Koe Wetzel

[00:00:14] Hey, I'm Shelby. My name's Quinn. And we're your co-hosts of Whiskey Riff Raff, where we basically get to interview your favorite country artists and ours. We usually start by doing a little bit intro, where we talk about, you know, what concerts we've done. And all the concerts that you've been to and all the concerts that I wish I could go to, yes, I think. And the songs we're listening to and kind of like the big country stories of the week.

[00:00:39] However, this interview kind of got sprung on us, which we're more than happy to have Koe Wetzel on the podcast with us today. So we're just going to switch things up. And Koe Wetzel is very rowdy, so it'll be nothing if not entertaining. Yeah, I think what we're doing is just allowing and lending more time to the Koe Wetzel portion of the podcast, which I'm sure listeners will appreciate. But if you're new here, if you're listening to Whiskey Riff Raff for maybe the first time, welcome in.

[00:01:08] We'd ask that you like, subscribe, do all the things. Be sure to follow Whiskey Riff Raff on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. YouTube, if you're watching on this right now, I know a lot of people, a lot of friends maybe potentially that are watching on YouTube. So shout out to you for stopping in. And I'm hoping we'll be able to do a giveaway soon. Is that correct? I'm hoping a giveaway when we hit possibly 10,000 followers on Instagram. You know, our main Whiskey Riff Instagram is about to hit a million.

[00:01:35] However, the podcast went on a hiatus and the followers there, they're rising pretty fast, but we're not quite there yet. So help us out there. As soon as we get a 10,000, we would like to do a giveaway. And so that would be exciting for us. Whiskey Riff Raff, 10,000 on Instagram, big deal. And we might hit some possible events coming up as well. So we'll see. Stay tuned for all that. But for right now, let's just get into our interview with Koe Wetzel.

[00:02:04] Koe Wetzel, welcome to Whiskey Riff Raff. Thank you all for having me. Of course. It's been a while since you've been on the podcast. And we were just saying, you know, it used to be Stephen West. We've taken it over. And since then, you know, we're not new fans of you. However, it feels like the whole world now knows your name. Do you think that's due to something specific on Nine Lives? Or do you think it's something specific that just made you blow up in the last year or so? Yeah, probably.

[00:02:32] I mean, you know, High Road did a lot for us, you know, like nationally and worldwide. I feel like, I don't know, it was kind of, you know, kind of like grassroots Texas. I mean, we would, you know, go all over the states and sell out places and stuff. But now it's, I don't know, we've got some different fans. And I don't know, it's definitely changed a little bit since we put out Nine Lives.

[00:02:59] And we were able to catch you while you're in Nashville cutting a new record. So can you give any insight into that, you know, for people that are tuning in and excited to hear the new music? Sure. Yeah, yeah. We've been writing on it for a while now. And it's kind of like the same old crew as last time. We're back in the studio with Gabe Simon, Carrie Kay, Amy Allen's got a couple rights on the new record. And pretty much the same crew. And then we've added a few other writers on it.

[00:03:28] And it's a cool vibe. It's really good. Like I said, we were wearing this week. We had a ride yesterday. We got a couple good ones. And now we're just tracking. So we've always kind of like wrote and tracked at the same time. And now we're actually having tracking days, which is cool. So I really get to hone in on it and just kind of beat it down, I guess. But it's fun. What's the vibe of this one compared to Nine Lives?

[00:03:55] Oh, it's pretty much kind of the exact same vibe. I feel like working with Gabe, he's got his own way of doing things. And he's great at what he does. And I trust him. He's got great taste in music. And me and him have clicked from the beginning. So I don't know. It's fun working with him. And I don't know, just seeing where his mind's at whenever it comes to the music.

[00:04:22] And him being able to take it out of me whenever we get in there. We're writing music and getting the vibes for the song. So I don't know. It's going to be a good one. And what's the timeline if you can reveal anything? Because I know Nine Lives just came out last year. I think it was like September, I think. I don't know if it'll be this year. If it is this year, it'll probably be close to the end of the year. We plan on dropping a few singles. That'll hold people over. Probably just sprinkle a little bit of that the whole time.

[00:04:50] And then, like I said, either the end of the year or the start of next year. But I've got a lot of things coming up. We've got the Hardy Tour coming. About to be a dad here soon. And, you know, a bunch of things in life that are coming. So we're trying to get everything wrapped up before all this chaos ensues. We definitely want to talk about the tour and you being a dad. But I want to bring up the song Surrounded that you debuted at one of your shows. I saw a TikTok of it. Is that probably going to be one of the first singles, you think?

[00:05:20] Yeah, I think that's what we're going to do for the first single. We actually just finished up the last mix of it. So it's off at Mastering right now. So we're getting pretty close with it. Yeah, I'm excited about that song. We've got three or four other ones that we've kind of debated on throwing out first. But Surrounded just feels really good for us right now. And especially coming off of Nine Lives, we didn't want to get too crazy with something different.

[00:05:47] We kind of wanted to give the listeners, especially all the new fans that we have, kind of a familiar sound that they're familiar with. So, yeah, Surrounded felt that way. And we were talking about on the way here, you know, certain artists do shorter albums, certain artists do larger albums. And it feels like it's a choice now, whether they do one or the other. Do you know if this one's going to be a shorter, longer, in between? We have a shit ton of music. And that's a good thing, right? But we, yeah, it's not going to be, it's going to be a longer record.

