Randy Hoyet – Bluesy Texas Songwriter on “Shameless”

Lo [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] get broke tables turn you learn. This is the Rugged Revival podcast. This is the home of the UK's country Americana roots music community. It feels amazing to be back. Uh unfortunately we had to take a few weeks off due to illness but seems to have recovered somewhat uh and raring to go again for sure. Uh when I say raring to go uh Ronny's not with us this week unfortunately he sends his apologies uh because his laptop decided to blow up. Uh he's a cheapkate and I think he needs to to go and get himself a better one. But he will be back on the show next week. Anyway, uh we are joined today by the incredible Texas singer, songwriter, an all round awesome dude and very patient man, may I add? Uh Mr. Randy Hoyer. How are you doing, mate? Welcome to the Rugged Revival. >> I'm great, man. Good morning from Texas. >> What time is it there at the minute? >> 6 a.m. >> 6 a.m. Like I said right at the start, hopefully you got a pot of coffee because uh my brain doesn't work at that time in the morning. But uh I appreciate you coming on, dude. I appreciate it. But um I I think what we we tend to do at the start of these shows is rather than me kind of read a Spotify bio, we'll hand over to you. Um I think it'd be nice if you tell the listeners who you are and uh how you might describe your your style of music, Randy. >> Cool, man. Um well, my name is Randy Hoyet. I'm from College Station, Texas. Um, we have pretty rock and blues band and uh, music out, man. That's where we're That's the genre that we kind of fall into. It's kind of hard to describe sometimes, but um, man, good way to explain it is we just like to have a lot of fun. >> Awesome. Well, we'll go into that uh shortly because I I I definitely want to go into some of the tracks and and your album that was released recently and uh there's a lot of good stuff to go into, but before we do that, let's kind of go way back um in terms of where you grew up uh and what sort of childhood that you had and and perhaps leading into kind of how that led into the music and how you got involved in that, mate. >> Cool. Yeah, man. Um, whenever I was younger, I lived in a small house and um, my dad was a pipeline welder and so was his brothers and all of my uncles. And um, our family was real close. Whenever they'd be gone for a couple months, um, whenever they'd come back for that weekend, first thing they did was start a fire, barbecue, and pick up guitar and start playing songs. Um, and so that was my childhood is remembering whenever they came home with them picking up guitar and playing. And um, I fell into it and every time that they were gone, I practiced as many songs as I could, tried to learn as many new ones as I could. And um, whenever they got home, that's that was my concert. That was my showtime. And so I kind of grew up on that. Um, and then towards high school kind of fell into the sports side of things. Uh, and that unfortunately didn't work out with an injury. But, uh, again, music kind of became that lifeline for me and and whatever job that I've ever had, as soon as it fell through, music was that lifeline. Um, and so it was also a passion that I kind of knew that I had, but I had to find it again. Um, and so now where we're at is trying to pay the bills off of the passion, man. and the love is still there for it, but now it's got to start helping out with the bills. >> That's amazing, mate. And, you know, I I've been following you for a while now, listening to your music, and I love going down the kind of Spotify and and YouTube rabbit hole where I can see some of the kind of stripped back acoustic um videos that you do. You're you're an amazing guitarist. You're extremely accomplished. And did that come from like you playing with the family or is that something that you kind of delved into yourself in terms of you know taking the guitar to to the next level? >> Man, my dad has always been very and he'll he'll he'll he'll agree with this but very decent at guitar man. He never uh kind of took off with it. But I had an uncle um Gabriel Davis. we called him June Bug that uh he passed whenever I was 13, but for those 13 years he was one of the best guitar players I'd ever seen. And um he taught me quite a bit and once I turned 13 and he passed away, there was that time between high school where I kind of just laid back a little bit off of it. Um I think that was kind of a part of it, but that framework was still instilled with me. Um, and then towards the end of high school, I picked up a guitar and again found that passion and it was the amount that I could learn based off of the framework that he taught me was very tremendous. So that's kind of where I've come with guitar. It's just been real nice to have that again that framework built. >> Yeah. Yeah. Awesome, man. And who were you listening to kind of growing up? cuz I I can hear different influences in in the in the tracks on your Shameless album. So, it'll be interesting to kind of get it from your perspective where where that came from. And like I said, Cross Canadian Ragweed, they're just they they've been my heroes ever since I was a kid. Uh, and then I have to throw John Mayer in there. He's always been a huge influence. I know he's a big influence on a lot of people, but man, big influence