Real Texas Country Music | Military Veteran John Teague from Teague Brothers Band

Fort Worth has become kind of a hub for this crab bucket that I call the Texas country uh red dirt scene. I literally wrote these songs while I was stoned in my garage. Like, it's just so wild. What the military did do for me was give me willpower that I didn't know I had. Like insatiable desire to pursue things until they're finished. Christian. Hearts get broke, tables turn, you lose your love. >> This is Maggie Noel and I love Rugged Revival. >> This is a Rugged Revival podcast. We're your home of the UK's Country Americana and Roots Music community. First off, we are celebrating 1,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel. Uh, so we just want to say a huge thanks to everyone who's tuned in so far. Uh, and we're also celebrating the fact it's our 50th podcast episode for the Rugged Revival. And I think what better way to bring it home uh than to welcome the main man of one of my favorite bands right now, Mr. John Teague from the Teague Brothers Band. >> How we doing, dude? >> Hello. Doing well. Doing well, man. Glad to be here. >> Legend. Look, I appreciate you coming on. We were just talking a moment off air about um, you know, trying to get you on the show. um just obsessed with your music since I've been out in Texas and and listened to it before. So, thank you for carving out some time uh to speak to us and you know what have you been up to lately, mate? >> Dude, right now we're working on a new record, which it sounds crazy, but we plan on dropping a whole new record in less than well within about a year, year and a half's time, which is pretty fast. uh than uh well historically we usually it's 2 to 3 years before we drop a record but people digest stuff so much faster. So, between that and uh being on the road, we've been busy this year. We've we've we've hit quite a few states, you know. You know, um and uh you know, mainly just writing, recording, playing live shows, man. That's it. Stuff like this, hanging out with you, you know. >> Yeah. Like I said, mate, I appreciate the time. It's uh I was on your socials all week seeing what you've been up to and and you know, this is how we kind of prepare for the show as well to see if there's any talking points. But uh yeah, I could see you've been gigging with people like the Mickey and the motorc cars who we love. Uh you've been down at Green Hall and you know, just all over the place, man. So uh >> yeah, it must be nice to to to perhaps take a day off at some point to just chill out. I I would I have such an interesting uh day gig that I do too. I do some engineering work and that has evolved into like uh coding and a lot of AI stuff. And then I've built a a uh a band management platform that I'm that I'm just now kind of rolling out and a and a big marketing uh like a big marketing strategy is kind of rolling out right now. So things are crazy busy right now between the three, you know, the three things I love to do. >> Yeah, man. I'm glad you mentioned that because uh I I did find it interesting. I think it's called band to go, isn't it? Your the app that you've created. >> Yeah. Yeah. Band 2g. Yeah. which is is kind of a you know a shortening of either like band together or band to go you know uh but yeah essentially it's pretty much like a it's a whole platform for a band to cuz I mean I came from you had like five spreadsheets of different things you're keeping up with dates and then and then a big agency approaches you and they're like hey show us your tour history and then you got to go and aggregate all this data together and make it presentable with your logo go and all this stuff and then submit it to them and you know I was like oh I'm tired of doing it and then your taxes at the end of the year so I just I funneled everything all in together. I mean everything from like your charts for your songs are in there and then you can build a set list for your songs and then you can book a show through there. Then you can uh once you have the show it gets put on your calendar. You can invite your band. You can set all how much you're going to pay everybody. Uh then you can also attach that set list to the show. So they they so at the show there's no question you open up your phone and there's a set list right there for you. Uh just a million it's basically kind of like cradle to grave seamless management of your band. It's it's unprecedented and that's one reason why I wanted to do it because like there's just nothing else like it out there. >> Yeah, you're right. It's um when when I looked at it, I thought that that seems like a musician's dream to to have that all under one ad, man. So, is is that now live? Is that is that kind of taking on kind of users right now? Yeah. >> Yeah, it's taking on users. I got about 30 users right now uh just from word of mouth, like friends. And the guys in my band, they occasionally play with other bands and they're like, "You really need to start using this because the from the musician's perspective, like the side man, the guitar player, from his perspective, he if he has all his bands in there, then they can see his availability. He can decline and accept shows and manage his whole world inside of there as well. So, it's kind of just from my band putting pressure on other bands and then that band, the word of mouth has just kind of slowly expanded and some of the bigger artists like Dalton Domino and Shelby Stone uh they've bought in so they have accounts on there and uh some of my homies that I was like you have to be on here like it's going to change your life. Uh they've jump they they've jumped in too like Jordan Nicks. Um, but yeah, it's it's it's it's extremely interesting. The the there's a patent pending um that's out there right now because we've had some Nashville interest some of the which I'm afraid to let them let them in on it, you know, cuz I'm afraid you guys are going to industrialize this and I really don't want that. >> Uh but but but it's still exciting. It's like, okay, okay, this is this is disruptive. It could be, you know, uh I've put 2500 venues in there with all their contact information. So that's part of the whole uh premise band together. So you if you uh you join you join it, you have access to all 2500 of those venues and all their contact information, everything that you need to do to book the show. Now, whether you get a show or not, you know, through the app is totally up to you. You know, all you have you have to do the work. there's no no one's going to sit in this chair and send those emails, you know. So, but at least you have a platform and it just kind of uh eliminates that barrier for entry that people feel like they always had, you know. So, it's perfect for the independent artists. It's also perfect for like a touring artist. Like I have two agents. Those agents are both in Pan 2g and they they