1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:01,200 Speaker 1: Taken a Walk. 2 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 2: The stages are lit, the amps are warm, the crowds 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 2: are gathering. Welcome to April. I'm taking a Walk on 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 2: Buzz Night, and welcome to our brand new theme for April, 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 2: Live and Legendary. With the concert season brewing, we want 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 2: to go back to some of our favorite encore episodes 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: of the Taken a Walk Podcast because this is the 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: time of year when music stops being something you stream, 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: it becomes something you feel in your chest, in your feet, 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: in the air around you. Concert season is here, and 11 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: there's no better way to kick it off than by 12 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: revisiting one of the most electrifying conversations we've ever had 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: on this show. Today's encore guest is a man who 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: has spent decades doing what so few musicians ever truly master. 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: He makes every single night on stage feel like it 16 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 2: could be the greatest show you've ever seen. As a 17 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: guitar icon, vocalist, and songwriter, he's been the heart of 18 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: the Almun Brother's band, the driving force behind Government Mule, 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 2: and a living embodiment of everything that makes live music sacred. 20 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: This is Warren Haynes, and if you've ever seen him perform, 21 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: you already know the man was built for the stage. 22 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: So as the tours fire up and the festivals fill 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 2: their lineups, sit back and listen to one of the 24 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: legends who reminds us exactly why we go to shows. 25 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: Taking a Walk Warren Haynes, Welcome to the Taken a 26 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: Walk Podcast. 27 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 3: Good to be back. 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: So we throw this little opening question out there, Warren. 29 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: It's one that sometimes mystifies people and the answers go 30 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: all over the place. So I'm not gonna let you 31 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: get away with with not trying to answer this one, 32 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: mister Warren Haines, if you could take a walk with 33 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: someone or dead, who would you take a walk with? 34 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: And where might you take that walk with them? 35 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: Sir? 36 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 3: Wow, that's sure. As a tough we would probably change 37 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 3: every day for like seventeen days in a row. If 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 3: you asked me that question, that's that's a great question. 39 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 3: I mean, Jimmy Hendrix, I don't know. I guess that 40 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 3: is as good to answer as any I have a 41 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 3: long list of people that would qualify for that wish list. 42 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: Where would that be? Maybe Central Park in New York. 43 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: It's all good. Those are all perfect answers. This is 44 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: the thing. 45 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: There's no right or wrong to the question, and to. 46 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: Your point, it can change by the day, for sure. 47 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 3: You know, yeah, you know because people ask me a 48 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 3: lot about favorite albums, favorite artists, and if the lists 49 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 3: are so long that you know, it depends on what 50 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 3: mood I'm in, what creeps up to the top of 51 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 3: the list on any given day. 52 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: I get it. I get it. 53 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: We had this chap on the podcast previously named Devin 54 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: Almond and had a wonderful chat with him, and it's funny. 55 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 2: I was just remembering the interview and I wanted to 56 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: I wanted to validate it. And we can talk about 57 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 2: AI separately. But I went to this thing called Claude 58 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: AI and I said, during the Devin Almond Taking a 59 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: Walk episode, tell me what was discussed about Warren Haynes. 60 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: And it came back like a flood of great energy. 61 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 2: Not a flood is the wrong word, it said, Yes. 62 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: Devin Almond brought up Warren Haines multiple times on the 63 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: Taking a Walk podcast. He discussed sitting in with the 64 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: Almond Brothers and described having to stand between Warren Hanes 65 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: and Derek Truck's or Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts while 66 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 2: playing songs like One Way Out calling them the Jedi 67 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: Masters of guitar. And I even think he texted you 68 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: in the midst of the interview asked you a question, 69 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: but how does it make you feel being referred to 70 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: as one of the Jedi Masters of guitar by Devin? 