Eli Winders: Growing Up in The Carolinas, Touring, Musical Influences, and Upcoming EP!

[00:00:15] Speaker A: This is outside the round with Matt. [00:00:17] Speaker B: Barrel, a razor alley podcast. Eli Winters, my man. How you doing? [00:00:23] Speaker A: I'm doing great. How about you? [00:00:24] Speaker B: Doing well, dude. Doing well. I'm, like, all jacked up. I got. I go to this coffee joint, like, right around the corner from here. It's, like one of those little shed, like, drive up coffee places called elevate, and they put, like, an extra shot of espresso in for me today, and I'm, like, all jacked up right now, dude. Like, ready to go. I'm, like, all jacked up. Mountain dew. How's your week been going? [00:00:45] Speaker A: It's been going great. We got back from Louisville last night. I went out with the whiskey jam crowd. [00:00:50] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, how was that? [00:00:51] Speaker A: It was really cool. It's cool to just get out of town. I love being on the road, and the whiskey jam team is just great. And it was good to get out of town with them and just take it to another city, but it was awesome. Good crowd and a good place to sing, too, so. [00:01:05] Speaker B: Yeah, it's that PBR in Louisville, right? [00:01:07] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, it was great. Like I said, there was a great crowd, and they were really receptive to, like, original music. You know, I feel like sometimes it's hard to get a crowd to, like, care about, like, original music, especially, like, a lot of unreleased stuff. But they were great. They loved it, so, yeah, it's tough. [00:01:22] Speaker B: We've, like, taken that concept out of town. It has to be in the right spot. [00:01:26] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:01:27] Speaker B: You know, like, there's little pockets of it. Like, if you go to, like, key west songwriters festival, like, if it's branded as, like, a songwriter thing, the original music stuff makes sense. Or, like, places like the Flora Bama or, like, yeah, Myrtle beach or things like that where the live music lives. But, yeah, it seems like Ward's been doing a great job with that up at the PBR, and I. He's. I saw him recently. We were up at the comb show in Cincinnati, and they have, like, the whiskey jam stage up there. And he said, dude, honestly, the best part of that is everybody on the bus going up and coming back together. It's like, the bonding of that bus trip to Louisville is, like. He said, like, his favorite part. [00:02:03] Speaker A: Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, there was, like, a lot of people I'd heard of but never met in person. And then, you know, you get to meet them and they're just as nice as they can be and, you know, treat you like. Like you. I don't know, like, there's a lot of guys with, like, a lot of followers on there, and they've been doing it for a lot longer than I have, and, you know, they're just as nice as they could be, you know, and so. But, yeah, it was. It was crazy. I'd never met any of them, and, you know, we left just kind of small talk, and then on the way back, you know, it was all like, we were best friends, so, yeah, it's a great time. [00:02:33] Speaker B: Hell, yeah, dude. So how long have you been here in town? [00:02:36] Speaker A: A little over a year. I moved in May of 23 and so. But, yeah, it's been. It's been a lot of fun. It feels like I just got here. The time is really flowing by. [00:02:46] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, it's. There's something about that first year, like, you're like, you look back and you're like, oh, shit, it's been a year. But you're like, it feels like I just got here. Like, where did that twelve months go, you know? [00:02:57] Speaker A: Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, and we got so much done. Like, we. You know, I spent a ton of time writing, spent a lot of time in the studio, and then just the beginning of 2024 into now, like, we've been touring, and so it's just. It's crazy to see just how much has happened in a year. [00:03:13] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, it's. Hard work goes a long way, dog. It really does. And you're a Carolina guy, and everybody talks about Georgia. Everybody talks. I know myself talk a lot about Alabama, just from people that I've worked with that are from there. But Carolina, you guys, there are some great music, some great artists, some great songwriters, great musicians that come out of north and South Carolina. [00:03:35] Speaker A: Yeah, there's something out there, man. I've been surprised to meet as many, like, carolinians out here as I have. And some of my best friends to write with are from North Carolina. Like, we went to high schools that played each other and, like, never met until we moved out here. [00:03:49] Speaker B: Isn't that crazy? It takes moving out here to meet somebody that was, like, in the same county. [00:03:54] Speaker A: It's wild. It's wild. But, yeah, I mean, I've met a ton of really, really talented people from north and South Carolina, and it's been awesome. [00:04:02] Speaker B: What is it about North Carolina, you think? Do you think it's that. That small town life of, like, the appalachia but also the coastal? Like, what is it that brings out the music that's, like, the Carolina sound? [00:04:13] Speaker A: I don't know. For me personally, it's just. I think the way I was brought up, like, the family aspect of I come from a really small town and I, and all my family lives within like 5 miles of each other. [00:04:24] Speaker B: That's the best. You can go to grandma's house whenever you want, bro. [00:04:27] Speaker A: Yeah. My parents just moved into my mom's grandparents old house, and it backs up to my grandparents house. And so, like, we're always over there eating lunch or dinner and so, yeah, it's awesome. And I think like, that's a big part of it. Like, it's just like any other town but the family and the, the people there in the memories what make it special. And also just like the hard work aspect there. Like, everybody is head to the ground work for what you have. And I think that plays a lot into what I do and what I write about. [00:04:59] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, what does your family do? What are the jobs within the. What would the family if you had stayed home and just decided not to do music and just work in whatever your family was doing? What were the options? [00:05:09] Speaker A: So my dad's an insurance agent. He just took over a company back home and his pretty fresh, actually, so he's doing that. And then my mom's a teacher. [00:05:18] Speaker B: Nice. [00:05:19] Speaker A: But I was working at a feed mill straight out of high school, and I probably would still be there. Like, it was, it was a good time. I definitely wouldn't want to do that forever because it was like hard, hard work. But we were doing everything from welding to swinging a pickaxe, a shovel, fitting pipes. Like, it was just, we were really contractors for the feed mills, and we'd go all over North Carolina and do that. And so I'd probably still be doing that now, but looking for something else. I was in school, like, kind of planning on going into real estate, something like that. [00:05:51] Speaker B: Nice. [00:05:51] Speaker A: But it was a lot of fun working at the feed mill. I worked there for one of my buddies dads, and we were fresh out of high school, you know, us, me and two other buddies that I graduated with went to work there, and we had a lot of fun doing it. [00:06:04] Speaker B: There's something about those high school, like, college jobs. Like, I worked with some of my homies that I went to high school with, like, for like the town parks, and we were just cutting grass and cleaning up, like, the parks, like, but it was all my buddies that I, I graduated high school with. There's something special about having a job like that. Fresh out. You don't know exactly what you're doing yet, but you're just with your buddies. [00:06:23] Speaker A: Absolutely, man. We, like, we got a lot of work done, but we had a great time. You know, we were cutting up and messing around on the job, but. But we got what we needed to done. [00:06:32] Speaker B: Yeah. And it gives you the inspiration for writing these songs? [00:06:35] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, man. I wrote a bunch of songs about, like, conversations I had because, like, the guys we worked with had been there since they were our agenda. Fresh out of high school, they've been working there, and they're, like, retirement age and just talking to some of these guys, like, you know, got some great song ideas and. And just life perspective, you know? [00:06:50] Speaker B: Yeah. Dude, what was your first taste of Nashville, like, when you first got here? [00:06:55] Speaker A: It was. It was crazy, actually. So I went on American Idol when I was, like, 17. [00:06:59] Speaker B: Oh, really? I didn't know that. [00:07:00] Speaker A: Yeah, well, it didn't go, like, the way I planned for it to, but it worked out for me in the end, you know? So they found me on TikTok and hit me up and flew me out here, and then we did, like, the audition. It was, like, super last minute. It was, like, the last audition. Like, they got us on a plane, like, maybe a couple days later. Like, it was crazy. And it was here in Nashville, and so my mom came with me, and I was, like, 17, still in high school, and one night we went to Broadway, and it was just, like, I've never seen Broadway like that since I've lived here. But it was just crazy. Like, the tourist buses were going by. We were getting flashed. [00:07:36] Speaker B: What time of year was. [00:07:37] Speaker A: It was, like, November. [00:07:39] Speaker B: Oh, so it was right at the end of. Because I used to work downtown, so it's, like, we call it, like, busy season from, like, St. Patrick's Day to, like, thanksgiving is, like, where it's balls to the wall, and then it slows down for a little bit until St. Patty's Day in March. You get that little pop for, like, new Year's Eve. But there's nothing like when Broadway is broadwaying, bro. There's nothing like, it was wild, and. [00:08:00] Speaker A: Like, I still to this day, like, I've been out there, like, even