1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, welcome to the Granger Smith Podcast. I'm glad 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: you're with me today. I'm glad you're watching. I'm grateful 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: that you're listening. I'm grateful that I have this platform 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: to talk about the way that I feel in life 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: and talk to some of my great friends and tell 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: you where I came from and where I want to 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: go and what's going on with ye ye. This is 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: one of my favorite things that I do content wise, 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: and we do a lot. We do the Smiths every 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: Tuesday and Thursday. We do restoring Earl Dubbles Junior's old truck. 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: We do live at the EEE Farm, live stream shows 12 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: with the full band. We do a Rise with Amber 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: every Sunday morning on the Smith's YouTube channel, and that's 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: just that's just the stuff we do every single week. 15 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: So I do this podcast on Mondays early Mondays. And 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm grateful for this because I get to sit here 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: and really dig deep into some stuff that I that 18 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: I can't I don't have the time to do on 19 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: a radio interview, and I don't have the time to 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: do I'm the Smiths, and so you know, I want 21 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: to thank you guys for even it indulging in something 22 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: long form like this, like a podcast. Maybe some of 23 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: you are driving, maybe some of you spend time with 24 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: this watching it on YouTube. Either way, thank you for that. 25 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: I actually met a guy at the gym today and 26 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: we were walking out and he said, hey, man, and 27 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: you stopped me and I've never met him before, and 28 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: he said, I just want to tell you I listened 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: to your podcast. I'm on episode eleven, and I'm going 30 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 1: to turn my wife onto it. I'm going to show her, 31 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: and man, that just means it means so much to me. 32 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: It's one thing for someone to say I love her music, 33 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: and I hope that it starts with that, and it 34 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: has evolved now into different things like I love watching 35 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: the Smiths, or I love listening to your podcast, and 36 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: that just makes me feel so good. It makes me 37 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: feel good because here I am at the EG Farm, 38 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: in my in my office, in my studio, all by 39 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: myself here right now and talking to a camera and 40 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: a dead microphone. And it's nice to know that there 41 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: are a lot of people that actually follow this and 42 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: follow the journey along. And if you haven't gone back 43 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: and heard some of the earlier podcasts, maybe you're a 44 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: brand new listener. I encourage you to start all the 45 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: way back at episode one, and the reason it started 46 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: was when we were touring like crazy. I was on 47 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: the back of my bus Wildflower, and I wanted to 48 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: tell everybody in long form the story of where I 49 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: came from. And that started with so many times doing 50 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: interviews and media and TV and radio where they said, 51 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit about yourself. Where'd you come from, 52 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: how'd you get your start? Where are you from? And 53 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: that then answering that question kind of gets exhausting because 54 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: I have to answer it in short form, right I 55 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: have to say, well, you know, from Texas and I 56 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: started a band, and you know, I have to speed 57 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: my way through it. But if you go back to 58 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: podcast episode one, you could actually feel the whole journey 59 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: throughout and now here we are every episode thirty eight 60 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: and this episode, like so many others, is brought to 61 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: you by EE Apparel, and I want to talk to 62 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: you just for a second about YE Apparel and my 63 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: favorite thing about this company that my brothers and I 64 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: run together, and that is our Shirt of the Month club. 65 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: This is something we started this year. It's become a 66 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: huge passion project. For me and my brothers alike. It 67 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: is a new shirt that we put out once a month, 68 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: exclusive to this club. Right, so, if you sign up 69 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: for this club, you're going to get shipped out automatically 70 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: in your size a new shirt the first of every month, 71 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: and that shirt cannot be found anywhere else. We're not 72 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: going to sell it. We're not going to sell it 73 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: on the road on tour. And we handpick these. We 74 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,119 Speaker 1: design these and put a lot of work into these 75 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: designs so that they are all a little bit different 76 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: and are all very exclusive, and I love them. I 77 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: wear EE Apparel every single day. It's pretty much all 78 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: I have in my closet. And some people have asked 79 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: me if I wear it just because it's my company. 