71 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 3: Well, that's quite a compliment. You know. When I joined 72 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 3: the Allman Brothers in nineteen eighty nine, it brought on 73 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 3: such an overwhelming amount of recognition and acceptance and respect 74 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 3: and reverence. Because you know, I was a huge Allman 75 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 3: Brothers fan my entire life, and I assumed that other 76 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 3: people were as well. But I came to realize the 77 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 3: amount of respect that comes with being in that band, 78 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 3: not just by listeners, uh, but fellow musicians. You know, 79 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: every every door imaginable opened for me at that point, 80 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 3: and every musician that I would meet that I had 81 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 3: grown up listening to and admiring when instantly put me 82 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: on a level of respect, you know. And that's uh. 83 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 3: In some ways, I guess I wasn't expecting that or 84 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: prepared for that, but uh, the Allman Brothers music touched 85 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 3: so many people, but among musicians, you know, the the 86 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: amount of respect that fellow musicians have for that music 87 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 3: is pretty uncanny. 88 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: I remember that period, that early period when you when 89 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: you joined, and in fact was fortunate enough I live 90 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 2: outside of Boston, so I was fortunate enough when you 91 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: came through for one of those amazing it was called 92 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: Great Woods, yeah back then, And so I saw those 93 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: early days, and I saw the band's performance, and I 94 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: saw your work. How did you make that integration into 95 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 2: the band appear so easy? 96 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 3: Well, I think it had a lot to do with 97 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: the fact that I was in Dickie Betts's band for 98 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 3: two or three years prior, and he and I had 99 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 3: spent all that time kind of honing in our thing, 100 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: and we had really learned how to play together in 101 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 3: a great way. And it also forced me to kind 102 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 3: of up my game in a lot of different ways, 103 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 3: regarding my tone, my style, my note selection, how to 104 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 3: come across on a bigger stage, and playing next to 105 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 3: him night after night after night was intimidating, but it 106 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 3: was also the best less than possible for me to 107 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 3: be prepared for joining a band like the Alma Brothers. 108 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 3: So by the time eighty nine roll around, it and 109 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 3: I found myself and the Alman Brothers I had had 110 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 3: that initiation and learning period. There was still a lot 111 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 3: of learning to be done, but I felt more relaxed 112 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 3: and ahead of the curve a little bit, you know, 113 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: and the fact that they allowed me from day one 114 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: to interject my own personality. You know, they were very 115 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: good about saying, hey, we chose you to play like you. 116 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 3: You know, we don't expect you to play more or 117 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 3: less like Duwayne Almend than you choose to play at 118 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 3: any moment. You're here to be yourself. And that was 119 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: very important because you know, I was very influenced by 120 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: Dwayne Alban, but I also didn't want to be copy 121 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 3: what he had done, and that's not what they wanted either. 122 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: They wanted somebody that had reverence for that music, but 123 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 3: that would bring their own personality. And I think in 124 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 3: hindsight that music demands that. 125 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: You did a beautiful job of it. I really admire 126 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 2: the way you made that all work. An incredible fan. So, 127 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 2: after nearly a decade away from solo albums, what made 128 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: this the right moment for you to return with a 129 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 2: Million Voices Whisper? What changed your life or perspective that 130 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: sparked this particular collection. 131 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 3: Well, I think it was mostly the COVID lockdown, and 132 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 3: not just because of the emotional impact that it had 133 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 3: on everyone, but because it forced songwriters to go into 134 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: hibernation and write more music than any of us had 135 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: written in decades, you know, and for speaking people that 136 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: have been writing songs for a long time, I wrote 137 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 3: more music during that time period than I've written since 138 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 3: I was probably thirty years old or something, and it 139 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 3: wound up turning into two Government Mule records. But then 140 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: I also had all these songs that I had written 141 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 3: that didn't seem like government mule songs, which inspired me 142 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 3: to keep writing in that direction and record Million Voices Whisper. 143 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: You know, I only do a solo record when it 144 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 3: seems like I've written enough songs that work together that 145 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 3: kind of want to be part of a collection of songs, 146 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 3: but they don't necessarily sound like government mule songs. Are 147 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 3: going back to when the Alma Brothers were recording that 148 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 3: don't sound like all my brothers songs. You know, Some 149 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 3: of these songs obviously could be interpreted that way, but 150 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,599 Speaker 3: they all have their own of vibe and personality and 151 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 3: fit together. So I really attribute it mostly to that, 152 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 3: and uh, and I'm I'm glad that I was able 153 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 3: to find the the positive in such a dark time period. 