[00:06:16] It's kind of, I'm kind of juggling almost two records right now. It's kind of, because I've got, I'm working with Steve Rush as well. We're doing more of a older co, like rock, you know, sounding record, I guess. And then, like I said, the stuff with Gabe's a little more cut to the bone, softer co, I guess. But, yeah, I don't know. It's, um... How is that? Like, are you jumping back and forth between them?

[00:06:46] Yeah, so we have, we're just like writing and making all this music. And it's just adding up. And I have probably 20 or 30 songs in the vault from the last three years that never saw, you know, the light of day. And so, looking back at it, and it's like, oh, do we have enough music? And I go back in my files, and now we have, you know, 40-something songs, 50 songs. And it's just trying to figure out where to put those, you know, on which record. And so, um, right now it's just kind of all over the place.

[00:07:15] But, uh, I don't know. It's a good problem to have. Yeah, too many songs is better than no songs at all. Yeah, absolutely. But, uh, the songs are coming really easily, coming really naturally these days. So, um, just keeping the, keeping the foot on the pedal and, uh, just pumping out as much as possible. And I have to ask, is the traditional country record you promised when you turned 30 coming? It's getting close. It's about to be, what, 30? It's about to be three years now since I said that.

[00:07:43] I think I was really drunk whenever I posted that to Twitter. Uh, you know, not, not like me to be drunk posting on Twitter. But, uh, yeah, I don't know. I, I really, I really truly want to make a traditional country record. And, um, but again, it's, I feel like when that time, when I'm ready for that time, it's going to come. And I don't want to force it. And, and, uh, and you have so many badass traditional country. You got, you know, Zach Top, Post has made some great stuff.

[00:08:11] Um, you've got all these, all these people that are making great traditional country music. And so, uh, I'm letting them handle it right now. And then maybe I'll come in later on. So, uh, but I, I really do want to get to it. But, um, it's just, it's just timing right now. Yeah. And I mean, we, we were just kind of talking before we started recording. Like you've, you've been super busy. You were at Coachella, Stagecoach, uh, something that happened while you were there. Uh, some appearances, performances of High Road with Jesse Murph. Yeah. So I've been, uh, we were actually just talking about this before.

[00:08:41] I've been very, um, not necessarily confused, I guess, but like the reaction, uh, to that collaboration. Because you've done plenty of other collaborations with non-country artists. Uh, I'm particularly a fan of the one with, with Diplo. I thought that was really cool. Um, but how do you view that as an artist whenever, you know, you're just collaborating with, with someone that I'm sure you appreciate and someone that you, uh, can, can listen to their music and enjoy?

[00:09:07] How is it whenever there's not necessarily a positive reaction to something like that? Well, yeah, I think you, you try not to look at it that way. I think, um, I knew the song was great. I love this song from the beginning. Um, I know Jesse sounded great. Um, it was something that I wanted her to be on because she is such a talented artist, right? And so I tried to not look at it.

[00:09:28] It, it sucked that it happened and, and, but, you know, I think it was just a bunch of ignorant ass people that it was kind of like cool to hate on Jesse on that song. And, and, uh, man, it fucking sucks because she went in and absolutely killed that song. Had that song been out with just me, myself, I don't think it would have done what it did.

[00:09:48] Uh, so I think Jesse brought, um, I felt like she brought that, uh, massiveness to it, you know, to the, to the song and, and all that, all that it did. So, um, yeah, I don't know, man, people always got opinions, right? And, and it's, it's fine for sure. But, uh, it, none of the, uh, none of what was said about it made any fucking sense at all. It was just like, it, it, it all felt ignorant to me. Right.

[00:10:18] Um, but no, she's, she's great. It was, uh, I don't know. It was, it was, it was strange and, and for the song to still do what it does, but, you know, I think with success, it's always got, uh, hate, a little bit of hate coming to it. So, um, and you see the videos of you guys performing it and it's like everyone in the crowd is there enjoying it. So it's like, it doesn't match what you see. I think it was like a fad, like just like, it was like one, it was like a domino effect. It was just like cool to talk shit or whatever. But, uh, I don't know.

[00:10:48] Like I said, Jesse's awesome. She's, uh, one hell of an artist. She's going to do amazing things. So it was, it was really cool to have her own. And can we anticipate some more collabs on the new stuff? Uh, we keep talking about it, but, um, I don't know. It's, it's kind of up in the air right now. Um, hopefully maybe, but I haven't, I haven't wrote anything with anybody. I was with Muscadine Bloodline the other day and we, we, uh, we got a pretty good one down, but I don't know if, if that'll be a collab at all.

[00:11:15] But it was good getting back in the studio with those guys and just chopping it up. It's been a while since we've, uh, been together, but, um, yeah, I don't know. Collabs and all that. I feel like everybody's collabing with everybody these days. At Stagecoach, I feel like everyone brought everyone out. He had Jellyhead. I don't know. He had a shit ton of folks. Like 10 people. Everybody had, you know, people out and I brought Jesse on. So it was cool though.

[00:11:40] You know, Stagecoach was awesome because I love festivals because you get to catch up with all your friends that you don't get to see because everybody's so busy and doing their own thing. So it was a lot of fun. I got to catch up with Jelly and Bailey and, and, um, Cassius Culpepper and a bunch of other buddies of mine. So I don't know. It was, it was a lot of fun. How did, how did the collabs outside of country music come to be? Cause I think as a fan, I'm trying to speak from a fan's perspective here. Like it would make sense like, Oh, country artists together doing a collaboration.