on me. And then I would say Gary Clark Jr. and uh Ryan Bingham also. Those four guys have had Yeah, those four guys have had the the biggest influence on me for sure. >> That's amazing. I I think in the UK we've heard of John Mayer. Well, I'm the biggest John Mayer geek uh in the world. I've got a John Mayer tattoo. I I don't tell people that too often now because uh you probably look at me like I'm a weirdo, but uh but I I love John Mayer. I think he's he's completely I would say underrated somewhat. You know, he sells big stadiums out in the UK and I've been to some of those shows. Gary Clark Jr. the same. He's got a big following over here. Um but not so much cross Canadian ragweed. So, it's interesting, you know, with the the fact I've got into the scene over the over recent years that uh I so I know who who CCR I think they they kind of uh acronym it too. Um which confuses with Credence Clear Water somewhat. Um, but yeah, in terms of of of of that band, you know, what what sort of influence do they have on people? What what are they about just for people that don't know about them, >> man? I will say that they are, and this goes with them as people too, the most accepting and understanding people. Um, and I know that's kind of not what you may expect, but from being around Cody Canada, Jeremy Plato, um, Ragsdale, all of them, it's it's insane how, uh, humble they are. And, and I never really took that into account until I met them and was around them and then started listening back to their music. And um it's it's it's pretty it's intimidating to be extremely accepting in the market of Texas and it's kind of a political thing. One thing about them is they don't care. Um there is no right left, there's no right wrong. They're just they're there to have a good time and that their music also reflects that. >> Fantastic. And you know, everyone I speak to about the Texas scene and we've had quite a few artists on from that that region um to say that you know it's it's an amazingly supportive scene you know that everyone kind of elevates each other. Uh but mind it it's super competitive you amount of artists that are coming out newly each week and uh you know that I suppose it's a healthy competition in that way. Is that how you kind of experienced the scene? Because you you've been kind of releasing music since around um was it a few years back now, wasn't it? About 5 years ago for you got your first EP 2021. Sorry, that I did write it down. So, in terms of your your kind of experiences hitting the the Texas music scene, what was it been like for you? >> Man, it is extremely competitive. I will tell you that. Um many many people in Texas picked up a guitar and started playing and playing bars. Um so it's extremely competitive in the pro I would say it's an issue is early on booking. Um it's very difficult to get shows early on here in Texas whenever you're trying to get in the Texas music scene. Um and part of that is the abundance of people trying to open and play. So, the fix for that is basically a booking agency. Um, you don't have to do it, but it makes things a lot easier once you're in a community where you're opening for this band regularly and then this band and then this band and then they you they come open for you and it's all because you're on the same booking agency. Um, so in the beginning it's pretty it was pretty difficult as far as getting booking and how many people there was in a mass. Um, but again, man, it's Texas, so it's there's a lot of places to play and there's a big there's a big area to go travel. Um, so it's not too bad. Um, but it is a little oversaturated, I would say, right now. It's a it's a little difficult, but I mean it's it's definitely can you can make it profitable. >> Yeah, absolutely. And and people, you know, that I speak to regularly, the likes of Adam Hood and and people like that say they exclusively tore Texas throughout the year at times because like you say, there's so many venues, so many opportunities, and you know, it's it's a unique state in that perspective when you compare it to the likes of Oklahoma or perhaps Kentucky, Virginia, the other scenes. So, uh, yeah, it's really interesting. I I I love to kind of hear everyone's perspective about about the Texas scene particularly. So, thanks for sharing that, mate. Um, before we move on, you know, we're talking about booking agents and we'll go into your pals at 301 in a second, but you know, we just want to congratulate you on your your recent good news before we going to head into into more stuff. But, uh, so do you want to do you want to kind of reveal what's going on in your your kind of personal world at the minute, mate? >> Whole lot, man. I just got engaged and we got a baby girl on the way. >> Awesome, mate. And uh we were saying off air the other day >> that there's loads of social media influencers at the minute calling their children all manner of random stuff and one of them was Aquaman. So uh what what uh what name have you chosen for your your little girl, isn't it? >> It is, man. We're uh we picked out Harley. We haven't picked out a middle name yet, but we're going with Harley. So, it'll be Harley. >> Amazing. That's uh that's beautiful, mate. Well, congratulations uh to you both and uh you know, we wish you all the best with that. It's uh being a dad's a different experience. My kids are older