fill our calendar up through there and then it automatically syncs up to our band calendar that everybody sees. So, it's pretty it's been interesting to see it grow so fast. I I think I developed it in October last year and uh it's blown up. I get pretty excited about it. >> Yeah, I get excited about that stuff. I'm I'm a tech nerd and you know, I've been since since AI has come along and and even vibe coding and stuff like that. It's been interesting, you know, for noobs like me who have no coding background to to to but have a creative itch to try and create something. I think the hardest thing is uh knowing what to create, you know, but it sounds like the concept you've got is incredible. So, can people like uh venue owners have a portal to go on there to kind of see who's available on certain days? Does it work like that, too? >> That's that's one of the things that we're aiming for. We're even looking at like a ticket portal, too. So instead of you going to bands in town and if you've done all this work inside of Band 2G to like get prepare your shows and all this stuff like why not make them visible and with the ticket link right there and then it's it it's kind of a contrary to bands in town a little bit but uh I also have an upload into bands in town but the the the venue portal kind of view of it I've kind of left left them out of it almost intentional for now, but I have had venues that said, "Dude, we really would like to see this, you know, cuz then we could manage our own contact information on there and keep up with our own profile." That way, bands that do want to reach out, they're reaching out to the right people and and all that stuff. So, and if I do do that, they'll I have a tag in there for like verified like so if a if a venue actually comes in and and says, "Hey, yeah, this is our this is the right information. We're we're going to take hold take ownership of this," then it'll become a verified venue and bands can reach out to them directly. But yeah, I mean that that's the that's the funnest part about it is ma the b uh can making these connections from seamless connections like one place where everyone can kind of manage all of their things that has something to do with this uh the bands themselves to opportunities and then I would love it to also encompass the the rest of the world too. But we'll kind of we'll have to see how it works out. If I can get it going in the States, then I'll be able to roll it out, you know, on more of a global uh platform. But for now, it's just limited to the states, you know. >> Yeah. No, that makes sense, mates. And and where can we find it? So, it's band2g.com, I believe, isn't it? >> Yeah. Yeah. Band2g.com. Uh, you know, it's work. It's I mean, it's stuff that you're supposed to be doing. And I think that's another interesting point is a lot of bands don't realize what work they really should be focusing on. And uh this this this tees it all up for you. It tells you, hey, where's your fan base at? Where's where's all the emails for all your fans that are following you? Do you have this email list? If you do, put it in here. And then if you have a show that's in the area, I'll tee from band 2G. I'll tee up a notification to those bands that you're coming to this area. It's as simple as that, you know, just just seamlessly connecting your fans, the venues, your bandmates, your songs to your set list, your there's even a feature on there that and then I'll get off of this cuz I know it can be a little boring, but there's there's even a feature uh called hotspots, and it's basically a map of the whole world, right? And what I've done is created a portal where you can import or put all of your plays and streams from your radio from all the streaming platforms. If you put them in there, it'll geollocate them and put these hot hotspots over the map and you can see visually where you're being played, right? But then you can also click on those hotspots and they'll uh uh open up the every venue within 50 miles of each of those, you know. Um so it's pretty interesting, I say. >> Yeah. Honestly, mate, um when when I looked at that, I thought that solves so many problems for for independent artists, you know, all the stuff that we we talk about on these podcasts about what what they find difficult, what they don't like doing. And you know, when I saw kind of snippets of what you're doing, I mean, I had to ask anyway cuz I I just, you know, love all that stuff. And this could be a whole new episode, mate. I think we we'll probably come back to that and uh you know, >> but I think for any independent artist, go and check that out. But anyway, mate, back to you specifically. This this this is where why uh we we got you on. But yeah, I just want we always dial it back right to the beginning in terms of you know uh we're quite nosy in terms of where people are from originally, where you grew up and and what growing up was like for you and you know that that's kind of the question I'd like to put to you, John, if you don't mind. >> Sure. Yeah, I grew up with a a family of musicians. So like like just music in general has always been just part of of my life. Uh I didn't necessarily ask for it. It was just a gift, you know, and you don't really know how much of a gift it is until you realize there's not too many people who who have families like that, you know, but my mom and my dad, both pretty accomplished songwriters themselves and uh did a lot, played their whole lives, and uh they're retired now, but they showed me, you know, how to pursue a a passion that is is uh outside of, you know, this the standard like you know normal life you know like you can do something special uh that and unique and and follow your dreams in a way. I mean it sounds kind of cliche but truly you know whenever you fall in love with a song and then you find out you might have a knack for actually performing and singing these songs they kind of showed me that these things were possible. So anyway in my life that's kind of what I I I just kind of followed suit. Uh, they gave me a guitar when I was 10 years old and then it was off to the races. I I joined a band probably when I was 13, 14 years old, started playing little, you know, uh, BS gigs and then that evolved into uh, I joined a metal band when I was like 16 and I lied to them about my age and I was like, "Yeah, I'm 18 years old." And they're like, "Oh, cool, man. Well, we got a gig at this bar." And I'm like trying to get into the bar and they they let me in. But it was a big deal here, you know. Uh when I finally turned 18, they were like, "You're just now 18." I was like, "Yeah." They're like, "Well, shit." Uh well, it been nice to know two years ago whenever we were all, you know, smoking weed together. So, and and they were in their early 20s. But it was really cool, man. I I got I lived a really interesting life. Uh, and not long after that I joined the military. I served in the US Army. Uh, and did four years. I fought in Iraq and then came back and I started writing country songs. It's just been a whirlwind since then. Really? I released a couple good records that I'm proud of. Um, and been on the road since 2019 roughly. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, in in terms of the military aspect, you know, we've had a few ex-military guys uh on the podcast before and they said that that kind of helped shape what they wanted to do with the sometimes the downtime that you get when you you're on tour over there uh to think about writing, creating music and and perhaps what you want to do after the military. Is that is that kind of how it sat with you >> a little bit? You know, I I can't say that is some something that I found uh inspirational. you know, I I don't I don't draw I don't necessarily uh get any inspiration from that. Uh mainly because I feel like the whole like Toby Keith like Liberty Bells ringing in the background and American flags and eagle screeches just a little bit like >> cliche, you know? I just I've it's just been overdone. And so even even back then I felt that way. and pl and I've always been I had a knack for poetry, you know, and I' so I've always seed uh a better use for like well literary terms or or like using idioms and songs and stuff and then finding finding songwriters the likes of like Robert El Keen and like u uh Evan Felker and and and folks like that who are pretty much masters in the craft. They're I drove inspiration more from them to like get into the country music and stuff which is a little bit more down to earth rootsy you know real life blueco collar stuff instead of all of these obscure poetry you know and [ __ ] and uh yeah it's true but uh but yeah I mean those experiences are there and I do you know tap those emotions occasionally but I don't you won't ever catch me singing a song about the American flag or something like that you know. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm a little different in that aspect. It does it does I will say this like what the military did do for me was give me willpower that I didn't know I had, you know, like a like insatiable um desire to pursue things until they're finished. And that's something that I could attribute to uh my military service for sure because like I don't it's it's I wasn't born with that, you know? That was something that I definitely was instilled in me during that time, you know, by some drill sergeant [ __ ] yelling in my [ __ ] ears and [ __ ] >> It gets in your head eventually. Yeah. >> Yeah. like all of a sudden like you're like I am solely responsible for this one thing and I'm going to if my name's on it I'm going to see it all the way through it again. And that's just that drive I don't think I could definitely give it to that cuz my family and I generally were pretty lazy. >> It's true. >> That's hilarious, man. It's uh No, I appreciate you sharing that. I'm always interested to kind of know people's backgrounds from that respect and sometimes it's difficult for people to talk or they you know it it's just you know different experiences but uh no that's uh appreciated John um >> you know I I became you know acquainted with your band when we were out in Texas for that kind of short period back in October. So we went to the October event um and I was gutted man you know I got home and I was like I didn't realize uh you were actually at the event because there was so many people there. Um, but I I do remember my co-host Ronnie, who's not on the show now, but uh >> you know, we we were there together that night and I do remember uh you going up early on in the night with um another artist. I can't remember who it was, but uh I do remember saying, "Oh, this guy is incredible." And it was only afterwards that I realized it was it was you. Um so, yeah, little bit gutted. I didn't get a chance to pop over, say hello, buy you a beer, and uh you know, get get acquainted that way. I did bump into Taylor Oaks who I think plays in your band. Is that right? So um so we kind of got halfway there I suppose from doing >> halfway there. I like that. story of my life. But um >> um but what I liked about Stocktober and you know I keep keep blowing smoke up TBO's ass is that uh you know I think that was a just a unique networking opportunity not just for industry people or podcasters like me and Patrick and and Soul Gravy but um you know the amount of uh artists that I spoke to that night to say we we never get to do this. you know, you you're kind of like passing ships in the night that you might get to see a friend or or someone that you you admire for 5 minutes, you know, at a gig or, you know, just in passing. So, was was that the same for you? Is that has that been your kind of experience, mate? >> Yeah, pretty much. Like you said, it was a bit of a blur that that particular night, but I I appreciate that this is happening. these uh these connections are very valuable and not not just from a professional standpoint but from a personal standpoint you know you you find people who connect with with you that you didn't even know you know otherwise you wouldn't have even known that they connected with some [ __ ] song that I wrote when I was high one night in the garage like I ended up being lifelong friends with somebody over over this and that's kind of beauty of the whole scene in general is it's it's a bit of a fraternity and you guys are y'all have definitely become part of that fraternity, you know, and Tabo's kind of facilitating some of this because he knows he knows he's he's kind of in between, you know, which um but I love to see it. I love I this year, especially this past year was really cool. There was there was a lot of less normies there, whatever call them, and there was a lot more people that were like, "Hey, yeah, we're I'm in this band and I'm in this band and I do this podcast, you know." So, yeah, I think we got to have this, man. I think it's it's necessary. And Fort Worth has become kind of a hub for this crab bucket that I call the Texas country uh red dirt scene. And uh I think it's it was an inevitable thing. It's just a matter of who was going to do it and you know, Tao and you guys are certainly kind of leading the charge. Um, and y'all become part of the the glue, you know, and that's really [ __ ] cool. >> Yeah, it's um I I we we're just so appreciative. If there people let us in to the scene, you know, we we're completely new to it. So, we're like, thanks so much. And um yeah, I I kind of wish I didn't drink so much towards the end of the night. I would have spoke to even more people. But uh but that's uh that's what happens, man. But um but no, I would say when we were out there, we we did a lot of driving. You know, we're not used to that in UK. I keep saying it on a podcast. I don't think I've ever sat in a car for so [ __ ] long as we did with like Tobo and going to places like Fisher and But I'm glad we did because there were, you know, we had some hilarious conversations just, you know, to fill the time, but also we got to listen to some music and Tobo, you know, put your album on, your latest album, uh Wish You Were Here. and um and um yeah, we got to listen to the entire album on the way there uh and and to kind of give it a proper listen and and to get properly acquainted even more. So um I suppose that's a good segue into um talking about that, mate. So I think I got the No, sorry. I've got the name wrong for the album. It's Wish You the World. So apologies for that. Um but you released that back in May 25. Um so I I got to listen to it around October. But yeah, talk us through that particular album and and kind of the backstory to it. >> Sure, man. Yeah, Wish the World was kind of one of those like I want to do this record my way and you know, I had a band that was a little bit like changing. It was like in the middle of an evolution. So, sonically, we made some choices that were different than the last few albums that we had released. And uh I kind of stuck to my guns and I was like, I don't want as much fiddle on this record. I want it to be a little bit more of stadium rock in here and there, but then also still focus on the song, you know, itself. And uh now when I wrote those songs, I had no idea that's how we were going to present them. But that's just how they ended up being and how I enjoyed them most uh once we got the whole band involved. But a lot of those tunes I wrote a few years ahead of time and then we started playing a couple of them um leading up to the recording of the record. And um it was a pretty tough time in my life whenever that record was going in. I lost my grandmother. I lost uh my father-in-law and uh there was a lot of stuff going on like literally amidst the recording of the record. And I think a lot of that emotion ended up being kind of u translated into it. Um I I hear it whenever I listen to it. I'm like, "God dang it." So um I think personally, you Wish the World's one of my favorite records uh that I've done. It's not It's everything that I've wanted it to be. You know, I'm pretty selfish. I don't care about what anybody else wants. like I'm just like it's like like oh yeah you wanted more fiddle how about not yeah it's I'm pretty selfish when it comes to but you know at the end of the day if I'm not writing these songs for me then I'm I'm I'm I'm not doing it for the right reasons at least that's where that's where I put my flag anyway so yeah that's kind of a highlevel you know scope of what wish you the world was I worked with a really badass producer that he's done. He did my first record, Harvest Day. His name's Derek HS. He's out of Sugarland, Texas. But fantastic guy. I mean, just he's a genius. And uh for some reason, he knows the sound. He understands what I'm putting down, you know, and and uh and he really appreciates the songs, which makes it even more fun because he loves the songs as much as I do, you know. >> Yeah, man. So, so you talk about knowing your sound. What What would you describe that is for for somebody that hasn't uh listened to your music yet? How would you kind of describe that? >> Yeah, it's a little bit of a a gambit, you know, it's it's all kind of uh it's all over the place. But I would say I would say the the first thing that I would I describe our sound is it's it's quite honest. I try to keep it pretty honest. like it's there's not despite what you may be hearing there the bells and whistles and all that stuff um are really like us really playing these parts you know and um I I seek out good talent so that we can we can have like this really nice crisp sound but the guys that I play or that I have are are kind of a they come from different backgrounds and most of them are you know they have a one like the drummer might have a really strong folk drum uh folk uh rock influence where the guitar players got a little bit more southern rock influence and and I've kind of got influences that range from Sleep Token to Turnpike Trouidors, you know, so kind of a it's it's it's definitely a variety show, you know, in a way. Uh but at the root of it all is honesty. So, I would say it's a little bit of like folk rock and uh country music with a little touch of Foo Fighters in there, you know, where I can what where I can get it in, you know. Yeah, >> I think that's a great explanation cuz u you know, when you do these podcasts, you can be kind of tempted just to read out the Spotify bio and I think that's just, you know, it's boring as hell for for me. >> It can be. >> And I just think I just want to get your take on it. And you know, I I I've been listening to all of your kind of records going back to I think your first release on Spotify around 2019. And I love the earlier stuff, too. I think I think you still got that sound that that kind of like say almost that stadium rock country sound and going back to songs like Coyote, which is one of my favorites. Um, you know, and and up to now. So, do you think your I mean, from your perspective, do you think your sounds morphed a lot over the years? >> Uh, that's a great question. I really don't know. I mean, I would say how we've captured and what we have captured has definitely varied, but what I pursue in my songwriting has not necessarily changed. You know, I feel like songs should have they should stand on their own. And so, you know, because of that, a lot of times they feel like they're in their own little world, you know, and they are, you know, now how you how you glue these songs together to make a record is a different story. And that's I'm not a I'm not a record producer, so I can't really make that glue. I can't really describe that glue very well. But the songs themselves to me are are usually pretty personal or complete [ __ ] that are just like, you know, that are just fun. They're just fun songs like that are just fun stories that you just tap into some uh madeup universe in your head. And then I just kind of like find characters in that universe and I try to describe them the best I can and what they're going through and uh put music around it and melody and then I leave the rest to the band, you know. So I I I give the band a lot of creative freedom and uh you know that's kind of how we end up with these tunes. How I I I don't know if they change a whole lot. I I know sonically they are obviously going to be different record to record. if you're a aing these songs, but if you come to a show, you would probably hear them all feel pretty naturally, you know, you you would consume them similarly. They would feel the same because it's the same instrumentation on different songs with different melody and different presentation. But but you know, that's the fun part of it. you know how how how do we what we captured