[00:12:09] But like, does Diplo reach out to you or are you reaching out to people outside of country music to do some of these special projects? Yeah. Yeah. For me, it was a lot of, of Columbia. Like society of Columbia. Uh, that was one of the reasons that we ended up signing with them because we knew there was a lot of things that we couldn't do on our, on our own. And, um, Columbia was a big part in the Diplo and Kodak Black, uh, tune. Um, Diplo has been with Columbia on and off for a while. And so it was just kind of one of those deals.

[00:12:39] Like I think he was doing his Thomas Wesley, uh, um, uh, whatever the country, country that he does. And he just, he was like, Hey, you want to do a song with Kodak? And, uh, I think, uh, Kodak had sent him some stuff and he sent him some stuff. I was like, absolutely. And, uh, we got in there and made a little rock tune and it turned out to be a lot of fun. Are there artists that you see when you, when you're going to those festivals that you're really rooting for after seeing their sets? Um, yeah, all the time.

[00:13:07] I'm like, uh, can't name any off my head, but I feel like a live show is, is like bread and butter. Right. Anybody can go in the studio and make a badass song and, and sound great. But, you know, what the fuck can you do on stage? Uh, especially when there's a shit ton of people at a festival or whatever it is. But, uh, I'm always rooting for the underdog. I feel like we've always kind of been the underdog and, and, uh, you know, coming up from where we did to where we are now.

[00:13:33] And it's just, I don't know, I like, I like, uh, bands that nobody's really ever heard of. And just kind of come out of nowhere and, and blow the roof off of places. Speaking of blowing the roof off of places, you're known to do that yourself. I unfortunately have not seen you yet, but it's on, moved to Nashville a couple of years ago. Like I'm, I'm, it's on my to-do list, right? Uh, I think Shelby's seen you plenty of times, but, uh, clearly you have such a rowdy fan base that kind of matches up with your personality.

[00:14:00] And I even saw like a, a co-wetzel tattoo, I think on somebody's back the other day. So like. Like your face. Oh, really? Like a Steve-O? I think so. Um, so like whenever you hear things like that or just whenever you interact with your fans, like how do you take that? And I guess a sub question is like, uh, what's the wildest interaction you've had with a fan? Uh, yeah, it's always weird. You know, whenever, whenever I see people tattoo me or my name or lyrics, lyrics are really cool, you know, cause it's, uh, you know,

[00:14:30] it means my music meant so much to one person. Um, but it's, it's still, it, it never, like, I feel like you never get over it, right? It's, it's kind of like what the hell's going on? But, um, no, it's really great. We were in, I think it was like Glasgow or somewhere over in Europe. We were in this, this, this cat come up and he's like, Hey, you know, can I buy your beer? And I was like, yeah, absolutely. Let me buy you one. You know, we were in there eating meat pie or some shit. I can't remember what it was. Uh, we're sitting there, we're drinking some guineas.

[00:15:00] And he like, well, look at this, mate. And he freaking pulls up his leg and my whole face. I was just like, holy shit, you know? But, um, yeah, no, it's, it's, it's stuff like that, man. It, it, it means a lot, man. It's, it's, it's crazy that music can do that to people, you know? And, and for me to have that kind of impact on somebody, it, it means a lot to me. And that's one of the reasons I, I keep writing music and keep playing because I know that there are people out there that care so much about it and it means so much to them.

[00:15:28] So, uh, I feel like, uh, it's my job just to give them, you know, whatever it is that they need to, to keep on going. So, um, it's really cool. Uh, but yeah, I don't think I'll ever get used to it. It's kind of having my face on, on somebody else's body is, uh, yeah. I mean, going, going to a bar and someone saying I'll buy you a beer is one thing, but then, then like that was just basically the intro so they could show you their tattoo, I think. Yes. It's kind of like one of those, you know, they're going to get to the gates one day and the good

[00:15:55] Lord is going to be like, you did everything right, but this co-wetsel tattoo, come on, dog, what's going on? See, I feel like that, but you probably have crazier girl stories of girls. Yeah. I want to dive into, you know, you being a dad and everything, but I would love to hear some like the craziest thing a girl has done to get your attention. I know the bras go on stage. I'm wondering if there's anything crazier that's been thrown on stage, honestly, or if I even want to know. Yeah, we've had, we've had some crazy shit go down.

[00:16:24] And I don't know. Yeah. I'm going to leave that one there. Cause I don't know. I could probably give you a PG version of some stuff, but I don't know. People are crazy, man. You've mentioned that you've slowed down your drinking quite a bit, probably like last year. Is that still the case? It is. But now it's like whenever I, whenever I say I'm going to drink, it's like doubled down and I hurt for like two or three days.

[00:16:51] So, uh, I have, I'm not, I'm not drinking as much as I used to, but, uh, I'll still run a, I'll still run a fucking muck with some folks, you know, I'll get after it. Um, but, um, I think it's just, you know, all a part of everything and everything that's going on and kind of looking at everything with a broader view. You, you know, it's not, it used to be all about the party and, and, uh, you know, just playing music, trying to get enough money to get to the next show.

[00:17:17] And, and now, you know, I have so many people that are looking up to me to, to get paid and, and, uh, to live life. And it's kind of me stepping back and looking at it and going, Hey, you know, this is a lot bigger than you are now. So I think just, um, I don't know, kind of, I guess growing up or whatever. And like I said, about to be a pop here for too long. So, um, surely being a dad, having that on the horizon has made you say, okay, 100% dude.

