Behind The Buckles Episode 10 w/ Kenny Feidler

On this episode of Behind the Buckles, we sit down with country artist Kenny Feidler to talk about the road that’s shaped both his music and his lifestyle. With a sound rooted in the western way of life, Kenny shares how his background and experiences have influenced the songs he writes and the stories he tells.
We get into what it’s really like chasing a music career while staying true to where you come from, the ups and downs along the way, and why authenticity still matters in today’s scene. Kenny also opens up about the connection between rodeo, cowboy culture, and his identity as an artist.
If you’re into real stories, good music, and the lifestyle behind it all, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to another episode Behind the Buckles. Megan and I are here in our town that we grew up in in Joseph Morgan for the rodeo. Rainey is off traveling with Jordan. We are very fortunate that our guest today is doing a show here in Joseph. And I don't know if you haven't listened to his music. You should probably have been under a rock because he has a really great job of representing our Western lifestyle and giving it with like in a rock message, I feel like. Yeah, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So Kenny, why don't you? I appreciate you being here. And we were just talking earlier about your schedule, and I was feeling bad that we're like cramming you in here. Oh but that is one thing that I like wrote down as soon as I started this. Not that we know each other, but just but from social media and being at a couple of your shows, like your work ethic is like something to stand up and take notice.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

I mean like real life.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

It's a lucky, fortunate thing to get to do. So try not to like kind of waste it. And um put a lot of effort into it. And and I don't I don't really have like a plan B at this point. I mean there's a lot of things that I could do, but um this is it. This is what we're doing. This works best. Like I love my bandmates, and um I love playing music with my band, and it affords me a lot of time at home with my family.

SPEAKER_02 1:21

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Okay, so yeah, jumping, like we're just gonna jump right into these things, and just so that you're prepared, we do a lot of like circling back because we're chicks and that's how we talk. Um but that is something that's really that I really want to touch on is this because obviously, I mean, not obviously, you have a million great songs, but all of us first kind of got drawn to your music because of your rodeo songs, because you you understood them and it kind of like hit us in the feelers, like if you actually get enough insight on that. But now, I mean, obviously you've progressed, but like you travel like what like 50,000 miles a year?

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Yeah, quite a bit.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

So that's like real life rodeoing. So, how how like tell us about juggling with your family? Because you have two cute boys, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Yep, yep. Um, well, we're really lucky. Um, Blaine, my wife, stays home with boys, and my mom has a house in our place, and she's a retired teacher. Oh our boys homeschool with her.

SPEAKER_04 2:19

That's okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

So uh when we spend if I'm not on the road, like we're together. So they go over in the mornings and do school and knock it out. Cool. Okay. Um, so it's uh it's it's really great, and that's really why I started playing. I mean, I always I did mute started writing songs and towards the end of high school, into college, and it was just kind of like a party thing.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

Yeah, you know, and it was cool, you were the guy with the guitar. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Um and I like I I loved rodeo on and it was like a big part of my life, and so that that's what I wrote about at that time, and um that was kind of how it all started for me, and never really put like never really like pursued it really. Um sounds super lazy because like there's yeah, I'm I'm in such a fortunate spot, but even then, you know, um things that people that were are probably you know starting to ban and wish they had that like kind of foundation already there before they really went out and started touring. And um, and so I just never really pursued it and um and did all this other stuff, like I rodeoed up until I turned 30. Um blacksmith, I had boot repair shop. Um, I worked for my uh my in-laws, um drove drove some uh shit spreading trucks for uh the last couple years before I I it and at that point I would I think that's when Blaine started staying home. And um, because once you start having kids, it's like you want someone to always be with them. Absolutely, absolutely, and like she was kind of carrying the weight, um paying the bills for those couple years before we started having kids, and then I was like, Well, I'll just do whatever. So started doing the manure spreading thing with my uh brother-in-law, and um, and also working for my in-laws, and then uh it just got to a point where it was just working all the time, and that's like kind of seasonal, you still have like man or off, but um you just leave I'd leave at like four or five in the morning and get home at like nine or ten, and it was just uh wasn't really sustainable at the time.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Yeah, you felt burnt.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

Yeah, and and I it was just really important to us that we not you just don't just provide for your kids, but you're you're there and oh yeah, the most important thing. Like, so we just like made it like I I think it was the end of 2019, so would have just been getting in the end of the winter, and um it's like you know what, like I'm starting to play with the band and learn how to do this. Um I'll I need to take a couple like crappy gigs and yeah, travel around and and do whatever um to get my foot in the door places if that allows us to not be on this crazy schedule that we're on and get to be there with our kids, totally worth it. So uh that's what I did and was just lucky that kind of just I've always kind of like dove into stuff like that, and um and I just kind of dove in and tried to just have a finger on all of it and do everything possible that I could to be successful with it.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Okay, yes, and I mean that's recognizable like back to the work work ethic. That that is definitely something though I was just thinking about this. Um just this week, a girl that's in the top 15 and went to the NFR last year and now she's going home. Like she's just like not gonna do it. And I get it because this is something I've always thought was the same with not that I have rodeo like that, but that's the same with rodeo and maybe being an artist is is like we see all this glamorous, but on the backside, it's not always sure.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

And I think there's like things that um I I just circuit rodeoed, so it wasn't like I was ever gonna go anywhere big with it, but um just like with rodeo and musicians and stuff like that, it's like there's a trade-off for a certain level of success, and not to like shame anyone because like that that's not for everybody, it is for some people. Um like if this cost me time with my kids and wasn't the better situation for my wife and I, like I I'd drop this like tomorrow. Like, and it would it would hurt now because I've really I really enjoy what I do, yeah. But um, but I've been really clear about that from the start. That this was just kind of it's always been like kind of blue-collar kind of thing. Um, and my band's the same way, like everyone's like we're it's my best friends, like we treat it, um we're not hot shots, you know. And um, and but it yeah, if it ever did start to like get to a point where it was like I grinded for a while, like trying to get into venues and get like foot in the door with places and and start to build a reputation, but wasn't gonna do that forever and it not like kind of pay off.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

Right.

SPEAKER_00 7:30

Um because that was the the goal the whole time just just to be be home more and be with my my kids.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Yes, like we love it, we get it. We have we call Cobb Corner homeschooling because we go to Arizona and our kids homeschool with her dad, who's a retired teacher, it's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

Yeah, um where do you where you go in Arizona?

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Uh we got a place in Wickford.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Oh that's where my uh my mother-in-law's winter down there at Simpsons for Oh okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Our place our places are in Fourpa, but yeah, we go to Simpsons. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:01

So we were we were going down there for we'd take when I was still working, we'd go down for a month.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

We got off and just hang out like a bird for uh I always say like you start out going to Wickenberg for like a weekend, and then you end up going the next winter for like two weeks, and then pretty soon you're just like, oh, I think I just we'll just play there.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah, no, I I really can hair zone. I I I really enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:25

We either we play there several times a year and then we go down as a family or two.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

So does your family get to travel with you quite a bit, like when they're not at school?