at, like, CMA fest, like, the busy, you know, that time, like, I've never seen it like that. It was, like, shoulder to shoulder in the streets. And my mom, just, like, she doesn't like going to the bar. Like, she doesn't drink. Like, it's. So she did not like that at all. And so anyway, she was nervous when I moved out here, but then they came out and saw me play, like, the basement and saw, like, the more chill side of Nashville and, like, how it really is, you know? [00:08:26] Speaker B: Yeah, there's different sides. Like, there's the original music side and then there's, like, the COVID side, but there's just an electricity when you walk down that hill past Bridgestone and you're walking past those bars and, like, this time of year when the windows are open and you just walk past each bar and it's a different band playing something different, and it's just this energy of just music, you know, there's a reason they call it Music City, and there's nothing like lower Broadway with the music, man. It just invigorates you. And you're like, I'm in the right place. If you love music, like, you're in the right place being in Nashville. [00:08:58] Speaker A: Yeah, there's definitely. There's definitely something special about Nashville. It's so cool to be here and just get to be a part of it. You know, you're definitely just immersed in music and, like, I could get done more in, like, two weeks than a month back, you know, that I could back home. There's just everybody here is involved in it somehow, and it's a cool thing to be a part of. [00:09:19] Speaker B: It's like a big, small town dude. [00:09:21] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:09:21] Speaker B: Everybody knows everybody, dog. It's crazy. [00:09:24] Speaker A: It's wild. Like, when I first moved here, you know, didn't know anybody, and now it's hard to go somewhere and not know somebody there. [00:09:31] Speaker B: Who were some of the first homies, like, that you kind of became buddies with when you moved out here? [00:09:36] Speaker A: The only dude I really knew was Vincent. Vincent Mason. When I first moved here, and we hung out the very first night I moved, well, we hung out on a trip that I had known him through social media, and we had dmed a little bit. And then I was on a trip here and we hung out and tried to write a song. Just kind of kicked around the idea and ended up just hanging out. And then when I moved here, we started hanging out pretty regular. [00:09:57] Speaker B: And where's he from again? [00:09:58] Speaker A: He's from Georgia, like, Atlanta area. [00:10:00] Speaker B: Okay. [00:10:01] Speaker A: Yeah, but he's a great guy and. [00:10:03] Speaker B: Moved here about the same time as you, right? [00:10:04] Speaker A: No, he's been here a little bit longer. [00:10:06] Speaker B: Oh, he has been here a little bit longer. [00:10:07] Speaker A: He's been here for like, maybe three or four years. [00:10:08] Speaker B: Oh, no shit. [00:10:09] Speaker A: Yeah, but, yeah, he was. He was a good guy to get to know and just kind of like, introduce me to the town. Yeah, yeah, but he's great. And then another, like, pretty shortly after that, I met a guy that had written a lot with him. His name's Aaron Armstrong, and he's been just huge addition to, like, the songwriting side of me, I guess. Like, he just kind of gets what I'm doing, and he's absolutely great at what he does, and he's just a great hang and really enjoy him. And that's a guy that's from, like, close to my hometown, but I met him, and he had written a song with Vincent and hit me up, and the very first time we sat down, we wrote the last single we put out, and it was famous for a heartache, so. [00:10:50] Speaker B: Yeah, that's awesome, dog. Yeah, that's exciting. That's exciting stuff, dude. That's that first year in town, like, that's where you really start to find, like, your crew, like, your guys and girls that you like writing with, that you like spending time with. You know, that's where you find kind of your family. Then it just evolves over time, you know? Like, I'm coming up on six years of being here, and, like, where I was year one to where I am now, very different places, so it's just going to continue to evolve. What do you miss most about back home, man? [00:11:20] Speaker A: I just miss the people. Miss the people. And I miss kind of being out in the country a lot, too. Like, we keep. We fish a lot back home, and so it's hard to find a good spot to fish out here. Like, I've been on a couple golf courses and caught some bass, but back home, you know, we get out on the boat on the coast and go catch flounder or red drum and that kind of stuff, and you can't get any of that around here. [00:11:41] Speaker B: Big fish out there, bro. [00:11:43] Speaker A: Kinda. We get into, like, the more eating size, I guess you would say. [00:11:47] Speaker B: Okay. [00:11:47] Speaker A: Cause we like to eat what we catch. Yeah. Dude. I've never caught anything massive. [00:11:52] Speaker B: Really. [00:11:52] Speaker A: Kind of a bummer. But, like, all my brothers and stuff, we used to go down to the outer banks a lot, and we'd camp, and one year I missed it. They went down there and they caught red drum after red drum that were, like, just 25 plus inches. Just huge fish. [00:12:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:09] Speaker A: And I, like, was just getting all these pictures. They were catching, like, 50 flounder a day. Just the best fishing. [00:12:14] Speaker B: The one time you're not with. [00:12:15] Speaker A: Yeah. And so the next year, I went and we caught, like, maybe ten fish the whole time. [00:12:20] Speaker B: So that's how it works sometimes, dude. Yeah, that's how it works sometimes. I did a. We didn't catch anything. But I went. I was out on the road in Massachusetts and we ended up on the. On the. On a boat with the guys from wicked tuna. The wicked pissa. I forget what the dude's name was. I think it was like Tommy or Pauly. Pauly. That was his name. And we were out there, we didn't catch anything, but we saw like just the. He was showing us pictures of how big these fucking tuna are. And it's like, how do you even pull that thing in, you know? [00:12:48] Speaker A: Yeah, it's crazy. I would love to do that sometime, like get down and catch some like really big fish. Definitely want to go down to Florida. Go like deep sea. Yeah, but I love to fish and. And we love to hunt too, but we spend a lot of time down in the water. [00:13:01] Speaker B: That's sick. That's cool, dude. Is it weird not being near the coast and tendency being landlocked? [00:13:07] Speaker A: It is. We're still like an hour from the coast. Hour and a half. And then like 2 hours to where we've got a little spot we can go fish at. So it's like still. Still gonna make a day of it. But it is like here you gotta like go get a hotel and you can't just go down to the water. But I really wanted to get into some like creek fishing and try to catch some smallmouth and trout up here. But I'm just so busy, it's hard to find time, you know? [00:13:30] Speaker B: It's good to be busy, though. [00:13:31] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I can't stand sitting around. [00:13:33] Speaker B: What else do you like to do besides fishing? Like, what are you music, man? [00:13:37] Speaker A: Like, I love it. I just love sitting down with a guitar and trying to write something, trying to come up with something. But yeah, fishing and music is just the passions. But I absolutely love, love music. I love being on the road and it's just been some of the best experiences I've ever had. The band is great and we've had nothing but good times on the road. [00:13:59] Speaker B: Yeah, you got some great dates coming up too, bro. [00:14:01] Speaker A: Oh, I'm super excited. [00:14:02] Speaker B: I was looking on the website and you're going to some of my favorite places, like going out the tucker went. More tour coming up, bro. Yeah, you're going up, up in the midwest, right? [00:14:10] Speaker A: Yeah, we're going to the midwest and I'm just going to places I've never. [00:14:13] Speaker B: Been before, like you. I think you're going to Milwaukee, right? [00:14:15] Speaker A: Milwaukee. [00:14:17] Speaker B: Have you been there before? [00:14:18] Speaker A: I haven't, bro. [00:14:19] Speaker B: Do you know about that room? You know the history of that place? So have you ever seen, like, the Mac Miller pool? [00:14:24] Speaker A: Is it that place? [00:14:24] Speaker B: It's that place that it's haunted as hell. It is. Like, the vibes in there are so sick. The rave Eagle club, dude. It's a building that has, like, four or five different, like, venues within it. And the basement is where that pool is. And we're all, like, the ghosts. And they take you on the ghost tour when you go to play there. So I'm sure you and the boys will get to do that. And you see the Mac Miller quote, and then, like, the acoustics down there are crazy. So, like, when you're down there, definitely. [00:14:49] Speaker A: Like, film a cover. [00:14:50] Speaker B: Film a cover in that pool, dude. And, like, the acoustics are just insane, but the. You. You feel, like, the energies of stuff when you. Dude, it's a cool spot. [00:15:00] Speaker A: All right, I'll definitely get down there and check it out. [00:15:02] Speaker B: Spot. Where else are you going? I had it pulled up here. Eli winters.com. for those that want to find out more about Eli. Eliwinders.com. yeah. Oh, the intersection. Grand Rapids. That place is sick, too. Oh, and you're going to tea town. You're going to Tuscaloosa. And that's with Evan Hohner. Yeah. [00:15:16] Speaker A: That's gonna be a good time. [00:15:17] Speaker B: Have you been to Tuscaloosa? [00:15:19] Speaker A: I haven't, man. I've done very little traveling. Like, we did family vacations every year with, like, the entire family, and we just go up to, like, Virginia and stay on the lake for a week and just take it easy. And so it's been really, really cool to, like, get out of state and. And just see things that, you know, I've never seen before. But I'm so excited for. For the dates coming up. Just going to new places, and you're. [00:15:44] Speaker B: Literally going to some of my favorites, you know, looking here on the website, like, going to Grand Rapids, the