[00:17:45] I'm, I'm terrified and I'm excited. There's so many emotions going on right now. And I think we're about a month, month and a half out. So, uh, yeah, it's coming. It's real. You broke a lot of hearts when you announced it. That was like number one thing when we posted it every, like every day, every girl's day was ruined when that was announced. Now, some people are big fans and know, you know, the details of who is the mother of your baby. And some people don't, like, I honestly had no idea who she is.

[00:18:15] So for the people who don't, would you mind sharing kind of? Yeah, we, uh, we met in college. We've, we've kind of been on and off, um, you know, for the last 10 years or whatever. And, um, I don't know, it just kind of came back around and, um, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's a wild story. It's crazy. And, and, uh, yeah, I think, uh, you know, me being, I'm about to be 33 in July and just kind of, you know, settling down and stuff.

[00:18:43] I don't think it could have happened at a better time. You know, this, this could have happened back whenever I was, you know, 23, 24 and, and acting the way I was and not having a dollar to my name. So, um, she's gonna, she's gonna grow up spoiled. She's already got so many people that love her. And, um, uh, she's got a bunch of main uncles. So, uh, yeah, it's, it's going to be a lot of fun. Um, we're, we're pumped. And, uh, obviously you said you were terrified, but, uh, I think from what I've heard is no one's ever ready.

[00:19:13] Yeah, absolutely. And you can be prepared, but no one's ever ready. Yeah, for sure. I don't think anybody's ever ready for it, but, uh, it's, I'm, I'm excited, you know, cause it's going to be such a big change for me and, uh, you'll be a girl dad and it's going to be, yeah, I'm going to be a girl dad. And, uh, that's what I, I told Bailey at the time. I was like, you know, I don't, I'm not, I don't, I don't think I need to be softened up in here. Right. Um, but yeah, she's like, oh yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be crazy. Do you guys have names picked out? Have you guys announced that?

[00:19:42] We haven't announced it yet. Yeah. We're, we're, we're going to keep it, uh, keep it to ourselves for a little bit, but, uh, yeah, she's, uh, she's got her name already. But she's doing like a month and a half ish. So you're starting the Hardy tour, taking kind of a break and then coming to finish it. Yeah. Well, we're, so it's like right whenever the tour starts. Um, and we have a couple, I think like a fest for so. And so she's, she's due June 9th. Um, and it's right there in the heart of it.

[00:20:12] So I don't know. I'll have to holler at Hardy, but we got, we got a plan on standby. So it's just, whenever it happens, we'll be back and forth. And, uh, like I said, she's got a lot, we got a lot of friends and family, so she's going to be well taken care of. And, and, uh, so it'll be a couple of days off and then probably back at it. You know, I gotta, I gotta pay for diapers and shit now. And do you plan, is there any sort of anticipation by you to slow down as far as touring or music, uh, is concerned? Not music, I guess.

[00:20:42] But touring. You got those 40 songs banged, right? Yeah. Yeah. I don't, uh, I don't, no, I don't, I don't really have any plans though right now. Um, you know, it's, it's kind of second nature to me whenever I'm home for a couple of weeks, I start to get cabin fever, you know? And so the road's pretty much my home and Bailey understands that she's, she's a great sport about it. And I'm sure once I see that baby girl, I'm probably going to rethink it a little bit, but, um, I love playing music. I love being out on the road.

[00:21:11] And like I said, I got a lot of people depending on me. So, um, we love getting out there and playing music for the fans. I don't, I don't know. I say that now, next time I'll holler at y'all, it'll probably be a little different. But, uh. We just had John Pardy and he was just talking about like how much it's changed. Like, well, now the, you know, the girls come on the road with him some and then also like he tries to like not cuss as much in front of them, which is new. Yeah. Yeah. I think, uh, my baby girl's first word is probably gonna be like fuck or something like that, you know?

[00:21:39] But, um, no, his, his new song, uh, what's his, uh, the, the girls, uh, his baby girl song? Um, I know it, the drive away one. I don't know. Something like that. Yeah. Beautiful. Yeah. He played it in, uh, in Australia. We did me, him, Ashley Cook and Zach Topper did like an acoustic deal and he played it and I was, I was about to tear up. I was like, I can't be crying on stage, you know? But, um, it was amazing. It's, it's very good. Ooh. And like Luke Holmes came out with like the fathers and son album.

[00:22:10] I'm like, I'm wondering, are you going to have some baby girl song? We've, we've talked about it, you know, we'll be in the studio and, and we'll be, you know, thinking of ideas to write about and they keep going back. You want to write a baby girl song? I don't know. I feel like it's good. That needs to be one of mine, you know, like me alone. And, uh, like I said, I haven't met her yet. So I'm sure once that, uh, moment comes, I'm going to have all kinds of shit to write about. So, um, I want to, I want to get to know her, you know, and you know, I might not like her.