SPEAKER_00 8:35

Um I kind of I'm kind of choosy like where we go. Like I would would have loved to bring them out here because it we had such a great time last time, but then tomorrow we're going to council and it's a really long rodeo. Um, and it goes, I think last year we played it at like midnight. Yeah. Or last year yeah, we started at midnight.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

It's been like 15 years since I entered council, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:57

Yeah, it runs pretty long. And um, and I was just thinking like, even if we like drove separate and the band, yeah. Yeah, that it could be dusty and hot, and like what were the kids gonna do most of the day? But like we they went um last week we played in Big Sky, Montana, and we just had a one-off show, and um, we just drove separate and and they went along. So a lot of times when it's Montana or um or if it's an Arizona thing or or kind of just spots that are kind of fun too. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah and the hotel.

SPEAKER_03 9:32

Oh yeah, that's like a super cool thing.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

But I I uh try to make sure it's like not like we always drive through the night too. I know like we left last night from my house at eight and just drove through to get here just now, and um try not to have them have to do that anymore.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

Yeah, yeah. I will say though, driving at night with kids is the way to go because then they sleep.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

She's a superstar about it. I'm not, I'm just like I'm retired from the night driving, but she does a good job. We do, my kids fine.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Yeah, when when when they were little, uh we used to take them, we'd go straight down to Arizona, yeah. And when they were in car seats and stuff, and they were always really good. And we just started on like right off the bat, like getting used to it.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

Yeah, just it makes a difference. I thought my kids like we'll we'll get in the car and they'll be like, okay, how long is this shrimp? And I'll tell them they'll be like, oh, three hours, not so bad. Okay, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

You gotta put it in perspective. We get them trained, yeah. So like circling back a little bit to that, there had to have been kind of like a a scary breaking point where you're like, like you made the decision. I know you made a decision, okay, like we're all in on this, but then was there a point where you're kind of like, eh, maybe I want to go back to working for my in-laws?

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Or honestly, like there's um there was never like it's always had like a stress factor because as a musician's like things go in and out of style, and and um you really have to like kind of keep your foot on it. Um once you start, you gotta keep feeding it. And uh, and I always have, but I was also like I'm 38 now. It's and like I've been unfortunate that I don't write like party songs. You know, I know I have barrel racial land, which is like a goofy thing, but I write serious songs.

SPEAKER_03 11:17

Yeah, we weren't even gonna bring that.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

I write like I write I write serious songs um mean something to me. And um there was a little like chunk of time where you know we weren't playing like we were doing a lot less college stuff, college bars and stuff. Like we would go to Texas and play like Lubbock and um play like some of the college spots and college rodeos and stuff, and and we still can, but uh that's not my only demographic. That's not so like it it takes some like growing pains to like realize that, but there's also longevity um having trying to write songs that like you kind of believe in from the start, and just never really been into like bad kind of stuff, um and and just I'm fortunate that it just kind of works out. Like I've make weird song weird music. Um it's not for everybody, but um I wouldn't say weird music. It's different, it's different, it's it's like its own thing, yeah um and so you know, even up till last year, to like I think right before we put that other album out, or the last album out, um, there was like a drop-off, and like I always had this like really steady incline of like streaming, and it was like it ebbed and flowed with the seasons a little bit, um, like die off a little in the winter, but it never took any hard hits.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

I was gonna say, like, if you actually Google it, the like gurus people are so impressed with your streaming for being set for an independent artist. Like, that was one thing that I found. So, I mean, kudos to that.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

But anyway, so it hadn't really like yeah, so it never never really had any drop-off, and then like there was like whenever those services have like go through these, like they'll restructure, and I mean they're trying to make as much money as possible without paying artists they can. And I'm not one bitch because uh like it's I wouldn't have a career without streaming. Um I I or it would wouldn't look the same, you know. I wouldn't have had that like um hope there in the beginning. Like, like I didn't just like start out just road dogging and and just going out and playing everywhere and hoping to build a fan base. I kind of had one already started before I was even started playing with the band. Um so that was always like kind of steady, and then uh a year or two ago it it like kind of really dropped off, and I was like, man, like like I I'm not gonna do anything different because I I don't really know how to, and I don't want to. Um I'm not really looking to change anything creatively, it's just a matter of uh maybe it's just not cool anymore. And um, and so I've just like quit, I quit looking at those numbers and just pushed it aside. Like obviously the the money changes and you feel that like either way, but I just don't even really pay attention to it anymore and focus on just like making our live show the best thing it can be because there's nothing to say that Spotify doesn't go away tomorrow, yes, right, and um the best thing we can have is like real human connections, actual people, yes, and and real like the live shows, one thing that we can control and make sure that's the best thing that we can put out for people and solidify that so that will always be there. And there's a lot of bands that um have like robust touring schedules and are like the huge touring um machines that don't really streamline music, and those guys are fine because like they're they're still getting but they're getting by, like there's not a lot of hype, and then you can see on the other side of it, there's a lot of like the TikTok guys and stuff that there'll be people that have never played a live show before that have these huge blasts of popularity and they're they're playing stadiums right out the gate and they don't know how to even like play a show.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

I mean, or right, you can like I'm gonna that connection to the crowd quite there.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

And it's it's it's similar with like I try not to knock it either because it's just like the streaming thing wasn't there before for other people. Um like it's great when when talented people that make good songs get get like the break, but uh I'm also really glad that I had like this like kind of steady like time to learn how to how to do to manage everything and yes and really figure it out before you're like right out there in the middle of the biggest shows you'll ever play and eat and shit, you know.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

I'm telling you, it's the same as rodeoing. I feel like there are so many similarities, it's crazy, other than like we're not talented, like that we could sing. I wish I could. I I like how really hard.

SPEAKER_02 16:21

I always say like you know that question like if you had a superpower.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Yeah, that's what I always say.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

That's what I would pick. I would think that I could like you know, A, maybe carry a tune, or B like rock out on a guitar, have a good maybe just an ounce of rhythm.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

That would be also as well. I'm not the best musician. Like I I'm really proud like writing songs and what we do, but um my band I have a band of really good musicians and um that I'm like continuously learning from.

SPEAKER_02 16:51

So it's to me it's it just like because I have no ability, like no musical ability, but I love it.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

And I listen to music all day.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

But I got like it's I am just floored by people that have that talent. Yeah. It's very impressive.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

Yeah, it's uh and like I'm not I don't have like a classically like popular kind of voice. You know, when my voice is like kind of raspier and um sometimes like I will meet kids and some some folks that like are trying to do it, and like, well the best thing you can do is just like do something you believe in and put your effort into it and don't like change, don't change to be popular, you know. It's I think that's where like that off like authenticity really comes from there. It's like you're not really chasing you make it you make music and songs for yourself and um you have to be happy with them and then because if you're doing it like the other way around and trying to like make something that's just sellable and it cheapens it and yeah, and you kind of lose some integrity or a lot of integrity um doing that.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

So yeah, like and just even from like you starting to write songs from high school to now when you're a dad and husband, and like your your music has obviously evolved into something that probably wasn't the same or you didn't relate with when you were that age, but like you still like I guess my question is like so when you go back, do you still play like some of your older stuff? Or do you like Yeah?

