then 281 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: we moved to Aspen for a year. But when I 282 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: lived in Santa Fe, I worked at this restaurant. I 283 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: was the worst waiter ever a restaurant in Adobe. Uh 284 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: it's still there. It's a famous place down in the 285 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: old town, right near the Square and the and the 286 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: owner was a woman from New Orleans. Her name was 287 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: Rosalie and Murphy. And she was just very mysterious, um magnetic, 288 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: magnetic personality of a woman. And uh, and she was 289 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: also rumored to be a witch. You know, and it 290 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: was really interesting stuff about her and uh. And so 291 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: that song was written about uh Rosalie Murphy and this 292 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: imaginary um uh relationship. And there's also a festival it's 293 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: called the Zobra. Every year they burned this big it's 294 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: almost like a burning man. They had this big wooden effigy. 295 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: It's during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Santa 296 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: Fe and it's and they burns Zobra. So it's wearing 297 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: your map. People dress up in masquerade masses. So so 298 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: that's what Rosalie is about, mixed with the story of 299 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: domestic abuse, but quite the mixed you Now I have 300 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: to go back and listen now that I know the 301 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: actual meaning because I don't even know that I've ever 302 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: connected that. You didn't even want that, No, I want it, 303 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: I want it all. But so good was the one 304 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: that was like really big for you guys, And I 305 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 1: just want to talk about you kind of mentioned this 306 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: this fourth person what because that was before any of 307 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: this actually really hit right, So what was that like 308 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: as like a young guy having such a loss. I've 309 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: never had to go through that well typically with suicide, 310 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: you know, UM, I hope you never do and listening 311 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: you have or probably saying I hope you never have 312 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:19,239 Speaker 1: to go through it. Um you know, I guess you know, 313 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: as you get older, you know, I'm fifty three, and 314 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: as you get older you realize that life isn't about 315 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: um ifs, but it's when you know, like because you 316 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: when you're you know, in your earliest twenties, like, I've 317 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: never lost anybody close to me, and this happened to me. 318 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: I never had that, I never gotten divorced. This has 319 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: never happened to me. And then suddenly, oh that happened. 320 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: Well that happened, and you look back like, wow, I've 321 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: been through a lot. And the first big thing, you know, 322 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: for me traumatt trauma was you know, losing my best friend, 323 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: you know, Joel Rundol to suicide, you know, and he 324 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: was we had been friends at seventh grade and he 325 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: wasn't better than Ezra and he was just this he 326 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: was all what he always battled depression, you know. And 327 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: this is the late eighties, early nineties. There wasn't Prozact. 328 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: That was the first big you know. Now there's just 329 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: so many and there's so they're so targeted for whatever 330 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: kind of depression or our anxiety people have. Luckily, I've 331 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: never I've never had any of that. Um. But I 332 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: know so many you know, so many people who have 333 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: had and have dealt with depression and anxiety and how 334 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: they can just be a toxic mix. But Joel, you know, 335 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: wouldn't see a therapist. He wasn't on any depressants and 336 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: always dealt with depression. And you know, looking back, uh, 337 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: there were all the signs. You know, it's always very 338 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 1: clear in hindsight. UM. But that was tough. So I 339 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: I that was August when that happened. By September, I 340 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: was in Santa Fe. You know, Okay, you just had 341 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: to get out of town. I had to get out 342 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: of town. I was like, I gotta get out of here. 343 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 1: You know. I was right across an alley from where 344 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: he he died, and and it was awful and you know, 345 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: and and my girlfriend's mom lived in Santa Fe, so 346 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: we went there. And then I went to Aspen and 347 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: I was a I worked on the top of the 348 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: Snowmass Mountain at a restaurant called winds High Alpine. And 349 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: I was there a guitar ski guy in Aspen for 350 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 1: a year, and so I went there learned not knowing 351 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: how to ski, and then ended up skiing about a 352 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty days in one season and became a 353 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: constu And then I moved off to l A and 354 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: and the rest is history. But it was it. You know, 355 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: It's it's crazy the things in life that are traumatic 356 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: or really sad or um that push you to that 357 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: just change, that alter the course of your life. And 358 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: I turned you in a new direction. And and people 359 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: do that, but but events do it as well. Yeah, 360 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: So did you guys think that when he died maybe 361 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,199 Speaker 1: this was it music? Yeah? Yeah, the band was just 362 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: like it wasn't even something to think about. It was 363 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: really just like getting over the trauma of losing somebody 364 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: close to you. And we were just stung and ill 365 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: equipped and and you talked about you know, we talked 366 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: about the stigma of mental health and uh and um 367 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: that it's a real disease, just as real as COVID 368 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: or uh, you know, a stomach helement, you know it 369 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: and um, but it was really it wasn't that it 370 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: was a stigmatized but it was just nothing was known about, 371 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: you know that, And it wasn't the access and open 372 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: conversations about normalizing talking about mental health. So we were 373 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: ill equipped, you know. Um we we just we just 374 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: went on with our lives. We just kind of took 375 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: a break and we took about a six month break 376 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: and came back in February of two thousand one and 377 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: did our first show as a three piece And that's 378 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: what kind of defined better than as as a three piece, 379 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, um it in a lot more work for 380 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: me as the guitarist, you know, I wasn't. I did 381 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 1: play like a very you know, a telecaster, very jangly 382 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: do a finder twin, and then I was like, I 383 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: need to get serious and got a lot better as 384 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: a guitarist and got a less Paul Gibson and in 385 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: a big Marshall stack and that really again, that kind 386 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,120 Speaker 1: of changed the sound of the band, you know, and 387 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: um by, you know, it had to, and so so 388 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: many things happened from that moment, but ultimately, you know, uh, 389 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: no regrets, no looking back. But yeah, it was a 390 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: tough time, and you know, you don't choose those times 391 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: where you have to grow up really fast. I could imagine, 392 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: I mean, and that was something I actually didn't know 393 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: either until I was reading about the band earlier and um, 394 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: it was interesting to me because it did y'all had 395 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: this like gap. But then the band that I know 396 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: it blew up. And I've mentioned good a bunch of times. 