Jon Pardi

[00:00:14] Welcome back to another episode of Whiskey Riff Raff. I'm Shelby. My name is Quinn. And we haven't been on the mics in a while. I know. It's been too long. I'm hoping that there's no rust that we have to knock off. Yeah, we've been releasing episodes still at a normal pace, but there's a big gap in between. Yeah, we're going to get back on track. Yeah, and I'm excited for this interview with Jon Pardi. I know. Yes. I am a big fan of Jon Pardi. I was introduced to Jon Pardi by one of my former college golf teammates.

[00:00:43] His name's Gabe. And so he was freaking out that I'm getting to talk to Jon Pardi. So shout out, Gabe, if he's listening. I'm, I guess, living Gabe's dream. Yeah. Which I feel very grateful to be able to do. Sorry to my former teammate, though, that is not getting to do that. I've been a fan of Jon for a while. Like, California Sunrise is one of my favorite albums probably ever. Top to bottom, I feel like there's no skips. And he's from California, which I am as well. So we're going to have a lot to talk about there.

[00:01:12] And I've really liked what I've heard so far from Honky Tonk Hollywood. And I know that the full album will be released, I think, after this episode comes out. Yes, on Friday. So great timing. And I'm excited to listen to that one in full, though. The songs that I have heard so far that he's released his singles have been great. So a little bit of a rock. We'll talk to him about that. I don't want to get too much into that yet. Well, then let's talk about the top stories from the last couple of weeks.

[00:01:37] I think number one is the storms that have been happening over the past probably seven days or so. Yes. And if anybody's listening that was affected by those, we hope that everything's all right. We know that Kentucky and Tennessee got hit pretty hard. Arkansas as well. Arkansas, yeah. And we're sitting here in Nashville. And I feel like the main part of Nashville dodged some of the bigger storms, but some surrounding areas did get affected.

[00:02:03] And one of those places was Santa's Pub, the beloved bar that's, I guess you would say, it's not South Nashville? Kind of. It's by the soccer stadium. By Geotis Park, yeah. And if you don't know what Santa's Pub is, it's, I mean, it's iconic. Like artists love going after, I mean, I think Ed Sheeran went once after he headlined, was it Nissan? Yeah. And then he went to Santa's Pub.

[00:02:27] It's hilarious too, the juxtaposition of playing at Nissan and then going to Santa's Pub, which is a very small, well, it looks small from the outside at least. It's a literal double-wide trailer. Yeah. So it is an interesting place. It's got all the charm you could want though. Yeah. And it's a karaoke bar. So it is, it's a blast. I actually just went a couple weeks ago, so I was glad I got my fix for a little bit. I almost texted you because I drove by it Sunday or Saturday, something like that. And it looked like it was better than the pictures that I had seen. But yeah, we covered that.

[00:02:57] Another big story that has just continued on for, it seems like weeks, is Morgan Wallen's SNL appearance. His appearance and his exit, his abrupt exit. Yeah. His exit was the thing that people really honed in on. And it's an interesting thing. We covered, I feel like, basically every angle of it.

[00:03:15] I was even watching Saturday Night Live this past weekend and wrote one up because SNL joked about his exit a couple times in their first sketch and then the weekend update portion of the show. So they were kind of making some meta jokes about it. But I've never seen Get Me to God's Country so many times in my life with all the memes that have come up on social media, though they have been really funny. So I'm here for them.

[00:03:41] Yeah. I mean, personally, like I've seen Saturday Night Live a handful of times and, you know, it's the ending credits where everyone just like hangs out. But like I don't it probably was a big deal that he walked off stage, but like I don't think it was that big of a deal that it needs to be a national headline that he walked off the stage. And to recklessly speculate, the first time that he was on SNL, which he was supposed to be on SNL once and then the whole, you know, partying during COVID happened.

[00:04:09] And he got canceled for that show, but then showed up on a later SNL appearance and he stayed around for the goodbyes on his first time. I saw that. That he was on SNL. So I think he I think like I said, I'm recklessly speculating. So hopefully that allows me to avoid any trouble. But I think he knew that he was probably supposed to. But there's also no obligation to stay. Yeah. He just kind of got out of there, I think. I think Morgan Wall and SNL just don't mix.

[00:04:38] Like it's never good PR for him, no matter what, considering this is the second time. But that led to one of our April Fool's jokes. We put out, I think, at least three. Three or four. April Fool's articles that kind of got people good. And one was that Morgan Wallen released an official statement talking badly about SNL, New York and everything about it. Yeah, the April Fool's stories are fun. And I think obviously like some people be like, oh, wow, you know, you get a whiskey groups doing April Fool's, you know, jokes.

[00:05:08] But that's what April Fool's is all about. You know, you put out some things that people should be kind of on edge on that. Well, not on edge, but they should be on high alert and aware that it's April Fool's and anything can happen. And obviously, you know, we put in big, bold letters April Fool's at some point during the story. So I wrote one up about Zach Bryan retiring, which is like somewhat believable. But obviously, he's got a lot of tour dates this year. The best lies are partial truth. That's right.

[00:05:36] But a lot of people just read the headlines and don't click the article. And so you don't even know it's an April Fool's joke. So I wonder how many people just ran with it. Yeah. If anything, it's a PSA that we're doing. It's like make sure you read the story before you send the link. Yes. That's what we'll say. Now, are there any shows you've been to? Any new places around Nashville? I've just been living vicariously through you and watching you go to all these cool concerts. I was very jealous.

[00:06:03] I don't want to spoil what you're about to say, but the 49 Winchester show at the Caverns looked awesome. Yes. I am good friends with 49 Winchester's manager, Norman. And it was his birthday on – it was yesterday, but we celebrated on Saturday. Got like a limo down there. Mm-hmm. And it was like after the storm, so it was still raining. And we had a limo, got there. You're in a cave the whole time. I mean, it was awesome. And 49 just killed. I love the Caverns. Yeah, such a great – I haven't been to the Caverns yet. Oh, okay. You have to add that to your list. It's not too far away from Nashville, right? No.