80 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: Not really, I mean kind of, but I really wear 81 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: it because I love the stuff. I'm biased, but it 82 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: fits really good, it feels really good. And so my 83 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: brother Parker sent me a little promo for you guys 84 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: today on this podcast for the member's only Shirt of 85 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: the Month club. You could sign up between the first 86 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: and the twentieth of every month, use for this podcast, 87 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: use the promo code Shirt of the Month, and you're 88 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: gonna get your first shirt for just ten bucks with 89 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: free shipping. You can cancel it anytime, and that sounds 90 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: like a really good deal. Sounds like a really good deal. 91 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: We are still plowing through the state of the world 92 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: right now. And if you're listening to this podcast years 93 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: from now and you look on the ticker and it 94 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: says that this was two years ago or three years ago, Man, 95 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: I wish I could talk to you, the person in 96 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: the future. I wish you could tell me how this 97 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: all pans out, because it's still crazy. The world started 98 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: getting so much better and then it started getting worse 99 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: all at the same time. So we started getting these 100 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: tour dates coming in and then now everything is kind 101 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: of unknown again. We still have several dates in July, 102 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: including July fourth, and that's in Round Rock, Texas, and 103 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: then we have like Nebraska in Iowa and South Dakota 104 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: something like that. We have a run up that direction 105 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: in July, and in August there's more. In September there's more, 106 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: and God, I hope they stay. I really do. It's 107 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: my whole livelihood. Touring is my livelihood, and it's more 108 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: than a paycheck. And I've said this many times, but 109 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: I'm okay. I could pay the bills. I have multiple 110 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: ways of paying the bills, whether whether it's cameos, which 111 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: I do these cameos where you could sign up and 112 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: get me to give you a shout out at birthday 113 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: or anniversary or send someone a personal video message. I 114 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: do that every day on cameo dot Com. I have 115 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: this podcast, I have Dismiss, I have my songwriting company, 116 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: I have Ye Apparel. But what really messes this whole 117 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: thing up is my band. You know, you know, you 118 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: look at my guys, and just the way that this 119 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: is set up and this is with anything, is like 120 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: I can't constantly support them and all their families and 121 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: their health insurance and their entire livelihood. And we're talking 122 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: fourteen people here, and so this whole shutdown has really 123 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: affected the band members more than anybody. And I know, 124 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,559 Speaker 1: I say more than anybody. I know that there's bar owners, 125 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: and there's venues, and there's theaters, and it's just it's 126 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: got a lot of things messed up, and we could 127 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: just the best thing we could do is I could 128 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: keep making content, and we can keep trying to, you know, 129 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: do live stream shows and getting tips. But the most 130 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: importantly we just be patient, and this is a little bit. 131 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: We're in a little bit of suffering right now, and 132 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: suffering suffering, as Paul says in the Book of Romans, 133 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: Paul says that suffering leads to perseverance. Perseverance leads to character. 134 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: Character leads to hope. So that's where we are. And 135 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: I don't mean to get that deep with something like this, 136 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: but it really is. This is something that keeps us 137 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: up at night. And it's been months and months of this. 138 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: So that's that's the state of the world, and that 139 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: kind of ties me into my guest today. This is 140 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: a I would say, a dear friend, and that is honestly, 141 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: that's saying it lightly. I'm going to bring on Mitch 142 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: Connell uncle Mitch. For some reason a long time ago, 143 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: I started calling him uncle Mitch, even though he's not 144 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: family relation. But he's as good as family. Family is not. 145 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: Family is not exclusively blood to me. I don't feel 146 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: that way. I feel like I have a bond with 147 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: many people that I consider family, and Uncle Mitch is 148 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: one of them. I've never known anyone on this planet 149 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: that's ever met Mitch that didn't love him right away, 150 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: that didn't become friends with him. He has more friends 151 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: than anyone I've ever met, and you'll know exactly why. 152 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: He's just salt of the earth, one of the nicest 153 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: guys on the planet. He's a really good businessman. He's 154 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: had car dealerships in Colleen, Texas his whole life and 155 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: it will continue to pass down through his kids. And 156 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: he's an incredible musician. And that's how I originally met him, 157 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: because he's a keyboard player. And I met him through 158 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: the band I was in and they brought him in 159 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: and he started playing keyboards just I mean, the most 160 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: beautiful stuff you've ever heard. I started recording all of 161 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: my studio albums from two thousand and four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, 162 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: all of those is Mitch Connell on keyboards twenty thirteen, 163 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen. It keeps going after that and assaulted the 164 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: Earth guy, amazing musician. I can't even come up with 165 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: better words for this guy. You're just gonna have to 166 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: hear it from him yourself. It's an honor, guys, to 167 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: have Mitch Knell on this podcast. Sit back, relax, Thank 168 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: you for listening. Welcome to the Greater Smith Podcast. Did 169 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: time and longline fo up and down, going back, rangey colation. 170 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: A lot of times on this podcast, I've talked about 171 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: old band stories. Oh god, a lot of them have 172 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: been off the top of my head, and I have 173 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: forgotten a lot of them too, and you Mitch seem 174 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: to remember them all. Oh gosh. You guys ever have 175 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: that friend that when you get back with him and 176 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: he starts reciting some old stories and you think God 177 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: forgot all about that. You don't forget those stories. No, 178 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: They're fun stories though, And I wanted to bring you 179 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: on here partly because of that. We could tell some 180 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: of these old stories that possibly I've even forgotten, and 181 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: then also talk about how you've been in since the 182 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: very beginning of the Texas version of my band and 183 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: not only touring and being part of my first intrastate touring, 184 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: but also part of those early albums that I was 185 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: recording at my house. Yeah, those are That was a 186 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: lot of fun. So if you heard any keyboard at 187 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: all on any of those early albums, four or five 188 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: of them, that was all you and singing harmony. So 189 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,839 Speaker 1: something I thought about when I was coming in here today, 190 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: Bug Eye and Trick Gosh, I wasn't in a real 191 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: good mood when that deal started, anyways, because little Asa 192 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: and I had ridden our motorcycles all the way down 193 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 1: there in the rain. It was a rainy I was 194 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: wetter than I've ever been. It was Asia's first motorcycle ride. 195 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: And and by the way, you might not remember, but 196 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: he had just gotten his black belt in karate. I 197 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: did not know that. And bug Eye and Shrek had decided. 198 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: So if you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, 199 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: let me back you up a little bit. Two thousand 200 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 1: and four, I moved from Nashville back to Texas. I 201 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: moved to College Station. I formed a little band based 202 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: on my uncle knew a drummer. This sounds like a 203 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: bad story already. My uncle knew a drummer that had 204 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: a band. The singer had just moved to Florida working 205 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: for the DEA, right, right, something like that. Now, what's 206 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: awesome is if you could put a if you could 207 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: have a band that's already used to playing with each other, 208 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: that's half the battle. Then all they have to do 209 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 1: is learn the new songs. Now, the huge advantage I 210 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 1: had was you guys were also older than me. You're 211 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: what fifteen twenty years older than me, all of you were, 212 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: so that also brings fifteen twenty year years of extra experience, which, 213 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: by the way, you were as old as I am now, Ben, 214 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: which is funny, right, right, So you bring ten years, 215 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: fifteen years, twenty years of experience on the road and 216 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: in the studio and playing music in what walks. Mitch 217 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: Connell a car salesman. You own several dealerships in Central Texas. 