397 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: I was was listening in the car driving earlier, and 398 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: it's like, I will never forget that ah. Like I'm 399 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: not a I'm not a singer, but part yes, it's 400 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: just like it is such a I could like picture 401 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: myself as a kid driving around like dancing with my 402 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: friends and I was just like singing that. I mean, 403 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: it's a huge, massive song. It is you know, it's 404 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 1: um it is well the wa the wah was supposed 405 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,360 Speaker 1: to be a lyric. I mean it really. I never 406 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: finished the song, so I came up with the song 407 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: and I wanted to. I've been listening to a lot 408 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: of Dylan and uh, and I wanted to in the Pixies. 409 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: The Pixies were, you know, ladies band with Frank Black 410 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: and one of my favorite bands ever, and those Dylan 411 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: and the Pixies. You know, we're famous. We're just playing 412 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: a song and it's very obvious, obvious to me now 413 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,479 Speaker 1: as a professional songwriter. At the time, it was like 414 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: an ahamam where oh I can just write a song 415 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: with the same four cords over and over again and 416 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: using dynamics, you know in nineties terms, using a distortion 417 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: pedal um make a song and so good. Was really 418 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: an exercise me trying to write a Dylan meets uh uh, 419 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 1: Pixies meets R E M song. And so I wrote 420 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: the song and I was and had the ah ha 421 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: it was good part and I played it that it's rehearsal. 422 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: And we were opening for a band called POI Dog Pondering, 423 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: which was this band that almost made it in the 424 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 1: early nineties. They were out of Austin, Texas, and we 425 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: opened for them, and uh we played good with incomplete lyrics, 426 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: and everybody just flipped. I was for this new song. 427 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 1: Even the band, the members in the band Poyt Dog 428 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: Pondering came out and goes, you guys are you guys 429 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:47,959 Speaker 1: are really good? It was we were hanging out having 430 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: drinks and like that one song, the want Aw song. 431 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: I was like, oh my god, that's that, that's that 432 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: elusive hook. And I never it wasn't meant to be 433 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: a hook, and you know, and here I am thirty 434 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: years later, still singing one. But it's really funny. But 435 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 1: that's been such a good song, I mean, pun intended, 436 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's been such just you know, it's a 437 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: three minute and nine second long song that changed my 438 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: life and will always be known, you know, I'll always 439 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: be connected with that song. And it's and it's uh, 440 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 1: it's pretty special and um yeah, it's the thirty second 441 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: most played alternative song ever according to Billboards. But really, 442 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not surprised. It's pretty nice, you know, 443 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: because you unless you're some massive musician like you're in 444 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: Green Day or YouTube or cold Play, you know, you 445 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: always say, oh, I wish this would have happened, or 446 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: are that I wish I could have been this, or 447 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: we should have been you know, bigger, all these kind 448 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: of things. Then you say, wait a second, I've had 449 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: I'm I still do. I play all over the country 450 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: and a lot of parts of the world playing this 451 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: this music, and I get to play beautiful arenas and stuff, 452 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: and and it's pretty great, you know. And I've got 453 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: nothing but gratitude, you know, for for being able to 454 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: do it and still being in music. This silly thing 455 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: when I was in second grade, I wanted to be music, 456 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: you know, listening to Elton John Goodbye Yell Bick Road, 457 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: you know in my bedroom, you know, on an LP 458 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,239 Speaker 1: and dreaming of being a musician and singing and just 459 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: being intoxicated by music and it was just everything and 460 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: I get to do it still. It's great, right, It's 461 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 1: kind of amazing when you get to make that kind 462 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: of stuff a job. The same way about my job 463 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: do I mean yeah, people say what would you do? 464 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: I mean, what do you do for fun? My job? Yeah? Right, 465 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 1: my job, I mean to a fault. It's like, you know, 466 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: my family and stuff of like quit. They can tell 467 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: when I check out, when I have a song on 468 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: my head, I'll just check out. I'll write I'm writing 469 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: a note an idea, usually their shitty note ideas, but 470 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: you have a lot of titles and anyhow sorry right now, 471 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: and they hit well. I think it's such a happy 472 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: accident because literally, like I put you guys on while 473 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: I was driving earlier, and it's like all the lyrics 474 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: come running back, especially the one that wasn't supposed to 475 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: be a lyric, which is just hilarious because it made 476 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: the whole song the want. Yeah, like when I stumble 477 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,719 Speaker 1: like when I ever I say something this like not 478 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,719 Speaker 1: that funny or you know, do anything that's goofy, my 479 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: buddies will go way. So that kind of means, yeah, 480 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: I love that backstory. Um, well, so you guys did 481 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: continue on you had this huge career. You know what 482 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,199 Speaker 1: else I was thinking about when I was reading It 483 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 1: was like the time back in the day, like when 484 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: you guys got famous, And I was because I was 485 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: reading about the stuff you were doing and like the 486 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: shows you would do and all this stuff. Could you 487 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: imagine if that was now? Like what a difference like 488 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 1: with social media? Like what do you think about when 489 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: bands kind of hit really big or have like a 490 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: massive song like that. Could you imagine if that had 491 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: been y'all but in this day and age, like like 492 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: hitting hitting now, Yes, I think it would be well, 493 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,239 Speaker 1: it would be good, it would be bad on the 494 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: goods on the good side. Um again, no pun intended. Uh, 495 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: you know your your reach is so much greater, you 496 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 1: know it would we would know if how how we 497 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: were reacting all over the world, and it would enable 498 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,880 Speaker 1: us to say we need to be touring in Malaysia, 499 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 1: we need to be Australia, and that that kind of stuff. 