intersection. Love that room. That's another, like, multi. There'll be, like, multiple shows going on in the different rooms, and it'll be, like, not all country, so, like, you'll be playing your show, and then next door could be, like, an EDM artist or, like, a metal artist, and it's just seeing the different people in the building at that time, dude. It's. It's fun, and it's cast. And then you go into Chicago, bro. You go into Indianapolis. [00:16:11] Speaker A: Yeah, I think we're trying to bring out the band for that weekend, so I think I'm gonna do the first half, like, acoustic and hopefully ride the bus with the guys and just save a little money that way. [00:16:21] Speaker B: Riding the bus is sick, too. [00:16:23] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I'm super excited. And, like, so Summa Tucker's band played in my band before they hit the road. [00:16:28] Speaker B: Oh, cool. [00:16:29] Speaker A: Like, I'm really tight with. With his band, and I'm super excited. Just hang out with them and. But, yeah, it's gonna be fun. I'm super excited for Chicago. It's, like, back to back night. Sold out. [00:16:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Dude, Joe's bar is awesome. [00:16:42] Speaker A: I've never been, so I'm super excited. [00:16:44] Speaker B: You're gonna get. Are you a big pizza guy? [00:16:46] Speaker A: Yeah, I love pizza. [00:16:47] Speaker B: Okay, so up there, obviously, it's a little bit different. Like, I grew up in New York, so I'm used to, like, the thin crust where you can fold it, and it's got the little flop to it up. There's, like, the deep dish stuff, bro. And they bring in the deep dish pizza for you after the show, and it is so freaking good. Like, Chicago. Chicago's badass. And it's funny because people don't think of, like, these big cities as, like, country markets. Chicago is one of the best country music markets. Like, if people look on their Spotify for artists thing, Chicago is, like, always a top five, top ten city of where music's being streamed to. So they're gonna know the words to the songs, dude. No, they will. They will, dude. And the crowd up there, too. Like, they. The Midwest crowds are some of my favorites for country music. Like, we did a lot of festivals up there this year, and they just show out. It's something different. [00:17:37] Speaker A: That's pretty much all we've done so far, that we've done Omaha and West Peoria. [00:17:42] Speaker B: Oh, you did cruisins? [00:17:43] Speaker A: Yeah, and it was great, dude, that show was electric, that one. And then we went to the Bluebird. [00:17:49] Speaker B: In Bloomington, then through there, too. [00:17:52] Speaker A: That. That whole weekend was with Connor Smith, and. And it was just. It was the first weekend out on the road, and. And it was just. It was something special, man. We. We had the band together, and, you know, just nothing like that. That OG band, you know, we were out there for the first time on the road. Like, I think it might have been some of the other guys first time on the road, like, going out like that. And we had, like, we got to the hotel halfway to Omaha, and it canceled the room on us, so we had to just keep going. [00:18:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:19] Speaker A: And we slept, all four of us, in an f 150 in a parking lot off the side of the highway and then kept trucking and got to the show and played that night and then, like, had the best sleep of our lives. [00:18:30] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, when you get. When you. I've had that before where, like, you run into the issues. [00:18:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:18:34] Speaker B: The hotels. And then you got to van it or truck it, and then you end up in the hotel. And even if you're just. Even if you're, like, sharing a bed with another guy in the van, it's just the best dude it was ever, dog. [00:18:44] Speaker A: Yeah, it was. It was awesome. That. That weekend was great. And everything after that was all uphill, so that we had, like, the one bad thing happen and then it was smooth sailing. [00:18:54] Speaker B: Nice. When it's at the front of the. [00:18:55] Speaker A: Weekend, if it happened, like, at the end, it would have been terrible. [00:18:58] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, dude. Yeah, that's. Yeah. West Peoria. I love cruisings, dude, we know Wayne and Austin and the guys from that club really, really well. They're. They're good friends of ours, and that room is just electric. [00:19:09] Speaker A: Yeah, it was just, like, the steady, like, climb. Like, the shows just kept getting better. Like, we. Obviously, that was first weekend with the band and first weekend being on tour, and so it was just, like, we played better each night. [00:19:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:21] Speaker A: And the crowds got bigger each night, and so it was. It was just something super special about that weekend that. That just gave me a taste for it and, like, kind of got me hooked, you know? Like, that's. That. That's where, like, I felt. I felt like I belonged there. Like, this is what I'm supposed to do. And I. And it just felt, like. Felt awesome, you know? [00:19:38] Speaker B: Yeah. Dude, those are important moments to have. Dude, I'm excited for you to go to Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa is a fun college town, dude. Those kids love their music. And the scene down there in Druid City is a great venue. It's, like, the one club that's there. They have, like, some other, like, bar venues, and they're just used to having the live music, so they know how to show out and act at a concert. The Evan Hona crowd is gonna be awesome. I know he's an homie of yours, so that's great. [00:20:05] Speaker A: He's actually, like, one of the first people I met, like, another artist that. He followed me super early and was just super kind to me and introduced me to a lot of people. And then he moved to town and we started hanging out a little, seeing each other here and there and then got the show coming up. So I'm super excited. I'm thankful for every opportunity it's so cool that everybody here is just so willing to help you out and help you along the way. And, you know, I don't think a lot of people see it that way, or it's. You just don't think of it that way, but everybody truly is just willing to help and just help you succeed. And I think that it's just such a cool town to be a part of, and, I don't know. It's a cool industry. I guess. You don't see it like that. You don't see that in a lot of other industries? [00:20:51] Speaker B: No, dude. And especially before you come to town, you're like, oh, is this going to be, like, competitive? [00:20:56] Speaker A: Yeah, like, cutthroat. Everybody's trying to put you down to. [00:21:00] Speaker B: Get ahead, but it's the opposite like that back in the day. But, like, our generation has kind of switched, flipped the script on that, you know, like, to where it is very welcoming. It's such a collaborative kind of town. Even the folks like me that don't write and sing, like, we're still. We find our way into the industry, and it's just like, how can we work together and create something really cool, you know? [00:21:21] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Everybody's just so kind and helpful. [00:21:27] Speaker B: Yeah. Are you in the sports? [00:21:30] Speaker A: I like to watch college football. I don't keep up with it. [00:21:32] Speaker B: Who's your team? Unc. [00:21:34] Speaker A: That's where my girlfriend's at. She goes to Unc, and, you know, I like to. When I go visit her, I like to go to the games and could make it to a lot more when I live back home, but, yeah, I like to watch college football. I'll keep up with their basketball team a little bit, but, yeah, you know, it's just hard to keep up with it. Got a whole bunch going on. [00:21:54] Speaker B: I grew up a huge. I grew up a huge Virginia tech fan, so I'm an ACc guy as well. And it's. Yeah. And then the moment, like, I got down here, I just. It was with going, when you go on the road and you're working weekends, doing shows, it's great. But you don't. You're not available on Saturdays. You're sound checking when they're playing, like a 03:00 game or a noon time game or something. But Unc, I've never been to Chapel Hill, but I hear it's awesome. [00:22:20] Speaker A: It's a great town. We've got a show coming up there. We're playing a fraternity beginning of next month. [00:22:27] Speaker B: Frat parties are fun, dude. [00:22:29] Speaker A: It's gonna be sick. It's our first, like, I've played frats in the past acoustic, but this will be our first, like, full band frat show. We're doing a bunch of covers, you know, gonna have a good time and just entertain the best we can. But I'm super excited to be back. And then we're playing Greenville, ECU the next day. So it's just a big frat weekend. [00:22:47] Speaker B: Little college tour. [00:22:49] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. We're trying to do, you know, as much as. As much college stuff as we can. That way we go back to the cities, you know, hopefully they'll come out and buy a ticket and say, it's just it, dude. [00:22:56] Speaker B: And it's like guys, especially in the southeast, have. That's been like a formula. You think back to guys like Corey Smith and FGL used to do that. Brantley Gilbert did that. Where you kind of. And your circle kind of starts in the Carolinas and then you just continue to grow it. And you jump across the border to Georgia. You jump across the border to places like Knoxville or go up in the Virginia and play, like, Blacksburg or Charlotte, and, like, that's a great way to do it, dude. [00:23:22] Speaker A: Yeah, and it's cool. Like, I've had people reach out from social media that live in Texas, or they, you know, they're like, hey, like, can we get you to come play the frat? We're, you know, working on some more stuff and then even, like, going down to Tuscaloosa and we're going to Auburn also next month to play a frat show. [00:23:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:23:36] Speaker A: And it's like, you know, hopefully those will lead to more down there you're going to see. [00:23:39] Speaker B: It's amazing how different the college towns are in