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