Country Climb with July Moon + Pirate Fun & a Heartfelt Tribute

Today’s Morning Brew was packed with music, laughs, and a touch of small-town heart.

🎶 Country Climb Artist of the Week – July Moon
Nashville’s harmony-rich trio joined us to share their journey, their new single “What a Woman Should Be,” and a few hilarious personal stories (including an unexpected teenage-crush confession!).

☠️ Talk Like a Pirate Day Fun
Listeners went all-in with their best “Arrr!” impressions to win D-backs tickets for this weekend’s series against the Phillies.

❤️ Community Moments
Later in the show, Jineane Ford updated us on the moving homecoming for the two fallen Timber Mesa firefighters. We also talked about postponing Saturday’s comedy show to allow our community time to honor these heroes. Longtime listener Virgil called in with a touching song request, bringing the morning to a heartfelt close.

From country harmonies to pirate laughs to a moment of remembrance, this episode captures the spirit of the White Mountains—where music, fun, and community always come together.

Transcript

Introducing July Moon

Speaker 1 0:00

From the Horn Auto Center Studios. Chris Bennett's Country Climb Star of the Week and today's Country Climb Stars of the Week are our first all-female trio band based in Nashville. They're the powerhouse group known as July Moon Give it up for July Moon. Woo, it's Piper Bateman, paige McKenzie and Braylon Watts. July moon Give it up for July moon. Wow, woo, it's Piper Bateman, paige McKenzie and Braylon Watts. Before we get to the juicy story of your country climb, I thought we'd break a little ice with some rapid fire icebreaker questions.

Speaker 3 0:38

Let me sit up for this Okay.

Speaker 1 0:41

All right, here we go. Who were your teenage celebrity crushes?

Speaker 4 0:45

Simon Cowell what?

Speaker 2 0:46

Really Simon. Okay, all right, here we go. Who were your teenage celebrity crushes, simon?

Speaker 1 0:50

Cowell. What Really, simon? Okay, that's the best answer ever.

Speaker 4 0:54

Only because I think I wanted to be like a star and he was like the guy to like do the thing, and Justin.

Speaker 3 1:03

Timberlake. Okay, mine was Johnny Depp. I think maybe mine would be Zac Efron. That's a good one.

Speaker 1 1:10

Oh good, oh, paige's would be Zac Efron. Okay, next question what was everyone's first concert you ever went to?

Speaker 3 1:17

Mine was NSYNC and then I cried and left, so I don't really qualify that as my first one, but my main one that I stayed and enjoyed was Gretchen Wilson and Big and Rich.

Speaker 5 1:27

Mine was the Cheetah Girls. That's awesome.

Speaker 4 1:32

Mine was the. They were called the Dixie Chicks at the time, but now it's the Chicks.

Speaker 1 1:36

Last question. This is going to be the hardest one. I ask you all day If you all had to select one country song for the rest of your life to request as a group. What country song are you requesting and why? And it can't be your own.

Speaker 4 1:53

For the rest, ever or forever.

Speaker 3 1:56

You know your questions are going to send us into an actual panic.

Speaker 4 2:01

It's probably a song by Miranda Lambert, because we love her as a group.

Speaker 3 2:06

Well, maybe because we love to do it. But Hell on Heels is her trio band, pistol Annie's would probably be for me. I think that one Hell on Heels by the Pistol Annie's is our choice. We had some fun.

Icebreaker Questions

Speaker 1 2:18

Now why don't we find out a little bit about July Moon? How long have you guys been together and how did you meet?

Speaker 4 2:34

We met. So July Moon became a thing in 2021. Braylon and I met back in 2021. We were introduced to each other through just like some industry folks that put together or was looking to put together a female trio, just from like networking and writing around town. And I was recommended to braylon and our old bandmate, who was, um, the third member at the time, and page, and I met eight years ago when we both moved to nashville and we met at a writer's round and then started writing together and kept in touch ever since. And when our other bandmate left the group and braylon and I decided we wanted to continue on with july moon, we kind of said we're going to just wait until, like, we find the perfect person to fill the third spot. And I recommended that we wrote, got a writing session with Paige and that I introduced her to Braylon and then they hit it off and it was like the perfect, the perfect match for the third person. So, yeah, that's, that's just really just knowing people around town, writing and networking.