each. In each state, too. [00:23:44] Speaker A: Yeah. I'm so excited. [00:23:45] Speaker B: Like, you know, it being in the Carolinas that, like, Winston Salem's different from Raleigh, different from Durham, different from. From Chapel Hill, different from, like, in South Carolina. Clemson and Columbia are different. Like, you're going to see that the kids are different in different places. And Auburn and Tuscaloosa are a great. Like, they're both awesome, but different, you know? And, like, I personally, if I had to pick one, don't hate me, Alabama people, but I personally, having done a lot in the state of Alabama, I love Auburn. [00:24:15] Speaker A: I've heard that. I've heard that a lot. [00:24:16] Speaker B: This weekend is fantastic, dude. The kids there are great. It's like, bama is probably more. It's. They're both very fratty, but it's like, auburn's just a little bit more blue collar. You know, it's like a little bit of a different style of student. Both love to have a good time, but there's something about, like, tumors corner and just the vibe of that campus is sick. [00:24:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, back to the traveling thing too. Like, I'm just excited to see new places and get down there and, like, I just love the fall, man. Something about being on, like, a college campus in the fall. [00:24:49] Speaker B: You're gonna be there during football season? [00:24:51] Speaker A: Yeah, it's gonna be. [00:24:53] Speaker B: These are probably Friday and Saturday shows, I'm guessing. So it's like you're there. Wallets, like game week. Yeah, you're getting to experience the SEC. Yeah, dude, the fall. You're not, you're not. Nobody's passing out because it's too hot. Like, you're not on stage sweating bullets or anything like that. Like, there's something special about the fall in a college town. [00:25:13] Speaker A: I love the fall. I love, like, sitting around a campfire and wearing like, a flannel. Just the falls, like the best time of the year. [00:25:18] Speaker B: Hoodie and short weather, dog. Yeah, hoodie, short weather. Or like a long sleeve, like, comfort colors tee, bro. Like, there's something special about. Where's a place that you haven't been yet that you really want to get to, man? [00:25:29] Speaker A: Like, absolute dream venue would be red rocks. Yeah, I mean, I think it's a lot of people's dream venue. I'm super, like, back to Chicago, man. I'm just super excited for that. My manager's from Chicago, sick. And like, she'll take us around. We've got plenty of time to, like, see the town, cuz we're playing two nights. [00:25:45] Speaker B: You gotta go to the music exchange, Chicago. I haven't been in there, cuz, like, when I was up there, I was doing like the merch guy, like the TM thing, so I had to be more on site handling the show, but all the band guys and the artists that I was with, they like, had it as a point to, like, we got to get to the music exchange. Yeah, I hear there's nothing like it. Like, it's just a massive, massive store, like, building just full of everything. [00:26:09] Speaker A: Yeah, I've ordered a bunch of stuff from them, like, you know, online, so I'm excited to get up there and see that. I'd love to, like, definitely play. Walnut Creek Amphitheater, North Carolina. That's where I saw, like, my first show. [00:26:19] Speaker B: And what was your first show? [00:26:21] Speaker A: Lumineers. Oh, lumineers and camp opened up so I'm a big, like, I love country music, but I also love, like, americana, like, bluegrass, folky stuff. And so right after high school, I went and saw lumineers and camp opened up for them, and it was a great show. [00:26:36] Speaker B: Yeah, dude. And right now, it's, like, you talk about that blending of, like, what you grew up listening to. What a perfect time for a guy like you to be coming along, where all that kind of fits together and all that crossover stuff. Dude, to where it doesn't have to be singing about girls, trucks, and beer. You could be singing about all kinds of stuff melodically and sonically. You can do all kinds of different shit that reflects that, what you grew up listening to. [00:26:58] Speaker A: Yeah. Country music is just so broad right now. You can. You can really. You can get away with just acoustic guitar and your vocal, or you could, you know, get away with, you know, straight down the middle, like, radio, country. It's just so, like, broad. You know, there's so much opportunity in country music right now. It's awesome. [00:27:17] Speaker B: And it's a bigger audience than it's ever been. [00:27:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:19] Speaker B: Which is what's wild, dude. Like, the fact that guys like Wallen and Zach and Luke are selling out stadiums back to back nights is nuts. That's bigger than it was when Garth was doing it. That's bigger than it was when FGL was doing it. And it's like, if there's a time to be in the country world, it's right now in 2024, dude. It's exciting. [00:27:38] Speaker A: It's awesome. And it's been cool to see just the little bit. We've been on the road, real time connection with people at that level. Obviously, the dream is to play stadiums and stuff, too. It just makes me happy to see, like, three people in the front row singing along to my songs, you know, like that. Playing a stadium like that is just completely would blow my mind. But I'm just so happy with what we're getting to do now, and it's awesome. There's nothing like it in the world. [00:28:06] Speaker B: Yeah, dude. Not at all. So, who would your. I gotta ask you, like, a Mount Rushmore question? Mount Rushmore of, like, guys or girls from North Carolina that do music? Like. Cause there's quite a few of them, if, you know, off the top of your head. [00:28:18] Speaker A: Yeah. Eric Church. [00:28:19] Speaker B: Okay. [00:28:19] Speaker A: I love Randy Travis. [00:28:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:23] Speaker A: I mean, Luke Holmes, the North Carolina guy, too. [00:28:25] Speaker B: Yeah, he's Boone. He's a little bit. It's like there's. And there's the different sections of, like, the Carolinas too. Where, like, app state. That was another one that I didn't even mention. When it comes to college, towns, like, the mountain folks are built. [00:28:35] Speaker A: Awesome, man. It's, like, one of the most beautiful campuses. [00:28:38] Speaker B: There's nothing, like. Like, going through Boone or Asheville. [00:28:40] Speaker A: Yeah, I go right through there on the way home. Going through, like, on the fall. In the fall is awesome, dude. [00:28:47] Speaker B: It's the best. [00:28:47] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:48] Speaker B: The leaves all changing and stuff. [00:28:49] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:51] Speaker B: Who would a fourth be? [00:28:53] Speaker A: I'm just kind of blanking on. [00:28:56] Speaker B: I'm trying to think, like. And you'll extend into South Carolina. We'll give some love to your neighbors to the south. So you got, like, Darius in there. You got, like, Lee Bryce in there, man. [00:29:07] Speaker A: Like, that's the. Like, I love music, but I don't do my research on, like, where people are from. Yeah. [00:29:12] Speaker B: Or even just growing up, listening to the lumineers. Be a fourth of just, like, people that you love. I guess we would change the whole thing. [00:29:17] Speaker A: Yeah, the whole thing. [00:29:18] Speaker B: I mount Rushmore of, like, your. [00:29:21] Speaker A: Your favorite of, like, Eric Church is definitely up there. Carolina guy. [00:29:25] Speaker B: Is that for the. For, like, how, like, his just song is songwriting. [00:29:30] Speaker A: Songwriting and sound. Like he just did his own thing and. And, like, kind of carved his own path, and. And I think that's what you have to do as an artist. Like, you can't copy somebody else. Like, he's got his, like, super stripped back stuff, and then he's got, like, his, you know, just down the middle, like, made it work where it was mainstream, you know, without compromising what his sound was and what he wanted to do. But, yeah, I think he's just an incredible artist and songwriter. You know, I take a lot of inspiration from his songwriting. I love Kasey Musgraves. I think she'd probably be up there. Sergio Simpson is up there. [00:30:04] Speaker B: There's your americana side coming out, baby. [00:30:06] Speaker A: Yeah, I love Sergio Simpson. It's like, tyler Childers would probably be up there, too, but then there's, like, stapleton as well, and then, like, there's no room for the classics. Like, you know, Allen Jackson, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis. [00:30:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:30:20] Speaker A: Yeah, I guess that'd probably be. The top four would be Casey Musgraves, Eric Church, Sterto Simpson, Tyler Childers. [00:30:28] Speaker B: Yeah, but what's. Do you like that? Like, turtles all the way down, Aristotle. [00:30:32] Speaker A: I love it. I mean, I love it all. The only. I'm not the biggest fan of, like, the rock album, but. But everything else, man, is just so cool. Yeah, it's. I think he's also, like, a good example. Just a great artist. Like, he's just done so much and has such a wide variety of music. Like, you know, he's got his, like, traditional country record and then his, like, spacey country record and then bluegrass and then rock. And then this last record he put out was sick. It's got some, like, John Mayer feel to it. Like, it's just. He just does what he wants and it works. [00:31:04] Speaker B: It's, like, exploratory, like, you're going on a journey of where he is at this point. [00:31:08] Speaker A: Exactly. But I think that's awesome. He's definitely up there with. I told somebody last night, like, he was my favorite. We played in Kentucky. [00:31:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:17] Speaker A: And so it's hard to pick one favorite, but, you know, he's definitely up there. [00:31:21] Speaker B: And I feel like your favorites change over time where you're at life, for sure. [00:31:26] Speaker A: I mean, like, I'm on a big John Mayer kick right now, too. I've been. I got to take a break from country music here and there. Like, I feel like I listen to it and I'm like, I need to change it up and listen to