218 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: That has allowed you and you've done that your whole life. 219 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: Your daddy did that, right, That's always supported my music 220 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: habit exactly. So that allowed you to own these dealerships 221 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: and free up a little time and to drive from 222 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: Colleen to college station or wherever we were digging. All 223 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: of these things were incredible for me as a young 224 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: musician because young musicians are used to dealing with bands 225 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: that can't get off from working at the fast food shop, 226 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: they can't get off from delivering pizzas, or they're in school, 227 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,719 Speaker 1: are there going through a divorce or something. But you 228 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: guys all we were okay to say Friday, leave at 229 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: two pm. I'm down, yep, and even better, not not 230 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: as good as you're playing but a little bit close 231 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: to it, which you had an RV. You had an 232 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: r V, yes, And we got to ride around an 233 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: RV uh and pretend like it was a big old 234 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: tour bus, and to us it was. It was pretty big. 235 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: We had a coffee maker in the morning that was 236 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: replaced by Margarita blender Friday afternoon. And I you remember 237 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: the smell, yes, the stink bush. Yeah, oh yeah, that's 238 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: It's not a true RV unless it has some kind 239 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: of strange sewage smell. But but needless to say, I 240 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: was having so much fun. And I like to talk 241 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: about this a lot because it's fun in the music 242 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: business and gratification, and it's all relative to where you 243 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: are at the time. Right. What I mean is, I'm 244 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: not having any more fun now than I was then. 245 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: It's all relative. We had a good time, so good, 246 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: so going to bug Eye and Shrek. Okay, Well, we 247 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: played a gig and somewhere on the coast, and I'd 248 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: ridden there in the rain all the way there, and 249 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: then we got to the venue and we set up 250 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: and did our sound check and everything was fine. It 251 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: was a pretty good It was awful terrible, but I 252 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: was in a good mood. We're about to play some 253 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: music and that always makes me happy. And uh so 254 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: we start playing and there's a guy in the audience 255 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: it's not amenable to the choices of songs that we're playing, 256 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: which is, you know, a nice mix of George Strait 257 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: and my originals right right. And finally, and I've never 258 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: seen you get upset with anybody. And finally that guy listen, 259 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you my website and you go there 260 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: and find out where I'm playing, so you'll know where 261 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: not to go. Well that upside. Yeah, he was the 262 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: brother in law of the club owner. That was bug Guy. 263 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: I said, my website is graterspit dot com. Go there 264 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: and find my tour dates, so that I could make 265 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: sure I'd never see you again, right ri the microphone, 266 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: yes to all fifteen people that were there. Well, the 267 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: guy got mad and he his brother in law was Shrek, 268 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: the owner of the club, and Bug Eye and Shrek 269 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: decided they were going to team up on us, and 270 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: they quickly got nicknames from us. And that's what they 271 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: look like, bug Eye and Shrek. Yes, yes, anyways, so 272 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: at the end of the night, when we were done playing, Uh, 273 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: Granger comes up to says, hey, owcle man, they're not 274 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: trying to pay me. I'm going what So I just 275 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: walk over next to him, next to Shrek, and I 276 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: crossed my arms trying to look like mister clean. My 277 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: son is about this tall, but he can kick your 278 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: button nine way from Sunday and nobody ever even suspected 279 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: that from him. So uh, I sit there and cross 280 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: my arms, and the bug guy decided to go ahead 281 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: and give us our money, and we got out of 282 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: there with the quickness. I believe it was five hundred dollars. 283 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: Might have been found right, might have five or six, 284 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: five or six hundred dollars and I and that was 285 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: average for me. It was. There was five of us 286 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: in the band, or six of us in the band, 287 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: maybe those five of us five total, and we typically 288 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: got about five hundred bucks. Now you can do the 289 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: math quickly that that doesn't hardly pay for lunch and 290 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: dinner and fuel on the way there. I got to 291 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: hand it to you, though. You you made sure that 292 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: we got at least one hundred bucks. Yeah, yeah, I 293 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: left you was nothing. That That's the way it was. 294 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: But a lot of times it left me with nothing. 