How have you adjusted to becoming a solo artist and a bandleader? I don’t mind coming up with material. I’ve always written a lot without a problem. Really the hardest thing for me is singing through an entire set. Now it’s on me to keep the crowd entertained, and when you’re tired, living on the road, that’s not always easy. I’m learning to defeat that.
Have you settled into a permanent group with the 400 Unit? I don’t have any plans to do anything different. I’m not a businessman with a plan for where I want to be in five years. I just want to make good music that’s written well and played well. Things are working really well with this band, and I’m lucky to be surrounded by such great players. We’ve known each other for a long time—since before I knew the Truckers guys—and played together in different situations for many years. As long as the level of comfort goes up as our ages do, I think we’ll be fine to do this for a long time.
Was it hard to create your own musical identity, while constantly being referred to as a former member of the Drive-By Truckers?
I just have to ignore that. I’m happy about what I accomplished with that band, but a musician’s identity comes from the media. I’ve never thought about my own identity. I’m just out here trying to write songs that don’t suck.
Bluegrass Brew
It’s no secret that bluegrass and beer go well together, but not many bands get their very own namesake brew. Virginia-based bluegrass outfit The Steel Wheels will be so lucky this month when Blue Mountain Brewery unveils Steel Wheels ESB. The small craft brewery, which sits in the scenic shadow of Hump Mountain in Afton, Va., has hosted a number of memorable Steel Wheels shows and decided to pay tribute to one of its favorite bands with a traditional English style beer augmented with an extra hoppy kick. The ESB will be available at the brewery on August 27, when the Steel Wheels will christen the craft suds with a live show.