154 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: And as someone who has just been you know, uh, 155 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 2: the epitome of a live performer and you and others 156 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: like you, that must have been just like chopping your 157 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 2: arm off. 158 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, And to know that we couldn't travel, we couldn't tour, 159 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 3: we couldn't perform on stage, and wondering in the back 160 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 3: of all of our minds when and if that's going 161 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 3: to change. You know, we all thought, is this the 162 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 3: new normal, the new music business where people aren't gonna 163 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 3: be willing to be in live crowds like that? And 164 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 3: that that was a scary factor because that's what we do. 165 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 3: So as soon as we were able to be around 166 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 3: each other, we were all vaccinated and willing to go 167 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: into the studio, we just decided, well, the path forward 168 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 3: for us was to go make a couple of records 169 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 3: back to back and kind of feel normal again. 170 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: I want to talk about the special. 171 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 2: Real Real Love, including lyrics, you know, initially started by 172 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: Greg Allman and brought you back into the studio with 173 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: Derek Trucks for the first time since the Allman brother 174 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 2: Band had the final Sunset, Take us inside the session 175 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 2: and what it meant for you to complete Greg's words. 176 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: Well, let's go back to I got an email from 177 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 3: Bert Holman, who's the Alma Brothers manager, and he had 178 00:11:54,280 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 3: photo copied the handwritten lyrics that Greg had written for 179 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 3: that song and sent it to me and said, hey, 180 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 3: do you remember this song? And I remembered Greg showing 181 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: it to me, but we never worked on and he 182 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 3: never completed it. It just got put on the back burder. 183 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 3: But it all started coming back to me when I 184 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 3: saw the lyric and it was incomplete and there was 185 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 3: no music as far as anyone knows. So I instantly 186 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 3: started writing music for it. And then I started tweaking 187 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: the lyric and and and wrote some additional lyrics to it, 188 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 3: and it all came about really quickly. So I called 189 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 3: Derek and told him about it, and I said, I 190 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 3: really think we should record this song together, and of 191 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 3: course he was very into that idea, and then the 192 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 3: talk turned to, well, why don't we get together and 193 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 3: write some other songs and maybe think about recording half 194 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 3: of an album or something, you know, because in my 195 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 3: mind I was inspired to make another solo record, so 196 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 3: I talked to him about maybe co producing some stuff 197 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 3: with me. Initially, it was going to be at his 198 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 3: studio in Florida, but his studio was under construction and 199 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 3: wasn't going to be ready in the timeframe that we needed, 200 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: so we decided to just bring him up to Connecticut 201 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: where we were recording the other stuff. And it was 202 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 3: great to have him in the studio for those three days. 203 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 3: And we spent three days at his farm in Georgia 204 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 3: writing and then three days in the studio recording, and 205 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 3: a lot of magical stuff happened, real real love. You know, 206 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 3: it sounds a little trite or cliche or cheesy to say, 207 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 3: but Greg's presence was felt through that entire process, you know. 208 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 3: And the fact that Derek and I are in the 209 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 3: same room would sing I'm singing, and he's trading answers 210 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,079 Speaker 3: with me on the slade guitar, and we're recording live 211 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 3: as it should be. It just all came together in 212 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 3: a really wonderful way, and that kind of inspired us 213 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 3: to want to do a lot more stuff to go. 214 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: I love it, And I was going to ask you, 215 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: did you feel the presence of Greg? So you answered 216 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: the follow up question because I would imagine that that 217 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 2: would be possible. 218 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, no question about that. And I wanted to for 219 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 3: the first time ever to honor someone else's style to 220 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 3: that extent, you know, down to the core changes and 221 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 3: the melody and the way I approached the vocal harmonizing 222 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 3: with myself and the intro similar to what he did 223 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 3: on some of the songs on Laid Back. I just 224 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 3: it gave me the perfect reason to go a little 225 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 3: further down that path than I normally would as far 226 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 3: as utilizing someone else's influence. 