in the studio how can we transform that into a live show and capture the essence of the song even like now we don't have a fiddle player instead I play harmonica and I have a keyboard player to kind of sonically fill that void and people just have totally forgot that we had a fiddle player you know whenever you see us live because we're putting on a different kind of spectacle you know but uh yeah it's an interesting I never really look at if they if they changed. I don't I don't really I can't really tell from the inside. Now, if I go AB, you know, Love and War record to Wish You the World, yeah, they're going to sound like totally different, but the evolution of the tunes are is to me are are a little bit more like about the message. I think the messaging is definitely changed. Sometimes I'm not trying to do as much shock and awe in the in the lyric in the lyricism. instead I'm trying to find poetry, you know, instead. And I think that's just me maturing as a songwriter and as a human being, too. I'm getting older, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's an interesting take, man. And um you know, I like I said, I haven't put down the record since I come back from Texas. Um you know, there's certain records over the past couple of years that I I I've just played to death and and yeah, Wish You the World is absolutely one of them. I just think every every song is incredible on there. Um, not just saying it for the for the sake of you being on here, you know, it's there's some records people put out and there's perhaps one or two that you like, but uh, for this one, man. Um, yeah, it's great. And I have a terrible affliction, you know, in terms of I can never remember the lyrics to any song and I can remember the lyrics to several of your songs. So, uh, you know, I think that goes down to your songwriting and how you put together. >> I take that as a win, man. I might hang it on the wall. >> Oh, is honestly a proper affliction. But um but yeah, I mean there there's certain songs on there uh that are obviously my personal favorite, but I've seen on uh online and across the radio stations in Texas particularly uh the Fire has done incredibly well, particularly on the ranch radio that I've seen. >> Is that a surprise to you or is that is that the kind of song that you thought would do the most? >> Uh yeah, that was a surprise. Uh cuz I was like, "Dude, we have all these bangers and then you're like going to put the slowest damn song on the record on it." Yeah, I was I was a little shocked by that one for sure. I was uh Well, honestly, I wrote that song a long time ago, like right in the middle of co and then I had pitched it to a couple female artists and they didn't take them on. they they ended up passing on the song and I was and I ultimately uh when it came down to the song cutting and the like decision like okay what song we're going to make so we have 20 songs let's pick 10 it ended up just you know through a process of elimination it ended up being one of the 10 and I was like you know what this will be exciting but we're going to do this song the way I want to do it which is a little bit more in a step in the direction of like do you know who watch house is or they I think they were called u mandanda Mandolin Orange. >> Yeah. Yeah. Great band. Yeah. >> Yeah. I was like, I want to be it. This song is meant to be in a step in that direction. And so the band disagreed, but I was like, trust me, this is how it's got to be. And uh thankfully by the time we kind of got to the editing room floor, everybody understood like what how it needed to sound and everyone bought into it. It ended up being a number one, you know. Had no idea. [ __ ] I I had no idea that's the one right out of all of them that you know like uh but people I think people it's just timing and people are going through a lot you know in their personal lives and something just resonates you know there's there's no way to control I have figured out since I've started releasing records that there I have no idea how to choose the hit single there's I have no I am the worst cuz when I'm like that's the one this is the title track you know this let's go and then it's not the one I have and usually it's two or three maybe four deep in there you know that so it was a shock I mean in fact when they started playing on the radio my wife she showed me a text from her friend they go they just played fire on the radio I was like what I didn't authorize that you know and so I I called my radio promoter. I was like, "Jen, they're playing fire on the radio." She goes, "That's my favorite song on the record." I'm like, "Well, [ __ ] Why didn't you say that?" And she goes, "Well, I you know, you you have all these other ones that I like, too." She's like, "What do you want to do?" I said, "Well, let's make it a proper single and push it out there and let's just see what it does." And we did. And she did it pro bono because she had no she she didn't know, you know, either how well it would do. But it it definitely put us on the map. I mean, millions of people listen to the ranch. So, it it definitely changed the ticket sales around here, which is pretty cool. I love to see that. I mean, traveling across the country playing and people know the lyrics to that song. I mean, it it definitely helps. But it was a shocker, let me tell you. You know. >> Yeah. No, that's that's incredible to hear. And, you know, it's No, rightly so. It's done well. It's it's a great it's just a different type of song on the album, you know, when you think about the tulip and and the opening track Breathe, which is probably my personal favorite. It has a different flavor. And I suppose that's down to the versatility of of the album itself. It's uh so yeah, I suppose we're selling it really well. Let's let's uh encourage people to listen to it. You know, I'm going to do that from a UK standpoint, but yeah, it's um good old Ranch Radio, man. >> That's it, dude. Taste makers around here. Yeah, >> they are. Yeah, they they've introduced me to a lot of uh artists over the years and you know I'm I'm I'm so glad. I'd love to go back one day and to to kind of go to see the studios. Maybe if they let me in. Probably not. You know, a weird UK dude. >> Yeah, sure. We'll both knock on the door at the same time. He'll let you in. >> We'll we'll bring him a whiskey. Maybe he'll uh he'll he'll open up for us. Uh >> it'll be fun. >> But that's great, man. I suppose, you know, thinking about your your career all the way up to date, you know, has it been three kind of top moments that you could think of that have been your kind of the best things that have happened to you uh as a as an artist so far? You know, what what can you think about? >> I just think about opportunities like like folks folks went out of their way to open doors for me that I did like I never expected or asked for. Um, I, you know, if I