now. Very irritating. Uh but the younger years are lovely. So, so cherish that when it comes along, buddy. Um >> Yes, sir. >> Awesome. So, we were talking about the sex scene uh and bookings and stuff like that. And you know, we we got to be accustomed uh through our our good mutual friend Ethan Whitaker through 301 uh Productions in Texas. So, 301 Productions is a a record label. I I believe Ethan would do your bookings and support you on that. He's uh he's been awesome. So, we've had a few of your your friends on already like Zack Welch and uh Jacob Ryan Marshall. So, it's a pleasure to have you on uh as part of this, too. Um, but you know, I'm so glad that Ethan kind of pointed us in your direction because, uh, your music's amazing. Uh, you seem an awesome fellow as well. Um, so what's it like being part of that crew? How did you hook up with Ethan and and Co. Whenever I first started, um, I remember playing a place here in College Station and there was a band that approached me about opening for them and it was going to be my first show. So, I went and took it and after that I hung out with them for weeks. Um, basically lived at their house cuz they was a band that all lived in one house and I thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Um, and so I hung out with them for weeks. And whenever I was playing these places, the problem was that whenever these guys left, they had nothing to go back and listen to or save on their phone. So that it's hard to remember. Um, I remember having that issue and talking to one of the guitar players, Ryan Rogers, about it and he pointed me to this guy, Ethan, who's got a little studio behind um, a couple bars by the college. And I went over there and we uh, I met him and he I showed him a couple songs and kind of looked at each other and he pressed record and we put together a little four song EP. Um, and it did what I needed it to do at the time, but very quickly we realized that uh this acoustic stuff isn't going to work if we're going to be playing full band shows. And so we put together a um full band song notices and it did pretty well for us. we did all right with it and then um kind of continued on from there with the full band stuff, but the other guys have just been accumulated over time and um guys like Zach Wilg Brian Marshall, man, they're my biggest fans in the world and they're my best friends in the world and uh they're just all around good people before they're anything else and that's important to me. >> Awesome. I I love to hear about that your little crew because uh you know you've got some amazing artists on that roster. Um all very different. So your sound is very different to to Zach's. Zach's kind of balls to the walls uh music and you know when he was on it it was a great laugh. He's he's a great guy. Uh Jacob's a bit more laid-back, bit more country um I would say in terms of his music. So um you know Ethan's got something kind of special going on over that way. Uh so we we're keen to keep in touch. But you you mentioned your your track Notices. Would you mind if we we play a little snippet of that so people uh can have a little listen, go find you on Spotify and and find the rest. Is that okay, mate? >> Yeah, of course. >> Legend. Right, let's play this then. [Music] It's the same old story. I'm the one. Yeah. Ends abruptly. I should have faded that one out. But, uh, yeah, I always cut off the guitar solo. Uh, and people will probably hate me for that, but that's an amazing track, mate. It's, uh, it's quite different to some of the other tracks that you've got on the album. Uh, it's a lot more kind of rock and and grunge to that, and it reminds me of some of the kind of early 2000s stuff that I used to listen to when I was a bit younger, dare I say. Um, so that that's amazing. Um, so let's talk about, I suppose, your your inaugural album, Shameless, and that came out in March. Um, it seems like yesterday, man, but you know, several months have passed now. Uh, but for me, it's one it's growing to be one of my favorite albums of the year, mate. You know, it's got the soulful elements, the bluesy stuff that I love. Bit of rock and grunge. Um, so yeah, kudos to you, man. Um, so talk talk to us about that. So I I think from what I I can see some of the acoustic tracks that you recorded originally made its way uh into that particular album, didn't it? >> Did man, I had to um we had just come so far as a band um within that three or four years. And so those old songs that we were still playing live shows with, I wanted to record them. I wanted everybody to hear them. And so we redid them. Um Shameless was a big deal to me. That was the first song that I had ever wrote. Um, and not a lot of people kind of stick on to that because it's typically not the best one. And for me, I definitely it's not the best song I've ever wrote, but it's very truthful for where I was at that moment. And uh, I wanted to give it another shot and I just couldn't couldn't give it up, man. So we we did it full band, put it on the record and started making the record. Um Drawn and Notices were singles out that were out already and um I threw them on there with the idea of if I was holding a record, I would love to see those songs on that list somewhere. And so that that ultimately made that decision for me. And so we threw those on there and um threw some other tracks on