500 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: Musicians these days, when you have a hit, you control 501 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: so much of your destiny. And you know, I mean 502 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: you really. I know young arnists I work with who 503 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: are are making bank and they put their own music 504 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: out on distrot hit or sound or sound not SoundCloud, 505 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: tune corps, and so you can really control so much 506 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: more of your career. Um. But at the same time, uh, 507 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: the nineties were the heyday of the old school music 508 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: system when physical albums, especially c D, We're selling so 509 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: much and the labels were making money hand over fists. 510 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: And as a songwriter, you know, I wrote all the 511 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: songs I was. I wasn't collaborating until the two thousand, 512 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: so all those songs I had written by myself, you 513 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: know those albums. The albums were selling like hotcakes, and 514 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: I was getting paid really well as a songwriter for 515 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: those songs. So so financially, the nineties was if you 516 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: if you had hits in the nineties, that was the time, 517 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: because now here's the deal and the labels were making 518 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: more money than ever. Now let's take that too. Now 519 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: that streaming Spotify and stuff that preached that golden number 520 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: of over a hundred and ten million paid premium subscribers 521 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: of of services worldwide, of um the master use fees 522 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: because the money for a song is split into half. 523 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: Of the money that comes over song is for the 524 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: master use for the actual recording. The other half goes 525 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: of the songwriters. Well in the streaming world, and that's 526 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: really everything these days, right the streaming world, the master 527 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: use is a nice chunk of money. That's why the 528 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: late and the label gets that. So the labels are 529 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: making more money now than they ever did. It's the salladays, 530 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: all over again. But sadly, and you probably already know this, 531 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 1: and the listeners who to the songwriters are getting shafted 532 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: the song that els, the the service providers like Spotify 533 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: are paying us a criminally low amount. So as a songwriter, 534 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: if so, so, it's a long winded thing, But so 535 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: if I was, if I was happening today, you know, 536 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: if better than as was having their moment today, if 537 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 1: I own my masters, I'd be like it'd be, I'd 538 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: be doing the money dance, But more than likely I 539 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 1: would be laying Most musicians and have sold the master 540 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: rights to the label and only get this, So a 541 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: lot of musicians don't make as much money on the 542 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: songwriting side or for their label does and they used to. 543 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: But you do make more, you know, you get paid 544 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: more for shows and stuff, so you know, it all 545 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: evens out on this. I think it's an amazing time 546 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: to be a musician now because what I was saying earlier, 547 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: you control your own destiny. You can put if you 548 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: have a great song, you can put it out yourself, 549 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: and you control everything and and and and there's no middleman. 550 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: It's just me and you, right. So but yeah, so 551 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: did I answer that question? Yeah? You did? I mean, 552 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: and I think in the way of music, and then 553 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: maybe like the publicity aspect or how you can get 554 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: your music out there. But then again, there's also the 555 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: side of kind of being so famous and like what 556 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: people know about your personal life and all of that. 557 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: Like what was it like when you guys hit? What 558 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: did you feel this major self? Because weren't you in 559 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 1: your twenties, like I would imagine as a like a 560 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: young man in his twenties, you're like ready to go, 561 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: oh my god. Yeah, you know. Well, the thing is, 562 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: you know, we were I was twenty six when as 563 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: you took off. We were we thought we were too old. 564 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: We used to live out it really, So we used 565 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 1: to lie and say we were two years old to them, 566 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: two years younger than we were. It sounds pathetic now, 567 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: but that's you know, they say about the nineties, you know, 568 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: the nineties the greatest decade ever, and no proof, right exactly, 569 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: because so I can't imagine, you know, we were just 570 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 1: a typically all single guys, you know, ad on tour, 571 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 1: being in the band and and being the number one 572 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: song and playing Letterman and Leno and and going all 573 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,840 Speaker 1: over the world, and it was great, you know, and 574 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: we had so much fun and there was fun times 575 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: and debauchery and all that kind of you know, all 576 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. I can't It's a different world now, 577 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: bless you, thank you. Uh, you know, it's a different 578 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: world now with social media and just also climate is 579 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: completely different, and I think for the most part for 580 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 1: the better, you know people, um uh you know it. 581 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: We're more civilized these days. I think, Um god, that's 582 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: giving everyone a lot of credit. I feel, well, look 583 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: at least you know, on social media, but uh, um god, 584 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: I don't know. I wouldn't want, you know, it was 585 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,959 Speaker 1: great playing a show and nobody had their phones up 586 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: right and it's crazy now and I love Look, I 587 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: went and saw a Silk Sonic, which is brunal. My god, 588 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: I saw it too. It's the best concert. That's the 589 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: best concert I've ever seen in a long time. Podcast 590 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 1: is spread the gospel of that show. Go see it 591 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: while they're in VEGUA Silk Sonic is the best show 592 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: on every Corey Corey. What's it? Choreograph, choreography, choreography, Yeah, 593 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: I'm familis. Choreography. Stage that's uh, you know, um, wardrobe, banter, everything. 594 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: But yeah, but you can't film it. You can't film 595 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: it for they make you put your phone in a 596 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 1: little pocket thing and they lock it up. White the 597 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 1: first show I went to three years ago, Jack White. 