Speaker 1 3:25

Awesome, and that's how July Moon was born. And then why the name July Moon.

Speaker 5 3:32

How'd you guys come up with that? Well, our friend like we for a long time it took us a long time to decide on a name and our friend Vanessa, who we write with a lot, she was throwing out ideas and I remember one day she was like, what about July moon? And like I had to think about it for a while because I was like, yeah, I mean maybe. And then she was like, well, it's from the song um strawberry wine by Deanna Carter, and like in the chorus, it's like that hot July moon saw everything. And so once we sat with it for like a bit, we were like you know what? I think that is what we should be. And we told it to people and everyone was like wait, that's cool, that's cool. So it kind of just stuck.

Speaker 1 4:12

What have been some of your biggest pinch me moments since being in Nashville.

Speaker 3 4:17

Honestly, lately we've had a lot of pinch me moments. One we just sang the national anthem at the Orioles game. So that was like our first professional baseball, professional sport game ever to sing the national anthem. And I remember when we got done it was awesome because Piper's dad got to be on the field and we looked at him and he started crying and we were all crying and we like looked around and we're like holy moly, like we just did that, because for Braylon and I we have this fear of singing it, cause you know, if you mess that song up it's not good. Um, but Piper really like helped us through it and we did it and to do that it just felt like such a feat in itself. But to also just like do it and to see the crowd and to be like Holy moly, you did that was that was probably like our most recent pinch me moment.

Formation of July Moon

Speaker 1 5:09

for sure, this is July moon. They are today's country climb stars of the week. It is now time for musician questions. For musicians. Here we go, first question and you could all answer individually if you want, or as a group. Top three musical influences.

Speaker 4 5:20

Okay, so we like to call our sound Fleetwood country, so our biggest inspiration is Fleetwood Mac, and it's because of the harmonies and the way they switch leads on who sings lead vocals on and off. We also are really inspired by the Pistolannies who you just heard, and then the Chicks, of course, and we also like the Eagles and that 70s rock thing.

Speaker 1 5:42

And how do you typically write?

Speaker 4 5:44

We write together, whether it's just us three or with other writers in Nashville too. Nashville is such a collaborative writing town so we have so many different friends and writers that we like to write with and that bring a different element to each write. We kind of just, you know, depending on the day, depending on what ideas the person has in mind. You know, bring a title, bring a melody, bring a work tape that's already been worked on to a right and kind of just go around the room and talk about you know what ideas we have for that day and see what sticks and then kind of roll with one. And it depends on, you know, the day and the mood. But you know, braylon and Paige like to bring like more lyrical ideas, probably usually Not always, but idea is probably usually not always, but most of the time and I I don't think more so in lyrics I usually am bringing like a chord progression or, you know, like a harmony or melody idea to the room. So it just it depends.

Speaker 1 6:32

But yeah, we're definitely collaborative with each other for sure and do you guys have a pre-show ritual or any superstitions you do before every performance?

Speaker 4 6:42

we do. We have this like weird powwow thing where we put our hands in and then sing July Moon on like the worst harmony we can find and it sounds like absolute trash. So if anyone hears us do it before the show, they're going to be like oh, these girls cannot sing Like we want it to sound bad. And if any of us hit the same note then we have to redo it until we get the like. We have to take the same note, then we have to redo it until we get all three different notes.

Speaker 4 7:05

Yeah, and we also like a tequila shot, if that's part of the, if that's an option, but it doesn't have to happen.

Speaker 1 7:12

We are talking to July Moon. They are today's Country Climb Stars of the Week on Q Country 92.5. And when we come back we are going to play their new song what a Woman Should Be, for the first time on Arizona radio, because we are bad boys of small town radio. We are back with July Moon, today's Country Climb Artist of the Week, piper Bateman, paige McKenzie and Braylon Watt and we're about to play your new song, what a Woman Should Be, for the first time on Arizona Radio. What sparked the idea for this song? How did it come about?