was to name three, I mean, a lot of them didn't happen on stage. Like, I mean, I got to play with Shane Smith and the Saints in front of 9,000 people. That was pretty freaking cool. But it was uh I would say like like one of the things that really like put us on the map was 2019, late 2019 we released Harvest Day record and February of 2020 I met Evan Felker from the Turnpike Trouadors and like we hit it off and next thing you know he's opening doors for me that I had I didn't ask for. He just he he approached me and was like he was like I love these tunes, you know, what can I do to help you? I'm like, man, I mean, just hearing that is good enough. Well, then I get a call from his uh from his booking agent, you know, and now now I'm on the map all of a sudden. And uh not long after that, we did a a benefit together to raise some money. That was for a friend of mine who had ter who was terminally ill. He only had like 3 weeks left. And Evan came on stage and we kind of created a viral moment inadvertently, but it happened nonetheless. Uh he came on and my band backed him up while he played like seven of his hits uh for for my buddy Eric who passed away. And you know, that was never meant to be some kind of big to-do or anything, but it was meant to be something for him, but the whole world got to see that that charity. Uh, and that helped us put that put us on the map even more, you know. and then getting just phone calls from people that were like, "Hey, u I'm with so and so booking agency out of Nashville and what can what can I do to help?" you know, and and it all happened very naturally, like they just heard the song on a tour bus while with another big ass band and it our song just happened to be on the playlist and then they all of a sudden they're like jumping through hoops to help us, you know, things like that and then a million other things. fans who just wanted to give us tons of money for no reason other than they love the music. And I mean, I I can't thank those people enough, you know? Just getting fans in general has been incredibly special to me. Like, it means the world to me cuz I I literally wrote these songs while I was stoned in my garage. Like, >> no kidding. It's just so wild. Sometimes like looking back I'm like I can't believe this. This came from from me just you know having something and just stuck in my head and then all of a sudden like I mean don't get me wrong we put in work. It's not magic. There's no magic. You might think it is but it seems magical but it's not. There's a lot of work and getting a band just just keeping a band together and then it is like hurting cats. Not even adult cats like kittens like It's It's rough, but you figure out a way. If you want it bad enough, you figure it out. But anyway, I would say that those moments and those the special moments created in the studio, you know, that those all kind of uh it's hard to sum up a lot of that uh this these things that happen to you, but I can tell you this, you know, none of them would have happened if id have gave up, you know, and there's been plenty of times I was like, man, [ __ ] this. You know, this is a lot, but I I have a wonderful wife who keeps me uh keeps my head where it needs to be. He's like, "You know what? You need to go take out the trash." Yeah. You ought to go mow the grass, honey. >> Yeah. Yeah. Go touch some grass. >> Yeah, that's right. And animals and things like that, they just keep you grounded to the planet a little bit more. And I think a lot of songwriters are missing that. like they're not out there and like doing physical things to like I mean how can you be inspired you know if you're only inspired by what you hear on the radio you're just going to regurgitate the things that you hear all the time instead of getting out there and living life a little bit or reading a good book like how how can you be a craftsman in the literary arts when you can't when you don't read like these things are important and I try to tell other song young songwriters that I'm like, man, you need to read some books. Like, you really want to write a good song, you need to go read or you need to go like travel. It's like live like live a full life, fall in love, you know, things like that. Yeah. I don't know. I know that was a pretty particular question, but, you know, it taps on a few things along the way, you know. >> Yeah. You you uh you give me some good answers there. It's it's interesting because I I get fired some answers sort of questions randomly on the internet as well and you know somebody asked me you know what um what advice would you give to some like new podcasters or people coming out rather than you kind of use your cliche just keep at it keep going and I love the fact that you kind of expanded you know read books you know fall in love you know live live life and I think that that is key to a lot of things it's just experience thing go and do something you know create something you know fulfill >> do something hard >> really like do something difficult and figure it out, you know, and then fail. Like, you really want to [ __ ] write a good song, fail at something. I promise you, you'll find something to write about, you know, >> that's some uh that's some amazing kind of advice, man. So, thanks for sharing that, dude. Um, it wouldn't be a podcast if there wasn't a quick fire round in between just to kind of lighten the mood, man. So, uh, I'm going to fire a few questions at you. No thinking required. Just just hit me with the first thing that you can think of. Okay, man. So, number one, favorite musician from your childhood? >> Um, Cory Taylor, Slipnot. >> One independent artist that more people should know about? >> Jordan Nicks. >> Best album or song that you've heard from the last 5 years? >> Sleep Token. Uh, even in Arcadia. >> One song that always puts you in a good mood? >> Foo Fighters, Monkey Wrench. >> And one song that you think defines who you are as a person, a musician right now. >> The Road Goes On forever. Robert O King. Yeah, >> legend. >> This could be you. you answered it in rapid time unlike some other people at these two. So kudos to you, dude. Um, thank you, man. So, kind of moving on slightly. So, I I love the independent scene and I know I'm biased because we went there last year, but I think Texas has got one of the best music scenes on the whole planet. You know, I'm just completely envious of what you guys have going on. you know, the fact that you can go to any bar, you know, Fort Worth, for example, on any given night and see worldass kind of talent and playing original music as well because um I suppose my beef in the UK is that we have far too many tribute acts, too many cover acts, and I want to hear new stuff. I want to hear what you've written and I'm finding that in Texas, you you have a an amazing scene and I suppose what what are your thoughts on it? You know, how have you