[00:06:33] It's like – I mean, it's an hour. That's manageable, yeah. But worth it. It's a really cool experience. And then this is like my – I'm in the double digits of seeing 49 Winchester at this point. So they never fail to be amazing. So that was fun. And then I also went to Zach Brown Band at the Pinnacle. Mm-hmm. Which was also really good. I feel like when you think of Zach Brown Band, you think of outdoor summer amphitheater. There's a beach ball. Yeah. Yeah. This was indoors, but it was still really cool.

[00:06:59] The production of their show, they played a little bit of everything, even their weird outlandish stuff. And the crowd was awesome to watch. He was fantastic. He's like a true artist. How did you feel about the Pinnacle this time? Because I know the first time you were a little iffy, but maybe they just had to get some shows under their belt. Yeah, this one was awesome. So no complaints. And then I went with my roommate who had VIP. So we had like a private section. Oh, perfect. Perfect. I was going to get better than that for a show.

[00:07:25] Non-country, I'm seeing Jack White there in a couple weeks. That's fun. And I'm really excited about that. But there's plenty of concerts that I have on the calendar. Same. Wishful thinking. Okay. The budget just has to align with those wishes. So we'll see. I'm hoping to get more into the concert scene this summer, at least. Okay. Save up a little bit. I'll have to send you some other invites I've gotten in the inbox as well. Yeah, send them over.

[00:07:55] So I have a busy week this week. Well, if you can't make them to any of them, just let me know. Yeah. I can probably do it. Now, before we get into our interview with John Party, what song do you have on repeat right now? Well, funny enough, I've seen Alan Jackson in the news a couple times. I know we just had a story about him inviting some people over the barricades at his concert to dance and then getting in trouble for it. I don't think Alan Jackson meant anything wrong by that. He was just trying to have a good time, right? Yeah.

[00:08:26] But I was driving and Don't Rock the Jukebox came on the radio. And I just love that song. Great. And Alan Jackson's one of my favorite, you know, from that era, one of my favorite country artists. And you can't go wrong with Alan Jackson and you definitely can't go wrong with Don't Rock the Jukebox. Agreed. Yeah. Great. I mean, that whole two-step-in night of Alan Jackson looking awesome. Yeah. Him bringing out his wife to dance. All the videos just were so awesome. Yeah. So I enjoyed that.

[00:08:54] The song I have on repeat right now is Anchor from 49 Winchester. It is off the new album. It's pretty sad, but the vocals that they did at the caverns rocked so good. I got like one of the best videos I think I've ever taken of a concert of them singing that. And I put it on my TikTok and it did some numbers. Did some numbers. I'm making some money over there. So I told my boyfriend he's now dating an influencer because I made like $2 off of it. Wow. Hey. A full $2. It's $2 more than you had before you posted it. That matters. Exactly.

[00:09:24] Yeah. Whenever I see someone or even if we have someone in, I feel like I sort of start listening to their music organically more. And like I said, I've been listening to a lot of John Pardy's stuff. So we're super excited to talk to him. So I guess without further ado, here's our interview with John Pardy. John Pardy, welcome back to Whiskey Riff Raff. Hey. I'm excited to talk to you about some new music. Big week for you. You have your new album coming out on Friday. How are you feeling? I'm excited. This album has been done for a while.

[00:09:54] So it's finally getting out. So I am a big fan of your California Sunrise album. It would probably go up there as like, you know, one of my top 10 country albums of all time. It's like one of the first vinyls I ever bought was California Sunrise being from California. And I just feel like there's no skips. And you're just one of the more mainstream artists who have kept a traditional honky tonk sound in your music. Was that always a goal for you?

[00:10:19] It was just always something that was a part of what I thought country music was and is. That's just how that is for me. It's what, you know, I think you think country music, you think George Strait, Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson and Dwight Oakham. And then to me, then the list could go on and on. But like, that's country music to me. So those influences just kind of always remained. Yeah. I mean, and I try to step out. I can't go too far.

[00:10:47] I mean, and I feel like country step, a long step out. But I mean, it is, it's influences. Good music is good music. And I think that's what wins in country music, regardless of what it sounds like. But for me, I always try to have some, some root nearby of what I think country music is. Have you ever felt like you've had to like circumvent, you know, changing your sound? Like, have you ever felt pressure to, and you've always, have there been moments where you like stand strong and say, I'm not, I'm not doing that?

[00:11:16] My, my label has been really great to me. But I feel like the pressure, you know, for change or what to do and not say necessarily change anything like dramatically, but like, I thought for this record, it was time for a new, you know, to use a new producer. And, and when I say new producer, I mean like Nashville legend. And it's like something I haven't done before. Like me and, and Bart and Ryan, or we've made a family of making records and we love

[00:11:46] each other, but it was, it was also time to like, let the dove fly. And I don't know, like go out and spread your wings. You know, like it was just a good time to, you know, work with Jay and he was always a dream of mine to make a record with. So, and I also, I'm big on using the advice to tell people, it's like, don't sit around and wonder what would have happened if you would have done that, you know, don't do that. Do it.

[00:12:15] If you want to, if there's any ounce of your heart that wants to do that and it may be weird or it may be a change, like don't sit around and wonder if you would have, you know, if you don't look back and say, I wish I would have done that. Yeah. And it's hard to do. It's not, it's easier said than done. But on this one, I was like, I want to make a Jay George Rick. That's awesome. So that was your motivation. Cause one of my questions was like, how did this idea of like a, you've called it a rock and roll record. Correct. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's not rock and roll. You listen to it.

[00:12:45] It's, it's a me record. Yeah. Right. You know, there's no way it's like California sunrise is a rock and roll record. Yeah. What? I don't know. Listen to the record. You sit around, we talk about it, just listen to it. But, um, the heart of it was recorded in a rock and roll way where, um, I want to get into that. Like it's cause Jay owns a studio and like, um, we got to take our time.