Musical Influences and Writing Process

Speaker 5 7:54

So I wrote this with our old bandmate and a girl named Julie Williams and I feel like it was kind of just brought into the the room as like a collective idea and someone was like you know what we should write a song about? Like people tell, like you know, like people tell what a woman, what she should be or what she should be doing, and we all obviously like related that really hard to that really hard. And so we in the room we were just like what a woman should be coming up with like ideas, like oh, everyone's asking me when I should get, when I'm getting married, when I'm going to have babies, like commenting on weight, commenting on how you look, and have a song that people can relate to and feel like that they're not alone and whatever choice you make is not the wrong choice. As long as you're happy, that's what you should be doing.

Speaker 1 8:53

I absolutely love it. I love this song and I can't wait to play it right now on Q Country 92.5. Everyone, get ready for July Moon. This is their new song. What a Woman Should Be on Q Country 92.5.

Speaker 7 9:27

Music Diamonds are fine, but so is sleeping alone in my own bed. Don't try to guess how I'm gonna fit in a little black dress. Didn't know that a plastic tat could measure my worth like that. Ooh, those words cut deep. Nobody tells you how hard life's really gonna be. They say they want a money-making mama, chasing them big city dreams, or down-home money with dinner in the oven, pushing babies on a porch swing. They can't make up their minds and they get mad. They can't make up their minds and they get mad when I can't make up mine.

Speaker 7 10:17

Ain't it funny how somebody else always trying to tell me what a woman should be, what a woman should be, what a woman should be, god forbid. I have a night out when I go when I drink too much, but nobody bats an eye when a man comes home and he's blackout drunk. So now I'm not allowed to ever say no, and I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't, but I'm doing pretty good For a girl on your radio. They say they want a money-making mama, chasing them big city dreams, or a down-home honey With dinner in the oven, pushing babies on a porch swing. They can't make up their minds and they get mad when I can't make up mine.

Speaker 7 11:20

Ain't it funny how somebody else always trying to tell me what I'm not sure? Yeah, your mother and your brother tryna tell me. And your cousins and the others wanna tell me. Yeah, they all keep telling me the same thing, but I never had anybody ask me. Yeah, your mother and your brother tryna tell me, and your cousins and the others wanna tell me. Yeah, they all keep telling me the same thing, but I never had anybody ask me. They say they want a money-making mama chasing them, big city dreams or a damn whole money with dinner in the oven, pushing babies on a porch. They can't make up their minds and they get mad when I can't make up mine. Ain't it funny how somebody else always trying to tell me what a woman should be, what a woman should be, what a woman should be.

What A Woman Should Be

Speaker 1 13:07

That was July Moon with their new hit song what a Woman Should Be, for the first time on Q Country 92.5 and Arizona Radio. And it is not going to be the last, because I know you are all going to be requesting that song. Holy moly, best friends. That was amazing. I have to admit. I've listened to it. I'm acting like it's the first time I heard it. I've heard it a ton, I played it for a bunch of friends and everyone around've listened to it. I'm acting like it's the first time I heard it. I've heard it a ton, I played it for a bunch of friends and everyone around town is loving it.

Speaker 7 13:38

So thank you for letting us play it on our stage.

Speaker 1 13:41

Thank, you so much. What's next for July Moon?

Speaker 4 13:47

We have lots of new music that should be hopefully coming very soon, so stay tuned for that. We have some really cool shows scheduled this fall and then, yeah, just working on the next project, writing and planning for next year. So definitely stay tuned for lots of new things coming from us.

Speaker 1 14:05

And if our listeners want to support you, they can follow you on all the socials YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, MySpace. I don't know if you have a MySpace, but at July Moon Official Also, make sure you go and stream all their music and download that new one. What a Woman Should Be. That should definitely be on your playlist. July Moon, thank you so much for being our Country Climb Stars of the Week. You now have a home in Arizona radio. Whenever you have new music, we would love to introduce it to our audience thank you so much, thank you this has been July Moon.