[00:22:39] She might not like me. Yeah. No, she's going to have me wrapped around her finger. I already know it. Um, and so I just want to, I think that's like a personal tune for me. That's probably one that'll come to you. Absolutely. You're not going to be looking for that one. For sure. Yeah. I don't, I don't need to go searching for any of that. I'm sure it'll be here for, I know it. And I was going to ask, like, obviously you just said just a second ago that you'd like getting out on tour. Um, what is the process like though, to get prepped to go out on tour? Cause I know as a fan, they might not, you know, they see you in the town that they're

[00:23:08] closest to, but there's a lot that goes into this. Um, is there a lot of preparation or is it just as simple as packing your bags and getting out there? Um, it's honestly pretty simple for us. We, we, uh, we, we tour, I mean, we play shows year round, so, um, we'll have a couple rehearsals just to, you know, brush the cobwebs off. But, um, even before we were doing the bigger tours and we were just touring year round, I

[00:23:34] think we haven't practiced maybe 20, 30 times out of my whole career. I think I might've had 30 practice dates. Uh, but yeah, we just, I mean, like I said before, we're just some boys from Texas. We're a garage man, right? We, we go out, we play music and that's, that's pretty much all we know. So, um, we just go out there, we do what we, you know, it's, it's kind of like a, a Saturday night getting, getting drunk with your friends and hanging out and playing music. And that's how we pretty much take every show.

[00:24:04] Um, just a, a little bit more fire, a little bit more smoke and, uh, I don't know, some really loud guitars. Now you said you have a lot of people relying on you. So you have some other endeavors. You mentioned Outlaw Beer is one of them, but you also have Riot Room. Now there's a Houston one on the way. Do you know when that's actually being opened? Um, it was supposed to be in May and we keep pushing it back.

[00:24:31] We had, uh, we had some permit issues, I think, or whatever it was. And Houston's such a big city, right? And, um, but I think we're pushing for June-ish, July maybe. So it's, it's totally finished. Everything's done. Uh, we're just waiting on just the small thing. It's kind of like a record, right? You have everything, but now you got to get the album cover and you got to, it's got to go through so many people. So, um, that's kind of the way we've, we've attacked this whole thing is, uh, you know, you take what you know from music and making records, it's kind of like making a bar

[00:24:59] for us, but, uh, the one in Fort Worth, we just had our two year anniversary there. It's been great. Uh, it was still, still a lot of fun to go to and, and hang out and I haven't been arrested at that one yet. So that's great. That was a, that was a plan. Um, but yeah, opening up in Houston and, uh, we're looking at a couple more locations in Texas, but, uh, trying to get this one in Houston off the ground and then maybe think about it. And correct me if I'm wrong. Have you purchased a Nashville possible bar property? Yes.

[00:25:30] Um, and, and it, it, we, they want us to turn it into a right room, but like I've said, I, I feel like it's, uh, I love Nashville so much, right? I've got a lot of respect for it and, uh, but I don't, I don't feel like it's, uh, I'm from Texas. I'm a Texas boy. And that's why we started the right rooms in Texas because it's my roots. It's where I'm from. Um, you know, bury me in Texas type deal. And, and, uh, I just, I didn't feel like it was right for me to open up my Nashville bar.

[00:25:57] And, um, so I'll let everybody else have at it and we'll just, uh, stay to our own in Texas. But, um, yeah, uh, I don't know what it is. Um, can't really say too much about it. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like, so, I mean, everyone hates on the, the artist bars all over Broadway. Midtown has getting more names too. So it would make sense to have one there where it kind of just like fits all the different vibes. Like Riley Green's very like outdoors. Old Dominion just opened theirs. I haven't been to theirs yet, but I'm imagining there's very Nashville.

[00:26:27] I feel like that's a, that's a dream, right? Like, I mean, being an artist and having your own bar is, is that's, that's really cool. Right. And especially to have it on Broadway or, or in Nashville, uh, for that matter. I think that's, I mean, that's, that's a really cool thing, you know? So I don't know. It's, I know a lot of people hate on it, but I think it's awesome. So yeah. And that was kind of the deal. I tried to persuade Parker to do one and he was like, ah, I don't know, you know, maybe it was like, just put it right next to the right room and you know, we'll bounce off each other or whatever.

[00:26:56] But I don't know. He's a, he's, he's a dad now too. He's got his, his little baby boy major. Uh, he's going to be a, he's going to be awesome. So it's, uh, I don't know. We're getting old. We're growing up and it's crazy, you know, going from playing love to 300 people in Cheatham street. So where we are now, it's, it's awesome. So time's going fast. Well, I think, uh, one of the things that's kind of helped, um, your name get out there is, is your social media presence.

[00:27:23] Uh, I'm a big fan of the Tik TOKs that you all post. Are you the one that puts those together or is there? No, I haven't been on Tik TOK and I haven't been on Tik TOK in, I don't even know how long, probably a year or two. So the co-Olympics was, I mean, that's, that's, I do see the videos cause I do. I see the videos cause I post my Instagram, I guess. But no, I have, uh, I have somebody else running my Tik TOK and sometimes the post videos, I'm like, y'all gotta start sending this shit through me.

[00:27:51] Like y'all gotta let me get my approval because I look like a jackass half the time. But, uh, people like it, I guess. The people love it. It keeps them, uh, keeps them up to date with what we're doing. The people love it. And I feel like there's a couple like up and coming artists who, I feel like they either get the outlaw name or are trying to get the outlaw name. That's up to other people to decide, I guess. How do you feel about people being like, oh, like they want to be Koetzel? I don't know.

[00:28:20] I don't know if anybody wants to be me, uh, but, uh, I don't know. Good luck. It's a, it's a rough, it's a rough life. But, uh, no, it's the, the crop of, of musicians and artists that are coming up now are fantastic. I think country music's in, in such a good place, you know? And, uh, I know it's, it's a lot of fun to watch. And I think it was, I can't, but somebody showed me a video. Oh, it was Chili Fest. And I think it might've been a Hudson Westbrook or one of the younger artists that are coming

[00:28:49] up and they're like, who are you ready to see? And they said, Koetzel, it's who I grew up listening to. And I was like, am I, am I, am I, am I getting that old? But I mean, I guess I am. But, uh, I mean, I think in October it's going to be 13 or 14 years of us playing music and putting out music. So I guess we're getting up there now, but, uh, that was, that was a, a kick to the chest right there. That's flattering though too. It's like artists that are coming up that are having success or listening to you when they grew up. Yeah, absolutely.