[00:13:09] And it was like, I always loved the, the Rolling Stones stories when they rented the castle in like France and they made it exile from on main street. And I'm like, it's just a huge part. Now we didn't do any drugs and alcohol. But it was the point that they hunkered down and they made the album for a month and we tracked for two weeks and we jammed and we made notes and we like work songs and we never had a, you know, well next week, you know, jelly rolls coming in or like there was no,

[00:13:39] there was no pressure. And it was such a magic, magic time. Yeah. And some of the songs had a little bit, when I say rock and roll, it's more like it had the just classic kind of rock to it that mixes great with like real country. And like, um, it just kind of two of my influences came together and you can hear it, um, a lot. And we didn't know it. We made a record. We would just do whatever felt good.

[00:14:07] That was my goal in this record is to record whatever felt good. Um, and so it kind of had like this West coast seventies country rock thing that was, you know, Oh, damn. I usually always turn off my notifications. Damn it, Summer. That'll make for a good, good little, uh, clip. Yeah. No problem at all. But yeah, it just, it, uh, it kind of came together as when I, in my head, it's like,

[00:14:36] it was a rock and roll way of, of, and of course Jay is like a rock guy, but like you've got a cowboy hat. Like I will say Jay, Jay Joyce did a phenomenal job on mixing my past with the future on this Rick. That's awesome. That's, and it's really cool. Cause it doesn't sound like you went into the studio thinking that this is what you were going to do. It was almost with hindsight that it was like, this all came together. They're in this way. And, and you love it. Right. Meant to be. Yeah.

[00:15:02] You know, we knew honky tonk Hollywood was going to be a title and we had that song. Bart, uh, you know, he's a co-writer. He's, he's writing songs for me all the time. Cause he still sends me songs, you know, but he had a honky tonk Hollywood and we knew there was a great, a special song, you know, that I think they tailored it around summer, you know, blue eye, blue jean baby, California crazy, fell in love with a singer in a band. And I don't know, but it's awesome. And that had like a Southern rock kind of country vibe to it.

[00:15:32] And that's when I say rock and roll, I mean, you know, like the classic stuff that I grew up, the Tom Petty's, the Rolling Stones and, um, just the good, it's just good. It's good stuff. Yeah. Um, and you can curse. I don't know if you're about to say shit. I've been trying to not curse as much. You can if you want to. We can say shit and fuck. Yeah. But I've been trying to be good also because now my baby girls are starting to be copycats of stuff. So I'm trying.

[00:16:02] And it starts everywhere. Well, don't let me be a bad influence. I know. I'm just, I'm trying, I'm trying, you know. At the same time, nothing's cuter than hearing like a one year old accidentally say shit. Oh, I know. It's awesome. But then you're like, wow. You can't laugh, right? It's like, no, don't say it. So I try, I try to clean it. You know, it starts, you know, all starts in practice, right? All starts in practice. What'd you do in practice? You're playing the game. Yes. So I'm just trying to, I've been, I've been good. I've been trying to be good. Good. But I still, I love saying fuck. Fuck's my favorite. Fuck is definitely my favorite cuss word. It's powerful.

[00:16:32] There's so many. It is powerful. So many things you could use with fuck. Versatile too. Versatile. Yeah. Yes. But not good in country music. You just kind of. Unless you're a Wheeler Walker Jr. Unless you're Wheeler. Unless you're Wheeler. Back to the music though and writing for the album. Is this something like, you know, you're going to put out more music. Is it you write a bunch of songs and then you just pick something that has a similar theme for the album?

[00:17:01] Or how does that actually look with like writing and it all coming together? I don't know. Writings, it's a thing. Like you just always write. You try to always write. And it's so hard to write songs. Especially you got kids and start doing anything with kids. You're writing songs like you get off the road. You're like, last thing I want to do is write a song. Yeah. But I've been trying to, you know, trying to book my rights and trying. And then you've. And then you don't write for a while. And then it's hard to get back.

[00:17:29] You know, it's like you got to knock the rust out the wheel. So even now, like I'm writing for a record that's not even out yet with a record that's not even out yet. So that makes. So it's finally like it. That's a weird place to write, too. So, yeah, I gave up on that. I was going. I'm going to start really writing in May. Like, just get it all out. You know, it's just like a Willie Nelson.

[00:17:51] He made a quote that said, you know, writing is like filling up a cup and then dumping it out and then filling it up again. And that is like I'm ready to dump the cup. And this is this is the album. And so I turn it back over and we start writing and we're looking and going to make another record next year. Now, when we go back to you saying writing, every song finds a home and you never know when that time is going to be.

[00:18:20] For instance, like Starlight, we wrote Starlight in 2014 and it ended up on Heartache Medication, what came out, I think, 19. So and then Rush is on this record and that we wrote that in 19 is 2025 and it's coming out. Wow. So it's just you never know when a time or what a song or what a feel is that you write to or what say you want. What's going to come first. But when I say we made the record, whatever felt good is usually how we do all the records.

[00:18:49] But this one, especially I knew Rush and there are some songs that I really felt were just cool and needed to be heard. And when a good song's just sitting around and never gets heard, it's never going to be a good song to anybody. And you're just like and I'd show people like, man, what's this song? And then what's the point of keeping this in the Dropbox folder? Yeah. Like, let's get in. So, you know, and I came in to this record with that attitude and then Rush made it on there, which is great.

[00:19:18] And there's a couple other ones that Summer wanted. But it but yet again, best song wins. We had some great outside song by songwriters and it was just that feeling. So writing, you just never know. But you got to write. You got to get it out. And I like using the songwriters is like my my O-line, my offensive lineman. Like, all right, these guys are going to give me songs so I can run around out here, get a little more time to write. Yeah.

[00:19:47] You know, get a little more time through the past because it's hard. You got you got touring. You got artist stuff. You got family stuff. You got like just working on the ranch, which is I consider just mental health stuff. Yeah. Like getting out, getting dirty, you know, feeling connected to the earth. And just and then being that guy in the country songs, I try to be the guy singing the songs.