295 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: And then occasionally we would play like a wedding and 296 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: I'd get fifteen hundred dollars or something, and I'd get 297 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: to burn a little bit of that myself. Oh yes, 298 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: but that that night with bug Eye and Trek, that's 299 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: that's a typical night. And those were we never knew 300 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: what we're getting into. Tyler was booking these shows, these 301 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: dead end bar gigs with no one there, but we 302 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 1: were grateful to play and we had fun even though 303 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: no one was there. We had fun within ourselves on 304 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: the stage. We had a good time. We had a 305 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: good band. We did. It was it was. I was 306 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: very lucky to have a band that was far above 307 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 1: my musical knowledge, and so I had to quickly learn 308 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: to keep up. You did. That was the story of 309 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: my life back then. And I could let you guys 310 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: vamp around or play take solos. I can go to 311 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: the bathroom and you could sing and uh. Because a 312 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: lot of times we were playing long sets and and 313 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: the nights like that, when we found out the guy 314 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: I was chewing out on the microphone was the owner's cousin, 315 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: they could easily just decide, you know, I'm not I'm 316 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: not gonna pay these rug rats I'm not gonna pay 317 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: them anything, get out of my bar. And and that 318 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: five hundred dollars was there's a lot of money. Oh yeah, 319 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: even if you had stay in a hotel that night, 320 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 1: exactly exactly. That reminds me of another time b Beeville, 321 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: Texas well, that was was that the worst hotel you've 322 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: ever even heard of? It was either that one or 323 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: the one in Oklahoma. I forgot the name of the 324 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: lot of bad ones in Oklahoma. Anyways, we wouldn't stay 325 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: at the one in Oklahoma. We went on to Oklahoma City. Rather. 326 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 1: Have you ever decided to I'm speaking to the listeners here, 327 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: have you ever decided that sleep is not worth the 328 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: bites and the bugs that you're going to get in 329 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: the bed sheets, so you might as well just skip 330 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: asleep that night. Yeah, But we stayed in Beeville, in 331 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: or Belleville or Bville or whatever that place was when 332 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: that was awful place that was awful? It was it 333 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: was there was I I attribute so many of my 334 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: my I guess the fortitude that we have now as 335 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: a band when we run into problems now, sometimes the 336 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: guys will come to me and go, well that they're 337 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: asking for this, and they're saying we can't do this, 338 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: And I kind of go back to those old days 339 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: in my mind when we thought we thought we had problems, 340 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: and we think we have problems now, and how relative 341 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: it is, and how really in the end, we're all 342 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: just out trying to play some music. That's all it is. 343 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: That's all it boils down to. That's what we love 344 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: to do. Yeah, And the cool thing about you mentioned 345 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: is that, besides you have sold pretty much everybody in 346 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: my band a truck or including my brown truck I 347 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: still drive. And You've had a thing about ten years 348 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: or so. I've lifted it twice. You've lifted it twice, 349 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: You've put tires and wheels on it. You have, You've 350 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: tried to get me out from under it many times. 351 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: Get me in a better truck. Yeah, he won't go truck. 352 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: One time you said a man of your status needs 353 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,239 Speaker 1: to drive at a better vehicle. Remember when you tell 354 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: me that I was referring to a Ram instead of 355 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: that other off brand model that you choose to drive. Well, well, 356 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: I want to get to your dealerships at a second. 357 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: And and how you have you pretty much made a 358 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,479 Speaker 1: living with with veterans at Fort Hood. Yeah, I live near. 359 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: There have been. They've been your lifeblood and you have 360 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: been theirs. I think it's a mutual feeling there. It is, 361 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: it is. But what I wanted to say too, is said, 362 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: how you saw the You saw our rise from absolute nothingness, 363 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 1: from a literal open mic night at Bourber Street Bar 364 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: and College Station two to sold out crazy shows. Yes, yes, 365 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: I remember playing for twelve thousand people one time. And 366 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: I remember playing for the bartender at the San Antonio Rodeo. 