598 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: We did We went to his studio third Man, and 599 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: he played and you had to put your phone in 600 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: the little pouch and then at his show had to 601 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 1: send this past Saturday night. And so I love it. Um, 602 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:14,879 Speaker 1: it was a lot, you know, gosh, I mean, it's 603 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 1: just different. You know, I could say why it was 604 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: better than you know, but there are great things now 605 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: and and we would have capitalized on the social media 606 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 1: and you know, for sales and touring, and that would 607 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,919 Speaker 1: have been fun and a little scary because I look 608 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,439 Speaker 1: at you know, at the same time, you know, as 609 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: a as a as as an older musician. It's funny 610 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: because now, regardless of whether I've been doing it for 611 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: a long time, my I'm still compared. You know a 612 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 1: lot of times people will still want to compare me 613 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 1: and my social presence to a twenty two year old artists, 614 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 1: you know, and they've got a hundred and sixty thousand 615 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 1: followers and teams out and I'm like, wait, I just 616 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: sold out as in amphitheater and you can't the high 617 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: wad what's going on. So so that's that's a little 618 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 1: frustrating for older musicians. Sure, but you're my fan base 619 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: is aged out of being on you know, Instagram or 620 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: TikTok or whatever you know, and so so but um, yeah, 621 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 1: I can't. I would prefer to have had that my 622 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:25,279 Speaker 1: moment before all all the I don't blame you. I 623 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: always say like, thank god social media didn't exist when 624 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: I was in college, because like, I don't want any 625 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:39,239 Speaker 1: of that document you imagine documented, right, especially at l 626 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 1: s Q, which I know we have in commons. So yeah, 627 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: it was just so so low rent down you know what. 628 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:53,320 Speaker 1: And that's a compliment people, right, you know, I went back. 629 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: I just played Todd Graves, who's the you know, the 630 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 1: founder of Canes. Oh my god, yes, so I I 631 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 1: just played his fiftieth birthday at Fred's. No, and if 632 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 1: you guys don't know, Fred's is a bar that's been 633 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 1: just celebrated her thirtieth birthday. Wow, and you're an institution. 634 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:13,880 Speaker 1: It's a college bar right off the campus at l 635 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:15,800 Speaker 1: s U. But but when I went to Tiger Town 636 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 1: and was driving there, it hasn't changed. It's just more 637 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:24,280 Speaker 1: beat up. It's like it's like a group of dive bars. 638 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: Bogeyes is kind of out of it. But there's like 639 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: was Dublin still there and Fred's and all of them, 640 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:32,760 Speaker 1: I mean, and they're all disgusting. I mean it's literally 641 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: sports illustrated. That's before your time, lass it until the 642 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 1: it was right next to Fred's, it was a bar. 643 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 1: It's illustrated. Never mind you know the copyright infringement, but 644 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 1: big deal, it didn't exist. Um. But yeah, I went 645 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 1: back and uh yeah, it was suffice to say, yes, 646 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: I'm glad there was no digital proof of nanigans and 647 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 1: stupidity and yeah, it was a fun time though. I 648 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 1: mean just just you know, I kept a lot of 649 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: journals and stuff from those early tours and going through 650 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: Europe and in South America on press tours. Press tours 651 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 1: were the best because you would go, you would be 652 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 1: flown to another country. You didn't have to do shows 653 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: at night. You were just doing press in the mornings 654 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: and doing TV shows and drinking a lot. Yeah, I 655 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: mean the press tour in Germany put you know, a 656 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: lot of you took off a lot of years of 657 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 1: my life. It sounds like it's a fun time now. Well, 658 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,200 Speaker 1: you kind of touched on the fact that you've been 659 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: in the music business for so long, and I love 660 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,719 Speaker 1: this evolution you've had. We have a theme every month 661 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,279 Speaker 1: here on the Velvet Edge podcast, and the theme this 662 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:49,719 Speaker 1: month that is just being in bloom, like you're kind 663 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 1: of coming out of the winter hibern nation. Spring has sprung. 664 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 1: Everyone has learned their lessons and their hopefully hopefully applying 665 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,840 Speaker 1: and evolving into the new version of themselves for spring. 666 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: And so I kind of thought of that when I 667 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:06,800 Speaker 1: was thinking about your story of just like you started 668 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:10,080 Speaker 1: in this massive band and then now you have evolved, 669 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:13,279 Speaker 1: You've done a solo record. You are a part of 670 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,439 Speaker 1: the Pilgrimage Music Festival, You're a founding member of that. 671 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 1: I mean, there's all these different ways that you have evolved, 672 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:24,839 Speaker 1: So like, what what would you say? Still keeps you striving? 673 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: Because I love that story of like maybe I'm not 674 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:30,880 Speaker 1: going to be doing this like hardcore band touring for 675 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:32,319 Speaker 1: the rest of my life. But how do I take 676 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:36,919 Speaker 1: the thing that I love and keep it going? Um, 677 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 1: it really is. It's it's kind of a conscious I 678 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: call it conscious creativity. And um and and in two 679 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 1: thousand one, Uh, we have been dropped from our label, 680 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:54,160 Speaker 1: and uh we were making we were mixing an album 681 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 1: at Conway Studios in l A. It's a famous studio. 682 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:02,319 Speaker 1: It's the corner of Melroe and St. Andrew's. It's it's 683 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 1: a gorgeous destination studio. And behind these big terra cotta walls, Um, 684 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,799 Speaker 1: there are these manicured gardens and Bougainvillea and birds of 685 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: Paradise and there's there's three studios. And we were there 686 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: in two thousand and one in the in studio B 687 00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:21,120 Speaker 1: and Justin timber Lake was in Studio one making his 688 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:24,560 Speaker 1: first album and and and Meat Loaf was in his 689 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:28,719 Speaker 1: first in his studio, see making an album, and and 690 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 1: a manager came up to me and got named Alan Kovac, 691 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:33,799 Speaker 1: a famous manager, and he said, Meat heard one of 692 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 1: your songs, and he said, you know, would you like 693 00:39:36,120 --> 00:39:38,439 Speaker 1: to would you like to write a song for Meat Loaf? 694 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:41,640 Speaker 1: And and initially I was like, no, he's kind of 695 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 1: lame now, But then I ended up writing a song 696 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,480 Speaker 1: for him a couple of hours later, and and then 697 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:50,319 Speaker 1: opened up my eyes to to oh, there's there's a 698 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:52,440 Speaker 1: lot of different paths I can take in my career. 