SPEAKER_00 18:31

We play um we normally play like a two-hour show, yeah, at least, and um I play a lot of the old stuff. I play everything really. Um there's some like there's some songs that were um like when I started out, I was just kind of learning how to play guitar and recording it and just putting it out in the world, and it's very rough. And um some of those songs were never developed to a point where it's like this isn't really it doesn't really work great to have like a band playing this and it's and like to be inter the longer I do this, like the more critical I am of like that dynamic and making sure like musically it's good and it's um I'm not just just babbling, you know, pretty much putting uh chords to a poem, really. Yeah, um, so there there are some songs that we don't really play just because they there was never m enough there yet, or we just didn't rework it yet.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:27

But we play a lot of play stuff all the way back, yeah. Yeah, kind of the full run.

SPEAKER_02 19:34

I like it. Yeah, I I feel like that's uh uh trip down memory lane.

SPEAKER_00 19:38

Yeah, and sure, and also like there was a time where like so like Barrel Racer Land's not my like not my favorite song, like it's my most popular, um and like there was a little like a stint where it just like irked me because it it stays. Like I'm just tired of it. Well it's just so different from what I do and and and you know I've never really like kind of hung my like hat on it because it's wild because it's had so you know it's reached so many people and it introduced a lot of people to my music, but um it's never been like one of those things where I like show off the accolades for this one. Look like I did this, like I still wrote it and um and people love it.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

Well it's relatable. I'm not gonna lie.

SPEAKER_00 20:24

And it's still and it introduces people to my lit stuff, and um, and with the band playing playing it like I can stomach it, you know, like and it's not I just despise it completely. It's just um it's just very different from what I do, and um, but we play it every night. Like every every night we have our own shows, we play it. Yeah, unless there's like unless it's like a straight up community event where or or or if I have an hour set you're not gonna put it in opening in it in like a big show, yeah, I'm not gonna play it.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

Yes, right.

SPEAKER_00 20:59

But uh, but all of our shows, like I appreciate people, people drive. Like I had some guy drive from the east coast to the big sky show last weekend, like a long drive. Yeah, like you never know how much time somebody's invested um to come see you. So that's why we play like industry industry standards like 90 minutes for a headline, and you guys do so and we try to go go two hours, two hours, two and a half hours just to like make sure people get their the money's worth.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

Yes, yeah. So like when things like that happen though, too, because sometimes granted it doesn't feel like it lately, but like sometimes I'll look back and be like, dang, like I really came a long way, or wow, this is a really pivotal moment. And so obviously, when a man has driven across states to come to your show, like you're like, Wow, yeah, this is a like I'm doing this.

SPEAKER_00 21:51

It yeah, it means a lot. Like, and we've uh we've had that kind of all over where it's people will drive for a while to to get to the show and Because we're not playing. I mean, we do quite a few shows, but we're we're doing a couple a week and then taking some time off. So it's not like we're doing, you know, 200 shows a year or something. Like we're doing probably 80 or um so we just try to make it worth it for wherever, especially when we like push out into to like California or we push the East Coast, and like that might be someone's first chance to ever see us. Um we kind of do the same no matter what, but we always want to make sure it's always worth it.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Oh, I guess we do care about it being good.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

Yeah, I do.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

Yes, absolutely. Um, but okay, so you touched on like five things I wanted to talk about there. You're doing such a great job. Uh but okay, back to the authenticity. So at one point when you're really getting this going, did I mean you can't tell me that Tim McGraw as a 56-year-old man is happy that he chose to wear that black hat.

SPEAKER_03 22:57

Like still, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

I know, but it's like how people recognize them like, why are we still doing this?

SPEAKER_00 23:05

Always do stuff that you're proud of all the time. And then you'll you'll be able to live with it when you're an old man.

SPEAKER_01 23:11

Yeah, okay. I'm not sure that was a really good choice, but what I'm seeing is like he's like, yeah, there's record label or whoever. I don't know exactly how it works, so I don't want to sound ignorant, but it's saying, hey, this is kind of like your calling card. This is the type of music you're gonna do. And that comes along with being having that record label correct. I mean, they kind of control a little bit more. I'm I know the hat, I'm kind of joking about the hat.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

I really don't um I've never really had any experience with that. Okay, I can't really say because I I I do know that there is push and pull with bigger artists where they they get like I've never been offered one of those deals, so like, and I I just don't know um what it's like, but I'm sure that you lose a little bit of creative control and and yeah, we hear songs about dirt roads and trucks and stuff we don't care about. And also it's kind of goes back to the thing where it's like what's the goal with those songs? Like, is this is this something if you really care about dirt roads and trucks, fine.

SPEAKER_03 24:14

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 24:16

Yeah, if you're doing it because that's what's you know, there there's it's just the tag words that that you know pop off the numbers, like that's that's kind of like well now you gotta eat what you what you put out there and and and live with it because yeah, you kind of just traded traded your integrity for yeah for absolutely thank you.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

Like you're not gonna sit here and wear sparkle jeans and a like boy band pair, yeah, yeah. But but okay, but that was that was my point. That is obviously like people like us really are drawn to your music.

SPEAKER_02 24:49

Like I'm relatable, like we live every day and we appreciate like somebody else talking about it.

SPEAKER_01 24:57

Absolutely, like I don't I do not listen to mainstream, like ever. Uh uh. Yeah and maybe I'm being a little prideful about that, but but so but that was never like well, there's options now too.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

Like there wasn't always options. I mean, like when I was growing up, listen to country radio and classic rock stations, and it was just whatever it was getting put out, and that's all you had. So now you kind of have a choice.

SPEAKER_02 25:24

Well, Abby and I grew up in the obviously in the county, and so you had one radio station that came in literally clear, and then every once in a while, if you were in the right spot in the county, you could get maybe another one. Yeah, and so our options were the country station.

SPEAKER_00 25:40

Yep, and that's and that was it. So now like those gatekeepers are kind of down, and um which that's that's always gonna be there because it's like the the big machine stuff, like it's always gonna be something that's whenever something gets watered down to a point where it's passable for everyone, that's when it's really gonna start getting kind of lame for for people that are a little more educated um when it comes to songs. And that's not to say that there's not great songs that get on the radio. It's just uh it's just there's um there's options now, and there's different people just listen to music differently, no? Yeah, that is true. You search for it, you find who you like, what kind of songs you like, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:24

And then you can build a state your own station around whatever you want.

SPEAKER_00 26:28

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 26:29

Does like such a strong AI factor like coming in? Does that concern you, or you just feel like you just keep your your fan base?

