MAB Q&A

MAB, you forgot to mention "The Dome" at Florbama. That is downstairs from the main bar and listening room. It is on the ground floor, but the ceeling is as high as the top of the second floor. There is a walkway around 3 sides of the stage area with chairs for upstiairs viewing. Down stairs is a few tables, but mostly booths along 3 sides, and a dance floor in front of the stage.. I think they may have even put some chairs on the dance floor last year for 1 or 2 shows. Last year, Cathy also had an open mic down there a few nfghts.before the main shows started. This is the open area I was talking about. Not "open" as in outside; "open" as in NOT a "SHHH" area. It can be rather loud. That is where the "party" folks go.

A couple more bits of information. Some time between 5pm and 7pm (don't know exactly when) there is a $5.00 cover to get into the Bama. That gets you access to all the downstairs bars, incuding the Domes's upstairs viewing. BUT, most nights there is ANOTHER $5.00 cover to get into the main bar upstairs. That is the listening room, "SHHHH" area. And "the queen", who's actual name escapes me at the moment, MEANS IT! She WILL ask you to leave; WITH the help of some fairly large bouncers!. There are two doors to get into that bar, both monitored by the volunteers. There is a little pool room benhind the bar area, where they move the pool tables against the wall and put tables in there. That is the writers gathering room. ONLY writers and guests are allowd back there. That is another door that is monitored. You would not believe how disrespectfull other writers can be. The monitors WILL NOT let you in while a writer is performing!. But other writers think they should be allowed to come and go whenever. They actually have their own private intrance at the other end of the upstairs area. This place gets to be standing room only from around 7pm to 10pm.

Kevin, like I said earlier; If you JUST go to the Bama every night, you'll see almost every writer that comes down. Eddie posted there is a small condo thing across the street. Don't know much about it or how you get a room there. There are other HUGE condos on both sides of the Bama within walking distance, but I don't know anything about them. BUT if you want to "experience" the festival, be prepared to drive to the different venues. As far as your needing to working goes, the lunch server volunteerss work from (I think) 10am to 2pm, give or take 1/2 hour on each side. There are two shifts for the night shows. 7-9pm and 9-11pm. I don't know how much personal work you need to do?

phil g.

Phil,

I did. I just didn't call it the "Dome." that was the "outside' of the Bama I was talking about. The "Queen's" name is Lee Anne Creswell.

MAB 

MAB, O.K. I thought you were talking about the "actually outside on the deck" stage. Also, actually the Warf area is about 5-10 miin. off the gulf highway. But once you get there, the good news is, there are three places right together that have writers nights. The bad news is, your favorite writers might all be there at the same time at all three different vienues. MAB played the Daqeri bar one night. I got there early, then too late found out another writer I wanted to see was across the street!

One other great thing is, I didn't have to pay for parking anywhere I went last year. Parking for the Bama.is a small lot beside it and a large lot across the street. All other venues have close, free parking also.

phil g.

Phil,

The "Tent' stage is usually reserved for bands, so I don't really consider that part of the festival. 

KevMo,

It would be great if you could make it to FB this year.  The reason I only looked into the prices at the Regatta is because that is where MAB and Tina stay.  It is very convenient because everyone is staying at the same place and can hook up easily.  This is helpful to get together and pass some time during the afternoons, MAB is within walking distance if anyone wants to work with him, and makes it easy to meet up as a group and car pool to the shows.  Now, I'll be honest with you,  I am pretty loyal to the MAB and my preference would be to attend all of his shows as a priority.  You will still get to see other writers because some of them will perform on stage with him, be in the set ahead of him; or the act behind him.   There will be a variety, so you won't be disappointed.

I assume it would be like the last time a group of us were there in 09,  we traveled everywhere as a group and had a great time.

MAB mention RiDawn, Alice and Danni might be coming down;  which sounds like a perfect match for their own Condo.  So we may end up with a second Condo, the more the merrier.  I hope you can make it.

OD

Hey folks,

Doing vocals on a few songs for the Cotton Box Road project. OD, we could do a "Ramp Reunion" but wouldn'[t have to make it into a tour. I would be happy to host a morning song critique session and then if anyone wanted some private time they could book that. I will be around. And I would try to get whomever wanted to play into one of the open mics. I usually know the hosts and we can set things up. 