Speaker 1 14:46

Today's Country Climb.

Speaker 2 14:48

Stars of the Week. Arrgh and welcome to the Morning Brew with Chris. Who is this on this Talk Like a Pirate day.

Speaker 6 14:57

Hi, this is Edward Tom from Mr Fire. Force. I am a pirate.

Speaker 2 15:05

Arrgh, yes, I'm going. What was your name again there, matey.

Speaker 1 15:09

Edward Tom Jr.

Speaker 2 15:11

Edward Tom, where are you from, matey?

Speaker 6 15:14

I am from Sanders area.

Speaker 1 15:17

Oh heck, yeah, Well, congratulations. Thanks for calling to Talk Like a Pirate and you just won four tickets, your pick. Do you want to go down to the Valley tonight for tonight's game or Sunday's game? Sunday, sunday all right, four tickets to Sunday games are yours to the Diamondbacks, arg matey, what radio station hooked you up?

Speaker 2 15:39

The country station 293. No, qcountry 92.5. Try again, my friend. Yeah, qcountry 92.5. You got it, arr.

Speaker 1 15:51

Arr, we still have four tickets to tonight's game. So if you want to win those, even if you just have friends in the valley, you can win them and then send them to them and they'll be a hero. So I have four tickets to Friday's game available. Give me a call 928-532-4144.

Speaker 2 16:09

And talk like a pirate. Matey Arr, good morning on this. Talk like a pirate day For your chance to win four tickets to tonight's game D-backs versus Phillies. Let me hear you talk like a pirate.

Speaker 5 16:22

Hey, aye, aye Captain.

Speaker 2 16:27

Arr, what's your name, matey, jennifer, jennifer arr congratulations.

Speaker 1 16:32

You just won four tickets to tonight's baseball game Philadelphia Phillies D-backs. We are in the hunt for the wild card. Are you going to be rooting on our D-backs?

Speaker 6 16:44

Yes, I will.

Speaker 1 16:45

Awesome. It's also Fun Fact Friday. Is there any fun fact about Jennifer we should know about? I don't know. I'm an open book. There's no fun fact. No fun facts Like you've never been on TV before, you've never. Have you ever sung the national anthem? Have you ever I don't know won the lottery? Anything juicy?

Speaker 8 17:04

No, I know how to drive a tractor.

Speaker 1 17:06

Oh heck, yeah, she thinks my tractor's sexy. And guess what? You just won four tickets to the D-backs game tonight. Congratulations. What station hooked you up? Q Country 92.5. You know, it Janine, you there.

Speaker 8 17:23

Yes, I am, of course. I'm always here waiting for you, chris, yeah.

Speaker 1 17:28

Well, happy Friday. Any news on the mountain? We should know about what's happening. Go ahead.

Speaker 8 17:35

Well, happy Friday to you also, of course, uh, uh, one of the big things everything everyone's talking about, of course, and um thinking on is, uh, yesterday, um, our wonderful firefighters and all everyone with Timber Mesa, welcome back there too. They said they are bringing home our brothers and sisters, um, and they brought them home, them home, the two that have been lost with Timber Mesa and they transported them and people lined the streets and people showed up to pay their respects, and they did it all along too. In Joe City you can see pictures and people waving flags along the freeway as they brought them back home. So that was a big one, a lot of people. Our hearts are heavy here in the White Mountains. Couple that with the funeral this weekend down in Phoenix for Charlie Kirk, it's just. It's been a really, really rough week, you know.

Speaker 1 18:26

Yep, yep, our hearts are heavy and seeing people line the street to welcome our hometown heroes, last night was beautiful.

Speaker 8 18:37

We have such. We are so blessed to live in this community we do.

Speaker 1 18:41

I had my comedy show Janine I was going to do on Saturday in Pinedale but I was struggling on whether to do the show. I know people need right now they need some laughter and they need some light. But you know, with what happened with our Timber Mesa firefighters, for me I just wasn't in the mood for a comedy party right now. So I decided to cancel this Saturday show and we will reschedule.