something new. Just get a different feel. And so I've been listening to a ton of John Mayer recently, and I feel like I've been getting a ton of inspiration for that. Just, like, different guitar feel and different guitar country. You do the same thing, you know, you get locked into the same kind of box, and then you gotta listen to something to change it up a little bit. [00:31:51] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, absolutely. That's, like, what I do, too. Cause obviously with raise rowdy, we're very country focused. I'll dip into, like, rap. Like, I'm on, like, a big x, the plug Mexican ot kick right now. We're going to see big x in a few weeks, actually. He's playing. He's playing at east side Bowl, which is just going to be. That's such a small room, so to see him in there is going to be crazy. Have you gotten to go to a lot of shows in town, like, since you moved out here? [00:32:16] Speaker A: Yes and no. Like, I've been turned away at the door a lot because I'm 20, so I can't. I can't get into a lot of them, even with, like, going kind of trying to get in the back way and, like, being on the list and stuff. You know, they still won't let you in, so. But, yeah, I have been to a lot. I've been to a lot of festivals, which has been awesome. Like, I saw big x a plug. [00:32:36] Speaker B: At Bonnaroo this year, bro, festivals are just, like, being a fessy. There's something about, like, I've, like, my girlfriend's not super into festivals. Cause we go to. I think this. By the end of this year, we will have gone to, like, seven or eight of them. And we set up and were involved, like, someone were, like, we're, like, working, but it's fun to just go and just have multiple days of music and a festival like Bonnaroo where it's all different styles. That's like, I haven't been to that one yet, but I hear it's just the festival. [00:33:00] Speaker A: It's awesome. Yeah, we were. We were fortunate enough to play this year, so we played the campgrounds, which was awesome. We had, like, a full hour set. [00:33:06] Speaker B: Yeah, and an hour in the campgrounds, bro, that's wild. You're seeing all kinds of stuff. Bonnaroo, campgrounds, I can only imagine what those like. [00:33:15] Speaker A: It was awesome. I mean, truly just like one of the best shows we've ever gotten to play and been a part of. We just had a great time. Like, there. There's some, you know, you can go and just get it over with and play through your set, but, you know, just get up there and jamming with the, you know, with your boys is different. And we just had a great time doing it and it was a great crowd. And then, you know, we went out there and stayed the whole weekend and got to listen to some great music, too, so. Yeah, but, yeah, we saw post Malone, which was sicken. Yeah, red hot Chili Peppers was awesome. [00:33:47] Speaker B: That's an all time one. [00:33:48] Speaker A: Yeah, I went. When I got my first guitar, like, bought my first guitar. I can only play, like, scar tissue by the red hot chili Peppers. And, like. So I went and sat down and played scar tissue. They didn't play it, unfortunately. So I was pretty bummed. [00:34:00] Speaker B: You know, you're seeing a good band when they can't fit all the hits into a set. [00:34:04] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. But it was awesome. Got to see some great acts of Bonnaroo. And then, like, I made it down to two step in down in Texas, which is cool. I went to Railbird two years ago and saw Tyler Childers. Yeah, he headlined in Lexington and they named it Tyler Childers day. It was like the best. Best show I've ever seen. It was just something special about that show. And as an artist, you can feel when it's special, but when you feel it in the crowd, it's awesome. And you could just. The weather was awesome. The moon was full moon in the background. It was sick. [00:34:39] Speaker B: That's awesome, bro. Yeah, that's. That's as good as it. That's as good as it gets when you have, like, the vibe of the day or the night in general, dude. Like, underneath the full moon. Clear sky, dog. Like, it's the best. The whole crowd is just on a different level. [00:34:54] Speaker A: Yeah, it was awesome. But, yeah, I mean, I've just been. It's been so cool to just get to see different people play from all different styles of music. And, you know, I try to take that and incorporate into my own set and just try to learn from other people. And I think that's a great thing about festivals. You get to see so many different people doing the same thing, but doing it their own way and just taking a little bit of everybody's stuff and putting it into your own. [00:35:18] Speaker B: Yeah. What are some of your favorite covers to play? Like, mixing into the Eli wonder show? [00:35:24] Speaker A: We do last dance with Mary Jane. [00:35:25] Speaker B: Ooh. [00:35:26] Speaker A: And I'll bring out the harmonica. [00:35:28] Speaker B: And that's one where the band can kind of, like, three ball and just jam. [00:35:31] Speaker A: Dude, that's the same four chords over and over and over. [00:35:34] Speaker B: So you can get really creative and get. Get silly on the licks. [00:35:37] Speaker A: Exactly. And then we do our song Taylor Swift, which is always a crowd. [00:35:42] Speaker B: Oh, the girls must go nuts. [00:35:43] Speaker A: They love it. [00:35:43] Speaker B: And there's plenty of dudes that are like, oh, I don't like. Then when that song comes on, bro, they're fucking singing. [00:35:49] Speaker A: All the girls boyfriends are jamming. Like, yeah, it was. It's cool to see, like, different covers work in different markets. And so, like, when we're playing the shows, like, we'll try, like, last dance with Mary Jane. We did it in Indiana, and it's like that first line. She grew up in Indiana town, and they went crazy. And then, you know, we'll just play the covers, and it's like, one will really connect with the crowd. And it's, like, in that moment, like, everybody's, like, a fan. [00:36:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:18] Speaker A: And it's cool to, like, turn. To just see the crowd turn. Like, you can tell from the stage. Like, the crowd lights up and everybody's singing along. And I think that's, like, just a cool thing to see. Like, you picked a good cover, you know, to, like, try to win over fans. [00:36:33] Speaker B: When you're in Tuscaloosa, you gotta play Dixie language, bro. [00:36:37] Speaker A: If the headliner doesn't play it. [00:36:38] Speaker B: Yeah, check with Evan. I'm done. Dude. Dude, that. That is one way to win over a crowd because they'll just sing back the callbacks. Yeah, dude. And it is deafening. [00:36:48] Speaker A: It'll probably mess me up. Like, it'll probably mess my playing up. [00:36:52] Speaker B: But. [00:36:53] Speaker A: But, yeah, we do that, and then we've been do. We did some Jason Aldean, like, early Jason. Nadine. The truth. [00:36:59] Speaker B: That's a very underrated Aldean song. So many hits over the years. Those first couple Aldean records, bro. Nothing. [00:37:06] Speaker A: Like, they're awesome. Yeah. And then, like, I think. I think we're gonna add. What was I thinking? Dirk spent, like, I've been listening to a lot of, like, early dark stuff and recently. [00:37:16] Speaker B: Yeah. Curly haired dirks, bro. Yeah, dude. [00:37:19] Speaker A: But it's. He's got some just great stuff, and I don't know. Vincent was talking about. It's cool to. He does american. American kids. Kenny Chesney. [00:37:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:27] Speaker A: And it's, like, cool to see, like, people, like, sing a song. Like, oh, like, I remember this from when I was a kid. They kind of forgot about it. Haven't thought about a song in a while, and, like, you kind of get that nostalgia in for them, and it's cool to see, like, people just be jamming to a song they heard when they were riding around with their parents in the car. And so I've been trying to think about that, like, what's something that everybody would know but haven't heard in a while and be fired up about? And so I think that'd be a good one to add. And it's just, like, an upbeat, energetic song. [00:37:55] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:55] Speaker A: Drink in my hand we've been doing that one a little bit, too, dude. Yeah. Like, we only have, like, five songs out, and, like, the one we close with is, like, the most upbeat and, like, when we want to leave on. And so, like, a lot of my stuff is kind of, like, lower, like, down, like, slower songs, and I don't want to open with, like, a slow song. And it's also, like, you know, we're lucky if, like. Or thankful. I don't say lucky. Thankful for, like, the few people that are singing along. And, you know, so we want to open with something that everybody's gonna know, and we grab their attention right from the start, you know? And so drinking my hand is what we're probably gonna start opening with. [00:38:34] Speaker B: Hell, yeah. Oh, yeah. What's. Do you have a rider yet? [00:38:37] Speaker A: No. [00:38:38] Speaker B: No. [00:38:39] Speaker A: Like, we just take the. Whatever they can give us, like, cash wise. [00:38:42] Speaker B: Water, food. Yeah. Go. Go get some snacks. What would be on it? Like, what's eventually gonna be on it when you're 21, when you're. When you're old enough. [00:38:52] Speaker A: I don't know. I like to, like, get down to business. I don't want to be drinking a ton before the show. [00:38:58] Speaker B: Like, you can get creative with it, too. You can get, like, gym passes on there. You can get, like, batteries for the guitar and for, like, the packs. You can get, like, all kinds of random shit on. [00:39:08] Speaker A: I like tea. Like, I love to drink a tea before the show. I feel like it gets my voice in shape, so. Yeah, definitely take tea on there. Probably some, like, chips to have around the green room. [00:39:17] Speaker B: One of those lays boxes from, like, Walmart, where you have, like, a little individual box. [00:39:21] Speaker A: Something for everybody. [00:39:22] Speaker B: Veggie tray or, like, a sandwich platter is good, too. Yeah. [00:39:25] Speaker A: Like, cold cuts would be good. Yeah. Also probably some, like, nerd clusters. Sour patch kids. [00:39:33] Speaker B: All right. I know what you're getting when