Could be a lot of fun. Many are booking the Regatta now so get in on it.

MAB 

MAB,

A re-union with the 09 gang would be fun indeed.  I don't know the likelihood of that happening but I'll send out some emails.

I'm still on the fence a little bit because I hate to book a Condo without anyone committing so far.  We only have one maybe.

We'll have to see how things play out in the next few weeks.   If only the Kid was elegible for some vacation time.

OD

OD,

just lost a long post but basically I was saying I hope you fellas all have fun if you do get a few rampers to the festival, consider me there in spirit... wife and I had breakfast this morning in fact and discussed my next trip for quite a while, she knows I'm saving and am ready just counting down the time till I can come, will drive this time I'm sure, but Nashville is calling me big time. I can't wait till I'm eligible.

I know theres been a lot of "festival" talk on here which is cool, but to change just a bit I want to get MAB's and anyone else's opinion on a couple songs, a guy from down here named Cody Johnson who's making some big waves... playing a cool festival with Eli Young, Wade Bowen and a couple other big Texas names he has a current number one on Texas charts called "Me and My Kind" which you can hear by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqblX83AwD4

MAB,

I'd like your take on how that song would be received in Nashville if you wouldn't mind...

Here is another one he wrote which went to number one off the same album a few months ago called Cowboy Like Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBGtfc_oI9I which happens to be the title track of the album, and my favorite song off his current album. I LOVE the intro using the sound effects, and the words from the old man, which I personally think doesn't get done enough, I was surprised when I heard it, the quote from the old man, that's something I was always used to hearing in "cough" hip/hop and mixtapes, but thought little snippets like that really built up a song like a good intro to a movie. Just an opinion.

Real quick he really is a cowboy, through and through, rode the circuit, not a "wanna be" if you will, pure Texan and is a 100% "HAT ACT" in an age of Cap Acts I'd like you guys to opine how you think Nashville would recieve an artist like this. Just curious...

the kid

Here's one more a bit more dance  hall style called "Dance Her Home" just to listen too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAltOF9cEyg

Got Tomballs first music festival tomorrow going with the fam, I'll try to post some pics and do an update... Sunday night is a good Josh Ward Show with the wife only, gonna tear up the sawdust two steppin!!!. Looking forward to the weekend.

Justin,

I kind of hate when you ask me things like "What would Nashville think of this?" Kind of stuff. I don't have the vaguest idea. I can only tell you what I think, and what I've seen  and overheard on these types of artists. He sounds very much like what a lot of people here were doing about five years ago. Now it sounds very dated to me. As the mainstream country audience has gotten more urban, the connection with this kind of music gets farther removed. This would be "your father's country music" and would be pretty much turned off by most of today's listeners who are going for Eric Church, Jason Aldeen and most of today's crop. He sounds very much like George Strait and while a lot of people are looking for the "next George Strait" I wouldn't be holding my breath for it to happen. 

Music listeners go through a few distinct stages. They hear what is around them currently on the radio as they grow up. They hear their older siblings, their parents, etc. songs and get their own grounding in that, up until the early teens. Then they start finding their own music and ages 15-23-24 are spent looking for different types of music. There is a whole hearted rejection of anything they grew up with and that their parents or older siblings listened to. In Nashville, this type of stuff started fading about 5-8 years ago, and less and less of these acts got signed. So there is just not the groundswell of support for it. It becomes more "niche marketed." There is still a fan base, Texas as you mention for this guy, but it is not as widespread as the believers in this type of music would like to believe.

Today's country listeners have more in common with AC/DC and Aerosmith, than they do with any traditional singers like Strait, Jackson or Garth. One of the reasons Strait and Allen Jackson are performing less and less is that they want to go out on top and not see their audiences diminish like aging boxers or football players. They play less and become more "iconic" doing things like Vegas and Casinos, where their fans, who have grown past the arena days go.

We always hear the refrain of "That Ain't country" in the newcomers of country music. The older generation never likes to be replaced. But they always are. Just part of the cycle.

I am sure your guy will do well in Texas, which supports more diverse audiences. Here, I am afraid, is probably not going to embrace that style. But in an overall scheme he could be like Pat Green, who turned down a Nashville deal because "He couldn't take the pay cut."  