there that we were really happy with that we were playing in full band and playing at shows and we were excited to get to everybody to hear. Um and of course we hadn't come out with an album yet. Everything we had out there was just minuscule. So we were ready to put out a big subject and um that's again I could not let go of Shameless. And towards the end whenever we were trying to come up with titles or tracks or anything like that, uh the whole idea of the album with every song being recorded at different times in our lives has a different emotion towards what we had going on. And Shameless was the first full band song that we recorded outside of the single. So, not drawn in notices, those were first, but Shameless is when we started on the record. And um that kind of stood out to me and I realized that Shameless would be a great title track. And so, that's what we did, man. We made it the title track and I'm hoping that it'll uh kind of catch traction because that's one of my favorite songs. >> Awesome. I I love it, mate. It kind of sets the the tone for the album. Uh I love the artwork as well. So, that's uh Is that you over over a truck somewhere, isn't it? Yeah, man. We had we played in uh Las Vegas for the NFR rodeo and on our way back there was some things that were not that were legal in one state and not legal in another. And they had a road block up just maybe five miles ahead. Um police officers sitting there just kind of checking vehicles as you get back into Texas. And so we got rid of it. we pulled over on the side of the road and we got rid of it. And that's a picture of me leaned up on the back of the truck and um just having a good time. And that picture was actually taken by my fiance Riley. Um so that that's pretty cool. But yeah, man, we um we had to uh it's just kind of a cool situation where she got out of camera, started taking pictures, and then we looked at them and it was like, man, that's a really cool picture. >> That's the one. Yeah. Yeah. >> They're often the best photos and stuff that you kind of keep for for these sort of projects. So, uh, yeah, I love to hear the stories behind it. But, um, back into the album, man. Um, like I said, I'm a huge John geek and, uh, as soon as I heard Drawn, you know, reminded me of Covered in Rain with with the sort of chord structures and and and the feel to it and, um, you it's an amazing song. Would you mind if we play a quick snippet of that before we we talk about it, mate? >> Yeah, sure. [Music] reason I won't let go. [Music] Only one of us is holding on. [Music] I guess that's the cards we've drawn. And I'm jo [Music] I I cut out the beautiful uh guitar solo that follows that. But that's an amazing song. That's one of my favorites on on the album, dude. Um so yeah, talk to us about about that particular song. you know, as a novice guitarist myself who just kind of messes around, you know, it just sounds very difficult to to kind of play and it must be amazing to write write complex but beautiful kind of tracks like that. So, yeah, over to you, man. What What was it like for for you writing it? >> So, I love those words you used. Um because for me it was not for me it was very simple. Um, I started that song off with it's a two chord song, so it just goes back and forth between um, I think it's like a D# and A, but uh, what was really cool about that is this was early on. So, this was the second full band song that we had recorded and had out. Um, I brought those two chords and the melody to guy named Jimmy Heath, which is actually Ethan's stepdad. And he's the guitar. He's the lead guitar that you hear in Drawn, Notices, Shameless, all of it. Um, when I tell you absolute ridiculous guitarist, he's amazing. And he did every single bass track. Um, so he was a huge help with Drawn. Drawn was the beginning of where I started kind of doing different things with the guitar and he is the reason why. um he took that song and turned it into something completely different. And that's something that as an artist, as a songwriter, it's the ultimate thank you. Um is having somebody come in and take your your art and your passion and your piece of work and transform it into something you love even more. Um and so that's what happened with Drawn, man. We did notices and then we did drawn and we realized with drawn we we could be groovy and that kind of where we is where we sat a little better at. Um notices was great but man it was just when we play it full band and it shows it's just not it's hard to feel it as much as we feel drawn. uh it drawn us something that is just it it taught us kind of where we needed to avenue our way and that's where Shameless and those other songs start to get a lot groovier um is because we weren't so focused on the the heavy head headbanging kind of aspect of it. We were just you know let's make some pretty music and make something that makes us really excited to play and that was what drawn was for us. >> Amazing. And you know, it like I said, it's quite different to the other artists on your own roster, but sometimes to a lot of the the other artists I I listen to in the Texas scene. So, it's uh you know, it's definitely my style, my my type of thing, which is why I've been, you know, playing the hell out of uh your your Shameless album for a good few months now since you've released it. So, definitely everyone go on to