227 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: It's fantastic. 228 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 2: Then there's this little band called Government Mule, which is 229 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 2: celebrating thirty three to zero, thirty years since that self 230 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: titled debut. What is the secret to that band's longevity? 231 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: Good question. I think probably the fact that we all 232 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 3: know that we have a unique chemistry in the way 233 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 3: we play together and we all still get along, which 234 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 3: is pretty uncanny for a band that's been going as 235 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 3: long as we have. And I think think part of 236 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 3: it is also that since we didn't start out as 237 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: a real band. We started out as a side project 238 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 3: to the Almen Brothers, thinking that we are going to 239 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 3: make one record, do a short too, or then get 240 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: back to life as normal. It kind of caught fire 241 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 3: and took off on its own, and so we were 242 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: faced with the challenge of making decisions about our future 243 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 3: one step at a time. You know, whatever felt good 244 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: at that moment, that's what we did. And we were 245 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 3: never trying to second guess what we thought people expected 246 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 3: from us, or what the music business expected from us. 247 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: We just were making decisions based on what seemed like 248 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 3: the most fun and knowing that, you know, this might 249 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 3: be our last record. We didn't know we were going 250 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 3: to make a second record, or a third record, or 251 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 3: a fifth record, or now we have thirteen studio records. 252 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 3: We're about to play our twenty five hundredth show in 253 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 3: a few days, and that's just something I never would 254 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 3: have ever guessed. 255 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 1: Congratulations, my god. 256 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 2: I want to talk about community, and in particular after 257 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 2: the terrible Hurricane Helene, the Christmas Jam, which was an 258 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: amazing act of generosity and bringing community together and soulshine 259 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 2: in particular. I mean they you know, at the garden 260 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: with Dave Matthews and so many others. What did that 261 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 2: teach you, maybe that you already didn't know about the 262 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 2: power of community and how music is so important. 263 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 3: Well. It brought into focus and solidified my belief that 264 00:17:52,080 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 3: musicians loved to give back because not so because, but 265 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 3: partially because we all appreciate and are extremely grateful to 266 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: be able to do what we love for a living, 267 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 3: and so something as easy as playing music on a 268 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 3: night off to raise money for charity, it's so much 269 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 3: easier than people might expect because that's what we do. 270 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 3: Musicians love to play music, whether it's work or behind 271 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: the scenes or whatever the case, and it reminds us 272 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 3: all of why we started playing music in the first place. 273 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 3: It was for the joy of doing it, and so 274 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 3: if you can turn that into helping others in your community, 275 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 3: it's just not only a win win, but it's an 276 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 3: easy thing to do. And that's why I encourage people 277 00:18:53,960 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 3: to get involved and charity work, not if it's a half, 278 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 3: but find a way of doing it that works with 279 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 3: your life and that makes you feel better. It's you know, 280 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 3: that soul Shine experience at Madison Square Garden was fantastic, 281 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 3: and we knew that the music was going to be special. 282 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 3: What those people coming together to help other people always is. 283 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 2: There was another special Madison Square Garden moment, Little moment 284 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, the Brothers showing up at that amazing venue. 285 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: What did that moment mean to you? 286 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 3: Well, you know, Jamo was the catalyst for that, bringing 287 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 3: us all back together. He called everybody and said we 288 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 3: need to play, and everybody agreed, and everybody was instantly 289 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 3: on board. And we knew in twenty twenty when we 290 00:19:55,600 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 3: did the one show right before COVID it was an 291 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 3: extremely special thing, emotional but cathartic and inspiring, and that 292 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 3: group of musicians playing that music is just special. Doesn't 293 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 3: do it justice. You know, we all felt it even 294 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 3: more than any of us expected right from the beginning 295 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 3: of the rehearsals, and this time around, doing two nights, 296 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 3: it seemed even a step beyond where we were in 297 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 3: twenty twenty. It just felt so natural and so beautiful 298 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 3: and so much the right thing to do for ourselves, 299 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 3: for the audience. You know, it was just two nights 300 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 3: of music that I'll shareish forever. 