367 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: It was so close, it was so cold, and it 368 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: was it was an a tent and it was so 369 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: cold my hands wouldn't move, and the bartender was in there. 370 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: It was just him and us, nobody else in the 371 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 1: entire bar, no or tent, tent, but one bartender. It 372 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: wasn't even a bartender. It was a beer tub tender. 373 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: Beer tub tender, that's what he was, right, So did 374 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: you see it? Did you know that we would be 375 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: playing pack shows in those beer tub tender days? I 376 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: always knew that you would get there. Someday. It might 377 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: you might outlive me before you did it, But by god, 378 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: I knew you were going to get there. I knew 379 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: you had the talent, you wrote a good song. I 380 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:40,719 Speaker 1: knew you. I always knew you were going to get there. 381 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: You just saying that because this is my podcast. Oh no, 382 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: I said that to my mom way back then, who, 383 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: by the way, thought it was we wi instead of 384 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: ye yee. I'm much happy with ye than we Wei. 385 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: I don't. He goes, what are you laughing for? And 386 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: I said, hold on, when I get done laughing, I'm 387 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: gonna tell you yee yee, not we we. So you saw, 388 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: you saw the part. Because you played with a lot 389 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: of bands and a lot of people, you still do. Yes, Yes, 390 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: I've played for people who been nominated for Grammys. And 391 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: is it just because I've I've I've always been real 392 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: nice to you. Well, you've been nice. It was a 393 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: nice guy. But I remember, uh you may not remember this, 394 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: but we had found a hearing test, a relativity test, yes, online, 395 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: and you and I both took it, and Manny took it, 396 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: and I think Mike took it as well. And you 397 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: know I pride myself in having the best ear in 398 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 1: the band. Yeah, well, I mean I scored way up there, 399 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: and then you took the thing. And you've tied me. 400 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 1: Was that a rhythm test though it was a it 401 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: was a hearing test because you was a rhythm test later, 402 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: and you tied Mike in the rhythm test. I'm going, well, 403 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: it's not fair. It's not fair at all. I know 404 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: I did good. I remember taking that test. I know 405 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 1: it did good on it. But you still have uh 406 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: you call it perfect pitch. I call mine relative pitch, 407 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: relative pitch. That's right, that's right, And they're you know, 408 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 1: I was hearing some guy talk the other day. There 409 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: is no such thing as tone deaf. We we tend 410 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: to throw that around with humans. But if you're actually 411 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: tone deaf, if you think you are, you wouldn't be 412 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: able to recognize your mother's voice on the other end 413 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: of the telephone. That's out. That's what true tone deaf means. 414 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: There are people that are tone deaf, but you are. 415 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: You have relative pitch, meaning you could hear a note 416 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: or a song and you can say that is in 417 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: the key of F. Yes, I can do that. I 418 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: know you can. I've seen you many times. Remember that 419 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 1: time at the astronm Yes, yeah, but we had six 420 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: so there we had. That was one of the biggest 421 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: gigs we had ever played. It was at the old 422 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: Astrodome and we weren't playing there because we were selling 423 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: a show at the Astrodome. We were playing it's called 424 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: the Hideout. It's part of the Houston Rodeo, and we 425 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: somehow got lucky enough to get into this lineup and 426 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: be one of the bands that was like a dance 427 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: hall band that played. But it was still it was 428 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: our first arena no matter how you look at it. 429 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: Even though we were driving a suburban. I had my 430 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: motorcycle and they lined me up a path to get 431 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: right up to the stage. I rode my motorcycle to 432 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: the stage and parked it and walked up the stairs 433 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: on gun on the step. I felt like Mick Jagger 434 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: that night. So the biggest night of our career, you 435 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 1: felt like Mick Jagger. And I go out there to 436 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: one of our songs is called Mockingbird. Road played it 437 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: in a long time, by the way, but I had 438 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 1: my capo one frat too low, two fret too low, 439 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 1: one fret too low, to one fret too low on 440 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 1: the guitar, and I started the song that is devastating 441 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: to any of you that might understand what I'm saying, 442 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: this is an absolute train wreck waiting to happen in 443 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: front of a lot of people. But Mitch instantly heard 444 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: the He that I was playing it in, which is 445 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: damn near impossible to do. You have to have step off. 446 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: You have to be really good to catch a half 447 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: step off. Our bass player didn't shout out to Manny, 448 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: but he didn't catch it. But he has relative. He 449 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: caught you when you brought your organ in a lot 450 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: of people that might be confused. But luckily they sum 451 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: it up for you. It would have been really terrible. Yeah, 452 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: well I had run. I ran to the the talkback Mike. 453 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: I said, he's playing it NAF sharp. You gotta have 454 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: to play it half sharp, G sharp or whatever. I 455 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: can't remember the key we actually did it in. But everybody, Uh, well, 456 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 1: you stopped and just moved your KPO. You stopped and 457 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: moved your before the train wreck happened. We'd have to 458 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: we'd have to find that little tape. Yeah, but you 459 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: caught You caught it before I saw it, before the 460 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:55,360 Speaker 1: bass player saw it. All's well, that ends well. Show. 461 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: The show went well. There was a trace Atkins was 462 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,919 Speaker 1: playing next door Reliant and how we got six thousand 463 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: people with him playing next door I'll never know. Yeah, 464 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: and then later on Tracey and I became record label mates. Yes, 465 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: he's got that nice due voice. I could do a 466 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 1: whole podcast on that guy. He's he's a very interesting fella. 467 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: So what are you doing these days? You're you're selling cars? Still, 468 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: you're still playing in bands. He's still playing with my 469 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 1: old band we have. We had a cover band. We retired, 470 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: but we still the three of us get together and play. 471 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: We did a jazz gig. We played with a Caribbean 472 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: pan drummer, you know the steel drums. Yep. We played 473 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: a show with him one time and we had set 474 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: to go to the Caribbean to go play with him again, 475 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 1: but the poor guy crashed his car and got killed 476 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: in the crash. Well we got a chance to do it. 477 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: But man, that dude could play. He was the Mick 478 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 1: Jagger of the Caribbean. He was the man to go 479 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: to on the steel drum. How much time do you 480 00:27:58,080 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: get to go get off and from cars and go 481 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: play keyboards? Well, since we've all been shut down, Uh, 482 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: there's been no live music until recently, and I haven't 483 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: played a gig in Yeah, three or four months. I 484 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: was supposed to play on this Friday, but I put 485 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: it off. There was ninety six days in between my 486 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: last gig to the one we just played. Ninety six. 487 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: That's that's the longest I've ever gone without playing on 488 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: a stage since I started when I was a teenager, right, 489 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: But I never went that long. When when when I 490 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: was with y'all for five years, we hardly ever went 491 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: I don't think we ever went two weeks without playing 492 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: a show. No, no, So tell us tell me about 493 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: your where your dealerships are? Which ones I lose track? Well, 494 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: I just combined the Dodge Country with the Freedom Jeep 495 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: and now it's called Freedom Country. And I built a 496 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: new Jeep store in Colleen. It's on the main drag 497 00:28:55,840 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: Highway one ninety or Interstate fourteen. Stop wanted Cameron, Texas, 498 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: I do. I had one out there. Matter of fact, 499 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 1: I just bought my truck from out there. They had 500 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: the right color and everything, So I just bought me 501 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: a new truck, all right. And those are the only three. 