SPEAKER_00 26:38

I mean, it's kind of weird because um like I've I feel like there's it's kind of scary. Yeah, because uh we don't really know what's gonna get used to get like if like some of your music is gonna get cloned to to like make something else, and then like I I'm very like mistrusting of and I I've heard other people like talk about using they'll use it in some form of or another, and I just think it's like you I think you have to you can't even like touch it because it's it like taints like well you mean as an artist, you know you want to start like it's like a drug, you don't even want to start even using a little bit. Yeah, I don't think that's uh even because it's like it once anybody can do it, then it's like it's not special anymore. And stop it I'm sure everyone would love to like write a few words and then hear what it sounds like with a full band plan, and that's that's possible now, but it's also it's not a real band. And um and it's like taking the guesswork and and kind of the magic out of music, really. Um, because eventually because AI is really just a conglomeration of every all the data that's out there and finding the most like it's just gonna get w it's just like you see artwork that that's it's pulling from it and it takes like these bits and pieces, and then it's just a it's a watered down version of it, and there's no like real spark in it. Yeah, no, I hate it. Music would be this yes, I'm sure there's AI stuff out there that is like competing with mainstream stuff or or being used in mainstream music, and um the sad thing is that there's so much really bad mainstream music that you probably can't tell the difference. There maybe is a that is a point.

SPEAKER_02 28:39

I listened to uh artists, an AI artist, they released a song, and it honestly it was it sounded just like whatever you would listen to on the radio, like yeah, and it like had I not known it was AI, I'd just be like, oh yeah, just some other yeah, yeah, that's terrifying now.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

I I don't like that at all, especially obviously my I have no idea.

SPEAKER_00 29:06

And it's gonna be like, I mean, I'm just a songwriter, like it's it's not something like it's past the point of like fighting, like it's gonna be there. It's just gonna be a matter of it's gonna be up to individuals to not use it.

SPEAKER_03 29:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:20

That's gonna be the important thing. Um, because it's gonna get used and it's gonna get abused, and um it'll have an impact, and I think it's as for musicians and stuff, it's just like you you just can't even touch it, yeah. Because then it's like it just taints the rest of your art.

SPEAKER_01 29:40

Yeah. So what do you do though on the flip side of that to protect it from them using is there something you can like integrate into your music or how does that work? Is there anything or which is a free thing?

SPEAKER_00 29:53

Um it's just like I I feel like with with uh streaming and stuff, they they kind of they got you by them either way. Like yeah, it's gonna be up to big money, and I mean they're always gonna go for the cheapest way to do something, and and so it's kind of scary. I don't know. I mean, I'm lucky that I'm not some like superstar, so like it's like why are they gonna clone my like my small following? I mean, we think you're effective, so like that that's no, I get there's something like fortunate there um where it's it's not gonna be replicated because it's it's like it's not not a big pri not a big prize to me, and it's a big prize to people that appreciate what what we do, but um so like big money stuff, I don't I don't think it's um as much on the radar, but yeah, who knows? I mean I think it's I think it's like snuck into in the past like two years, like it's snuck into everything. I mean can't can't search on Google without getting the AI perspective of everything and I feel really dumb like talking about it because I I'm not knowledgeable enough. Yeah, it's just that it's gonna be snuck into everything and um I think art's one of those things where um it's just gonna I feel like that's always I hope that it never gets to a point where it like it like makes it gets to be completely passable for for because it'll kill live music. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

I mean I don't want it's I don't mean that that sounded really like negative. I it just that's something I already worry about how unsocial we're becoming society and now like still like live music and concerts, these are things that people all join and go out to, and now we're just streaming music.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

Well, and like there's like problems with like the music industry too that they've created a lot of the problems that I mean everybody like the idea of like success to a lot of people is like riding in a bus, making tons of money, playing arenas. It's like my band, uh it's six of us, including um our tour manager, in in a transit band. Yeah, and we go out and play shows and we we're not rich, but we make we make a living.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

You're making a living something you care about.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

And um, so I just I just feel like we've just tried try to always like we've always kind of ran lean and just been not staying our lane, but just not try to like search for like we're not like reaching for like those shiny, shiny things. Like it's more about and that's why like say like we're kind of a blue-collar band, like yeah, we we make a living, it's not like like we're in a smelly band for like 15-hour drives, like it's just the way it is, and um and we're proud of it, but uh you know, there's other other um other people in the music industry where where that that's just a stepping stone, and that's not really something that that's like something people might like try to get through that stage and in hopes of something way bigger and way nicer and way cushier.

SPEAKER_01 33:23

And but at what cost? Yeah, that's what you're saying. Like what cost is that?

SPEAKER_00 33:28

I would love to play so to sold out crowds all the time, like that's great, but um it's just uh the um the goal is gonna be the same. Like right now, we just want we just want to continuously sell more tickets and stuff, and who knows, maybe five years I'll be like, oh yeah, riding on a bus is so much better, and I'm sure it is, but but like I I am pretty proud that we're proud of what you have, and what you build our own stuff, and yeah, and like it's me, my band, my our tour manager, and my booking agent, and that's it, there's nobody else. Um, and we just kind of run our own thing and we're in control of it.

SPEAKER_01 34:08

So yeah, yes, and something you're proud of, like you're saying you're proud of producing it and doing it. Yes, I that's it's very, very respectable. Thanks. I think that is amazing. Okay, so with the songwriting though, I mean, you know, we see again, you have to remember, like, we're like the people at the rodeo with our hat on backwards, like looking into music. We just see the show. So we're like, yeah, it's all great. But with songwriting, we've seen things on TV, you're having like you're like, okay, we're just blocking out this time, we're just gonna write songs. Is that I don't I feel like that's not correct.

SPEAKER_00 34:41

Like, do they just I think it's different for everybody? It's that's not for really for me.

SPEAKER_03 34:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

And also, like, I used to I think earlier on, like, I would just kind of like write a lot of songs, and um I also didn't was I wasn't as like critical as I should have been at the time, and not that you've seen the feel of it, yeah. Yeah, and and now I just like really put a lot of care into it, and my band puts a lot of care into it. Um and I try not to write the same stuff, and yeah, and so it's kind of little things come along um here and there now, and so I'm not just like putting albums out every year.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

Um again, it's kind of a bonus though, correct? I mean, you know with the money-wise, but like if you were like you're doing things you care about, yeah, right. In selective about what you put out, it's like we just gotta get something else out.

SPEAKER_00 35:36

And yeah, and like there was a time where it kind of felt like you had like you're behind because it's two years since you released an album, like something's gotta come out. And that's true, like you do lose steam when like you don't do those things, but it's also it's like no one's got like a gun to me, like telling me I have to do this. Um so now I just don't really have like the fear of missing out on things anymore. Um I love that. Like we're not like invited to like a ton of festivals, like that something that always used to like kind of bum me out.