301 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 2: So You've been a Gibson man your whole career, and 302 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five you finally got your signature. Less Paul, 303 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 2: what took so long? 304 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 3: Well, it's a bit confusing because I we Gibson worked 305 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 3: with me in the past on a signature Les Paul 306 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 3: Wind on a signature EES three thirty five, but they 307 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 3: were limited edition, and this is the first time we're 308 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 3: making them readily available, which means a lot, because I 309 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 3: think it's wonderful that a young guitar player or not 310 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 3: so young guitar player can take my suggestion that I 311 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 3: think you might enjoy playing this guitar. It's beautiful, it 312 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 3: sounds great, it plays great, it's it's comfortable in my hands, 313 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 3: and if someone uses that as a reason to try 314 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 3: it out and really loves it, then that's that's an 315 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 3: amazing thing. And yeah, you're right. I've been a Gibson 316 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 3: guy my entire life. My first decent guitar was a 317 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 3: Gibson and almost every guitar I've played since then. 318 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 2: So you've worked with everybody from Dave Matthews to Dolly 319 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: Parton to Chris Stapleton to the Grateful Dead Family. What 320 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 2: do you personally look for when you consider the art 321 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 2: of collaboration. 322 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 3: Well, it has to be something that I enjoy. I'm 323 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 3: lucky enough at this point in my career and have 324 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 3: been for quite some time to be busy enough to 325 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 3: where I'll always do something if it's appealing to me. 326 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 3: In the old days, when I was doing studio work, 327 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 3: when I first started out, you take every session that 328 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 3: comes along the way, regardless of how you feel about 329 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: it musically or emotionally. But I was fortunate enough to 330 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 3: make the decision that that's not what I want to do. 331 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 3: I want to play my music and pursue what I love, 332 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 3: and I've been fortunately successful with that. And so now 333 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 3: if a situation comes around that is really appealing to me, 334 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 3: I'll make time to do it. But otherwise my schedule 335 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 3: is pretty packed, so whenever I do something, it has 336 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 3: my stamp of proof. 337 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 2: So in closing the subtitle for a Million Voices, Whisper 338 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 2: could be questioning, certainly, how to make things better in 339 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 2: love and in life in the world. At this stage 340 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: of your great career in life, what are the biggest 341 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 2: questions that you're wrestling with and can you share with 342 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 2: how music has sort of helped you find some of 343 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 2: those answers. 344 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 3: Well, speaking for myself, you know how to be a 345 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 3: better person, a better father, a better friend, a better husband, 346 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:57,679 Speaker 3: a better artist and musician and singer and songwriter. You know, 347 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 3: I think those of us who choose to do what 348 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 3: we love are it's a blessing, you know, But we 349 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 3: also put a lot of pressure on ourselves, you know, 350 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 3: and so and that's a good thing in healthy doses, 351 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 3: it's definitely a good thing. But I also feel like 352 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 3: people have to come together at this point to make 353 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 3: the world a better place. It's not going to happen 354 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 3: if we're waiting on politicians to change it. It's going 355 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 3: to be up to the people to demand that we 356 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 3: make the world a better place and a more loving, 357 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 3: caring place and leave the planet in good shape for 358 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 3: children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. You know. I know 359 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 3: that answer went all over the map, but I kind 360 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 3: of feel like that's where my head is these days. 361 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 2: I am so grateful for this opportunity to sink back 362 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 2: up with you and talk to you. Such a fan, 363 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 2: and so grateful for all you continue to give us warnings, 364 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 2: and thank you for being on the Taking a Walk podcast, 365 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 2: and thank you for everything. 366 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 3: My pleasure good to see it. 367 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: I'm Buzznight, and thanks for listening to the Taking a 368 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 2: Walk podcast. Now, please check out our companion podcasts produced 369 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: by Buzznight Media Productions. With your host Lynn Hoffman music 370 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: Save Me, showcasing the healing power of music, and comedy 371 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 2: Save Me shining a light on how laughter is the 372 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 2: best medicine. All shows are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 373 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: and are part of the iHeart podcast network.