[00:20:13] I try to be the guy like either because I've been there or it's something that really relates to me and it's something I can put my heart into it. And so that's why I'm, you know, always doing other stuff and just playing music. But it's just it's it takes a lot. I think that's really cool that you feel a need to be genuine and hold yourself accountable to your fans because you you don't want to sing about something that you maybe personally hasn't haven't ever been through or done yourself. Yeah.

[00:20:41] And I definitely drink for everybody. It's not a problem. So drinking songs got that done. I could drink the rest of my life and be like, oh, I can sing a drinking song. One of our things that we still talk about to this day is on the last time you're on the podcast, you said something about like hangovers need to happen because like you need to be punished for what you did the night before. And I think about that all the time. I was hung over this weekend and I was like, I deserve it. Like, you know, you just got to accept it.

[00:21:11] It's like, you know, everybody's got the friend doesn't get hangovers. That's not fair. And you're like, how? It's not fair. Hangovers are meant for this. It's meant for a reason. And then the moral hangovers. And then there's then there then all this. But then that's when you start. I mean, we just take a break for a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. I feel that. When you go into writing sessions, what are your favorite kind of writes? Is it like the last minute unscheduled kind of writes that just happen?

[00:21:40] Or is it in and out of there in 10 minutes? Or is it just someone you really enjoy and write a song and maybe it doesn't make a record, but it was like the best time? There's times that you just really never know.

[00:22:19] Mm-hmm. And he's good at doing the work tapes and the computer stuff and I play it on him stuff. Or I feel like Nashville and songwriters and stuff we've gotten so used to, the track guy or the guy on the computer that makes a demo right in front of your face that we miss. Like throwing out the phone and just guitar, vocal, just recording the room. Like we've been trying to write like that.

[00:22:45] And that kind of goes back to you never know what that day or that song is going to want. And I feel like as creators and just songwriters, we're here to figure out how to make it get recorded or appear from just an idea to melody and lyric. And hopefully we want to listen to it again. Yeah. But my favorite write is just being prepared, which is never! Never, never, never, never.

[00:23:14] Never! Sometimes I have a title, sometimes I got a melody, but most of the time I'm like, I don't even know. We'll just figure it out when we get there. The number one thing for songwriting is getting a feel in what you'd like to have. That's a good start to even thinking about titles, thinking about melodies or coming up with melodies. Or just telling your co-writers, well, I'd like to have something like this. Because it's guidance in a way. And I feel like artists, we guide what our music's supposed to be like.

[00:23:42] We're the artist that guides that artistry, if that makes sense. Am I getting all crazy? I've been doing a lot of podcasts. No, you're making sense. You're good. I'm making sense. You're right on it. You're right on it right now. So, yeah. Well, a question I always like to ask is, what's that song of yours that you're the most proud of? And sometimes I even add the qualifier of that maybe you'd feel like didn't get as much attention. But it doesn't have to be that, but just that song that stands out to you.

[00:24:11] I gave you 20 motherfucking songs that didn't get enough attention. Right, that's why I say I sometimes add that one, yeah. No, oh, shoot. I mean, there's been a lot. But she ain't in it. I mean, that was... But just because you don't think that it's getting enough attention, and this is why we do fun, and I can make people laugh and make jokes about it.

[00:24:35] But if you just put your head down and put to the grind and know that's a good song, it's going to be around. Yeah. It's like when I say the song, Find a Home. She ain't in it. It went platinum. Yeah. Like, it's a big deal. Like, and it didn't do well at radio, but it made it to 28 or whatever it did. And it was top 25. And it was a big deal. Like, regardless, it got on the radio. Yeah.

[00:25:00] You know, and there was a song on Mr. Saturday Night called Day I Stopped Dancing. Beautiful song. We'd play it live, and people would be like, we had to take it out of our encore because people got up and started going for the beer aisles. That's their bathroom break. I was like, it's such a good song. Like, so you never really know.

[00:25:23] And I will say on this record, we've been playing a lot of the stuff out, and it's been really reactive. So as I always say on every record, you do what you do, you think is great, and then the people decide. Yeah. That's a good mindset to have. But sometimes the people need guidance. Fair. But I will say every song, like, you know, and I bring the day I stopped dancing. It's been played at weddings now that I look back, and people request it.

[00:25:51] And it's not on as big a scale as I want, but it has made an impact over time. And I do make my records, in my eyes, be timeless. And my buddy back home, he's always like, man, your records are like wine, man. They just keep getting better with age. And I was like, it was always a goal, and he has nothing to do with the music industry. He just loves listening to music, and he's a fan of mine. He's also a good friend, but I always thought that was like, you make records like fine wine, that's always going to be a good thing.

[00:26:21] And I think what's so interesting is like, you know, the industry keeps changing. We're like, you know, maybe Shein and it only got to a certain point, but had it come out today, it could have probably gone number one because like the industry is always ever evolving, and once, you know, the new hot thing keeps changing. So it's like that sound is so much more prevalent now than it was back when it was released. But as I say, it's like maybe it needed to be released then and not be so big because

[00:26:48] some guy was listening out there, and that spoke to him, and that was the old school country sound. Oh, Shein and it got me through a breakup back when it came out. And it was always a fight, you know, to get up there. But it paved the way for, you know, a traditional sound that like I feel like is getting bigger and bigger. And I don't know, I think country music is the biggest it's ever been. Agreed.

[00:27:13] We were talking about this earlier about how just, you know, the opportunities for country music is just crazy. Like, you know, at a time there was a ceiling of how big someone could get if you weren't, you know, Garth Brooks, if you weren't George Strait, like there was a ceiling of like how big a country artist could really get. And now there is no ceiling, like for anything, how big music can go, how big of a tour you want to do. I mean, I'm like, when did everybody get football stadium tours? Yeah.

[00:27:41] Like, what is this a norm in country music? Like, now it's a norm. I mean, it's always every artist should have football stadium goals. Yeah. Now, realistically, would you ever hit it? I don't know. But damn, no, it's like, oh, well, he's in the football stage level. He's on the football stage level. It's like, damn, that's why I always say this. You know, be friends with all your friends and girls that are artists and say never egos, put them aside competition. You can't get away from that.