502 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: That's it. I can't keep track of you. So maybe 503 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: the most interesting thing that we have in common, it's not. 504 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: Maybe it is I met my wife at a music 505 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: video shoot at your house. We all met your wife 506 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: at a music all that was. That was the song 507 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: Don't Listen to the Radio. If you watch that music video, 508 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: that's where I met Amber, And that is at Mitch's 509 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: house in Harker Heights, Texas, right, Belton, Belton, Texas. And 510 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: it was it was just finished. It wasn't even finished yet. 511 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: It wasn't were you living there yet? I moved in. 512 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: The pool area was not finished. It still had still 513 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 1: didn't have any time for sticking up out of there. 514 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: There was no landscaping. I don't know why you chose 515 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:05,239 Speaker 1: to do it there. Yeah, I'll link that video at 516 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: the top of descriptions. So go watch Don't Listen to 517 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: the Radio. You will see an unfinished landscape job in 518 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: the backyard. But that is Mitch's house and unbelievable grand 519 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 1: piano so cool that that I'm playing in that video, right, 520 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: And it's actually Mitch that that played that actual part 521 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: on the album, right. So there's this weird connection with 522 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: us that if you had to come over join the band, 523 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: if you hadn't have played that part on Don't Listen 524 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: to the Radio, if you hadn't built that house, all 525 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: those things. I might not have ever met Amber, and 526 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: I'd just be miserable. Pilo Junk. We all would be, 527 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: I think, because she is a light. She is a 528 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: bright light that shines on us all. But can you 529 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: imagine my teenage son coming home from school, going into 530 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: his bedroom to find it Amber in there with nothing 531 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: but a t and he's going, oh my god, have 532 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: I died? Is this seven? I didn't know that story? Yeah, 533 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: he was thrilled, say the least. Okay, I'll have to 534 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: tell ever, I'm sure she knows. I'm sure that seems 535 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: like a lifetime ago, now, doesn't It was? It was 536 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: eleven years ago, two thousand and nine, I believe, or eight? 537 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: Was it eight? I don't remember when we filmed it. 538 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: I know it came it was eight because I moved 539 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: into the house in October of two thousand and eight, 540 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: and it was just I just read in awesome. Yeah, 541 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 1: but that was a fun time and I had to 542 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: work late that night and I didn't get there until 543 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: just about y'all are just about finished. Yeah, but it 544 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: was cool and I'm going to look, there's my house. 545 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: We'll forever have that connection. And then if you guys, 546 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: if you're ever digging through some some of my music, 547 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: songs like five more Minutes iconic because of you. Yes, 548 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 1: don't listen to the radio if money didn't matter. This 549 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: just off the top of my head. So iconic piano 550 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: stuff that you that you made really me and you 551 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: in one of my bedrooms in some point right that 552 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: it was the first time I'd ever actually been given 553 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: that kind of a platform. And boy, I tell you 554 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: what those are? You know, some simple riffs. Okay, Uncle, 555 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: noodle and D and I'll just turn the mic on 556 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: and I started noodling and D and that happened. That 557 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: became the intro to five more Minutes. That's right, that's right. 558 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: And uh that also reminds me that that we're not 559 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: related as far as we know. But for some reason 560 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,680 Speaker 1: along the line, I started calling you uncle Mitch, and 561 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: then I cut down to unk yep, So I started 562 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: calling you unk so and now I think you're kind 563 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: of open to anyone calling you uncle Mitch. I got 564 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: a lot of nieces and nephews out there. So what's 565 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: your uh, what's your social media platform? Uh, it's Uncle 566 00:32:55,720 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: underscore Mitch on Twitter and Insta, and it's Mitchelle at Facebook. 567 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: Fascinating guy. I've never met anyone that didn't like you 568 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 1: or had anything negative to say about you. You're the 569 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: nicest guy. The only time I've ever seen you even 570 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: mildly flustered, and it wasn't really was when the whole 571 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: virus thing hit and and you were you were so 572 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: frustrated because your whole livelihood, whether it was music or 573 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: cars or anything, was being taken away from you. But 574 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: other than that, yeah, I didn't want music to become 575 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: a have to. I wanted to always be a want 576 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: to anyway, you guys look him up, Uncle Mitch, thank 577 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: you for being on here. You too, man. We'll do 578 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 1: it again sometime. I'm buy