699 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:56,400 Speaker 1: And and I became friends with the manager and a 700 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:58,279 Speaker 1: lot of people. If you're in the industry, you know 701 00:39:58,400 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: who Alan Kovac has. A lot of people were all 702 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: the rise because they've either had a good, good experience 703 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,400 Speaker 1: or bad experience. I had a good experience. And but 704 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: he said, Kevin, he told me these really wise words. 705 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:09,560 Speaker 1: He said, Kevin, you look at what I got. I 706 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:13,160 Speaker 1: got real estate, I got you know, movie production, I 707 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:15,640 Speaker 1: got management. He goes, you just got better than Ezra. 708 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:19,839 Speaker 1: He goes, You're you're a smart kid. Diversify and so well. 709 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,360 Speaker 1: And so starting there, I started writing songs for other people. 710 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:27,200 Speaker 1: So and I started kind of like asking myself, what 711 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:31,719 Speaker 1: do I have to do to continue to evolve creatively? 712 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:35,439 Speaker 1: Um to bloom if you will, and and stay engaged 713 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:41,319 Speaker 1: and relevant and um inspired and um and so I'm 714 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,200 Speaker 1: all and I realized it was it was a matter 715 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 1: of me continuing a creative education, always being inspired and 716 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:52,760 Speaker 1: excited by new music and new technology and new ways 717 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:56,000 Speaker 1: to to get your music out there, and embracing things 718 00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:59,279 Speaker 1: and and and always pushing away the you know, the 719 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:02,839 Speaker 1: killer of creed ativity, which is cynicism, you know, and 720 00:41:02,840 --> 00:41:06,719 Speaker 1: and just staying um is wide eyed and excited about 721 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:09,200 Speaker 1: this love of music that I always have been and 722 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: and and and so with that said, how can I 723 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:16,640 Speaker 1: continue to challenge myself within this industry that I've been 724 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:18,840 Speaker 1: in for thirty plush years? And so it was. It 725 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:20,720 Speaker 1: was saw you know. It was being in a band, 726 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: being a solo artist, doing a band with Martin McGrath 727 00:41:24,239 --> 00:41:26,520 Speaker 1: and from Sugar Ray and Emerson Heart from Tonic. We 728 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:30,120 Speaker 1: call it as a Heart. We just played the NFL draft, 729 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:31,879 Speaker 1: you know, to a big party out on the Las 730 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:37,520 Speaker 1: Vegas Boulevard on Thursday night. Um, you know, hey, why 731 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 1: can't I pub why can we know that my whole 732 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,399 Speaker 1: career has been about the question why can't I do that? 733 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:45,279 Speaker 1: You know, you know it's so, you know, I want 734 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:47,320 Speaker 1: to I can publish somebody. So I got a j 735 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:49,960 Speaker 1: V with BMG and and publish some writers and had 736 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: number ones for Florida, Georgia Line and and Morgan Wallen 737 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,759 Speaker 1: and um, you know, managing an artist. Uh. And then 738 00:41:56,920 --> 00:42:02,200 Speaker 1: you know in um uh you know, running the day 739 00:42:02,239 --> 00:42:05,440 Speaker 1: after Thanksgiving out to Harlem Sell Farm, you know, across 740 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:08,439 Speaker 1: the factor from the factory in Franklin, Tennessee, and going, 741 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 1: oh my god, and you appreciate this being form Louisiana. 742 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:13,839 Speaker 1: I was out there catching my breath and I was like, 743 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 1: where am I? This is a two fifty acre farm 744 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:19,760 Speaker 1: in the middle of in the middle of the arguably 745 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:23,000 Speaker 1: the coolest small town in America, Franklin, eighteen miles from 746 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,799 Speaker 1: downtown Nashville, a mile and a half from my sixty five. 747 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:28,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to do a festival at Middle Tennessee, like 748 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:31,120 Speaker 1: jazz Fest. And so my two partners are, you know, 749 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,520 Speaker 1: from New Orleans, and that the whole idea of the 750 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 1: d n a of Pilgrimage is jazz Fest New Orleans, 751 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:40,120 Speaker 1: you know. Um, and so so you know, it's really 752 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: I just continue wanting to grow and how can I 753 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 1: continue to challenge myself, scare myself and stretch myself. Uh, 754 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:54,600 Speaker 1: in this crazy creative journey. You know, I've we were 755 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:59,080 Speaker 1: talking earlier. I've I turned. I started doing speeches about 756 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: being creative. And about six years ago I did a 757 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:08,839 Speaker 1: speech for YPO, which those are Young Presidents organizations. There's 758 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 1: over five chapters around the world of these organizations that 759 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:16,480 Speaker 1: are members are all CEOs, and I think you have 760 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:19,440 Speaker 1: to have so many millions and gross revenue. It's like 761 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:21,480 Speaker 1: they don't like hearing this. But it's kind of like 762 00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:24,719 Speaker 1: a fraternity for millionaires. I'm not a member. I'm not 763 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:27,880 Speaker 1: a member at this fraternity. Uh, but I did a 764 00:43:27,880 --> 00:43:31,960 Speaker 1: speech for them. Um, it's rare that anything good comes 765 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,800 Speaker 1: in a bar after two am, especially during Monte Gras 766 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:38,960 Speaker 1: in New World. You know F and M's of course, 767 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:42,879 Speaker 1: it is so so this big part of my life 768 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:45,719 Speaker 1: started at three a m. At F and M is 769 00:43:45,719 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 1: waiting in line for cheez rice. A friend of mine 770 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,000 Speaker 1: I got named Brady Wood, who was an entrepreneur from Dallas, 771 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,440 Speaker 1: was in town with his YPO group, and and I 772 00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:55,719 Speaker 1: was like what what does ypo? He told me, and 773 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:57,320 Speaker 1: I ended up doing He said, well, you should do 774 00:43:57,320 --> 00:44:00,200 Speaker 1: a speech for us. Let's do one this spring. So 775 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,600 Speaker 1: so I did a speech for them about kind of 776 00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:06,040 Speaker 1: like the tools I used to stay creative, um in 777 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:08,720 Speaker 1: a story arc of my career and with the hits 778 00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:11,719 Speaker 1: and the and the crazy stories and uh. And it 779 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:14,480 Speaker 1: turned into this thing. I started doing speeches. I took 780 00:44:14,520 --> 00:44:18,600 Speaker 1: the speech and you know live Nation um which which 781 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:22,000 Speaker 1: uh New York life. I just I do these speeches 782 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:24,399 Speaker 1: and I've turned it into a book so that comes out. 783 00:44:24,719 --> 00:44:28,200 Speaker 1: It's finished. I'm just doing the Brown Books puts it out. 784 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:29,920 Speaker 1: They want it. We may do it this fall, but 785 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:33,279 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be spring. So so along with 786 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:38,160 Speaker 1: an answer, just I just love challenging myself. If I 787 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:40,920 Speaker 1: feel like I'm getting and getting too comfortable, I'm like, 788 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:43,719 Speaker 1: what can I do? And it's also you know, it's 789 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:46,279 Speaker 1: also like I'm I wake up in the middle of 790 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:49,520 Speaker 1: the night going you know, am I doing enough? Am 791 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,480 Speaker 1: I making just like anybody else? You know, those like 792 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:53,080 Speaker 1: am I making enough money? And what am I doing? 