Sorry you hated the question MAB... thanks for the answer though, curious on your thoughts about if there was ever a possible return for a young group of "HAT ACTS" in town, etc. i guess it would be a pat green type scenario now that i think about it. 

Justin, 

I just don't see it because of the nature and development of the business. It doesn't go backwards.  With each successive generation away from a type of music (traditional country and cowboy type songs), the listeners have less and less of a connection to that type of music. You always get your growth and new customers from people coming up, not the people from the past. 

Just like the "Cowboy" and the range, wild west and the horse, gave way to pick up and the tailgate out in the field, the styles of music have changed. Like always there will be niches'. People like Lee Anne Rhymes was a throw back to Patsy Cline, Dwight Yokum to Buck Owens, and Josh Turner to Johnny Cash, there are always going to be certain artists that are "throw backs" or retro to another era. But that doesn't mean the whole industry turns around to fit that model. As a matter of fact, any subsequent people who try to follow those trends are called "sellouts" and just "jumping on a bandwagon." 

The entire aspect of Texas is that it is a very large niche market. While the artists there are passionately embraced in Texas, can make entire careers there, playing the Honky Tonks and Roadhouses, having songs on the Texas Charts, doing Texas events, rodeos, and other things endemic to Texas. And once again, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. But when they step out of Texas, it is harder to gain traction. (Pat Green had trouble selling outside of Texas, which was the purpose of the "pay cut" comment.) And one of the negative things that a lot of Texas artists do, is come to places like Nashville, LA and New York and build resentment because the rest of these places don't buy into that persona. There is always a pretty big "Chip on the shoulder" attitude from many of the artists that come out of there. 

So when you ask "how would Nashville react to .... artist?" You can pretty much answer that yourself. A style of music that is dated in markets outside of Texas, with the cowboy hat theme which is pretty dead and gone, with subject matter and a "cowboy" persona, that has never really been Nashville in the first place, if you really think about it, you should come to the same conclusion.

Again, I could always be wrong. But I just don't think so. Again, one of the main things I do is be around artists who are doing this and going through it all the time themselves, as well as their audiences. And I am around enough label and publishing people, and catch their "behind the scenes" comments and attitudes, that I don't think I am. 

Time will tell.

MAB 

Justin, except for that 1 min.+ intro to "Cowboy Like Me", [I] liked all three songs. They don't write songs like that any more though. As far as Cody being a "hat guy", I just looked at the top 10 country songs on billboard. Jason Aldean; "Burnin It Down", Kenny Chesney; "American Kids", Tim McGraw; "Menwhile Back At Mama's", and Dustin Lynch; "Where It's At (Yep, Yep)", all wear hats. And let's not forget Brad Paisley who is at #14 with "River Bank". So, I guess I'd give Cody a 40% chance from that perspective. BUT it was NOT the hat that got these guys in the top 20; It was the songs. So, Cody would definately need more up-to-date songs and music.

phil g.

Very good Phil,

Last night I was pretty wiped out from a week of work being done on the house, both Tina and I traveling, and being in the studio all day with COTTON BOX ROAD, I didn't get to the main part that I felt was missing from Cody's stuff.
ENERGY.a

Phil is quite right with the "hat acts", there are still a few out there, and probably always will. But most of what is missing from Cody's songs that I have heard is energy and attitude. And the subject matter. Again, the cowboy thing is very much on the way out if not already done. What mainstream audiences relate to is now energy. Our lives are faster paced, and shorter attention span. So they tune things out much faster.

The case in point, that 1:19 full of noise that you seemed to like, I found hopelesslly boring. I was doing other things, like always when I was listening to it. I remembered your saying you really liked that part, so I tried to listen through, but it was noise to me. There is your answer. One man's trash is another man's treasure. What you found compelling, I found wasted space. And most other people do too, which is why you don't hear it used very much any more. People used to put an album on a turntable and listen to the whole thing from start to finish. It was one long piece of art. But that was when we had 3 television channels, and TV that went off at 10 PM or midnight. We didn't have computers, we didn't have video games, we didn't just sit around and do one thing at a time. Life and technology ended that. So pretty much that is dead. 