you're. When you're passing through loves or that sour candy. [00:39:39] Speaker A: Dude, I'm a big sunflower seed on the road. [00:39:41] Speaker B: Oh, you're spitting seeds? [00:39:42] Speaker A: Yeah. Keeps me occupied and, like, awake because I'm, like, splitting the shells of my mouth, so. But that's what I'm taking on the road. Like, sunflower seeds and a slim jam. [00:39:51] Speaker B: Okay. Simple. Were you a baseball guy growing up? Did you play baseball? No, because that was, like, the one. [00:39:56] Speaker A: Sport I didn't do. [00:39:57] Speaker B: Really? So what were you doing? You were doing, like, soccer? [00:40:00] Speaker A: I played soccer. I was, like, really little, but no. So I started doing, like, cross country. I ran, like, middle school, like, early high school. Then our school got a football team, and, like, all the guys did football, so switched over to that. And then I played basketball a little bit and then did swim and then track in the spring, golf in the spring. [00:40:20] Speaker B: Okay, so did you watch the Olympics at all? [00:40:23] Speaker A: A little bit. [00:40:24] Speaker B: I was gonna say those are, like, the Olympic sports. [00:40:27] Speaker A: It's crazy to see because, like, I love swim. I stopped running cross country and track, like, early high school, and then switched over to football and golf. But, yeah, it's crazy to just remember, like, what I was running and see what they were running. But also swimming. Like, swimming is the hardest sport, dude. It's a full body workout, and if you're not in shape, like, it'll get you there. It's insane. [00:40:51] Speaker B: The people make it look so easy in the Olympics. [00:40:54] Speaker A: You'll see the time and be like, oh, that took them a while to do that, but it's crazy. I remember I was from the 500 meters, which is a little over a quarter mile. [00:41:08] Speaker B: How many back and forths is that? [00:41:13] Speaker A: I don't remember. It's the big. It's the longest one. [00:41:15] Speaker B: Okay. [00:41:15] Speaker A: It's the longest one. [00:41:16] Speaker B: The marathon of swim, I guess so. [00:41:19] Speaker A: For, like, high school stuff. Like, they had the longer stuff in the Olympics, but it would take me so long to do, like, I think, like, eight minutes. And then in the Olympics, they were doing, which that's really slow, but, like, nobody did it, and so, like, you could get third place and still get points. [00:41:31] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:41:32] Speaker A: And, like, even if you lost, you know, like, you were the last guy, but, like, two minutes. So, like, all the guys would, like, switch off, like, who had to do it and, like, get points, but I. Everybody, like, kills it in the Olympics, and it's just, like, embarrassing what my time was. [00:41:44] Speaker B: Yeah, golf's a fun, fun one, too. I was on my golf team in high school for, like, two years, but I was, like, an alternate, so my score didn't always count. Would count enough to get the varsity letter or, like, the JV letter, whatever it was. But you get to play all these courses that you wouldn't normally get to play. And even though it's just, like, nine holes, like, the golf team's very underrated high school sport where you get to play pretty golf. [00:42:08] Speaker A: It's. Yeah. Cuz, like, I'm still not that good. I wasn't good in high school. They didn't cut anybody, so. But, like, you're saying it's just free golf every day with your boys? Yeah, it's a great time. Like, my brothers got me into it. Like, they were. They played golf when they were, like, younger. They're like, oh, you should do it. Like, I wasn't running track, and I just wasn't doing anything in the spring, and so I did it, and, like, you know, got a set of clubs. Like, the coach had, like, a bunch of extras, and he was like, here, like, just, you know, you didn't have to buy clubs for it. I free golf, like, learn how to play, and it was awesome to get out of school, like, 10:00 to go play? [00:42:40] Speaker B: Yeah, dude. [00:42:42] Speaker A: And, yeah, like you said, like, my points didn't count. They just took, like, the top five, so. [00:42:46] Speaker B: Dude. And then you get to meet other guys from, like, high schools nearby. So if you do want to go, like, mess around and play on, like, a weekend or something, like, you have homies to go and play with. [00:42:55] Speaker A: It was awesome, too. I will say, though, like, not being the best on the team also pairs you with, like, the other team's worst players. [00:43:01] Speaker B: That's it, dude. You're all just having fun out there. You're just like, we're getting the place. [00:43:05] Speaker A: So I was playing. We had, like, a conference. We always. We always played nine. [00:43:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:09] Speaker A: And so. But, like, conference championship or whatever. Like, last match was 18, and I got paired with this kid and, like, we played, like, triple bogey pickup. And, like, by the end of the season, like, you've been playing every day. Like, I was pretty good. You know, I was all right. At least not picking up, you know, like, not getting a triple bogey every hole. I'd be on my second shot, and this kid would be picking up. Like, he'd take eight shots on a par five while I was, like, going to hit my second. And we played that all 18. It was terrible. [00:43:37] Speaker B: And you're walking. [00:43:39] Speaker A: Yeah, you had to walk. So it was. It was a pretty miserable round, but anyway, I still enjoyed golf. [00:43:46] Speaker B: Yeah. Do you still. You get to go out and play a lot since you. [00:43:48] Speaker A: I still play. It's so expensive, though. Like, everybody wants to go all the. [00:43:51] Speaker B: Time during COVID It was so cheap to go, dude. There were, like, a lot of the courses that were around here were, like, 20 something bucks to play with a cart, and it was awesome. Like, I got to play, like, twelve stones, Nashborough Village. Go up towards Kentucky and play some of the courses. And some of them, like, the Matlake, there was one. I forget the name of it. I played it with my buddy Garrett Biggs, and it was, like, raining out. And the wines on the cart path. Like, you're going down these fucking, like, mountains. Almost like, mountain golf's fucking wild. But, yeah, it's tougher to play now with it being so expensive. [00:44:25] Speaker A: Just adds up. Like, it's like, I'll definitely go play, like, here and there, but it just, like, I can't go play every day. I'm also just too busy to play every day. But, yeah, it. But I'd still love it. I just like being outdoors, you know, getting some fresh air, being out on the course. Like, it's just a. Especially when the weather's nice, if it's hot, you know, it's not the best, but fall golf, like, spring golf, love it. [00:44:44] Speaker B: That's something you can do on the road, too. [00:44:46] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:44:47] Speaker B: A lot of guys do on the road. [00:44:49] Speaker A: We don't have the room for it right now. [00:44:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I know. I know. Well, that's, like, when I like muscadine. Charlie does that. Charlie and Tyler. And I think some of the other guys in their crew, like, they pack the clubs in the bus or in the trailer. And before most of the shows, Charlie's going out and playing golf. [00:45:08] Speaker A: That sounds. [00:45:09] Speaker B: Before loading, just go play a quick 18 like you get there in the morning. [00:45:12] Speaker A: Yeah. We went back to North Carolina. We opened up for Tracy Byrdez. [00:45:17] Speaker B: That's a fun show. [00:45:18] Speaker A: It was great. Yeah, we had a great time. And it was, like, close enough to the hometown where a lot of. A lot of the hometown was there. And so we had a blast. But the rest of this stuff, like, we've been doing these little clubs, like, opening for the smaller, you know, like, up and coming guys. And, like, we get there at soundcheck, we go eat, we come back, play the show. This was, like, we sound check at 12:00 and we don't play till eight. Like, it was the first time we really had a time to, like, do something, and we didn't bring anything. It's like, we should start bringing cornhole boards, like a football, like, something. But we just. We set up air mattresses outside and just laid down. Like, we drove all night the night before. It was pretty. A pretty rough, rough day, but. But that was the first time we experienced, like, just having to sit around a ton. And I get why people bring golf clubs in a football and, you know, Frisbee or workout, you know, you gotta find something to do with that downtime. [00:46:10] Speaker B: So, yeah, disc golf is fun, too. Have you done that? [00:46:13] Speaker A: I haven't, bro. [00:46:14] Speaker B: That's great, because all you have to do is buy the. Get the Frisbee. You can get those, like, academy or Walmart or something, and you only need, like, a couple of them, and it's free to play. And there's courses, like, all over the country, so that's a good way to eat up time. It doesn't cost you anything. [00:46:30] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:46:31] Speaker B: It costs you buying the fridge. It cost you, like, $30, and then you can jump one time, and then you can just go play, and you just kill time doing that. [00:46:38] Speaker A: I was talking to Braxton Keith last night. He played in that round with us, and he says he's bowls. He goes in bowls before the show. [00:46:46] Speaker B: Okay. [00:46:46] Speaker A: Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool. Like, I've never. I never thought about that. But he was just like, there's a bowling, bowling alley in every city, and. [00:46:52] Speaker B: It'S usually pretty empty during the day. [00:46:54] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. But I thought that was cool. Like, he brings his ball on the road with him and they just go bowl. [00:46:59] Speaker B: That's not a bad idea. [00:47:00] Speaker A: No, not at all. You know, it definitely takes up some time. [00:47:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:04] Speaker A: And he was saying, like, bowling. Like, he was saying, like, a bunch of his buddies, like, go golf and stuff. And he was like, a