793 00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:57,880 Speaker 1: You know, because I'm still hungry. I'm still you know, 794 00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:01,160 Speaker 1: I've always been driven and Um so I and it's 795 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:03,880 Speaker 1: and it's usually about challenging myself and doing something. So 796 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:07,680 Speaker 1: my my blooming is is continually, how do I take 797 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:12,360 Speaker 1: the kernel of what I know really well, which is music, 798 00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:16,520 Speaker 1: and and the tree that you know, the family tree 799 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:18,760 Speaker 1: of music? How can I do everything within that family 800 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:22,200 Speaker 1: tree other than dance? Oh okay, so that's where you 801 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:28,560 Speaker 1: draw the line. Huh sadly no, not on theworlands at 802 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:31,080 Speaker 1: three am. I best know. I've been up on that. 803 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:34,960 Speaker 1: I've been on that pool table dancing before. I bet 804 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:37,839 Speaker 1: you've been on that pool table to every Friday night. 805 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:43,759 Speaker 1: This is why I'm really glad social media did not exist. 806 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,960 Speaker 1: Nellie was at jazz Festis last Yeah, Nellie was at 807 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:50,520 Speaker 1: jazz Fessus last weekend, and I was like, oh god, 808 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:53,840 Speaker 1: speaking of Tigerland. I mean back in Nellie's heyday was 809 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:56,839 Speaker 1: like when I was in college, so like tore it 810 00:45:56,920 --> 00:46:04,600 Speaker 1: up on those pool tables. Uh. Um. I was wondering too, 811 00:46:04,680 --> 00:46:07,080 Speaker 1: because you've had such a hit, so many hits as 812 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:10,239 Speaker 1: a songwriter. Um, I had no idea you were a 813 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:12,480 Speaker 1: part of Howie Days Collide. I mean that song was 814 00:46:12,520 --> 00:46:15,840 Speaker 1: a massive, but so what does it feel like is 815 00:46:15,880 --> 00:46:18,920 Speaker 1: there a difference between when it's your song you're performing it, 816 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:21,480 Speaker 1: and then when you give it off to someone else, 817 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:23,920 Speaker 1: like does it feel the same, do you feel different? 818 00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:26,600 Speaker 1: Like does it feel this as like was this the 819 00:46:26,719 --> 00:46:31,560 Speaker 1: success feel like? I guess I think it. Uh. It's 820 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:38,080 Speaker 1: great because because um uh, you realize that you don't 821 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,239 Speaker 1: have to be on tour to support the song. You 822 00:46:40,239 --> 00:46:41,680 Speaker 1: don't have to wake up, you don't have to sleep 823 00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:43,719 Speaker 1: in your bus in the parking lot of the you know, 824 00:46:43,760 --> 00:46:46,839 Speaker 1: the radio station and do the morning show. You can 825 00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:49,200 Speaker 1: just sit back and you know that that was a 826 00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:53,360 Speaker 1: song you know, and and collect your royalties. Um. And 827 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:56,440 Speaker 1: it's really good. And I think every musician you know, 828 00:46:56,600 --> 00:46:59,720 Speaker 1: again I go back to, you know, unless you're Chris 829 00:46:59,760 --> 00:47:03,680 Speaker 1: Mark or something like that, you know, every musicians wants 830 00:47:03,719 --> 00:47:06,440 Speaker 1: to wants to be known for something more than just 831 00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:09,359 Speaker 1: their band. I'm not just that. Yeah, I'm relevant. I'm 832 00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:11,640 Speaker 1: still relevant kind of thing. So I think for my ego, 833 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:17,200 Speaker 1: it made me feel like, you know, like, hey, yeah, 834 00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:19,439 Speaker 1: I'm in that band better than Ezra, but I'm a 835 00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,880 Speaker 1: hit songwriter. You know. It's give me a lot of 836 00:47:21,920 --> 00:47:24,359 Speaker 1: confidence and you know, as sallow as it is, I'll 837 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:26,080 Speaker 1: be the first to admit that I have a big ego, 838 00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:27,879 Speaker 1: and so it was felt nice. And that was two 839 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:30,640 Speaker 1: thousand and six to say, look, I have a number 840 00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:33,160 Speaker 1: one song, you know. And so I think it was 841 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:37,080 Speaker 1: really gratifying professionally to know that, Okay, I'm not I'm 842 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:40,239 Speaker 1: not just you know, on one hand, a shallow side, 843 00:47:40,239 --> 00:47:42,520 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not what I'm not just a person 844 00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:45,680 Speaker 1: who had hits. I have current hits. Um. But it 845 00:47:45,760 --> 00:47:51,720 Speaker 1: was really gratifying because you know, um, I'll always sound 846 00:47:51,719 --> 00:47:54,239 Speaker 1: like me singing, and I'll and you know, you know, 847 00:47:54,320 --> 00:47:56,719 Speaker 1: and I can't escape that I have certain chre progressions 848 00:47:56,719 --> 00:47:59,640 Speaker 1: and things I do that sounds like my songwriting and 849 00:47:59,880 --> 00:48:02,160 Speaker 1: I and I can hear it now my friends have 850 00:48:02,239 --> 00:48:04,719 Speaker 1: heard it for a long time. But but so it's 851 00:48:04,719 --> 00:48:07,000 Speaker 1: really nice. When I write for another artist, I really 852 00:48:07,080 --> 00:48:09,359 Speaker 1: kind of get to become a chameleon. I think there's 853 00:48:09,360 --> 00:48:14,400 Speaker 1: two kind of songwriters, um who collaborate. There the songwriters 854 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,480 Speaker 1: that when you write a song with him, it sounds 855 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:22,400 Speaker 1: like that songwriter, Like I can hear when Ryan Tedder 856 00:48:22,440 --> 00:48:24,600 Speaker 1: has been a part of the song. I can tell 857 00:48:24,719 --> 00:48:29,040 Speaker 1: Ryan Tedder or Jack Antonoff, you know, leatures I can 858 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 1: hear when he's part of I'm like, like, I heard 859 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:33,319 Speaker 1: the New Spoon song it's called Wild. I was like, 860 00:48:33,600 --> 00:48:36,200 Speaker 1: that's that's Jack antonof had to be part of that. 861 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:38,279 Speaker 1: And I looked up on Spotify. You know, it's like 862 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:40,799 Speaker 1: back and stuff. But then then there's the songwriters who 863 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:44,560 Speaker 1: are kind of chameleons, who who listened to an artist 864 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:47,200 Speaker 1: and like, Okay, how can I It goes back to 865 00:48:47,239 --> 00:48:51,000 Speaker 1: me being a good Well, I do impressions, whether they're 866 00:48:51,000 --> 00:48:54,840 Speaker 1: good or not. But I'm I'm kind of an impression 867 00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:57,720 Speaker 1: chameleon in that way, and I love listening to an artist, 868 00:48:57,920 --> 00:48:59,839 Speaker 1: like working today, I was writing with an artist up 869 00:48:59,840 --> 00:49:03,280 Speaker 1: in the in the Nation's you know, outside Bill and I, 870 00:49:03,360 --> 00:49:04,879 Speaker 1: you know, on the drive there and last night, I'm 871 00:49:04,880 --> 00:49:06,960 Speaker 1: just listening to the music and how can I get 872 00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:09,760 Speaker 1: in their head and make what they do better hopefully 873 00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:11,480 Speaker 1: and come up with a great hook that they dig 874 00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:15,920 Speaker 1: so um so so to answer your question long when 875 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:18,920 Speaker 1: you know it's it's really gratifying and it keeps me 876 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:23,279 Speaker 1: writing for other artists. It makes my songwriter, my songwriting 877 00:49:23,320 --> 00:49:27,520 Speaker 1: for me fresher, and it stays relevant because I'm always 878 00:49:27,520 --> 00:49:29,600 Speaker 1: listening to new music and I'm writing with artists who 879 00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:33,680 Speaker 1: are in their twenties and and and I love and 880 00:49:33,719 --> 00:49:36,080 Speaker 1: I love it because I'm into the music they're making. 881 00:49:36,480 --> 00:49:38,840 Speaker 1: And so when I'm writing my own music, you know, 882 00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:41,759 Speaker 1: it rubs off. It's just awesome. If I'm writing a 883 00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:45,359 Speaker 1: song for this, for this person who's you know, like 884 00:49:45,480 --> 00:49:49,560 Speaker 1: dream pop, you know, um, you know, uh, it comes 885 00:49:49,600 --> 00:49:51,920 Speaker 1: off and better than as their song or a solo 886 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:58,160 Speaker 1: song or something like that. I just love it because 887 00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:00,640 Speaker 1: I feel like it's you know, I feel we put 888 00:50:00,680 --> 00:50:03,719 Speaker 1: this pressure on our life, like get successful in your 889 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:06,040 Speaker 1: twenties or your thirties or whatever. And then like I've 890 00:50:06,040 --> 00:50:07,919 Speaker 1: had this story in my head. I'm about to turn 891 00:50:08,040 --> 00:50:10,280 Speaker 1: forty and I've been like, well I'm done. I guess 892 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:12,759 Speaker 1: like this. I feel like there's this message that I 893 00:50:12,840 --> 00:50:15,680 Speaker 1: got somewhere that was like, oh god, life is over. 894 00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:19,080 Speaker 1: And I had um this fashion designer on the podcast 895 00:50:19,080 --> 00:50:25,600 Speaker 1: Norma Comali. She's seventies six. Yes, she's fucking amazing, by 896 00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:28,359 Speaker 1: the way, and she dropped so much wisdom on me. 897 00:50:28,800 --> 00:50:31,319 Speaker 1: But she um, I told her I was about term 898 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:33,600 Speaker 1: forty and she I said, I just have this like 899 00:50:33,920 --> 00:50:37,040 Speaker 1: story in my head that it's done. And she started 900 00:50:37,120 --> 00:50:38,960 Speaker 1: laughing and she was like, I was like, why are 901 00:50:38,960 --> 00:50:41,759 Speaker 1: you laughing? She was old, that's hilarious because she said, 902 00:50:41,800 --> 00:50:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's a constant evolution and we take 903 00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:48,239 Speaker 1: the little pieces we learned along the way, Like you've 904 00:50:48,239 --> 00:50:51,279 Speaker 1: taken what you learned in better than Ezra and doing 905 00:50:51,320 --> 00:50:53,320 Speaker 1: all that stuff in a group, and now it's evolved 906 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:56,799 Speaker 1: into a songwriting career and a publishing career and a 907 00:50:56,960 --> 00:50:59,759 Speaker 1: music festival and writing a book and all of these things. 