Speaker 8 19:08

Reschedule this Saturday show and that is super sweet of you, chris, and I know you were kind of fighting yourself and just kind of, but yeah, I think that's a good move and a very respectful move. And we've seen a lot of that on the White Mountains too with the Fall Festival Parade. A lot of people are just kind of pulling back and taking a breath.

Speaker 1 19:26

Yes, Just you know, pausing to remember and honor our heroes.

Speaker 8 19:32

Exactly, Very nice. That's the way we all should be for sure.

Speaker 1 19:35

Well, janine, we love you. It is Friday, you want to come back? I could give you some fun facts on this.

Speaker 8 19:42

Fun Fact Friday, let's do that Lighten things up a little bit, sounds good.

Speaker 1 19:46

All right, janine, it is Friday, so I thought we would do some Fun Fact Friday. Did you know, today is talk like a pirate day.

Speaker 8 19:55

Okay, you can pull that off. You, chris Bennett, can pull that off, but I, I'm praying. I don't hear a bunch of people trying to do that today. So many people are bad at it. That's the problem why you really don't. I love pirates, I love pirate movies, I love all that. But when people talk like a pirate, yeah, normal people, yeah, you sound really bad.

Speaker 1 20:19

Are you even going to attempt to talk like a pirate? No, oh no, I am very well aware of my limitations.

Speaker 8 20:25

Yes, for sure you, my dear, you're perfect at all that.

Speaker 1 20:29

Well, let me give you some pirate fun facts on this fun fact break.

Speaker 8 20:33

I love that.

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Speaker 1 20:35

Do you mind if I talk like a pirate when I do it? That's fine All right Arrgh, so the argh-orsion. So the stereotypical pirate accent comes from the West Country of England, thanks to Robert Newton in the 1950 Disney film Treasure Island.

Speaker 8 20:51

Oh.

Speaker 1 20:51

Oh. So I guess we don't know if that's really what pirates talk like, but in that movie he did Also, real pirates had strict codes including rules about dividing loot and bands on fighting aboard ship. They weren't allowed to fight on ship. That seems weird. I would think pirates would fight a lot. Also, do you know why pirates wore eye patches? Why To keep their eye adjusted to the dark so they can move quickly below the deck.

Speaker 2 21:19

Ooh.

Speaker 1 21:20

Oh interesting. Yeah, and also the walking the plank thing is mostly a Hollywood invention. Real pirates preferred marooning or making victims dance the jig Dance now, before we kill you. So those are some fun facts on this Fun Fact Friday. Janine, Thanks for having a little fun with us on this Talk Like a Pirate.

Speaker 8 21:45

Day. I get goosebumps every time. You do that Okay, Thank you.

Speaker 1 21:49

Chris, love you. Love you, beth. Have a great weekend. Bye-bye. Good morning. It's the Morning Brew with Chris. Who's this?

Speaker 6 21:56

Hey, good morning, my friend.

Speaker 1 21:57

Heck, yes, virgil the Cowboy from Eager. It has been a while since I've heard from you. What have you been up to? Oh, been busy, oh busy, yeah, yeah, just busy on the ranch, yeah, fixing up the ranch, moving cows. Yeah, is this a busy time because you've got to get ready for winter? Yeah, heck, yeah. Well, man, we have our Country Climb Stars of the Week, july Moon. Have you heard their song yet? Yeah, they sound pretty good. Yeah, right, they're awesome. Yeah, I love July Moon. I love our Country Climb Artists of the Week. Big shout out to the Playlisted Podcast. We get these artists sent to us every week Virgil from Nashville, and if country music was produced, this would be the freshest country music produce. You could get straight from Nashville in the Playlisted Podcast. Pretty cool, huh.

Speaker 6 22:52

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 22:53

Well, what can I do you for today?

Speaker 6 22:56

Oh well, the girl heard you talking about those people that got in an accident and they didn't like it. They want a song by Roscoe Flack called I'll Never Let you Go. They will never let them go. Oh, it's going to be hard. Yep, they want to hear that one.

Speaker 1 23:14

All right.