SPEAKER_01 36:11

But now you're like, I don't actually care.

SPEAKER_00 36:13

Um I mean not care. I don't want to say not care. I still I still really care. Um it's just um it's been good because we've survived without it. So I'm okay with it. Um and we've been able to like it's just like even like Texas. Like I used to think I had when I started that I had to move to Texas to to be able to like do this, and um and now I'm really proud that we play the whole country, yes, and do it from yeah, South Dakota. That's neat and we rally weekly, and and um, so I'm proud of that. And it's just like kind of some of the things that that you wish for before you know, like you realize like this is really good that it didn't work out that way. And so does most of your band live like right kind of close to you in South Dakota or our uh our bass player Joey lives in Grand Junction, and our steel player Matt lives in uh Glasgow, Montana, up by close to the border. Um so those those guys have pretty long drive, yeah. It's I think it's seven or eight hours for each of them um to meet up with the band. And then the rest of us are all within 15, 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 37:25

Yeah. Well, he you we have a connection because Casey. Oh yeah, he is from Boise. That's where we live.

SPEAKER_03 37:33

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:33

Yeah, we are from and actually, like, not to make this about me, but I'm pretty sure that when you played in Homedale, that's when he he filled in, correct?

SPEAKER_00 37:43

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 37:44

Um, I'm or was that I don't want to butcher.

SPEAKER_00 37:47

I'm not sure. No, no, I mean we we played with them at Fisher's there um before, but Casey did fill in, so I I'm can't remember if we played Homedale when he was filling in on bass, and that was just like one of those weird deals. Random, like our yeah, our bass player at the time, Jacob, he got sick, and we had to scrap a show, and we were gonna play uh I think we played Redmond. Um we played uh town just north uh Hell's Canyon Jam.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 38:20

Um we were playing that, and then one other one, maybe it was Homedale. Um but anyway, Casey filled in at the time and we became really good friends, and then you know, uh when uh it came time to find somebody to play guitar, I like Hill married Casey like three or four years ago, and I was just like, and it was like not even like I was it was kind of wishful thinking at the time. I was just like that that person and I've always kind of looked obviously you want people that are like really that are talented and and and play good, but it was more like personality was why I asked him. You have to spend a lot of time with these people, and and I was like, man, it's just such a good time, and um, and then I just got lucky that he's like works his ass off, and yeah, and because he you know he had his own band, and it was it's kind of weird to ask somebody to like, hey, I don't want you to like don't give up on like what you're doing, because it's not that like it's not worthy to do, and um still agree he's much in the process of the songs we make, you know. So um, but it was definitely like a Hail Mary to to get him to come out, and timing was just kind of right for him to do something different, and um it was very fortunate. And it's been that way with everybody in the band. Um I just got really lucky that I choose like feel like I picked like people that are like good people, yes, that does make a difference, and and they care and and like we all respect each other, and um and it's fun. It's it's like like next to my wife, they're my best friends, yes, and um, and so it's really enjoyable. And um, yeah, I I feel like that's one of those things like if you find good people that um like talents one thing. I got lucky to to get talent and kind of people, but I I I sought like those people out because they're they're good people, yeah. Yeah, and um even like last Joey's our our newest member of the band um playing bass. He was filling in at a festival for another band playing guitar, and our bass player was leaving, and I was like, Casey, you think think that Joey kid might uh seems like a really good guy? Yeah, I think and then he just turned out to be a monster player, yeah. So you're like voice cracks, but yeah, it worked out good, and um, and same thing with like Matt joining, and um yeah, I've just been very fortunate to like kind of find good folks that that uh and it just worked out.

SPEAKER_02 40:59

Yeah. So when do you do most of your songwriting? Like, is it in the van? Is it back home? Like no, is it just wake up in the middle of the night?

SPEAKER_00 41:08

Like it's really so like spotty for me anymore. It's like I'll get like a line or something, it'll come to me and um and then I'll shelve it. And it's kind of lame that I I put on my notepad on my phone and I have all these lines and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 41:23

Yeah, that's how I live my life.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

And uh, but then also uh it's like with our last album, I had a bunch bunch of that kind of stuff, and then I was starting to like I had studio time booked, and I was like, I need to get this like get the songs done, like and like you guys know like when you kids, like there's not a lot of time that like like you want to spend just when we're not working, you want to be home with your kids just being there and not like daddy's gonna be in his office for the next six hours. Yeah, like I don't do that.

SPEAKER_02 41:55

How old are your kids right now?

SPEAKER_00 41:57

Uh seven and nine.

SPEAKER_02 41:58

Seven and nine.

SPEAKER_00 41:58

Yeah.

unknown 41:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

So uh so like the last album, there was all these lines, and and I feel like I like it was in the winter because winter's a slow time for us. That's where I try to do it, yeah. Um and like Blaine would be like just go out in the office and and just work on it for a little while. Uh aside a little bit of time each day, and and I did that and was just like banging my head against the wall.

SPEAKER_03 42:27

Okay, I was just I don't know if I could actually do that when I tell myself to do it.

SPEAKER_00 42:31

But I get these like little chunks of things, and then when it came down to like crunch time, it ended up working out and and stuff came together, and then it seems like once like a song once it's like I'm interested enough into it, in it, um I can work it out and get it to what because you like to try to find this this like weird balance between being inspired to write to make something and also like I know how to do it, right? And I have like great people that I can lean on to like for like like musically for like ideas and um take advantage of that. So like there's a certain point of where you gotta get past just the inspiration and hope that that an entire song just like falls in your lap and or just kind of grind it out, kind of work it out. And a lot of times, like if something starts taking too long, it's not a matter of the time, it's just a matter of like is this good or not? Like if it doesn't feel like it's good or it feels like too cliche to me or something like that, I just drop it.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

You do, no matter even if you've like a good time into it.

SPEAKER_00 43:41

But I'll just this sucks and I'll put it away. Okay. And um and there might be like a line or two that like survives. Yeah, and then I'll use it on line. But um I I try to like as soon as I I start getting like a bad feeling about a song and I'm just like it's cheesy. Like it's like I then then I just kind of tap out and then try to just wait for something else to kind of come along. But yeah, it's it now it's just a it's a blend of getting inspired and then also like putting in the the effort.

SPEAKER_01 44:17

Yeah. Do you get an emotional attachment? Like I would kind of feel like personally attacked if I'm like, I really love the song, this is all I'm about, and then it just doesn't really take off, or maybe vice versa. Kind of like what you're saying about barrel barrel racer lane, like took off, but it wasn't like you were like, Oh yeah, this is yeah, it I mean I think now, I mean, pretty much it never gets to a point where I'm not invested.

SPEAKER_03 44:43

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 44:44

If I if I'm invested in it, like it gets done.

SPEAKER_03 44:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 44:48

And and I'll find a find a way. Uh there's not a if I it's just like it's more so like the wishy-washy feeling. Like if it if it kind of feels like it's not like something like of substance, I kind of drop it.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

I get that. I'm not gonna get it.