lot of times, they don't have time for that, so they just go bowl a couple frames and, you know, go play the show. [00:47:14] Speaker B: Yeah. Nothing wrong with that. And then you see people at the show, like, hey, I'm playing the show tonight. Sell a couple extra tickets. [00:47:19] Speaker A: Yeah. And, like, you're probably not gonna run into fans at, like, the bowling. [00:47:22] Speaker B: You're not gonna get bothered. [00:47:23] Speaker A: It's empty. Yeah. So. But, yeah, I thought that was pretty cool. [00:47:27] Speaker B: That's awesome. Yeah. What do you like food wise? And do you think Carolina has the best barbecue in the country? [00:47:34] Speaker A: I'm biased to it, but I think just Carolina barbecue and Texas barbecue just. I don't even consider them the same thing. Like, it's two completely different things because we're, like, pulled pork with, like, a vinegar sauce. [00:47:47] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:48] Speaker A: And I love it. But I also love Texas barbecue. There's something. It's just a different thing. You know, it's like, brisket or, you know, you get some ribs somewhere, but it's just a different thing. But, yeah, I think North Carolina barbecue is the best. Yeah. But I also love, like, North Carolina has these hot dogs are called bright leaf hot dogs, and they're highly hot dogs. Yeah, they're red. [00:48:08] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:48:09] Speaker A: So, like, yeah, anyway, I love them, but, like, I told all the band, like, we have to get somewhere in North Carolina. Like, you guys got to try them. Everybody loved them. [00:48:18] Speaker B: That's good. [00:48:18] Speaker A: But. But, yeah, those are a big, like, back home thing. Like, grilled bright leaf hot dogs. [00:48:24] Speaker B: What are you putting on your hot dog? You a mustard guy? Ketchup guy? [00:48:27] Speaker A: Ketchup, mustard, chili. [00:48:29] Speaker B: Wow. Ketchup, mustard, and chili. [00:48:32] Speaker A: Yeah. You order it without is what it's called. Okay. Can I get a hot dog without, but ketchup, mustard, chili? I guess it means, like, without onions and slaw or not slaw, relish. [00:48:41] Speaker B: I was gonna say without, but you're still getting three things on it. [00:48:43] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it means without onions and relish, but that's just what it's called. [00:48:46] Speaker B: When you're up in Chicago, you're gonna have to go to Portillo's. [00:48:48] Speaker A: All right? [00:48:49] Speaker B: Portillo's, dude, they do the. They have hot dogs there, but they also do these, like, beef sandwiches, bro. They're so good. And they have. Their chocolate cake is insane. And they have a chocolate cake shake. Like, it's like a milkshake with, like, chocolate cake in it. And it's like a big Chicago thing, dude. And it's. You're gonna have a lot of fun in Chicago. [00:49:08] Speaker A: I'm so excited, man. There's just, like, you're saying so much food op. So many food options and just different places to try. But there's a thai place here that I love smiling elephants. You ever been smiling elephant? [00:49:20] Speaker B: Where's that? [00:49:20] Speaker A: It's off 8th. [00:49:21] Speaker B: Okay. I haven't been over there. There's so many little, like, hole in the wall places of everything. That's what's cool about Nashville. You'd think it's like a southern city. There's gonna be barbecue and nothing, just hot chicken, but there's everything here. [00:49:32] Speaker A: It's across from Hattie B's. [00:49:33] Speaker B: Okay. [00:49:34] Speaker A: But it's so good. I think it's. The guy told me it's been there since like the thirties or something. It's been there for a long time, but it's so good. I like that. I love indian food. There's a good joint over by the airport. Yeah, it's great spicy shit. I enjoy spice, man. I enjoy. I enjoy a good spicy meal to the point where it's enjoyable, you know? Like, if it's making me sweat, then it's not. [00:49:59] Speaker B: Dude, you're not doing a food challenge. [00:50:01] Speaker A: No, absolutely. [00:50:02] Speaker B: You want to be in pain while you're eating. [00:50:03] Speaker A: Yeah. And, like, I didn't like hot wings growing up, but I love them now. I've been eating a lot of hot wings, but they have to be, like, super crispy. [00:50:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:12] Speaker A: And then, like, you know, have a good buffalo sauce on them. But. But, yeah, I've been eating a lot of hot wings recently, too, but I cook a lot. I've been trying to meal prep, eat healthier. [00:50:22] Speaker B: Yeah, that comes in handy on the road, dude, if you can fit, like, a little cooler. [00:50:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:27] Speaker B: On the road in meal prep, that is a big thing because you're used to stopping at, like, loves or Bucky's, and it's like, you're not gonna go to Bucky's and not get one of. [00:50:36] Speaker A: The sandwiches or one cookie dough bites and, like, something sweet. [00:50:40] Speaker B: Beaver nuggets, bro. The. I forget the, like, the beaver twisted. And they're like, the bugles. Like, chocolate covered bugles and stuff are like. They have chocolate covered everything. [00:50:49] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:50:49] Speaker B: It's an experience. And now they have them at every point. Like, you're going up north on 65. There's one in Kentucky. [00:50:55] Speaker A: Yeah, we stopped there last night, bro. [00:50:57] Speaker B: It's great. [00:50:59] Speaker A: That was the first time I've been to that one, but, yeah, like, you're saying they're everywhere now. Yeah, but, yeah, well, unfortunately, I haven't done that on the road. Like, we're still eating fast food, but, yeah, just while we're in town or while I'm in town. Like, saves so much money. [00:51:14] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:51:14] Speaker A: And then it also just healthier, you know? But I like to cook just chicken breast. I have an air fryer. It's the best. It's so quick and easy. [00:51:23] Speaker B: That's great. [00:51:24] Speaker A: Yeah, it's the best. [00:51:25] Speaker B: You make bacon in there? No, my girlfriend does that. She makes the bacon in the air fryer, bro. [00:51:30] Speaker A: I bet it's good. I bet it's great. [00:51:31] Speaker B: Actually, the fucking. You got to try that, dude. Put anything in that air fryer, dude. [00:51:36] Speaker A: It's great. [00:51:37] Speaker B: Notch. [00:51:38] Speaker A: Um, yeah, no, I've been cooking that. Cook a lot of pork chops, rice. Ooh. [00:51:43] Speaker B: Okay. [00:51:43] Speaker A: Um, just the simple stuff. [00:51:46] Speaker B: Do you live in the city or are you out of town? [00:51:48] Speaker A: I live off of Nolensville, so, like, I'm, like, 20 minutes south of downtown. [00:51:51] Speaker B: Like, brainiac kind of area. Yeah, like, Antioch. [00:51:54] Speaker A: It's. It's probably closer to Brentwood. [00:51:57] Speaker B: Okay. [00:51:57] Speaker A: Like Creve hall. Yeah, I guess. I don't really know. [00:52:01] Speaker B: Yeah, I used to live in Antioch, bro. It was wild. It was wild. Antioch during COVID Washington. Wild. [00:52:06] Speaker A: There's, like, an Instagram page called Antioch something. And, like, you see the, like, street takeovers, like, people drifting in the streets. [00:52:12] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, we get that over here in hermitage. They do that shit. Like. Like the parking lot behind this McDonald's that's over here. You see people, like, as I live right around the corner from here and, like, the Hermitage, old hickory area. And it's like, you'll hear the cars in, like, the middle of the night just going. It's like you're at a NASCAR track. [00:52:29] Speaker A: I've heard that a little bit where I'm at, but a lot of people shoot up fireworks too, where I'm at. Like, I'll step outside and just see fireworks. Like, I live close to the Walmart, and, like, I can see, like, where the Walmart parking lot would be, like, over the trees, and you see fireworks shooting off. It's kind of crazy, but, yeah, that. [00:52:43] Speaker B: Was what I would have to ask myself when I was in antioch. Are those fireworks or those gunshots? You'd hear pop, pop, and then you'd hear the car, like, peeling out, like, just the tires. Like, oh, shit. Time to go back inside. But, dude, that's. That's awesome, man. What's something that you would tell yourself a year ago now? You've been here. You said you've been here about a year. [00:53:03] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, just keep doing it. Keep writing. I feel like. I feel like I came into it with a good attitude. Where I was at a year ago. Like, I was just happy and excited, and I still am. You know, I'm just happy and excited and thankful for every opportunity that I've been given, and I just try to make the most of it, you know, taking every opportunity at a show to try to convert those people to listen to my music and just keep doing it. Yeah. I feel like I was at the same place I was a year ago, like, mentally and just kind of keep my head down and keep going. [00:53:35] Speaker B: That's a good place to be, dude. Yeah, because you've got. What's. What's the team look like right now? [00:53:40] Speaker A: So I've got, like, two main people at Atlantic that are just, we're, you know, talking every week, which. [00:53:46] Speaker B: Congrats on that. Thank you. That's a big deal, man. That's a big deal to have. Have support from a major awesome. [00:53:54] Speaker A: And it's like, it's super. They found me super, super early, and it's so. It's like, they're truly here for the right reasons. Like, I didn't go viral, and they just swooped in and, like, tried to pick up some cash. Like, they're truly here because they believe in what we've got going on, and. And they believe that, you know, we can take it all away and. Yeah, and. And that makes me super feel super comfortable to work with them, and I'm just super thankful for them and the opportunity they've given me. And then we've got two people at the management team that are, you know, talking every day, just figuring out the schedule and just what we're doing, and then we're working with WMe now, so, yeah, they're booking all the shows, which has been