908 00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:04,040 Speaker 1: But it's not like you lost that initial learning. Does 909 00:51:04,080 --> 00:51:06,920 Speaker 1: that make sense? It totally makes sense. And look, just 910 00:51:06,960 --> 00:51:08,680 Speaker 1: like I was saying earlier, you know, when I was 911 00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:12,440 Speaker 1: twenty six, I thought I was too old. I was like, 912 00:51:12,440 --> 00:51:14,640 Speaker 1: oh my god, you know we haven't been signed. It's 913 00:51:14,680 --> 00:51:18,480 Speaker 1: all over. Yeah, nothing I can tell There's nothing I 914 00:51:18,520 --> 00:51:21,680 Speaker 1: can tell you that won't make you feel that feeling 915 00:51:21,800 --> 00:51:29,160 Speaker 1: when you're about you about I'm turning forty in July. Yeah. Yeah, 916 00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:32,560 Speaker 1: but but you know, uh, that's just that it's self imposting, 917 00:51:32,560 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 1: and maybe it's drive, or maybe it's society puts these things, 918 00:51:35,760 --> 00:51:38,960 Speaker 1: these these fake narratives inter brain about should be this 919 00:51:39,120 --> 00:51:42,440 Speaker 1: where a certain age man, I have been a late bloomer. 920 00:51:42,520 --> 00:51:47,080 Speaker 1: My entire Yeah. Really, I write with people who were 921 00:51:47,600 --> 00:51:50,480 Speaker 1: eighteen years old and they're so fucking good. I sucked 922 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:52,840 Speaker 1: when I was eighteen. Yeah, you know it took me 923 00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:56,399 Speaker 1: a while. I mean, like everything I've done, it's it's 924 00:51:56,400 --> 00:52:02,560 Speaker 1: because of his repetition and perseverance and not quitting. You 925 00:52:02,600 --> 00:52:06,800 Speaker 1: know this. I mean it's a it's a world of nose. 926 00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:09,840 Speaker 1: It's a world of especially if doing what you I 927 00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:11,880 Speaker 1: want to do this. I want to be a podcast 928 00:52:11,920 --> 00:52:14,800 Speaker 1: and I had this drive I want to be a songwriter, musician, 929 00:52:14,960 --> 00:52:17,320 Speaker 1: be this ban and you just deal with tons of 930 00:52:17,360 --> 00:52:19,240 Speaker 1: people just saying no, and you just have to believe 931 00:52:19,560 --> 00:52:22,080 Speaker 1: it's not the best. It's not the most talented and 932 00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:24,400 Speaker 1: the most and the most intelligent people that make it. 933 00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:26,719 Speaker 1: It's the people who are just a little below that, 934 00:52:26,760 --> 00:52:32,680 Speaker 1: who don't fit. Yeah. And so you know, through your 935 00:52:32,719 --> 00:52:34,960 Speaker 1: through your life, you're always racked with self doubt, like 936 00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:36,719 Speaker 1: what am I doing? I should be here and look 937 00:52:36,760 --> 00:52:38,600 Speaker 1: at my look at that my peers. There's some much 938 00:52:38,719 --> 00:52:41,560 Speaker 1: more successful And this is I mean, here's a great example. 939 00:52:42,040 --> 00:52:44,040 Speaker 1: You gotta you also have to have a good sense 940 00:52:44,040 --> 00:52:47,719 Speaker 1: of humor, like Thursday Night as a ray Heart, that 941 00:52:48,200 --> 00:52:50,959 Speaker 1: kind of band I put together this, according to Rolling 942 00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:55,160 Speaker 1: Stone last month, a semi supergroup, that's what they called it. 943 00:52:55,239 --> 00:52:58,600 Speaker 1: A little bit like shots fired. Oh no, they're gonna 944 00:52:58,600 --> 00:53:02,480 Speaker 1: give it. They're gonna give it. They can't group, you know. Um. 945 00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:05,920 Speaker 1: But we were playing this this, you know, this amazing 946 00:53:05,960 --> 00:53:09,320 Speaker 1: private event for the NFL Draft at the Bellagio and 947 00:53:09,400 --> 00:53:11,360 Speaker 1: it's super lux and we flew in first class and 948 00:53:11,400 --> 00:53:14,600 Speaker 1: did it. And then fast forward two nights later, I'm 949 00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:18,799 Speaker 1: playing with Ezra at the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport 950 00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:23,799 Speaker 1: and it's raining, just shitty. There's there's prety people out there. 951 00:53:24,239 --> 00:53:27,239 Speaker 1: Nobody knows about this show, and it's just like what 952 00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:30,319 Speaker 1: the funk calling my manager like, look, don't get me wrong, 953 00:53:30,320 --> 00:53:33,080 Speaker 1: it was a great payday, but I'm like, we never 954 00:53:33,120 --> 00:53:37,000 Speaker 1: need to do this again. This is bad. Look, this 955 00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:40,560 Speaker 1: is not good for myself arder. But you know, you 956 00:53:40,640 --> 00:53:43,080 Speaker 1: just laugh, you know. So it's ups and downs. You're like, man, 957 00:53:43,200 --> 00:53:45,359 Speaker 1: this is you know so and so doing this, But 958 00:53:45,680 --> 00:53:47,720 Speaker 1: and you just keep going and you and you're evolving, 959 00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:51,319 Speaker 1: and like Normacamali said, you know, as as you get old, 960 00:53:51,360 --> 00:53:54,839 Speaker 1: you're like, wow, it's the journey and it's just these 961 00:53:55,160 --> 00:53:58,560 Speaker 1: evolutions these new seasons in your life, these new challenges 962 00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:02,879 Speaker 1: always and it's just fucking great, you know. And I'm 963 00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:06,239 Speaker 1: more excited and engaged and i've ever been, and it's 964 00:54:06,440 --> 00:54:09,080 Speaker 1: it's really cool. At the same time, I just love, 965 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:13,280 Speaker 1: you know, I'm so appreciative of the of the career 966 00:54:13,320 --> 00:54:16,680 Speaker 1: so far and and and um and where it's taken 967 00:54:16,719 --> 00:54:19,239 Speaker 1: me in the lessons and and ups and downs and 968 00:54:19,280 --> 00:54:22,719 Speaker 1: the you know, the tough times too. Yeah. I mean 969 00:54:22,760 --> 00:54:25,319 Speaker 1: it's like you said earlier, the tragedies sometimes teaches the 970 00:54:25,320 --> 00:54:28,279 Speaker 1: most too. So I've been in a season of kind 971 00:54:28,280 --> 00:54:30,080 Speaker 1: of like a hardship, so I think that's why I 972 00:54:30,120 --> 00:54:32,960 Speaker 1: was like, oh, this is over. But now that I'm 973 00:54:33,000 --> 00:54:35,239 Speaker 1: coming out of it, and I think actually, like culturally 974 00:54:35,280 --> 00:54:37,200 Speaker 1: we were all kind of in that with the pandemic 975 00:54:37,239 --> 00:54:40,400 Speaker 1: and stuff, but it really does feel like, Okay, what 976 00:54:40,520 --> 00:54:43,239 Speaker 1: have I done so far? What can I take from that? 977 00:54:43,320 --> 00:54:46,040 Speaker 1: And then what's next? Like there's just always this It's 978 00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:47,680 Speaker 1: a whole world out there, you know. How do I 979 00:54:47,719 --> 00:54:49,440 Speaker 1: want to take what I know in my skill set 980 00:54:49,880 --> 00:54:53,040 Speaker 1: and keep growing and keep growing and you know, and 981 00:54:53,160 --> 00:54:58,680 Speaker 1: always believing that you you have the ability to have 982 00:54:58,800 --> 00:55:02,479 Speaker 1: a second chapter. And it's second in the fourth act. 983 00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:06,200 Speaker 1: And and you know, hopefully as you get older you 984 00:55:06,239 --> 00:55:09,759 Speaker 1: get more self awareness and you know, and you can 985 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:12,360 Speaker 1: you know, take inventory of yourself and saying what is 986 00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:15,800 Speaker 1: what there is an asset and what is holding me down? 987 00:55:15,680 --> 00:55:22,560 Speaker 1: You know? And uh and and hope those things happen 988 00:55:22,600 --> 00:55:24,080 Speaker 1: to you in your life where you have to have 989 00:55:24,200 --> 00:55:26,520 Speaker 1: a you know, a gut check and say this, I'm 990 00:55:26,560 --> 00:55:28,000 Speaker 1: not going down the path I want to go and 991 00:55:28,040 --> 00:55:30,120 Speaker 1: how do I change that up? And that's when those 992 00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:34,640 Speaker 1: are the tough moments, are the moments you grow you know, Yeah, 993 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:37,520 Speaker 1: that's untrue for me for sure. Well, let's talk about 994 00:55:37,520 --> 00:55:39,560 Speaker 1: what you have coming up, because I know Pilgrimage is 995 00:55:39,600 --> 00:55:45,719 Speaker 1: in September. Is that her Calin is like get to Pilgrimage. 996 00:55:46,719 --> 00:55:51,560 Speaker 1: His publicist is on this call to UM. Yes, Pilgrimage Festival. 