SPEAKER_00 45:06

I get like a long or two because like not every song has to be like there's so many, there's there's some really great songs that are aren't like super heavy and emotionally weighted, like make them bad songs. So I've like tried to like here lately, like separate myself a little bit from it, and like you want something to be to be great, and you want a song to be really good, um, but it doesn't have to be like the weight of the world on every every word. Like you put the effort into every word, but it doesn't have to be like this is yeah, yeah, this is gonna blow someone's mind. Yeah, like it could still be good. People just like yeah, it's not to and it's not to like softball it and and and not care about it or or try to make something that's that's kind of lame. It's just uh um it gets to be a lot trying to like write songs that are always like meaningful to you, and eventually it's like what else are you gonna write about? Like you can't be the same thing every yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:03

Yeah, sometimes people need like you know, like you listen, like you think about like your game sooner and and like when they listen to music, like whether they want to be pumped up, whether they want to be like cold, whether they want to be like picked up, whether they want to be like feeling good, still happy. You know what I mean? Like there's all sorts of so I feel like there's there and there is meaning in in every one of those categories, it's just like they don't all have to be. I mean, granted, I have a pretty deep obsession with a dark, heavy sad song. I really like sad songs.

SPEAKER_01 46:41

It depends on what kind of steering wheel therapy I need. Like what am I actually going? But yeah, I I get that. So along those lines, so when you're needing like some steering wheel therapy or just doing like what do you listen to?

SPEAKER_00 46:54

I listen to books, really. You do?

SPEAKER_01 46:56

That is the thing that just keeps you, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:58

Um, but I also like um there there's some it's weird, like the older I get, and I feel like s like an old man when I like talk like this, but like I like silence really. Like I really do. But like I do like listening to books and um and like because you find inspiration, those things too, because like there's only so much of your own stories that that you can always pull from. So sometimes listen to that. I feel like listening to books sometimes gives you some better little like nuggets of inspiration than listening to some like I always appreciate like other people's music. It's just sometimes I I don't it like gets in the way in my head of like I don't I don't want to.

SPEAKER_01 47:49

Because you think of it differently, you're listening different than we are.

SPEAKER_00 47:51

Well, and like I don't want to like mess with what I'm doing, right? Oh yeah, and like influence that because then then you're just kind of like kind of robbing somebody else's stuff, and yeah, and uh and that not that you can't split the two apart because I like I do like listening to to to music.

SPEAKER_02 48:09

Um I just uh here lately I've just I'm I'm good with just going down the road and like what's the last book that you've been listening to? What are you listening to right now?

SPEAKER_00 48:19

Uh Game of Thrones.

SPEAKER_02 48:22

Really?

SPEAKER_00 48:22

Yeah. Um pretty nerdy. And um and before like listening to this uh um Blood Meridian book a bunch. Um it's a core Mac McCarthy book, and uh it's really really dark. It's he's the same author that um made uh No Country Foldman.

SPEAKER_03 48:41

Oh, okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:42

And Blood Meridian's like pretty heavy, and it I actually wrote a song from the epilogue of that book. It's on the last album. Um choking on the wire. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:54

Just was gonna say that, but I didn't want to sound ignorant. I assume that's probably what it came from.

SPEAKER_00 48:58

Um that was something new for me for me because I've never like found like historical fiction and and been like, hey, there's a song here, yeah. And um, but uh yeah, I music's always playing in the van, like going down the road. Yeah, yeah. Like Casey DJs, always DJing. Yeah, and um, and like I normally do that until about two in the morning, and then everybody starts falling asleep, and then oh what's good book?

SPEAKER_01 49:29

Yeah, okay. I love that. Yeah, so what of your I mean, and I I recognize that as we've been talking, obviously, like your music has progressed on and on. So maybe you could have different eras, but what are your favorite songs of yours?

SPEAKER_00 49:45

Uh I'm really proud of KOW.

SPEAKER_01 49:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:50

That's one I I really really am proud of, like lyrically.

SPEAKER_01 49:56

Um I like that whole all of that whole album. Thank you. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:59

I I'm really happy with with all those too. Um like uh um shoot. It's kind of like for like rock and roll stuff, like we have this song called The Vulture that I I I I enjoy playing that. Um and that's not like it's not like super uh it's like about songwriters, but I just like metaphor kind of thing.

SPEAKER_03 50:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:25

Um In the Blood was really important to me. Um I wrote that my father-in-law passed away. Um that one was like really important to my wife and my family. So that one, and that was one that like he actually passed away in Wickenberg. Um, but uh that was like something that just like yeah, that it wasn't like a lot of there was a lot of writing, you know, processed like it was like just real emotion, yeah, and grief, and um and it's like not that every song needs to be like that, but it was just something that I really wanted to do and play at his funeral. Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_01 51:12

So that defense? Yeah, yeah. Um I can admit it.

SPEAKER_00 51:16

Yeah, and uh so that was like something that just that was one of those like one of those songs like just kind of hit you and and you don't like really seek out to make that kind of stuff because of where that comes from. Yeah, because it's like it's not like you're proud of it and and proud of what like what it means for my family, and like it's something for my kids to have, but um, it's also like kind of stopped playing it here lately, just I just uh you play with your emotions. No, it's just it's just sad. I mean and and like I I love it and I'm glad I did it, but um do it here and there, but it's just something that's like just um I'm glad it I got it done.

SPEAKER_02 52:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 52:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 52:08

Yeah. So changing lanes quickly. Oh, I you're good. I'm just you know, if we keep that way, I'm gonna grab nobody wants to. But uh so going from like different venues, right? So you've played stagecoach.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

Yeah, and now this is a very small side stage of stage stagecoach.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

Still, I mean, still like we're gonna put that out there.

SPEAKER_00 52:30

It felt pretty cool, but it was definitely like at the time it was like playing like a county fair state. Really? In the middle of stagecoach, no one cared about but uh but we got we got to do the like catering and the full like you're a part of it.

SPEAKER_02 52:46

Yeah, well, so like okay, so you have a stage like that, you have a venue like Slack and Joseph, like obviously, this is the best place in the country because we're biased. Like it is like we call it the county. The county is the best. Um, like so I want to hear like the the best part of playing at like a bigger well-known customer than the small town.