awesome. [00:54:33] Speaker B: Isn't that nice to have somebody booking your shows and not just scheduling it on your own, dude, it's awesome. That's a huge moment when you get that. [00:54:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:54:42] Speaker B: Somebody advocating for you on that show. [00:54:43] Speaker A: And we're playing, like, real shows. Real, real shows. Like, yes. Like, I grew up playing in, like, hometown bars, and, like, that was fun, but, like, you're just kind of background music. Like, what. I guess what I mean by, like, a real show is, like, I appreciate all those. But, like, people bought tickets to come see the show and they care about the open. Yeah. And. And they're singing along to. Yeah, our songs and, you know, obviously the covers and that's been awesome. So to get into those kind of shows where people really, really care and they're there to see you, um, it's just been the best. Yeah, dude, um, wme. We got business management. Handling all the. [00:55:19] Speaker B: Somebody handling all the money. You don't throw that tax season. That's great. That's huge. [00:55:24] Speaker A: Um, trying to. I hope I'm not forgetting anybody. Still don't have a pub deal. Still. [00:55:29] Speaker B: Really? [00:55:29] Speaker A: Yeah, just writing, um, with. With anybody that'll write with me. Um, just not in any rush, you know. [00:55:37] Speaker B: Dude. I mean, hey, if you've got all the other stuff, you're doing the artist thing and you've got homies, like Evan Vincent, like, all the other guys that you've named. Like, if you have those homies, it's like writing with your buddies is special. [00:55:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:55:50] Speaker B: Especially. That's who you can be vulnerable with. [00:55:52] Speaker A: Yeah. And I've found, like, people that I feel like I get great songs with. [00:55:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:55:58] Speaker A: I've just found, like, the crew that I work well with and. Yeah. And we're getting cool stuff, you know, but, you know, definitely we'll have one someday, but not in any rush. You know, we're talking to everybody and. And just enjoying getting to know those folks. So I think that's about it. [00:56:16] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:56:16] Speaker A: And then the band, which is. Which is awesome. [00:56:19] Speaker B: Tell me about the guys in the band. [00:56:20] Speaker A: Yeah, we've got Sam Hatfield on the drums. He's from New York. [00:56:24] Speaker B: Hey, my New York buddy. Where is he, like, from? Like, the city? Oh, Albany. Okay. So he's, like, central, like, upstate New. [00:56:29] Speaker A: York, but great guy. Killer drone player. Cam Bertile on the bass. He's like a classical bass major. [00:56:35] Speaker B: Where's he from? [00:56:36] Speaker A: He's from Arizona. Phoenix area, I believe. And he's killer on the bass. Just classical bass major. Knows his instrument extremely well. And then Thomas Miralis on guitar from Texas. [00:56:50] Speaker B: Nice. [00:56:50] Speaker A: And he's the same as Cam. Like, just knows his instrument super well. He's been touring for a really long time, you know, since he was in high school, and so he's just killer. Yeah, he's also, like, just got a good ear. Like, he's been producing some stuff and doing demos and. And he's got a great, great ear. He's kind of, like, md. Like, we're. He's helping build the songs and. Yeah. Yeah. Just great guys, man. And then we've added a keys player, John Lowry. [00:57:18] Speaker B: Okay. [00:57:18] Speaker A: And, dude, he's killer as well. [00:57:21] Speaker B: Just, like, keys are, like, a nice little, like, bonus. Like. [00:57:24] Speaker A: Yeah, it's super cool because we're not running any tracks or anything, so it's like. It adds so much to just fill the room with, you know, some, like, atmospheric, like, sound. And then I love a good, like, country, like, western piano. [00:57:34] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:57:35] Speaker A: And so he can do all that as well, which is awesome. So. But, yeah, the guys in the band are great. They're all great guys, you know, not causing any trouble. They're on time. [00:57:45] Speaker B: Do you have a tm or a merch guy yet? [00:57:47] Speaker A: We're doing it all. [00:57:48] Speaker B: Doing it all yourselves is kind of cool, too. [00:57:50] Speaker A: But I will say that my management handles a lot. You know, they're. They're. They're killing it with that stuff as well. But. But, no, we're just running it by ourselves right now. I mean, like, we're really. We're not handling a whole lot. Like, I'll just be like, hey, I'll be at the merch table and go back there, so. But, no, it's been great, man. The guys are. The guys are awesome. You know, we can sit in a truck and talk the whole time and not talk about the same thing twice, which is. Which is super cool, you know, like, to know, like, you can, like, have a conversation and, you know, just openly talk with the guys and enjoy it. You know, we enjoyed time together. [00:58:26] Speaker B: That's the best part about the road, dude. And you'll. You'll miss those moments in the truck or in the van or whatever you're in when you're in the bus, dude. Because it's like, in the bus, guys can just go to their bunks and you don't have that enclosed space where it's like, you and the guys just those funny moments. Like, those are some of my favorite moments since I moved to Nashville, where those 13 hours drives to Texas in the van, dude, and talking with the guys and wherever the conversation would go, you know? [00:58:51] Speaker A: Yeah, no, it's the best. That's what everybody says is, like, you'll miss the van days, the truck days. But it's been awesome, man. I mean, and there's no better way to get to know your band. You know, like, you're stuck in the car for, you know, ten plus hours going who knows where, and, you know, you get to know a lot about the guys and, you know, go so much deeper than just music. Get to know them on like, a personal level, you know, more than just, hey, we're playing this song. Yeah. And, yeah, they're just such great guys to be around, so. [00:59:21] Speaker B: Yeah, it sounds like they're all invested, dude. Which is. [00:59:23] Speaker A: Yeah, that's the cool thing. [00:59:24] Speaker B: They feel. They feel invested and they're growing with you in this thing, dude. [00:59:28] Speaker A: Yeah. Cause when we're playing for nothing, you know, they're not. They're not in it for the money, so. But, yeah, they're great, man. Couldn't ask for better guys to be with. [00:59:39] Speaker B: That's awesome. So what do we got as far as new music coming? [00:59:42] Speaker A: Yeah, we've got an ep, I guess, coming out next month. Yeah, it's August, so looking for EP in September, and it's got a couple really cool songs on there that I'm super pumped about, but, yeah, that's. That's kind of what's up next. And then just touring out the rest of the year, which. That was my goal for this year, was to play as many shows as we could. And we've played some great shows this year, and we've got some great shows coming, so. So I'm just super excited for really, next month to thanksgiving. We're playing a lot of shows. Yeah. Just super thankful, you know? Super thankful for what we've got. [01:00:20] Speaker B: You'll have something to talk about at thanksgiving, all these different shows that you went to, dude. [01:00:24] Speaker A: For sure. [01:00:24] Speaker B: That's freaking awesome. I appreciate you taking the time to come out. The freedom, freedom, freedom hat looks good on you, too, by the way. I'm glad you grabbed that one. I got more merch in the truck. We'll hook you up with some stuff, and anytime you want to do a round or a raise rowdy show, we'd love to have you. I know. We've been. We've been messaging back and forth on a date that would work for. For our losers stuff, so we'd love to have you, dude, and thank you so much for coming on and love watching the rocket ship take off, dude. [01:00:49] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Thank you for having me. [01:00:50] Speaker B: I can't wait to see where it is and when the ep comes out and all of that, dog, so everybody can find you. It's Eli Winders music, right? [01:00:57] Speaker A: Yes, sir. [01:00:58] Speaker B: Eli Winters music. And Eli Winters for all the. All the tour dates, bro. It's exciting stuff, man. You're at a great place to where, like, where you'll look back. We're looking back to where you were a year ago, and then you'll fast forward a year and look back to where you were now and where you are then, like, you're in a. It's a fun time, dude, so enjoy every second of it. [01:01:18] Speaker A: Absolutely. [01:01:19] Speaker B: Hell yeah, dude. Well, thank you so much to Eli Winters for coming on. Y'all be sure to be on the lookout for the new music. Check out his stuff, Spotify, apple, and of course, the website, eliwinders.com. and be on the lookout for all the tour dates. Tucker Wetmore tour coming up on the show with Evan and more stuff. I'm sure that'll be popping up and getting announced over time. [01:01:37] Speaker A: Yeah, we've got a couple, we were getting ready to announce, I guess a couple more here and there, so. Hope to see you at a show. [01:01:44] Speaker B: Hell yeah. Well, you guys, thank you as always for watching, listening. Be sure to, like, rate, subscribe, tell your mama and them for more on us, visit raised rowdy.com. shout out to our friends from Surfside iced tea, vodka. Check out the lemonade. Visit Surfside drink Surfside on the socials and they are available everywhere. They just came out with that new green tea and that new lemonade variety pack that is supposed to be very, very good from what I've heard. So for my man Eli, I'm Matt Brill. This has been outside the round. [01:02:18] Speaker A: I. [01:02:19] Speaker B: Never been to kind for still one place for too long I never been. [01:02:26] Speaker A: The best at sin I love you. [01:02:29] Speaker B: To a girl I love only got a couple tricks on my sleeve they usually just make them leave so if you know me, if you really know me? [01:02:40] Speaker A: You know I'm just a two trick. [01:02:43] Speaker B: On it then maybe the drink is and the lack of money for show I'm just a two drink on it, yeah.