Spotify or wherever else you stream, go and have a listen. You you won't regret it. It's uh it's amazing. So, good good on you for that, brother. Um, so in terms of the like the Texas scene, where's your kind of favorite places to to hang out? And uh, is there a particular kind of hangout spot that the 301 crew typically go to? >> Man, 301 crew, we're on the road a lot. Um, and so it's it's kind of wherever we can fit in there. But be the early days here in College Station, there was two bars. the Tap, which is still up and running, and um that's always been my hometown bar. That's where I've always gone throughout the week whenever I'm at home. But uh there used to be a bar called Harry's and that was the place to play here in College Station, and you could put a couple thousand in there. Um and it sadly closed down. So in College Station, man, it's kind of getting slim on on where we go to hang out. Um, but as far as Texas in general, man, the stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas are always a blast to play. Um, places like New Bronzevilles is music capital right now. I just played a um, acoustic show with no promotion in New Bronswest ones that I've played all year. Um, just because of the music aura that's there. the uh I would say vibe, you know, kind of the thing that's in there. And um I will say that San Marcus has been pretty good to the Texas music scene and love, Texas. Man, if you get up there to love, you take the 8hour drive from College Station to Leach, it's always worth it. Always worth it. >> Wow. Yeah. I I think in the UK, we forget how big things are. And I think a friend of mine was saying that uh you could probably fit France into Texas. That that's kind of the scale of things. So yeah, 8 hour drives is not something that's in our kind of uh head space, mate. We end up in a in a different country entirely if we drove that far. But uh yeah, man, we we we're going to hunt you down because uh hopefully in October uh me and my co-hosts are going to be trapesing off to Texas to see some friends and uh we're speaking to Ethan offline to say, you know, if you guys are around, we we'd love to kind of hang out for a bit, share a beer, and uh watch a show perhaps if if you're around. And that would be uh something we'd love to do, mate. >> Yeah, man. I would love that. That'd be cool. >> And I definitely want to go to the to the stockyards, particularly Billy Bobs. That just sounds incredible. You know, we're constantly talking about these things. So, uh yeah, we we're going to do a bit of a rugged revival on tour hopefully in October and then going forwards in into different years, we'll be going to different places. So, uh awesome. Um so, going forwards, dude. Um, we have a playlist uh and that's exclusive for our podcast guests and all the the good people that we meet out on the road and what we say is we'd like to, you know, offer you to to have two tracks on there that fully kind of represent your work and and how people kind of come come and find you. So, I suppose what two tracks would you suggest that we put on there for you, mate? >> My vote is always going to be Drawn and Shameless. Awesome. Two amazing songs, mate. So, we'll get those added uh as soon as possible. And again, go find on Spotify. We've got a Friends of the Rugged Revival playlist. Uh so, go and download that. You'll find Ry's music on there as well as all of the other guests we've had on. And it's just a great place to kind of find new music and new people and your new favorite artists as well. Um, so for you personally, mate, you know, something we love to ask as well is over the last 5 years, if you think back throughout that period of time, what's been the best album or the best single that you've listened to uh over that time? I have to give my props up to William Clark Green. Um, there was a live record they did at Cheetum Street Warehouse and it's something I have been obsessed with for years. Um, I just I can't get over how well it was put together. And of course, kind of knowing a couple of them personally, it made it a little cooler for me. But, um, I have to say that has been my favorite, absolute favorite album, um, ever since that one came out. And then um as far as a single, man, I gotta tell you, I'm a big Cody Johnson guy and I know he's he's kind of a Nashville level. Um but I think uh I think multiple of his singles that he's came out with in the last few years, I I I can't I haven't heard anything wrong come out of come out of the Cody Johnson studio. So, I got to throw props to him too, man. >> Yeah, he's he's got a huge following over in the UK as well. So, like you say, he can't be doing anything wrong if that's the case. You know, people people love his music and like you say, it's it's something you're listening to. I love William Clark Green as well, and he's he's part of the Pan Handlers as well with uh likes of Cleo, Cordiero, and a few other amazing artists. So, definitely go and check those guys out if you're into your kind of Texas music. Um, but you know, another question we like to ask on on this kind of front, Randy, is uh because we're kind of a grassroots scene, we like to elevate independent music and independent artists. Um, and particularly in the UK, we don't tend to get to hear too much um of anything outside of the UK, particularly like the likes of Texas. Uh, unless you