found it so far? Similarly, I mean, I've I've been to Nashville a handful of times and it it's like great musicians show up there and then they end up just living in the bar playing three, four hour cover song, you know, cover song sets and it's dishart, man. But around here, I see people like truly appreciating uh the art of it and rather than, you know, just background music instead like listening rooms are blowing up right now. I don't know how many if if you know if you're familiar with the term listening room, but around here it's it's blown up. Like people want to hear the songs. They want to hear them delivered in the in the rawest form, you know, like straight from my acoustic guitar and me. It's to to them. Uh, and I think, you know, and also they're more affordable. I mean, [ __ ] you can get into a listening room for 50 bucks, you know, and and you're going to it's like going to a movie. you're going to get 90 minutes of of pure, you know, songwriting and uh you know, this more personal inter interaction with the artist as opposed to going to a $500 ticket concert and a stadium, you know, and I'm not saying there's any shortage of that, but I mean, I've heard about this blue dot fever. I mean, this shit's real. The the price of tickets is going out going nuts. And thank God I'm in a particular place here in this region and in this scene where we appreciate like artists, songwriting, you know, honesty and it's not a series of tribute acts. I mean, there's no shortage of them, but there there's definitely a there's a place for guys like me to to thrive. And I think it's important that we continue to try to build that momentum and keep that going. And I think not just me, but like you guys like what you're doing, what Talba's doing, what I mean there's there's a hundred other folks across the country, you know, in the Midwest and in the Southeast and that are trying to keep uh uh nurturing this, you know? I mean, at the end of the day, um, without that group of people and that effort, like I mean, no one would give a [ __ ] about what I'm doing, you know? So, I have to do my part in it to keep it going. And then also, I'm super grateful for all the folks that are also uh joining in. You know, it's really [ __ ] cool. Honestly, all of this is really cool. >> It is, man. And like I said, I'm completely envious of what you guys got out there. We we tried to build our own thing uh eventually, but uh it's going to take a whole movement to to get anywhere close to that. So, you mentioned Jordan Nicks as an independent artist um or people should check out, you know, with the with your travels to to various venues and and what you're seeing on the on the Texas scene particularly, is there any other artists that people should check out on the independent scene? Yeah, I mean I could name a handful of uh really good songwriters that that I've run into lately. Some young guys that are really killing it right now. Um Henry Williams, he's a guy out of Houston that's killing it right now. And uh my little buddy Ty Smith, he's a young cat, but he's not and I've told him and you're young, you know, so I will let I'll give you some grace on some of the subject matter, but you know, uh he's fantastic. He's got a great choice of words. And he's a he's a great performer, good entertainer, and a good human being. And like so and I've traveled the country with with him. He was like 17 years old. and and thoroughly enjoyed it and we got we got along real well. I mean uh on the road like he could hang and we've written several really good songs together. Um so Ty Smith, Henry Williams, I've written some some with him. And then there's a cat out of Kansas. His name's Johnny Woods. He's the one that got up on stage with me and we we had written a song together called uh Buffalo Nickel. and that song ended up making it to this new record I'm working on right now. But yeah, so I would say those three for sure people should pay attention to. But I'm also a super songwriter nerd, so it the guys that really tickle my fancy, they kind of bubble up to the top, you know, for me anyway. >> Yeah, that's great. I mean, above all, we're a music discovery platform. Um, so I just love to hear kind of new names put to us. Um, familiar with Thai. Uh definitely familiar with Johnny. Uh we shared some of his music lately. He's put some new songs out and it's uh you know he's he's got a great voice and some great songs. So um yeah, it's great to share that. I think you know having this platform to kind of put that out and you know you don't always find it from the algorithm or the Spotify algorithm at least. Um you got to dig deep to find to find some of these artists. Um so yeah, it's it's great to kind of share in that respect. So you know we asked you some quickfire uh questions just a moment ago. I love to ask this question. I did try and change the name up slightly, but I think it confused uh some previous guests. So, I'm going to keep it easy and clean this time. Um, but the question is, you know, who's on your Mount Rushmore of musicians? You know, people that you love uh who've inspired you and and perhaps shaped you as a kind of musician that you are today. It's >> a good question. I mean, I hate to uh I have a I ended up with a flurry, you know. Um, Robert El Keen I would say definitely like early on caught my attention. Um, but also a lot of really like the likes of Dave Gro. Um, you know these that style and raw rock and roll kind of vibe. Like I've always loved that. And then I mean you can behind each one of these folks you can pile in a line of people. But um I I would say, you know, for sure those two, you know, which is I know pretty widespread, but um some of I would say some of the other artists that just blow me away are like Jason Isbel and like his turn of phrase is is just beautiful. John Mayer's fantastic. Uh I like Mumford and Sons. I mean, they what they do is nothing short of brilliant. Um, I mean, I have it's a pretty wide variety, but these these guys all land on my Mount Rushmore and I I know I'm not the Hank Williams Jr. guy. Like, I'm not the Merl Haggard guy. I'm just not I love their music and I appreciate it, you know, but I'm more of like the ZZ Top. like they created a party everywhere they went and they still do, you know. They're the these people are entertainers as well as songwriters and I appreciate all of that, you know, but I grew up on a lot of this stuff and uh I still hold it pretty dear to my heart. Those those songs from those bands, I mean, you could I mean, the the the names just keep flowing out like Chris Stapleton, etc., you know, these guys are fantastic. Fantastic. >> Awesome, man. And yeah, you like you say it's it's a broad kind of spectrum of genres that you just kind of pump there. But I I think that kind of you can hear those influences in in your music. So I love to ask those sort of questions because