[00:28:10] But I always say this. I'm always there if you need an opening act. And I've opened up for Morgan, Cody, all the football. I am there to celebrate you playing football fields. I will help as much as I can because it's all, it's a team effort when it comes to touring artists. And it's always good to just know that you're a part of the show regardless. And it's like an opportunity because I want to be able to football fields. Right.

[00:28:39] But I also love playing football fields only for an hour. Yeah. Because you get in there, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, fireworks. Yeah. All right, see you later. And you get to enjoy the rest of your night. So it's, I've always been, you know, big, if you got an opening spot and it's the right open spot, I'm there. Would you say you're the minority in country music as far as like people that would be as willing to do something like that? Or do you feel like you see that a lot where people are willing to help? I don't know.

[00:29:08] I mean, I don't have no problem playing an hour in a football field. It's really, I mean, the hardest part, and I think all artists will agree, is just routing and figuring out how to make it work. Because a lot of the, you know, football field stuff is, and they got to, they got to route that too. Like this, no, we got to do this.

[00:29:29] And, no, I feel like it's, you know, it's, it's just like Kane asked me to go on like a couple big football or like, we played like, we played, what? The big wall. We played where the Boston Red Sox played. Fenway. Fenway Park, yeah. It's a Fenway, right? Yeah. And then Fenway and Wrigley. Like we did that. And like, it was fun. And like, it's my buddy Kane. And like, stuff like that. I don't know. And it wasn't like, it was a great experience. And I don't know.

[00:29:59] We, we make good decisions what to get and where we get in front of people. But we also headline a lot too. So, yeah. And I always tell new artists, you know, you can get on the touring thing too. You can tour, tour, tour, open, open, open. But you need to go hit the clubs. You need to go honky tonk. Yeah. Like, I did it for four years in a van. And a record deal. Like, I still had the record deal.

[00:30:26] But we were touring and we didn't have, Up All Night was my biggest hit at that point. And it got me to put the album Write You a Song out. And that, we started selling out clubs. And we, you know, we were out selling tickets that guys had number ones. But we were clubbing. And we had a good time. Of course, we had a great time. But, like, I tell all new artists, like, it's also getting out and doing your own thing too. Yeah. And those shows are more fun for a fan too. The club shows.

[00:30:56] Like, it's just so much more intimate. And a football stadium is awesome because it's almost like a festival. You get to see, like, five artists. And the environment's cool. But it's not nearly as intimate as those club shows. So it's like, that's the best time to see an artist is when they're at the club level. The football fields make Bridgestone Arena seem intimate. Yes. So true. You know, like, I do love a good hockey arena. And I do love a good basketball arena. Don't want to play football fields? Hell yeah.

[00:31:22] I dream of selling out Levi's stadiums in San Francisco or Santa Clara. Whatever, dude, I don't know. But it's on the vision board. Yeah. You know, and I will say, you got to put it out there. Whatever the universe, it's real. Universe is listening. You got to put it out there. And I go back to Honka Tonk Hollywood and just songs we needed, you know, coming in and just having this whole vibe. And it just came in at the right time, like meant to be stuff. So just get out there and get it done.

[00:31:52] Was going over to Australia and playing on your vision board? And did anyone try to get you to do a shoeie? And did you do a shoeie? Well, taking over the world has always been on my vision board. So Australia is a part of that. Yeah. It was always a joke. Like, what are you doing? I always try to take over the world, you know. One van ride at a time was like at the back in the day, you know. But now we're feeling like, yeah, we really are getting on the world thing. And that was our second trip back to Australia.

[00:32:21] And it was a lot of fun. The fans are crazy and fun. Singing along every song. I didn't do a shoeie. I just. I don't blame you for not being a shoeie. I mean, I sweat a lot. Okay. There's got to be some bacteria that's not good for your vocal cords in your boot. I agree. And so I just kind of, you know, it's hard battling allergies enough. I couldn't imagine drinking beer out of my own boot would help that situation. So politely passed. And I helped everybody in the audience do the shoeies.

[00:32:51] My favorite part about the Australian audience is that they would get somebody on their shoulders and then all their friends would turn on their cell phone lights as like spotlights. And then they would do the shoeie to the song. And I would just be like, yeah. So I just pumped them up and it kind of kept me out of the spotlight. That's fun. Good strategy. Yeah. It's good. You know. Yeah. I like that. Maybe not going to do this, but you do it. And I'll make sure that your time to shine is there. Perfect deflection. I love it. Drinking beer out of your shoe.

[00:33:22] Now let's dive into a little bit more of lifestyle stuff. So being from California, do you still get crap for being from California or no? Because like, well, we're almost from there. I don't know. I've been here in Tennessee since 2008. So I'm almost here half my life. You know, I moved here at 22 and it's been a fun time. And I grew up as a young man in Tennessee, in Nashville.

[00:33:46] And I grew up in the business and I became more of a just mature, but still immature. Come on. Nobody grows up, but nobody grows up in the music business. But, you know, I've watched the town of Nashville become bigger and bigger. And it's just, it really feels like home. But like, also, I never let go of California either. I always go back. We tour so much.

[00:34:14] And so that feels like home too. And where I'm from, it's like, it is all farmers and construction workers and people out just hustling. You know, it's all walks of life. So I mean, I got a friend, he's from my hometown and he does trapping in like Los Angeles and Bakersfield. And like, he knows Paul McCartney. He like trapped skunks for Paul McCartney. He's from Dixon, California. Like the wildest. What's up, JJ?

[00:34:44] JJ, it's like, he's always like, oh man, I, he sent me, it's like, I guess, I guess I shouldn't have said that. I don't know. He tells me, he's like, I went, he's like, I went, he did school. He's like, I went to Paul's house to get a skunk or something. Super casual. Yeah. Super. I was like, yeah. Like nobody ever gets any kind of photo of Paul. But like, it's just funny how like, he's a hustler, hard worker. And we would take that.