SPEAKER_00 53:15

Like a small town where like I think uh so like we do the same thing no matter what, yeah. Like effort-wise. Yeah, um it feels really good with those big stages where you have this like killer lighting and the sound is like huge, like the guitar sound massive, like that sound that feels really good because like you feel every part of the music, and it and it it does add a lot to to the the experience. Um but also like yeah, we play the full the full spectrum like dive bars, yeah. And and um and and I think like there's things that you can get away with at a big production that you can't you can't fake it at a at a small one, and I've seen some bands eat it going from one to the other because it's like it can't just be bullshit, like it's gotta be and um and I think like you know there there's some like a little bit of smoke and mirrors that comes with like those big stages that it's really awesome, and like, but you put that same show in front of like 80 people or 100 people, and it's like you're gonna be crowd surfing up there, like are you like is the without the height, like will it still stand up? Yeah, um, so that's what like come to love about playing the smaller stages too, is uh it's like it's just I we have we have we play stages where it is literally playing on the floor and people are two feet away from the mic, like yeah, um not not a lot of them, but like there's a place Bucks Bar and Grill or we did a live album there, but it's you play on the floor and it's a 140-person room, yeah. Like and like the someone will like bounce into the mic dancing and knock you in the teeth. Here we are, yeah. Uh but it kind of feels like kind of rock and roll though, too. Um but uh yeah, so like I I that's what I appreciate about the two different sides of it. It feels really great to play huge stages, and it feels awesome like energy-wise when there's a big crowd that's into it, because like it just feels like you can't do anything wrong. Yeah, and um, and it's not not that you like try less, it's just it just feels like it's easier, and then there's some times where it's smaller crowds, it's like you know that there might be it might be the coolest experience for somebody to see you a night that would be disappointing money like financially for you as a band might be someone's like most amazing night ever to see you, so you have to because they feel so connected, yeah. Yeah, and like that's something like whether you you end up making it bigger or or going to like bigger stages, it's like they'll always have that and they'll talk about it forever because it's like we saw them, there was no one else here, but I was there, yeah. Like, so like that's why you never half ass it and you always go out and like matter if it's like a disappointing turnout or if it's like a little stage, big stage, it's like you have to like give them everything.

SPEAKER_01 56:38

Yes, I love that so much. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 56:41

We so appreciate you driving, yeah, however many miles it is from Rapid City or what is it, like 18, 15 uh hours, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:51

Yeah, I think it's a thousand miles, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 56:53

That's good. Yeah, so that's a trek, and and obviously we're biased.

SPEAKER_00 56:59

No, it's great that they had they had us out um because we played it last year, and yeah, like it was special. Like, and I'm sure it's gonna be awesome again tonight. Like it was just really uh like it stuck out to me last year. Like I was like, for something that was you know, it was our first time doing it, and we like just played on like the patio, like it ended up being super cool, and um, and it it did stuck like kind of stuck out to me that it was just a great time.

SPEAKER_01 57:28

Yeah, I love that. I loved it. Yeah, no, it's it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 57:33

I don't know. I didn't get a go last year because I had to I was up like I think Thursday night last year too, and I had but then I had a puzzle to with maturity and so and so these her and her sister were sending me videos, yeah, and it was I was like, okay.

SPEAKER_00 57:49

Yeah, and you guys were getting true. And that's like what those like not that it's gonna be a small turnout, but like when that's like kind of the magic of like those smaller shows, like it's like it's yeah, it's cool. Like the people that are there are super pumped that they're like they're very much a part of it, like involved.

SPEAKER_01 58:09

Like if you're sitting in a stadium, like in the third row, you're like, yeah, it's great, but I'm kind of just like here, yeah. You can feel it. Yeah, yeah, yes. No, we really appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 58:19

And I will say the videos that I got, like like the sound, it I felt like I was certainly like.

SPEAKER_00 58:26

Yeah, I thought it was really good, great, and yeah. They had it was awesome. Slack to have like they had someone that came in and ran sound really because sometimes you go some places where it's a bummer if the sound isn't good enough, because like there's only so much you like as a band that you can do about that, yeah. Because we don't take the sound with us, and and we don't um we try to like make sure that we don't get in weird situations like that in the booking process, and it's not because like you kind of try to build it. Yeah, and it's not because like oh we we're not playing this to it's not a matter of like the location or what it is, it's just a matter of like, hey, there if we do this, there might be somebody that travels eight hours and they have to be able to hear it like decent and it has to has to be up to snuff, you know.

SPEAKER_02 59:15

There is nothing worse than when you get there and like I'm I'm old, so I don't hear that great, and so I'm like, what the hell are you saying?

SPEAKER_00 59:22

Yeah, what is that? So like that that's important, and that's yeah, that's just like why we're lucky with Ted, our booking agent, like being I trust him, and he understands that. Yeah, and and it's just like he's one man show, and he books some um books some probably eight other artists, and he does a really good job at it. And like I a lot of people like look to get on those big agencies or something, like I wouldn't I wouldn't move. I'd yeah, I'd stick with him if even if we got offered. Um because I'm just not interested in it. And I and I feel like he respects people and people are treated the way they should be, like through the booking process.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:10

And um yes, I really appreciate how humble like every you seem about all of this. Like you're very like work ethic, humble thing. Yeah, straight up. Like yeah, loyalty is huge.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:21

Yeah, well, and and like just like we were talking about before, I think we turned this on, just like like we care about places like like it's not just like a paycheck. Yeah, it's like yeah, we make money doing this, but like I don't I wouldn't feel good if like it was a flop for a venue, and um, so that's why we we promote and like we do um we do all this stuff and try to like not make it like yeah our show's worth worth a dollar amount certain places, but um we don't get greedy with it. I know I appreciate that, yes. And it's uh that's just we're making a live. And that's just kind of like being kind of kind of happy where where we're at, and also like making sure like I'd rather like you know beat somebody's expectations like from like a venue owner standpoint, like have them be blown away. Oh, absolutely. Thinking they that night that they get the bet like the best deal, yeah. Then then like them like there's there's gonna be times where people venues lose money because it just doesn't make sense, it just doesn't work. Um, but also like I'll do my part to make sure it's at like everything that I do is like whether it's from the show or the advertising or um just the booking process, just making sure that that people are kind of like treated like the way they should be. Yeah, and that that adds a longevity. I mean it's a selfish side of us too, like because those relationships keep us.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:00

Yes, yeah. I mean like just like any other jobs. Like this is now your second year being here. Obviously, it went well the first year, so they're having you back. Like that's customer service. That's I mean that's yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:11

Um, okay, so so we're uh we won't keep you much longer, I promise.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:16

Yeah, you've got like things actually ready for tonight.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:19

This is like maybe a question we should have talked about in the beginning, but just like what you're talking about, where you've gone this long and you still are caring about the people and the songs. I mean, at what like at what age did you actually be like, dude, I can actually kind of sing? Or or did you always just kind of just play with it? Like, was there ever a moment?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:37

No, I wasn't not still not. Um, it it was just uh kind of just I think when uh when I was in college and like started doing writing songs and like because chicks out of the school, like no, I'm just kidding. I'm just joking and like like sell CDs, like like people would send like like 10 bucks in the mail, like it was like hand to hand. And you're done. I thought that was pretty cool. That was cool, and I was like learning CDs. Um, I thought that was neat, and then um yeah, it's it's we it's weird because like it's like all along like the whole timeline, you always like appreciate like where you're at right then, yeah. And um, and I I still try to like make sure I'm always aware of like be just be thankful for like what you have right now. Cause like, yeah, right now is where I wish I, you know, a couple years back, I wish I was doing like I wish my schedule, my routing was great, and like the band was all making a good living, and we were selling this much merch, and like this the show was was what it is now, and um so I've just always tried to be like aware of of all like the good stuff that's going on every time and I love that. And yeah, I feel like I'm a positive, fairly positive person. So that helps.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:07

Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. If someone was coming to you and they were like, I really this is really what I want to do, and like talent aside, what would be the thing that you're like, you this is what you have to do. Like you have to have thick skin, or you have to have like work ethic, or I mean yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:26

I always if anyone ever asks me, like I always tell them first, like it's gotta be like the intention has to be in the right spot, I guess. Like you have to there's people that get that get by wanting doing it for the the wrong reasons, but I think like I think the most important thing is like doing it, like you gotta you gotta write. I tell people you gotta write what you care about. And like as far as like it's gotta start with the songs, and then there's a whole lot of other stuff that you gotta do afterwards. I can't even imagine it's not just a like there's there's there's a ton of talented people, they're incredible songwriters that like will never get hurt, you know, never break through. And um, because there's all these other things that it's not always fun, like yeah, there's some like idolin, I'm like selling merch and stuff like kind of cheap, like feels like it cheapens it for me. But then like I also have to look at and there's other artists that feel the same way where it's like oh I don't want to just be a t shirt hat salesman, you know. It's like but it's that's how I take care of it.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:39

Like that kid that comes out and they're like, I bought the hat from Kenny. Yeah, yeah. Like I got my t shirt and he gave it to me. I mean, I get what you're saying, and you're tired and you don't want to oh believe me.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:49

No, I I just but I I think it's actually kind of cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:52

Yeah, no, I think I just can't be there too.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:55

I just I just mean like those there's there's parts of like this job if you're gonna like there's people that hire someone else to do it and that's fine um like I prefer to like kind of yeah have your hands on yeah your hands on yeah do it yeah and and I feel like there's all those things and it's really important I think for for like people that you know want to get into this is like hey you should really do everything you possibly can until it's not possible for you to do it and okay like yeah just like any small business like handle it yourself until it becomes a detriment to like absolutely progress and do what you can yeah and care about every little thing you can and then maybe it's like so Dan um he's been with me the longest I've ever ever on the band my tour manager like he makes all the hats like he does all oh he does yeah and he has the um business on the side JFH hat pressing um which he makes like the hats of Slack has for sale tonight like okay he made them um so like you start finding some like I used to iron on patches with a hand iron on yes and then Dan like when started selling merch for me he was just uh you know I met him at a a couple shows and I offered him a job and he had to live with me for a year and and then um so now that's his side business and that's something that he takes care of making making the hats and um he's sells the merch. Yeah he cares about it and he'll double our pay by what he does every night um for the band yeah um and just puts full effort into it and it's like something that like I can't sell merch from the stage. Right no absolutely I mean you are selling merch from the stage yeah um and so like that's that's like one of those things there it's like it's not like super cool to be like oh yeah I gotta sell all these hats and it's like well that's how you beef up every everybody's pay yes and and the band makes a living so like that's how I justify it so this is what we're doing. Yes and um and also it's also advertising. Oh totally so it's like I try to like always kind of had like a pulse on all that stuff from the start just trying to um just care about all the little things that might seem like kind of trivial but they do matter. And like having a website and making sure your ticket links are up and your tour dates are are people can find them on your social media. I post stuff my kids stuff in my band and shows yeah and and that's pretty much what all I post um and yeah it's not like the most riveting content probably compared to other things but actually like that way better. Exactly like a real human yeah yeah it's much it's just real you know yeah exactly I say that but I just uh my kid sent me a video of a they they were puppeteering a dinosaur to Zizi top today I was like I'm gonna post this right better content than I am but but uh yeah so I think that's like with uh anyone wanting to do this it's just like you gotta care about it more than anyone yeah and and plan on do it do plan on doing all the like hard stuff and the boring stuff and it's just not all glamorous yeah it's it's just not like there's things that like you just have to do it and and it might not always be like that but um I'm I don't know how many years into doing this and there's still a lot of that and yeah and and I just even when it's like kind of like irks me like I just do it because I I have to like it's just part of the job. Yeah just be thankful that someone wants to buy a shirt or something or absolutely someone wants to find where your show is in California you know it's just stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:21

So did you study business in college?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:24

Yeah I got I got ag business degree. Okay. Just college rodeo rodeo like every other ag business I don't remember anything from it.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:33

I went to college to play basketball and then I was at college and I realized I had to go class yeah yeah yeah I feel like um I feel like I went to uh northwestern Oklahoma state in Alva and um it was mostly like to college rodeo.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:52

Yeah like I just wanted to do do that and like everybody just ag business and um but like some of the people like I had like a neighbor to one of the houses where I live that they're like my grandparents now but like they taught me how to or Mike taught me how to blacksmith and like taught me I didn't know how to weld before I went to college um and um and like taught me all these like craftsmanship things and and like attention to detail and I I so I feel like I didn't really learn retain anything from college like but but from that timeline and the people that I was around like that had like la lasting impact on my rest of my life. Absolutely I mean I have a a general ag degree and I yeah I use it yeah I I'm uh I'm not like uh probably gonna push my kids to go to college unless they want to um it it feels like that was like that's what we were told to do that's the only way or you'd be a screw up and that's not true it was never true but um it was just like we were all fed that for a while and um but I feel like it's more about life experience and absolutely raised and finding something else like I feel like that is a huge benefit for any kid.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:21

Sure is to and no you don't have to go to school but like you gotta go somewhere and and figure out yeah and live live on your own yeah kind of do stupid stuff. Yeah yeah I still go without a safety net a little bit so that's uh I think it's important too the biggest lesson I ever learned I was uh 19 and had a diesel truck and I went to start it and I went to school at University of Montana Western and it was cold and I it wouldn't start and I called my dad and he lives here so we're 10 hours apart yeah and he says to me he says Negan I'm 10 hours from you what the would you like me and I said I guess nothing he goes plug it in bike to class you'll be fine yeah yeah yeah those those those things are important yeah except for now we don't have to plug our trucks in that's how old we're starting to get I know I just fine but you know what the the worst part is like I stay and learn the lesson but still something goes wrong I I call my dad he's the first I call our dad too it's fine yeah well is there anything else that you'd like to add or anything like where album wise or like where are you going next uh I go to council Idaho tomorrow and then uh play Dodge City Thursday do Dodge City Denver oh yeah and then Helena Montana cool next weekend and driving yeah so uh kennyfiddler.com I've got all the tour dates there and on the social we'll tag in all the yeah yeah I try to be make stuff pretty accessible for find us and uh yeah no thanks for the time thank you you this is awesome of course we'll be like the drunk loud girl from the back tonight yeah thank you so