[00:29:19] I love it, you know? And, and looking back, I mean, I was doing the exact same thing, you know, and, uh, it's really cool. Um, you know, it's, it, uh, it puts a smile on my face to know that, you know, I had some kind of influence on people's music and stuff. So, um, another question about another, like a, I don't know, a one-off thing maybe. Um, do you have PBR bowls? I do. I do. I think I have, right. I can't keep up with them because my partner, Blake Sharp, he'll just send me one. He's like, this one's got a lot of talent.

[00:29:49] I'm like, all right, cool. Let's get it. So I think I'm at like seven or eight right now. Um, our main bowls that we have out right now are Mike's Motive and, uh, Rockville, which I have with Giovanni, uh, from Giovanni and the Irons. Um, we just got a new one out. Uh, he just had its debut, uh, named Hail Mary and he's a bad cat. He's, he's a young bull, but he's, he's really good. Um, yeah, I've, I've always been a fan of PBR. My granddad, he loved watching it.

[00:30:16] So, um, we would just sit in the living room and watch, you know, bucking bulls all night. And so it's, it's been a fun experience to, to be around it. And, uh, um, like I said, my, my partner, Blake Sharp, he's a great dude. He takes care of a lot of us and, uh, I don't know. It's, it's a, it's a fun hobby, I guess. Hobby is the goal to have, uh, the bull of the year eventually. Yeah. I mean, yeah, that would be awesome.

[00:30:40] But, uh, like I said, just putting out quality bulls and, and giving these riders, uh, you know, good scores is, is the main goal, you know, cause it's a, it's kind of like a team effort. Right. And, and you want the, you want the, the riders to stay on. You want the riders to get a great score out of the bull. So I think that's really our goal is just producing great bulls for people to, to, uh, some, to win some money off of. Does that give you any sort of like the same sense that you felt whenever you were like playing sports, like having a bull in the fight or not? Yeah. Yeah.

[00:31:10] I mean, it's just, I'm, I'm a competitor, right? So I've always, I've had that mindset, but, um, I mean, it's not, like I said, it's not about, you know, being first in the, in the PBR game. Unless you're a rider for sure. But, um, for us, it's just putting out, it's, it's fun, you know, watching the bulls are just as much as athletes as the riders are. Right. And so, uh, I think, you know, the love for it, the love Blake shows for it. It's, it's, uh, it's cool to, to have all that put together. Yeah.

[00:31:40] Country artists played sports at one point. Yeah. You're always on there. Um, uh, obviously you have the football background. Is there anything that, uh, you know, playing sports kind of prepared you to handle, uh, you know, a career in country music? Is, is there any sort of thing that you learned in your sports playing days that has transferred over? Yeah, absolutely. I think, um, you know, whenever I was younger, uh, I played varsity ball as a freshman in high school.

[00:32:07] And I think, um, just keeping your head down, um, you know, persevering, you know, shit gets really hard sometimes. And especially in music business, whenever you're on the road, you know, there were times whenever I was playing music where I didn't know if this is what I wanted to do. Um, you know, there, there were a couple of times I debated on going back home and pouring concrete again. Um, it's kind of the same thing with sports. You know, you just keep your head down, you work hard, you get to where you want to go. Right. And it's kind of the same with the music.

[00:32:35] You know, we've, we've always just stayed in our own lane. We've done our own things. We haven't really tried to be anybody else, just been ourselves and, and, uh, just beat it up continuously. You know, just beat the road up, put out music and just one after the other. And it just kind of builds itself into what it is now. So, um, absolutely. It's, you know, football and baseball taught me a lot about what I do today. And, uh, and that, that came from a young age. We know you're a Cowboys fan and a Rangers fan.

[00:33:05] Rangers fan. Yeah. Are there any other sports or teams that you have allegiance to? My Dallas Stars right now. I'm a big Stars fan. I just got into hockey a couple of years ago. I like, it's fun. I was a big Mighty Ducks fan, you know, growing up. I love Mighty Ducks. I always wanted to play, but I'm from Texas. There's not a whole lot of hockey going on down there. Um, but yeah, I've, I just got into it a couple of years ago. Um, and I love it. It's, it's awesome. Um, yeah, my Stars, I can't remember if they won us. I don't know. I didn't see that.

[00:33:34] I didn't, but y'all probably just. The Preds are here. Preds. Yeah. I was gonna say say. They didn't make the, they didn't make the playoffs. No. We didn't have to worry about it. Y'all, y'all had a pretty good team though. Last, last year they made, they, they snuck into the playoffs. And then this year it was like, wow, they made a ton of moves to, you know, make that jump. And they were, I won't, I won't get too much into it. Dallas usually has a really good squad. We, I mean, we've, I mean, we're in the, we're in the finals two, three years ago. I don't know.