it does kind of connect in a way. >> Awesome, man. Um you'll be pleased to know I've got a few more questions, dude, because I know you're a busy busy guy. But um part of the rugged revival we we like to look after people's mental health and you know find ways to for people to find kind of solace in life cuz life's difficult you know and I think particularly for for artists as well uh and independent artists that you know might might feel like you know the world's against them or you know the industry can take its toll on people and you feel a little bit lonely. is trying to find a way to kind of look after your mental health and um you know find a way through things in a positive manner. So I suppose that's a long-winded way of me asking how do you kind of find solace you know what what ways you you mentioned earlier about mowing the lawn taking the bins out and stuff like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much. I mean spend time with my family. I've got a beautiful wife and I've got two dogs. Uh in the past I had lots of livestock. Um, I mean, I think those things are important, you know. Um, but also like find a way to be productive because sometimes writing a song is not necessarily productive, you know, uh, or playing music in general. It's not necessarily those productive things that keep get keep me mentally sharp, you know. It's taking time to read a book or uh build something like band 2G, you know, like like do these things uh keep me sharp and a little bit more uh you know, keep my keep my my vision a little bit less narrowed. I'm not I don't get so tunnel visioned on on just songwriters. Like I I've had guys that come to me like, "My wife left me. I've got I'm paying child support. I quit my job so I can play music. And I'm like, what what advice could you give me? I'm like, get a job. Like go like, you know what I mean? Like otherwise, like, you're doomed. You know, I feel like this is my perspective. I know. I've heard stories of guys living in a van. You know, I'm past that now, you know? And I've seen the I've seen the worst parts of of human humanity. uh in in war. And so I and I found a way that I can be productive, have a beautiful family, and man, you know, you can do these things with enough willpower and discipline, you know, and I think that's how that's how I maintain my mental health a little bit. I do the best I can. I mean, honestly, I'm I by no mean uh, you know, afflicted with anything, but I know people who are, and I feel like the best thing that they can do is find a way to have purpose in their life when they wake up. Have something to do when you wake up in the morning. And all of a sudden, you'll you'll you'll feel good about that, about being productive, you know, instead of having anxiety about the [ __ ] that you didn't do. instead start checking off the boxes, you know, stay off the drugs, too. It's not necessarily It might feel good temporarily, but really >> it leads down a pretty dark path >> some point. >> Yep. But absolutely, dude. It's uh that that's some some good advice. And I think we're very similar people in that respect. I have to keep busy otherwise the mind starts wandering. And like you say, that sense of achievement, I think, and that sense of creating something or doing something is really important. So, yeah, thanks for sharing that again, mate. Um, yeah, that that that's really cool to know. >> Um, so what does the future look like for you, John? What's coming up next? You mentioned uh a new album you're working on, which I can't wait to hear some of that, man. >> What else is kind of in the pipeline? >> Yeah, um, more shows, obviously. I'm addicted to playing live. I love it. And honestly, that's like where it all comes together is right there. Yeah. That's where I'm right in front of the fans. I I want to play shows. And uh and I I would say we have uh as far as musically, we got some vinyls coming. I'm excited about that because I haven't had them yet. Uh, and we've also got uh, you know, the new record that we're brewing up. And you know, what else is there for a [ __ ] musician to do besides make records and play live shows? You know, it's kind of a it's an easy answer question. >> Yeah. It's like, >> I need to switch. What do you got? What do you got coming up? Well, more shows than a [ __ ] record. Hopefully. Hopefully. If someone ever says, "I'm I'm quitting playing shows and I'm not if they if they say anything other than that, then they're not doing anything." >> Well, I love your honesty. I'm scratching that [ __ ] uh question. >> No, you don't have to scratch. >> That was just funny for me to think about. I'm like, >> you're not wrong though. >> But, you know, from a selfish perspective, mate, you know, we want to get as many people like yourself over to the UK and and and playing to crowds here. Yeah. Have you got any obviously the aspirations to come up, but um any any plans in the near future or at at all to kind of leave the US and and play some shows? >> Uh yeah, I'd get on a plane tomorrow. I mean, I would. It's just one of those things where, you know, the stars have to align a little bit, you know. I haven't gotten in haven'tworked into uh meeting somebody who was able to kind of set that up, you know, but if I did, if if you're the guy, let's go. I mean, I'll [ __ ] be there tomorrow. So, yeah, my my aspirations are vast, so let's go. >> Let's do it. Yeah, we we're you guys. Let's uh let's set let's set something up, man. Awesome. Look, uh dude, I I've enjoyed talking to you, John. I'm I'm so glad we got to-do list. Um where can people find you, dude? Um I know you're all over social media, but where's kind of the easiest way if people want to get in contact or see what you're doing? >> Yeah, I think the easiest thing is go to tebrrosvan.com. uh ntbrosband.com/tour if you want to see all the shows that we have tickets that are available right now for you to get and then also um you know I'd say all the socials it's a good place to find us and uh you know at a show at the merch booth come say hello I want to see you at a show >> yeah I love the merch booth and um again you know I wish we were closer to to get your hats your koozies and uh your vinyl man uh Yeah, don't talk to me about shipping vinyl over from the US. I think I needed to remortgage my house. Uh, >> yeah, >> five vinyl, man. I think it was like £400. Uh, whatever. Ladies and >> almost Yeah, I almost had a heart attack. >> Yeah, it's all right. >> I won't be doing that again. But anyway, dudes, yeah, I appreciate you coming on, man. Uh, we finish the show always by raising a toast. I don't know if you got a a water or any drink to hand, but yeah, we raise a toast to the grit, the grind, and to the revival. And thanks everyone for listening and thanks for John for coming on, mate. Cheers. >> Yeah, God bless. Tears.

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