[00:35:10] And that's where I'm from to where you can put it to whether, whatever you're doing, but nobody knows that like the state I'm from is like huge agriculture. It's huge business. It's, you know, it's vibes of movies and songs that you would sing about. And especially when I say the West Coast country of the seventies is like the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. And then there was rock and roll, but like still today, that's straight up country today standard.

[00:35:39] And California is such an influence to all vibes of movies and, and, and pop music. And I mean so much that it's, it's a great state. It just, it just needs some maintenance. You know, that's what I'm describing. You can use a little bit of maintenance, a little bit of cleanup, but I don't let three cities get in the way of a beautiful state that, you know, I always say this, that like where I'm from, you could drive three hours to Santa Cruz.

[00:36:08] You could drive two and a half hours to go to the snow, four hours, go to the redwoods. And like, and then the rest of it's all farms. You just driving through farms. And it's from like, you know, you go to, go see Napa. And it's a lot where I kind of grew up around there. And then winners and Dixon, Dixon went to high school in Dixon. And, and it's like, you go out there, I bring friends out there that work with me or from other areas.

[00:36:35] And they're blown away that like, this is where, this is California. They think LA, they think, I mean, San Diego is a great city. I love San Diego. San Francisco. They're all great. I think everybody puts a bad rep, but you go there, you sure have a good time. We had great shows in San Francisco, great shows in Los Angeles. Like there are country fans there and stagecoach is still one of the biggest country music festivals. It's like a prestige festival in a way.

[00:37:04] Like everybody wants to play stagecoach. Yes. Um, so I never, ever let, you know, um, California go. Like, I don't know. I've been seeing country music forever. I got a little bit of twang when I talk. I don't give a fuck. Like that's just how it is. I don't walk out this door and be like, Hey man. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's just like, it's, I am who I am. And, um, I love California and like, it's, it's a great, great place.

[00:37:33] Is there a part of you that ever sees you going back or do you feel like now Tennessee, you've been here long enough? Like we go back all the time. We just stay at, like, we stay at Summer's parents' house. We're staying at my mom's house. My mom's got a 10 acres. It's pretty flat. So we can bring the bus. Um, and you know, it helps us not buy anything there. Yeah. Because time is precious.

[00:37:55] And with the babies, it's like, no parent wants you to stay anywhere else when you've been gone for the back half of, you know, since 22. Mm-hmm. Your parents want you to come home. Summer's parents want us to come home. And we're lucky to have great places to bring the tour buses and the babies. And so we just, we just go home. Yeah. We just keep that going home. And it gives you that, that home in your soul.

[00:38:23] And like, you know, from the cooking, the Mexican food is so good in California. So good. Ain't you? I go here and nothing. I got my spots in Nashville. I'm going to ask you later. But no, don't even, we had the fresh, we had the freshest produce in the world in California. And like, I remember growing up, picking up tomatoes off the side of the road from the tomato trucks that fell, because they fell off. It was like, eat it like an apple.

[00:38:47] So there's a lot that, you know, the vibes of California is like, when I sing songs or I write albums or make albums with Honky Tonk Hollywood, which I didn't think of California on that. I thought Nashville. But there's always a vibe somewhere in my head. I'm seeing palm trees. I'm seeing palm trees and hot babes somewhere. And it's just like California, you know? But then you also see beautiful ranches and farm fields for days. And it's just very diverse land.

[00:39:17] And how is touring now with kids and a wife? How do they come with you on tour mostly now? Or what does that look like? It's been hard with C&A because she was a baby baby. But now she's growing up and a little more tougher, road tough. So we got a new bus and got like the bunks are really cool. And it's a smaller entrance, but I don't know. It's a cool design we got. So we're going to, not all the time, we're going to bring them out sometimes. Yeah, enough.

[00:39:47] Let's dive into some sports stuff. How about that? Sure. You like sports? Big sports guy? I mean, football. I get into football. I love sports. I love going to see sporting events. And I just don't watch a lot of TV. Sure. That's fair. I just don't. You know, I couldn't. It's nice when we have to like for Australia, I caught up on some movies and some shows. I just don't watch a lot of TV.

[00:40:15] I try not to look at my phone, but the phone is like so cracky. It's like. Notification. Yeah. Get off Instagram for like a couple of weeks. Everybody just needs a break. Take a break. It's eye opening. But sports definitely love the NFL and college football. I'm not as familiar with the love. I love all sports, but it's just not. I don't watch a lot of TV. Who's your team in NFL? Well, the Niners, of course. I figured. Yeah. I grew up Niners fan.

[00:40:45] You know, Niners were like, it was like the Steve Young days. I was like, oh, man, Steve Young. But I become friends with Peyton Manning and he's a great dude. And like, and I played football all the way to junior year of high school, but I got hurt. And the doctor asked me a very important question. He goes, do you plan to play in college? I was like, hell no, I suck. I'm going to move to Nashville or like whatever. I was already in my mind. I was going to play music. So I just kind of quit playing football. But I played it since I was like eight.

[00:41:15] I was just going to assume that you had played sports growing up. And I don't want to be. I'm sure you get. Wow. You're really tall. How many times a week? Do you. Does someone say, wow, you're you're taller than I thought all the time? Taller and taller. I think. Oh, you're a lot taller in person. I get it all the time. Yeah. Do you get tired of hearing it or? No, I'd rather be. I like my size. I mean, it's it's big size, but it's you know, you look back now, especially now all

[00:41:42] these girls out here on Instagram talking about how they want their guys from six to six four. I'm like, I guess it was OK. I was that tall. Yeah. I mean, but sports I was never really great at. I was I was what the coordination wasn't there. And I was always in music. You know, I've been in I've been writing songs since I was 12. I've been playing in bands since 14, you know, playing keg groups, keg parties when I was

[00:42:08] a freshman at the high school, like backyard parties and like playing Leonard Skinner and stuff like I was so funny. Like I see so many times there's so many artists covering Blink-182, like all small things. And like I said, I've been covering that since I was 14. Yeah. I mean, that's what I listen to in California, too. All the time. All the time. I always say pop punk has a lot of stuff because I listen to it a lot and I did write a little bit of it.