997 00:55:51,760 --> 00:55:55,400 Speaker 1: We're about to have her eight are technically our eighth 998 00:55:55,440 --> 00:56:00,000 Speaker 1: festival UM September at the park at harlems Zell Farm 999 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:06,879 Speaker 1: in Franklin, Tennessee. Who is headlining this year Chris Stapleton, Yes, 1000 00:56:07,040 --> 00:56:13,359 Speaker 1: Brandy Carlyle, The Avid Brothers, the Biggest Grammy winner of 1001 00:56:13,440 --> 00:56:19,959 Speaker 1: the year, John Battiss, Louisiana Boy Lucy Yes uh and 1002 00:56:19,960 --> 00:56:24,880 Speaker 1: and a host of others um l King, Molly Tuttle 1003 00:56:25,800 --> 00:56:31,839 Speaker 1: better than Ezra. It's amazing lineup this year and it's 1004 00:56:31,920 --> 00:56:35,720 Speaker 1: really you know, every year. We we wanted Pilgrimage Festival 1005 00:56:35,760 --> 00:56:39,800 Speaker 1: to be a multi genre festival, um, just like jazz fests, 1006 00:56:40,200 --> 00:56:42,480 Speaker 1: you know. And if you look at our history, whether 1007 00:56:42,760 --> 00:56:45,800 Speaker 1: in our past we've had everybody from Wolley Nelson to 1008 00:56:45,960 --> 00:56:50,279 Speaker 1: Beck to Holland Oates, two Dawes to Dr John to 1009 00:56:50,440 --> 00:56:53,320 Speaker 1: Justin Timberlake to Eddie Vetter, the Killers, the Food Fighters, 1010 00:56:53,719 --> 00:56:57,359 Speaker 1: Marion Morris, Keith Urban, It's it's all across the map 1011 00:56:57,400 --> 00:56:59,920 Speaker 1: and and and some of our peers like, what are 1012 00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:02,920 Speaker 1: you doing? You know, you've got to be one thing um, 1013 00:57:03,400 --> 00:57:05,839 Speaker 1: And we're like, no, let me see your pot your 1014 00:57:05,840 --> 00:57:08,279 Speaker 1: Spotify playlist, you know, let me see what you listen 1015 00:57:08,280 --> 00:57:12,160 Speaker 1: to and Spotify. Ah. It's kind of schizophrenic people to 1016 00:57:12,280 --> 00:57:14,880 Speaker 1: all types of music, and the unifying thread needs to 1017 00:57:14,960 --> 00:57:17,760 Speaker 1: be that it's authentic, that it's just good. You know. 1018 00:57:17,880 --> 00:57:19,960 Speaker 1: It's just like we were talking about our session today. 1019 00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:24,840 Speaker 1: You know, whether you like pop music or not, you 1020 00:57:25,000 --> 00:57:27,880 Speaker 1: have to admit that Harry Styles is fucking great. Oh 1021 00:57:27,960 --> 00:57:32,400 Speaker 1: my best. Who does it like style? Yeah, some indie 1022 00:57:32,480 --> 00:57:35,480 Speaker 1: hipster and you hate everything you gotta unless you're just 1023 00:57:35,600 --> 00:57:40,880 Speaker 1: a douche great, you know, you know what I mean, 1024 00:57:41,560 --> 00:57:44,400 Speaker 1: it's great, you know, and there's and so justin Timberlake 1025 00:57:44,520 --> 00:57:48,200 Speaker 1: or you know, just just just greatness, you know. And 1026 00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:51,240 Speaker 1: that's really what that said. This year is I think 1027 00:57:51,960 --> 00:57:53,800 Speaker 1: it just kind of happens Sance and the way the 1028 00:57:53,840 --> 00:57:56,880 Speaker 1: way it all shook out. Um, this year is kind 1029 00:57:56,880 --> 00:58:01,439 Speaker 1: of our most cohesive lineup. It's very Americana this year. 1030 00:58:02,160 --> 00:58:05,160 Speaker 1: It has some great classic country in it. I'm really 1031 00:58:05,240 --> 00:58:08,000 Speaker 1: excited by this lineup and and and the ticket sales 1032 00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:10,280 Speaker 1: have been great and we're just we're thrilled, you know, 1033 00:58:10,360 --> 00:58:13,200 Speaker 1: and it just gets more. It's you know, we have 1034 00:58:13,480 --> 00:58:17,000 Speaker 1: so many elements of the festival that I'm excited about. Yeah, 1035 00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:19,520 Speaker 1: I've been a couple of times and it's always amazing. 1036 00:58:19,640 --> 00:58:24,720 Speaker 1: I'm coming this year, so there, Yes, yes, I cannot wait. 1037 00:58:25,080 --> 00:58:27,240 Speaker 1: I actually love also the time of year that it 1038 00:58:27,400 --> 00:58:30,280 Speaker 1: is because it's a really beautiful time in Nashville. The 1039 00:58:30,480 --> 00:58:33,000 Speaker 1: venue is easy to get to or the few what 1040 00:58:33,040 --> 00:58:36,800 Speaker 1: do you call it a field park? The park Okay, Yeah, 1041 00:58:36,880 --> 00:58:39,880 Speaker 1: it's just easy to navigate, I feel, and you wouldn't 1042 00:58:39,880 --> 00:58:42,000 Speaker 1: think it because it's well now, it's they just finished 1043 00:58:42,040 --> 00:58:44,200 Speaker 1: this three lane road three lane road out and then 1044 00:58:44,240 --> 00:58:48,360 Speaker 1: there's Liberty Pike, which kind of hits it perpendicularly. The 1045 00:58:48,680 --> 00:58:53,960 Speaker 1: ingress and egress is amazing. People get in. That's technical. Uh, Kelly, 1046 00:58:54,600 --> 00:59:02,040 Speaker 1: game actually matters, it does it doesn't matter, remember, and 1047 00:59:02,400 --> 00:59:06,160 Speaker 1: people are brutal on social media. A couple of three people, 1048 00:59:06,560 --> 00:59:11,000 Speaker 1: you know, but it's it's just, you know, it's a 1049 00:59:11,080 --> 00:59:15,040 Speaker 1: farm that could hold eighty people. We limited to people 1050 00:59:15,480 --> 00:59:18,400 Speaker 1: wanted just to be fun in lots of elbow room. 1051 00:59:18,800 --> 00:59:21,160 Speaker 1: And you know, the cool thing about Harlemsdale is that 1052 00:59:21,280 --> 00:59:25,400 Speaker 1: the buildings are on the Historic Register, that the farm 1053 00:59:25,440 --> 00:59:30,600 Speaker 1: itself as a headliner, and and we just have you know, 1054 00:59:30,760 --> 00:59:32,720 Speaker 1: it's not only a celebration of the great music of 1055 00:59:32,800 --> 00:59:35,800 Speaker 1: Middle Tennessee, but it's of the great artisans and the 1056 00:59:35,920 --> 00:59:39,160 Speaker 1: makers and and the food and the libations and the 1057 00:59:39,320 --> 00:59:42,080 Speaker 1: local distilleries, and it's just it's a deep dive into 1058 00:59:42,120 --> 00:59:51,400 Speaker 1: Middle Tennessee. Yeah. Yeah, festival dot com. Did I say that? 1059 00:59:52,240 --> 00:59:55,439 Speaker 1: Pilgrimage Festival dot com you guys, in case you didn't 1060 00:59:55,480 --> 00:59:58,640 Speaker 1: hear that, But yes, tickets are still for sale, and 1061 00:59:59,320 --> 01:00:04,600 Speaker 1: um it's September, am I getting there right? Okay, So 1062 01:00:04,680 --> 01:00:06,400 Speaker 1: go check it out, especially if you just want to 1063 01:00:06,440 --> 01:00:08,120 Speaker 1: take a trip to Nashville. I do think this would 1064 01:00:08,120 --> 01:00:11,760 Speaker 1: be a good weekend to do. So that's a great weekend. Yeah, 1065 01:00:12,160 --> 01:00:14,840 Speaker 1: staying for a whole week, the weekend before Pearl Jam 1066 01:00:14,920 --> 01:00:19,520 Speaker 1: plays at Stay for the week. Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't 1067 01:00:19,520 --> 01:00:21,920 Speaker 1: get much better than that. It bookend it with Pearl 1068 01:00:22,000 --> 01:00:25,640 Speaker 1: Jam and Programmage Festival sounds amazing. We planned their trip, 1069 01:00:25,880 --> 01:00:29,200 Speaker 1: so yeah, you guys, let us know how that goes. Kevin, 1070 01:00:29,600 --> 01:00:31,840 Speaker 1: thank you for being here. I'm so glad I met 1071 01:00:31,920 --> 01:00:35,360 Speaker 1: you in the airport. I'm so glad that we we 1072 01:00:35,400 --> 01:00:37,120 Speaker 1: didn't really meet though. It was just it was like 1073 01:00:37,160 --> 01:00:41,960 Speaker 1: an anonymous meeting. Yes, yeah, what it was. It was 1074 01:00:42,000 --> 01:00:44,480 Speaker 1: a Louisiana thing. It had to be. We recognize that. 1075 01:00:44,840 --> 01:00:46,840 Speaker 1: It's like even in the eyes, you can just see it. 1076 01:00:48,120 --> 01:00:54,360 Speaker 1: They have really dark, twisted past, but a little Cajun 1077 01:00:54,440 --> 01:01:01,800 Speaker 1: in there. Yeah. They've danced on that pool table, yes exactly. 1078 01:01:01,800 --> 01:01:06,560 Speaker 1: And you know how to say choppatolas? Yeah, um, where 1079 01:01:06,600 --> 01:01:08,840 Speaker 1: can people find you? Do? You know your Instagram handle? 1080 01:01:09,040 --> 01:01:11,600 Speaker 1: You said it's not really okay? Oh, my god, I'm 1081 01:01:11,720 --> 01:01:14,800 Speaker 1: sadly into it. Sadly. Oh good, this is good. Let's 1082 01:01:14,840 --> 01:01:21,040 Speaker 1: talk about it. It's Kevin M Griffin Instagram and Twitter. Um, 1083 01:01:21,200 --> 01:01:23,960 Speaker 1: don't man, you know, I don't do TikTok. I just 1084 01:01:25,880 --> 01:01:28,800 Speaker 1: I would never work. Um, and then you know, I 1085 01:01:29,160 --> 01:01:31,560 Speaker 1: post on Instagram and then I shoot it to Twitter 1086 01:01:31,680 --> 01:01:36,240 Speaker 1: into Facebook. But um, you know as Ezra better Than 1087 01:01:36,840 --> 01:01:39,880 Speaker 1: has a new album coming out this fall? What yes, 1088 01:01:40,680 --> 01:01:43,520 Speaker 1: I missed this sing a new album coming out? Oh 1089 01:01:43,560 --> 01:01:45,560 Speaker 1: my god, this is exciting. We want to say the name, 1090 01:01:45,600 --> 01:01:47,480 Speaker 1: but we're not saying the name. When's this coming out? 1091 01:01:47,520 --> 01:01:49,120 Speaker 1: What is this going to be coming out? Next week? 1092 01:01:49,200 --> 01:01:55,880 Speaker 1: So you probably want coming out? Um, Pilgrimage Festival. Um 1093 01:01:56,760 --> 01:01:59,520 Speaker 1: a book in the first quarter of three. Then I'll 1094 01:01:59,520 --> 01:02:01,120 Speaker 1: be going out up solo and I'll be doing a 1095 01:02:01,120 --> 01:02:04,120 Speaker 1: book tour around the country for and you do. I'd 1096 01:02:04,120 --> 01:02:07,560 Speaker 1: love to come back on the podcast. Actually would love 1097 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:09,800 Speaker 1: that because what you're talking about in that book, I 1098 01:02:09,880 --> 01:02:11,600 Speaker 1: was going to ask what it was about, obviously, but 1099 01:02:12,040 --> 01:02:14,720 Speaker 1: I love the idea of just diving into all the 1100 01:02:14,800 --> 01:02:18,000 Speaker 1: creative suggestions you have. I think people really need to 1101 01:02:18,080 --> 01:02:21,040 Speaker 1: hear this. So yes, it'll be a whole podcast the 1102 01:02:21,080 --> 01:02:25,120 Speaker 1: books called the greatest song. Okay, it's a parable about 1103 01:02:25,160 --> 01:02:28,520 Speaker 1: a songwriter. Amazing. Well, we'll have you back on. So 1104 01:02:28,640 --> 01:02:31,520 Speaker 1: this was just an introduction for you people, and and Kevin. 1105 01:02:31,520 --> 01:02:34,920 Speaker 1: I'll be back. This is a moose bush, yes, little appati, 1106 01:02:35,680 --> 01:02:40,440 Speaker 1: this is the land. Yeah, share? Where in Louisiana are 1107 01:02:40,480 --> 01:02:42,840 Speaker 1: you from? I was born in Lafyat, lived there till 1108 01:02:42,880 --> 01:02:45,160 Speaker 1: I was eight, and then Baton Rouge through l s 1109 01:02:45,280 --> 01:02:47,400 Speaker 1: U and then came straight here and what was your 1110 01:02:47,560 --> 01:02:51,760 Speaker 1: what was your major public relations? How things go? Then 1111 01:02:51,800 --> 01:02:53,680 Speaker 1: I moved up here and started doing here and makeup 1112 01:02:53,800 --> 01:02:59,240 Speaker 1: and styling, so yeah, the rest is history here. Where 1113 01:02:59,240 --> 01:03:01,840 Speaker 1: are at the velvet? Yeah exactly. Now I have any 1114 01:03:01,880 --> 01:03:05,520 Speaker 1: theme song and everything, so I'm gonna have to hear 1115 01:03:05,560 --> 01:03:08,600 Speaker 1: that because I think I could have done it. I'll 1116 01:03:08,600 --> 01:03:11,640 Speaker 1: listen it to you. Hey, thank you so much for 1117 01:03:11,800 --> 01:03:14,880 Speaker 1: having and continued success, and I'll see you a couple 1118 01:03:14,920 --> 01:03:17,640 Speaker 1: of pass cannot wait, and thank you for being here 1119 01:03:17,720 --> 01:03:19,400 Speaker 1: so much. I know that people are going to love 1120 01:03:19,480 --> 01:03:23,120 Speaker 1: this and we will have you back on really soon. Yes, 1121 01:03:23,440 --> 01:03:25,640 Speaker 1: I would love it. Thank you guys for listening