Better than Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift's career launch took the country music industry by the horns, and has ever since.   From a songwriter perspective it‘s pretty cool to see someone put their thoughts and feelings into a melody of words and watch the world unintentionally memorize them.   While I am certainly no Taylor Swift, I did enjoy watching exciting things happen over the year while launching my music career.  As this year comes to an end, I reflect on how gratifying it was to perform concerts in unfamiliar towns and see a few singing along to every song.  It’s those moments that I feel I might be able to rid myself of my rodeo addiction.

I haven’t ridden bareback bronc’s for a few years now, but it “still hits me every spring.”  There are so many similarities between the music and rodeo businesses.  I hope my rodeo experience will help me move quicker through the music business learning curve.  I am definitely getting a lot more comfortable with everything.  I remember being so comfortable with rodeo that the adrenaline wouldn’t hit until I nodded my head, and then was gone as soon as the buzzer rang.  I felt comfortable nodding my head even when everything wasn’t perfect,  as I had learned sometimes things just can't be perfect…  you have to adapt to the situation your are in. 

I remember the last time I rode at the Utah State Fair in SLC.  I drew a Bar T bucking horse named, “Betty Sue.”  Things weren’t that great in the chutes, but we got out quick and things were great in the arena.  I went 79pts, which was the high mark of the night and ended up 3^rd overall.  I hadn’t been back until this year when I sang the National Anthem for my first time publically at the Saturday night performance of that sold-out PRCA rodeo…  an incredible experience with just as much adrenaline as before.    

It is so invigorating to combine my love of rodeo and music where I can.  My band and I performed a concert to kick off the College National Finals Rodeo in June.  Again, a rodeo I hadn’t attended since I was riding in it.  Just after our performance I received a compliment that I can say with certainty is the highlight of my music career, thus far.  A little girl, who was probably 4 or 5 years old and accompanied by her mother, came up to me in her little cowgirl outfit to get a poster signed.  Before bashfully running away, she announced, “You’re better than Taylor Swift!” 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

3 for Three Forks

They say it’s wise to plan for the worst and hope for the best.  That’s a rule I’ve tried to follow in general, but sometimes it’s just plain impossible to anticipate complications that may arise.  For that very reason I often jokingly tempt fate and ask aloud, “What could go wrong?”  Well, once again my question was answered. 

We were fortunate enough to line-up a concert in Three Forks, MT following a high school rodeo in April.   We had talked about doing the show solo, or as a trio, but I got to wondering what Chris LeDoux would do…. so we decided to bring the whole band.   Not long after, I found out that Doug would not be able to make the show to play steel.  No big deal.  I was able to get a hold of an extremely skilled mandolin player, Tom, from Bozeman to fill in.  Problem solved.

On the day of the show we left home in plenty of time and headed to Three Forks via Idaho.  Ben and Brian carpooled and headed straight north because they live on the other side of the mountain.  So, the race was on and we could easily determine the leader via text messages.  Well…  we got there first!  Shortly after arriving at the concert for a mic check, Ben and Brian arrived at the Livingston hospital to get Brian’s head checked.  That’s right, Brian got a real bad head ache that turned for the worst.  Ben described the symptoms on the phone, which sounded very ‘stroke like,’ to me.  After spending about 4 days in two different Montana hospitals and ringing up some serious hospital bills I’m sure, the verdict was that Brian simply had the worst migraine headache on record.  

Meanwhile, back in Three Forks, MT….   without a drummer or lead guitar player, the semi-outdoor concert was under way.  With the temperature in the low 40s to upper 30s F, our fingers were frigid and the audience was sparse, though the snow from the night before had already melted.   We played until dark and the rodeo cattle vocalized their appreciation after each song.  Having spent a lot of time working with Brenn Hill in the last year as he co-produced my latest record, he has become a mentor of mine- and in the back of my mind I could hear the very words I knew he would say to me in this situation, with a smile- “Welcome to the music business!” 

Well, we got it done and everyone that was present seemed satisfied.   I arrived home Sunday night and Monday morning I tore my knee out, but I had surgery on Thursday and I’m in the fast lane to recovery.  Some bronc’s are just like that I guess- they fight in the chutes and give you all kinds of hell.  Sometimes things are just going to be a little bit sideways before you even leave the chutes.  That’s when you just gotta cowboy up and nod your head anyway.

Roughstock Records to release "Peace, Love & Horses"

We are excited to announce that, thanks to a close network of friends, family, and community, “Peace, Love & Horses” is soon to be released.  About one-half of all the recording costs for this, my first Nashville record, were covered through song sponsors and donations accumulated over just a few months…  I am humbled indeed and will be forever grateful.   

The release date is now scheduled for Tuesday March 8^th, 2011.  In celebration, I’ll be performing  with a 5-piece band for a CD-release party on Friday, March 11th at Rock Rabbit in Pinedale, Wyoming.  Live music will begin at 7:30 pm with special opening acts Gelene Cox,  followed by Nate Curry and Michelle Humber. 

On that note, my calendar is beginning to fill with dates throughout the West and we will be posting new dates regularly.  If you have an event that you think I ought to play near you, please let me know or contact my booking agent, Charlie Parker.  We’re hoping to make 2011 the biggest year ever.  I feel so strong about every song on this new record, but I need a lot of help getting more ears to hear it- thanks for helping me spread the word.  I’m looking forward to hearing what you think of the new tunes and our all new website!