[00:42:35] Just the riffs and stuff and the energy, you can really bring it. Like I feel like Blink-182 is bigger than ever now. It's like we all it went way and that came back. But like it's like fast, energetic and it's catchy. And that's stuff you can bring to country music. Country style, not full. You know, it doesn't pop punk doesn't live in. It doesn't mix well country, but you just have that out of fast, loud riffs and just,

[00:43:04] you know, I will say for all the music fans out there that Tom DeLonge documentary, he did like a three part and it was really great. And he talked about his riffs and how he just wrote like lullabies. And it was like every songwriter should watch that. So that's interesting. See, I do watch some stuff. Specific, specific. Specific things. I mean, even Nickelback's headlining some country festivals this year. Everyone just loves like it's just the resurgence of it.

[00:43:31] But it's all the influence that even me when I say, oh, yeah, pop punk influence fast, upbeat, energetic. It's all grown so worldwide. And we've all grew up listening to everything. And especially being from California is like Tupac, George Strait, Travis Tritt, you know, 50 Cent. Or there's so many new rappers. The rap game, I don't even know what. Kendrick Lamar. Yeah, yeah.

[00:43:59] But like we didn't know we needed him in the Super Bowl, but like he like blew up afterwards. Little guy with Bill Bottoms on it, man. Oh, yeah. You go back to Tupac, but hey, man, one day a rapper going to play the Super Bowl in Bell Bottoms. Right. He'd be like, what? Yeah, he might be blown. It'd be crazy, but it's like it's just crazy. We talk about change, though. Rapping change, too.

[00:44:22] But it's all the influences, even from like rappers to country is like everybody's listening to everything. And that's the beauty of making music is like we take our influences and we can listen to everything. And it's all about our moods and our vibes. And I feel like that's country music so big for that reason. Nickelback's playing, you know, we got all kinds of stuff.

[00:44:47] I feel like Blink-182 could fit into like one of these big, like headline of country fest, whether it's like somebody else has opened up right before him. So, yeah. And I don't know. It's just how it is these days. But I always say this. I make music that I thought was how country music is supposed to sound. Yeah. Awesome. Well, let's wrap up with some rapid fire, if that's OK with you. What are your 2025 predictions? Of what?

[00:45:16] That could go for anything. 2025, you can go conspiracy theory, you can go music, you can go anything. Um, shoot, I don't know, man. It's a I'll just say that it's going to be a good year. There's a lot of good music coming out this year. It's going to be a really good music year. Um, and it's going to be interesting to just see. But I feel like this is a great year of music.

[00:45:46] So I'm going to go with 2025. If you look at all the albums coming out, there's a it's a stack of records that it's a good year to be a big music fan. Lots to look forward to for sure. Yeah. Especially later this week. I'm very excited. Hey, look, I was just I was going to go back to Honka Tonk Hollywood. I think it's going to have it's going to stand out on its own with all the albums coming out. But there's there's some great artists putting some albums out this year. What song do you have on repeat right now? I don't even know.

[00:46:16] I've been I don't know. We stumped you. I don't know. I've been I've been listening to my album quite a bit just, you know, because it's awesome. April 11th. Just get, you know, what to talk about. I'll give a shout out to Zach Topp, man. I play with him in Australia and it was just him and a guitar. And it was that's when I like he just shined to me because he was so good.

[00:46:42] I mean, he's got great, great, like nostalgia of like the 90s country baby, basically, like get the mustache. And, you know, I've listened to his record. He was great, but just like playing with him and he's very talented, dude. So I'll put him in the listen. I listen, you know, listen to his record. But like he blew me away. Just him and a guitar. It was pretty badass. Awesome. Yeah, he's awesome. We're big fans of him. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:47:08] I mean, I feel like he's the he's the guy that had the gift of like he's the 90s country guy. But to his defense, it's not just 90s. He's just he has a way. He's been labeled as. I know, but he don't want to be labeled. Right. Yeah. He's just a brand new, really good traditional country. Let's put him that way. That's fair. Like that. Yeah. Here I compare him to when Randy Travis came out. There you go. That's a big compliment. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, it's. I wasn't even alive yet, but I don't know. I think it was like 86.

[00:47:38] I was one. But Randy came out like guns blazing. Yeah. And I feel like Zach and Randy are very comparable as traditionalists that came out and really made a huge breakthrough. Did you ever see where people were saying that they thought Zach Topper was Alan Jackson's son? I like the guy in like Seattle. He like had the dates. Yeah. And like when Alan was in town and like. He lined it all up. He's like, Alan was young. Could have been here. Young and hungry. Yeah. Okay. Next question.

[00:48:07] Is there anything outside of country music that you're oddly obsessed with or fascinated with? Hmm. I don't know. I mean, I've been really into like, I don't know. I'm not obsessed with it. It might be a strong word. Just anything. You're fascinated with. Buying land. I'll tell you that's what I mean.

[00:48:34] I, I mean, I know not everybody can buy land, but keep it in your goals. Like, I'm not a stock market guy. I just really work to save money and buy land for just to put, I don't know if Drake said it, but it's like, put my money in the ground. I just thought I heard that in a rap song, but I don't know. Um, I just said financially, like advice is like to always buy land and I found, I mean, I found land on Facebook marketplace.

[00:49:03] So like, just look everywhere. There's there may be an old guy out there who doesn't want to use a realtor and he may have an awesome house. Like, I don't know. Just, um, it's not an obsession, but it's like something I strive and it's really fun. And then I'll buy land and I'll clean it up, you know, get fences on it, tractors, you know, cutting firewood. So I guess that's like ranching is a good obsession. Yeah. Yeah. Goats and cows. And, you know, I'm going to get horses one day, but I couldn't imagine having them on golf so long. Right. Yeah.