[00:34:04] On the range. On the Rangers just won. Uh, what is it? Not last year. Two years ago. Two years ago. So, and last year we were, we had a bunch of injuries and shit, right? I feel like everybody was hurt. This year we've got a really good squad coming back in. We got, um, pitchers back. We've got down near everybody back. You turn on a lot of Rangers games while you're on the road or? We do. We, we're all, we're all pretty much diehard Rangers and Cowboys fans. That's the great thing about baseball is like, it seems like there's always a game on. Yeah.

[00:34:32] For sure. You do any home run bets full? I don't do any home run bets. I'm an over-under guy on baseball. But, and that, and that's crazy because it can go, it can be a two run game. It can be a one run game or it can be, you know, I can't remember what the, there was like a record set the other day. I think it was like 27 or some shit. Don't quote me on that either, but might just be pulling that out of my ass.

[00:35:01] But, um, yeah, I love, I love baseball. I love football. I was going to wear my Cowboys hoodie today, but I figured, uh, my publicist is going to be like, absolutely not. It's really trashy. All right. Now we're going to dive into some rapid fire to wrap up. But before we do, is there anything that maybe we didn't touch on that you want to share? Anything, anything else exciting going on? I already know you shared a ton, but. Um, no, the Hardy tour.

[00:35:30] Um, getting out, getting out there with, uh, Stephen Wilson Jr. I got to meet Stephen probably eight or nine months ago. Great dude. Um. I'm a big fan of Stephen Wilson. Me too. Dude, same. Right. And I was a fan of his music before I met him. And then I met him and he's just one of the most genuine dudes you ever meet, you know, and he's, he's got so many layers to him. Like, yeah, he'll tell you, you know, I was, I was in boxing. Cool. Also, I think he was like a microbiologist or something like that.

[00:36:00] And I was just like, and he just keeps on and keeps on and keeps on. Like, this is insane. Right. He did an interview on the Dan Patrick show. Um, if you haven't seen that, like that was, that was really cool. He just, like you said, he's got a ton of different things. Yeah. Uh, spread throughout his life. And now obviously he's really good at what he's doing now too. So the, uh, and the, uh, was it the star spangled banner that he did? Yeah. The draft. Holy shit. Yeah. I texted him right after. I was like, bro, you just bodied that bitch. And he was like, he's like, yeah, that was a lot of people. I was like, yeah.

[00:36:30] Well, and that's what I'm hoping like going on tour with you guys. Hopefully like this just takes them to that next level. That's the goal when you go on that kind of tour. Yeah. It's, uh, it's going to be a lot of fun. And like I said, and being with Hardy and, and Steven, it's going to be, it's going to be a fun group and it's just going to be a bad-ass tour. We're, we're really excited about that. Okay. Awesome. Let's dive into some rapid fire. Oh no. It's easy. I promise. We ask all the artists this, so it's nothing too wild. Um, what are your predictions for the rest of 2025?

[00:37:00] Hmm. On what life or anything? I kind of like this, whatever comes to mind. Okay. Uh, it's, it's going to be a huge change for me. Uh, cause I, there's just so much going on in my life. Um, you know, with being a dad and, uh, tour with Hardy and them and new music on the way. And it's going to be, it's going to be a big change for me. I feel like.

[00:37:28] And I just kind of prepare myself for the rest of the year. This year has already been great. It's gone by so quick. Like we're almost in May. No, it's insane how fast it's already gone by. But, uh, yeah, it's, it's going to be, it's going to be a great year and, uh, can't wait for the rest of it. Can't wait for 2026. What song do you have on repeat right now? Um, way too high. Muscadine Bloodline. Fair. The, uh, I don't know what it is.

[00:37:56] I, I told him whenever we were in the studio last week, I was like, uh, man, that's a tune. Right. And you got Gary rapping at it in the very beginning. I was like, man, it's, uh, yeah, I've got it on repeat. For sure. Is there anything, I mean, we touched on country music and sports, but is there anything else outside of those that you are, have a really, you're really passionate about? You're obsessed with in a sense? Um, golf. Yeah. I've been golfing a lot.

[00:38:24] Um, like I said, my, my scorecard doesn't, doesn't reflect, doesn't reflect it at all, but golf, uh, fishing seasons around the corner. Um, but it's just trying to find time to get on the boat and actually fish. Yeah. Um, we're so damn busy these days. It's kind of hard to get out there and do it. Same with golf. Yeah. Well, with golf, you know, like with all the tour, we'll keep the clubs on, on the bus. So, um, it's easier to get out there and golf whenever we're running around, but fishing,

[00:38:53] it's, uh, I don't know. Me and my girlfriend, we're walking around McCabe, the park over here where you can golf at. And we're both like, we want to get into golf, but like these guys have been at it for like how many years and they still suck. And I'm not going to get any good. So I've kind of accepted the fact that I'm never going to be good at golf. I can go out there. I can shoot, shoot, you know, pretty good. I'm not going to say anything because, well, I mean, I can, I can hit the ball pretty good, but like, I've just accepted the fact, like, I'm not going to be great. I'm not going to be on tour.

[00:39:23] It's more just the, you're outside, you're with the, with the guys. Yeah. Yeah. It's a good thing. It's being outside, you know, having a few beers, catching up with old friends, it's, you know, having a little side bet going on. Like I said, I'm competitive. So I love, I love to bet on the game, even though I suck. But if I suck, you're going to have to give me a couple of holes or, you know, a couple of strokes. Gotcha. Um, this, we talked about this before we started, but what's your go-to hangover cure?