go and listen to the ranch radio, one of our favorite uh people out there. Um, but for you personally, and you probably got some mates uh that that you want to kind of uh big up, but is there any any independent artists or people that perhaps aren't getting the the kind of views or listens that they should be that we should be listening to? >> 100%. Um, there's quite a few in Texas. I'll say that the best songwriter that I've uh ever came across is one of my best friends in the world u named Jordan Nicks. And if you are into songwriting, into lyricism, I'm telling you, please go check this guy out. I mean, it's it's unreal how good of a songwriter he is. Um, and then as far as if you want to have a really good time, it's a really good guitar player to really guard music, Parker Ryan, which I'm sitting on his back porch right now. Um, that's the guy to go with, man. He is unbelievable talent. Unbelievable talent. and he's putting together a new record that is gonna blow everybody away. I mean, if there's a name that I would tell you right now, you need to go listen to, it's Parker Ryan. >> Amazing. You heard the man. Let's go and uh check those guys out. Give him a follow on the old socials and uh again, go and listen on Spotify. I'll be doing that later on. But uh awesome, man. So, obviously you've got the good news with with your your little one and your your engagement. Again, congrats, man. Um, so outside of music, you know, you what what do you do? Obviously, you've got a I think we were saying off offline, you've got a a full-time occupation, uh, outside of music. Um, so, you know, you're grinding away there day in day out, which is amazing and and similar to a lot of people we speak to. But other than that, you know, is there any particular hobbies or anything that you do that people might be surprised about or anything like that? Man, I don't know about anything surprising. Um, big golf guy now. That's kind of new. Um, big golf guy. Uh, I've been enjoying that a lot and I've never really got into that because I didn't really have the patience for it. Um, but I've been sticking around with it, man. I've been doing all right with it. And then, man, anything weird. Oh, I could tell you this. I got into NASCAR pretty recently, which is a very American thing. >> Yeah, dude. I've never uh never been into it or anything like that, but here lately, I've been paying attention to it. And I think I got a little bit of a passion for NASCAR. >> This is you getting into your like dad mode with your New Balance shoes and, you know, picking up golf and uh doing all the good old stuff. So when when a little one comes along, you've got your your hobbies you can escape, too. That's funny. I didn't even think about that, man. Those are two very dad things. >> I love it, mate. Yeah, I got into all weird and wonderful things when my my two came along and uh it was mainly just so I can get away from the kids and and the wife. So, uh but I won't tell them that, you know, we'll cut this bit out. But there you go, mate. Um look, dude, you know, let's let's talk about what kind of what's next and what's for the future for you. Do you have, you know, two or three goals, personal goals over the next few years, uh, that you want to achieve? If so, what are they? Oh, yeah. Big goal. Um, festivals. I want to I want to play festivals, man. And I want to be um, if you ever pay attention to the mares or the posters for uh, festivals, it's going to have a big name, then medium names, and then small names. And I want by the end, my goal is by the end of next year to not only be on that, but I want to be that middle name. I want to be that middlesiz name. I don't um I would love to see my name on a festival, and I haven't really played many of them yet, but that's my goal. That's my my big time goal. And then um man, I just want to uh a lot of people just say to be able to pay the bills, but uh I want to impact a lot of people with my music, man. So, I kind of want it to stretch pretty far. My goal is to uh start playing. We play the states that touch Texas, but I want to go further. I want to go north. Um I want to get to the places that I've never been before. Um, and just to see how my music is reacted to there. Um, and so that would be a big goal for us is to get up north, which is towards like Montana kind of area. And I really want to play Steamboat in Colorado. That's a big goal there. >> Yeah, I' I've seen some awesome festivals this year. Is it uh under the big sky in Montana? And, you know, everything looks incredible. Laurel Cove in Kentucky where we've got a lot a lot of friends who played there. Um, yeah. I I I love your goals, mate. And uh I'm always interested when I'm I'm looking at these posters because like you say, you've got the big, medium, and little names. And sometimes when I'm looking at at, you know, who's positioned where, I suppose I've got some biases somewhere. But uh you know, the little names I'm seeing think they should be right at the top, you know, if if I'm being completely honest. So, uh yeah, but uh no, they're good goals to have, mate. Um so, what what have you got coming up or booked in for the rest of the year? Where where can people find you? What what what are you up to, >> man? So, we are in a position. I say we, me. I'm in a position where I'm playing as many shows as I can get. Um, and one, it's to get in front of as many people as possible, but two, I got a baby on the way and I'm trying to make some money. So, uh, we got a lot of things coming up, man. A lot of bookings going on. I'm about to it's it's put down right now, but uh I'll have published randuhhoymusic.com and that'll have all the uh show announcements or anything like that that we'll have out also at Instagram, Facebook, anything like that. Um we'll be we'll be posting about it. But yeah, man, a lot of shows coming up. Um we should be getting into Vegas in December. Um and I say should because that's going to be my fiance's ninth month. So, it's it's kind of rocky. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's it's going to be rough. Um the band will we have booked out for two weeks in Vegas and the band will be there for two weeks, but I may just fly in and fly out. Um but that'll be kind of exciting, man. I I always love playing the NFR. Amazing. And um as fans, supporters, followers of you, mate, what can we do to kind of help you along that journey? What what kind of works best for you? man, I would say buying tickets to live shows and merch, but if uh you're that far away, I would say that buying the music and streaming the music is the most support and by anything else, social media, sharing, liking, commenting. Um, not a lot of people understand how much that is a part of our business. Um, but it it makes or breaks a lot of people. is that reaction of the people um that they're posting for. Um it's half the business now and so when that goes well, everything else starts to kind of go well. So that's a great way to support especially from a distance. >> Fantastic. And uh I I love to kind of talk to people about how they perceive the social media side because some people love it, some people absolutely despise it. Um, some people sit in the middle somewhat, but it is such an amazing tool to kind of get your your music out as an independent person. Um, and to kind of find find your people um and and your fans, man. So, yeah, we'll certainly be be sharing everything that you're putting out and uh especially when you've got some music uh up up and coming uh we we'll be sure to kind of push that out across our socials, dude. Um, awesome, man. So, have you got anything else that you you want to plug? We've got we know where you are. But we know what's upcoming. Is there anything else going on that that people should know about uh and that you want to get out there? >> Man, we are putting everything we have into this next record. Um and I want to have it out by the end of next year. That's our big goal. Um, but I can say that that's our big pride and joy right now is getting that put together and um putting together a tour based off of that record so we can go and promote it. Um, so that's kind of that's going to be my big plug is is stay in tuned for for the record. Stay just be patient, man, because it's coming and it'll be good. >> Can you can you give us a kind of uh insight into to the sound? Is is it going to be very different to to Shameless or along the same lines? What what what can we expect? >> It's going to have the same groove. We'll have the same band. Um it's going to have the same idea. But I will say that I'm I'm expanding our ideas. Um my best friend and one of kind of our new manage managorial roles is being filled by a guy named Jody Barulla and he's actually a fiddle player for Cody Johnson. Um, and he lives right down the road in Minnesota. And we went to a songwriting retreat. We were there for a week on some dude's high game pasture and uh went fishing and hunting and did all the things, but the main thing we did is write songs for about five or six days. And um I wrote a lot of songs to a fiddle. And I'm thinking we might throw a fiddle in. It won't be as as kind of I say cliche country or traditional country. Um it's gonna have a a weird twang to it, but I'm really excited to see how that fiddle sits in a studio. >> Yeah, man. That sounds super interesting because like you say, it's uh it's a step away uh to to what you've released so far. Uh no fiddle so far, but um yeah, man. That uh we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for that. Drop us a line when when you're ready to start releasing some things, man. and we'd love to to have a listen when that's uh when it's ready. Um, but look, I I'm so glad we finally got to to catch up. For anyone listening, I think this is our second or third attempt to to sit down and have a conversation, but was it third? Yeah. But we did it. We did it, brother. Um, and my voice is just about holding up. Uh, I've had laryngitis for about 3 weeks. So, we sent out some apologies to to artists we've had to cancel on, whether that was for a gig we couldn't attend or a podcast that we couldn't do over the last couple of weeks. So, so I'm but I'm I'm so glad to have you on, mate. But we'll finish. We always finish with a bit of a toast. Uh it's probably too early for you to have a beer or anything uh over where you are, dude. Uh I don't uh to be fair because I'm I'm still working today. Uh but if you got anything to hand, mate, you have got a beer. What you like, man? But uh we'll raise a toast to the grit, to the grind, and to the revival. Thanks everyone for listening. Cheers, Randy. Thanks for coming on, mate.

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