[00:49:33] What's your go-to hangover cure? Oh, there is no hangover cure. A hair dog is, is good. And now we got the little Gatorade, uh, electrolyte, like things everywhere in gas stations, like the zero one or that, like, that's a good one. And, but there ain't no hangover cure, man. It's just, it's just how it is. Like we go back to the old podcast. It's like, it's there to torture you to, to reminder that you can't do this as hard as you want to do.

[00:50:03] Don't run away from it. Yeah. And it only gets worse when you get older. Oh, it does. Can you name something that's overrated? The next question is name something underrated. So maybe you could, those could bounce around. I've, I, dude, I think I know they were like hooked to them, but I tried to like cell phones are overrated. Mm-hmm.

[00:50:33] Like it's just like, take a little time. I know you can't. It's like, so it has such a hold on to you and you don't know it. And it's like the stuff we had to do is so overrated. Like you live your life, go mow the lawns, like go, you'll do something. Like you can get caught, the death scroll or the, you know, you're just doom scrolling. Yeah. And cell phones are way overrated.

[00:51:00] Cause I, I always catch myself going back to like, remember we used to send mail to each other and that's how we're like, I'll see you at this time on this day. And if you're late, like, well, I guess you're not showing up today. Like we did live like that at one point, which is crazy to think about. And it wasn't that long ago. So and not saying we're going back to that, but like, just try to find some way to, I don't know. I always say, write a letter to your mom, write a letter to your friend, like pen and paper.

[00:51:30] That is, yeah. That lost art. That is underrated. It's pen and paper. Fair. Writing down goals. Like I said, I'm big just because I've seen it happen and it's like goals will happen if you write it down. Now, if you say I'm going to own a Challenger 850 private jet, it's not going to happen tomorrow. Like, you know, but like you put it out there and it's still, I still, that's one of my goals.

[00:51:54] I don't know if it'll ever happen, but 75% of realistic goals, like get this done today. Look nice. Or I'm going to do this or just like work out and like writing it down. I'm telling you, get it done. I like that. I'm a big, I've really enjoyed talking to you because I feel like I've gone to like see an inspirational speaker because I'm going, I'm walking away with like, I need to not be on my phone as much. I need to buy land. Like I, I really do appreciate it. I like the energy. I'm a big fan.

[00:52:22] I will be, you know, as simple as pen and paper is, I just, I challenge anybody to write their thoughts or just write stuff down sometime in their day or sometime in their week and just take a time. And it's a powerful thing. And it's way underrated because we got those damn notes on the phone. What did I put it in the notes? And they just get lost. Yeah. And they get, I mean, in a journal, it's like a physical thing. Put it somewhere. I'm like, I don't know. That's, that's more or another. That's good. Only a couple more.

[00:52:52] Do you have any embarrassing onstage moments? Not too many. My real sad moments on stage is being sick. I mean, the worst one was I got inducted to the Grand Ole Opry and I had strep throat. Yeah. And it was a bummer. Like. Yeah. I wouldn't even drink it. You can't blame it on drinking. Like, oh, he can't see. He was up all night drinking. You know, or like he's drunk.

[00:53:20] But it's like, we get sick and the strep throat on a big night. And it was like, the worst part is like, we planned that. Family came from California. Family came from all over. It's a big deal. Like, you're not like counseling that. So I got out and like struggled. It was, it was a, I was on prednisone. I tried to get through it. And then I just got, just got the strep test and passed it. And like, and then Garth, I, you know, he ran me in and gave me a hug. And my buddy's like, oh, Garth going to have strep throat.

[00:53:50] But like, the doctor said, as long as you don't physically make out, you're not getting him strep throat. Gotcha. Garth, Garth was good. But that was, those are my most, I'd like to, I haven't had two embarrassing things. Like you, I fell down once, but you know, not anything crazy. And it's like, we all, I guess sometimes as artists, if he could fall down and not get hurt, you're like, did anybody get that? Did anybody get that? Because that's like, everybody wants to see you fall. And it's just so funny. It is funny.

[00:54:19] And Luke Bryan is my favorite person. He falls all the time. Like there is, there is a game tape of Luke Bryan falling off stage. And it like, in a way it makes you feel like funny. Cause I know Luke and he just takes it and gets up and keeps doing it. Yeah. But not being able to sing, that's, that's a bummer. This is a, there's, there's never really a good way to transition to this next question. What is the largest animal you could take in a one V one fight?

[00:54:49] Usually it's around the same size, but you're bigger than most artists. So I'm wondering if your answer is any different. Hmm. I mean, there's some big animals I wouldn't want to face. I know. Yeah. Um, we've had some interesting answers here. I think I could, I think I could take a coyote. Yeah. That's a realistic answer. Land guys. You do. I mean, coyotes usually afraid of you, but a pack of them, I'm like,

[00:55:17] I think I could take on two. Two. That's a realistic answer. Yeah. Somebody says a mountain lion, they're full of shit. Yeah. And a wolf, a pack of wolves. You ain't, you ain't getting out, but coyote, I think we get a chance coyote. So if there were just two coyotes, not necessarily like you wouldn't, I think three, three, three, if the pack was there, you'd probably scare off the rest of them after you take the three down. I think I could just, you know, a little bit. Yeah. I like it. That's a good answer. Okay.

[00:55:47] And last one, what is your ideal dive bar meal? So pick one shot, one beer, and one bar food. Well, we're at losers. Okay. Here in midtown Nashville, um, shot a coat ago and chicken, chicken fingers or chicken tenders with some fries. And what about beer? Well, you know, I love Mickey LaVolta. Okay. Make fun of me all you want. I like the way Mickey LaVolta. It just tastes good. Nothing wrong with a Mickey. Yeah.

[00:56:17] I like it. You know, Mickey Ultra, Chick Ultra, heard it all. I do like Coors Light. Miller Lite's good, but I just, if I had my choice, Cold Mick Ultra in a bottle. Okay. In a bottle. No, I can't. Okay. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for being here. We're really looking forward to the new album on Friday, so we'll be sure to give that a stream and put it on the New Music Friday playlist. Put it on the New Music Friday. Check it out. Yes. So thank you. Thanks so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.