[00:39:49] Or, man, uh, greasy food, like greasy food. And I've been trying to like stay away from it. You know, I've been trying to eat healthy and do all these healthy things, but whenever I'm hungover, I'm like, I'm like the biggest baby. Like get the fuck away from me. I want, uh, I want what I want. And, um, so yeah, big greasy cheeseburger. Um, I've been drinking these, uh, element packets.

[00:40:18] It's just like a hydration stick. I'll throw those and I think you're only supposed to drink like one a day. I'll do like two or three. That's some greasy food, uh, a little bit of Advil and, uh, of course, two or three more beers. We're good. The next, next two questions we have, name something overrated and name something underrated. Hmm. Typically we just ask the first one and then I just say the other one. All right. All right. Overrated. Man.

[00:40:51] I don't want to piss nobody off. Um, overrated, overrated. Let's go underrated. Man, that's a hard one. My mind goes food, but other people. That's what I was going to say. I was going to say like a restaurant. Yeah. All right. Underrated. Chili's. Oh yeah, for sure. Triple dipper. Triple dipper. Yeah. I don't know. That might not have been a good one because I feel like everybody, if you don't like Chili's, fuck you. All right.

[00:41:20] Um, man, I don't know. An artist. Um, a show, a TV show. Are you watching a lot of TV right now? I am kind of, but I don't know. I can tell you're being careful. You're like, I know. I am. I got, I got, yeah. Okay. Your audience are overrated, just underrated. All right. Underrated. I would say Chili's. I want to do something else. Hold on. Underrated. Um, damn it. We're going to go with Chili's. Yeah.

[00:41:49] This is a tough rapid fire question, I guess, because there's so many different things. Yeah. I can go any direction. Yeah. Um, do you have any recent embarrassing onstage moments? Uh, not recently, I don't think. That's good. Yeah. It's a good thing. Or if it was, I was, I was, uh, probably too drunk to remember. I probably have a couple of them. And as soon as this comes out, people are going to be comment. Oh yeah. Remember when you did this?

[00:42:18] I was like, uh, kind of. Uh, what is the largest animal you could take in a one V one fight? Is that like the thing that's going on? What's up with the hundred dudes versus one gorilla? Yeah. Well, that's the, I think this, this episode will come out a little bit after that and maybe the internet will still be talking about that. Oh, for sure. But yeah, the, the thing on the internet is the 100 men versus one gorilla. If, if the hundred guys could. What, what do y'all got in that, in that fight? Oh, I can't even pick a dog.

[00:42:48] I'm not, I'm not taking anything. A hundred men or one silverback gorilla? Well, I, I think that there's. We've had this debate like between like a moose and like how many people it takes to take down a moose. And like, it's like, you know, off the bat they're taking out 10. And then, so it's like, how many more do you need to take down the grill? I think it could get really ugly. I think so too. Pretty quickly if the gorilla was able to enforce. And like, I feel like they don't tire out. Right. So. Yeah, I don't think so.

[00:43:16] And then like, you know, it's, it's, it's anything goes once he picks up a guy by the ankles and starts swinging him around. Oh man, I've seen like Planet of the Apes and shit. I'm running. That's an ape. So you would say not a gorilla? Because this is just 1v1. Yeah, 1v1. I think, I was with Dale Brisby on his podcast. And I think I said like a sea lion or some dumb shit like that. I think I had, I might have to like rethink that though. Right.

[00:43:43] Because after I said it, I was like, I went and looked one up and I was like, yeah, there's no way. But, all right, let's say. Do I have any kind of weapon or just bare hands? I think it's just bare hands. Man. Again, I'm not taking a dog. Like, a small dog I can take. Yeah, a small dog. I'm thinking like, no teeth, claws. Man.

[00:44:14] We've gotten answers like coyotes. Yeah. John Pardee said coyotes. Yeah. Man. A steer. Okay. Like a steer wrestler, right? Yeah. People take down steers all the time. Good answer. Yeah. Good answer. That's a new one. That's a new one. What is your ideal dive bar meal?

[00:44:42] So you pick one shot, one beer, and one bar of food. One shot, Jack Daniels. I haven't drank whiskey in a while, so I'm kind of like hankering for it, I guess. We'll change that to name. See you at Red Door. No. So Jack Daniels, shot of Jack Daniels, a cold outlaw beer. Smart. Plug. Yep.

[00:45:13] Bar food, some chicken wings. Lots of chicken wings. Boneless or bone-in? Does it matter? Depends. Yeah. Yeah. I love bone-in. I hate how messy they are, right? Because you get shit everywhere. It's like, ah. We'll say bone-in. Yeah. And last one, what's your favorite tattoo? Hmm. I don't know. I have a... I don't know. I'm pretty covered up.

[00:45:42] I'm finna get a new one, so we'll say that. It's the Tombstone. So I've already got Say Win from Doc, you know. He's like, Say Win, whatever. But whenever it's him and Johnny Ringo, whenever they first kind of meet up and they start speaking Latin to each other, it's like in vino veritas. Yeah. In wine, there is truth. So we're going to go with that. We're going to go with the new tattoo. We're going to go with that one. On the way. All right. Well, that's it. Thanks for being here. Thank y'all for having me. We're excited for some new music.

[00:46:13] Definitely. Yeah, I am too. I'm ready to put it out. We're excited about this new chapter and just can't thank y'all for always putting on for us and everything y'all do for music. Of course. We appreciate it. And I'm excited to see what iconic baby girl name you guys chose. That's probably something like, I don't know, something weird. Going into fatherhood. That's a lot. You'll be great. Appreciate it. You'll be good. You'll be good.