EAST TEXAS UNFILTERED w/ J. Chad Parker Featuring Special Guest Tyler Dudley with Joint Custody

J. Chad Parker sits down with Tyler Dudley to walk through the real story behind Joint Custody, the East Texas band that’s been grinding their way from church-house beginnings to packed venues around the country. Tyler opens up about growing up in Whitehouse, learning guitar on YouTube, walking away from the 9-to-5 world, and slowly figuring out what it meant to chase music with intention. He shares early days playing restaurant gigs, forming his first band, and the relationships that shaped him along the way, including the influence of JB Patterson and the lessons learned from years of trial and error.

The conversation digs into the formation of Joint Custody in late 2019, the moment the four-piece decided to lock in, and the unexpected arrival of guitarist and songwriter Shawn from Georgia. Tyler breaks down the band dynamic, the roles each member plays, and how their sound evolved from acoustic country roots into the riff-driven southern rock they’re releasing today. He talks openly about the challenges of life on the road—breakdowns, long nights, tight budgets, and the kind of camaraderie required to keep a band together through it all.

Tyler and Chad also look ahead to the band’s new self-titled album, the growth in their songwriting, and the grind of trying to build a following one show at a time. Tyler shares stories from recent tours across Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Chicago, and Ohio, the difference between good nights and humbling ones, and why Joint Custody is more committed than ever to making authentic rock music that resonates. It’s an honest look at the work, the sacrifice, and the fire behind a young band chasing something real. Subscribe and turn on notifications for more conversations like this.