And from what I heard of Cody, (only listened to most of two songs), I was uninterested because of a lack of energy. And the subject matter on songs. As I said, it all felt very much like what we were doing here 5 plus years ago. 

So, I don't think it has to do as much with the "hat act" verses "Cap Act", although I predict you will see less and less actual cowboy hats in the future. Things have gone to Zac Brown's knit cap (Although he has switched to a top hat),or the hep cat fedora, turned backwards caps, and of course, just full heads of hair. 

And I can guarantee another thing. There will never be "just one look" in country.

MAB 

MAB, and Philwitbthegreatinputaswell

Thanks guys for that guys, MAB you answered my question pretty dang well to the real point I was curious about. Seeing a guy like Cody for instance is what begged my question. A guy really gaining traction not just in Texas but in other states up North as well, granted they are "cowboy"  states as well... Cheyenne, Wyoming and places like that but as a laymen listener down here in Texas I was just wondering if someone who is coming up like that and really playing quite few other states would have a niche in "town" again as you say, he's not hurting for sales and I can't lie I FIGURED your answer would be along those lines, but I wanted to hear it from the expert.

That's one thing that frustrates me as a Texan, NOT AGAINST NASHVILLE ESTABLISHMENT, honestly it frustrates me toward my fellow Texas artists. It's really a give and take. One part of me wants to just get mad (because of what I've learned from MAB) and be like "Guys if we'd just stop thinking about just OURSELVES cowrite together, change up our songs some, and shoot for the Nashville bar we could really start making some great music" I'm afraid that attitude just has me barking up a VERY tall tree, so I'd just as soon save my breath, the downside is the second you start voicing that opinion down here, you will be blackballed as a sellout, to which is the attitude I believe MAB is speaking of that artists "intown" are so annoyed about Texans who come to town, having made careers here, made GOOD MONEY so naturally they think they come to Nashville and will "change the game" (cause they are so good) *tongue buried in cheek* and simply realize the format is totally different.

All that being said I believe I'm come full circle to the understanding of what MAB told me last year on his back yard at his house party STAY IN TEXAS, I try to write for the Nashville bar, and I WILL write for the Texas bar and finally feel I've got a solid grasp on the difference, the BIG DIFFERENCE with ME is when the KID comes to town I will have know chip on my shoulder cause I know where the real bread is buttered... NASHVILLE, TN... so I will bend in order not to break. Of course my "ears" like Texas Music cause I'm surrounded by it, what turns you guys off sometimes, I really enjoy. But what you guys enjoy, I still enjoy as well! So I feel kind of like an anomaly (is that the right word?) hahaha in Texas I feel like I know both markets, and don't have the chip so it doesn't need to be "knocked off" when I get to town, I know it exists so when I cross that TN state line my mindset of a "good song" changes. I know it, learned it from MAB.. who's *cough* always right. (Damn I hate saying that) hahahaha just kidding! Actually love saying that cause it's NEVER steered me wrong once!!!!)

As always thanks for the information, now it's time to get the kids dressed, and go listen to some TEXAS MUSIC!!!!!! When I get out off this post, I've got to switch car seats to my truck, load up a top quality Nemo Guitar and Little Mermaid guitar, and a Red Wagon, long walk to the stage. Gonna be a fun day. See y'all later.

Thanks again MAB, and Phil.... see ya later have a great day.

Justin,

It is all cultural. THE LONE STAR STATE. Texans have always had a long proud tradition of going their own way, and resenting outsiders trying to change them. That is to be respected. And there is nothing wrong with that. Until you are trying to get others to bend to your will. If you do music that others' don't embrace because they don't come from that cultural background, THEN get mad at people, and insulting them for not GETTING it, that is where the problem is. and often where the chip on the shoulders come from.

Nashville has always been a melting pot, where people assimilate  into the culture with versions of their own music drawing from influences of others that came before. More of a melting pot of America. We draw roots from rock, soul,blues, country, swing, story telling, and now even rap and hip hop (as much as I personally don't like that, but I cannot stand in people's way either), and then mix all that up into new sounds and subject matter. It will tend to get more formula in things as something becomes successful, it is milked for all it's worth,  (Bro country), till the next trend comes along.

But Nashville has never been one going out to get people to conform to IT'S rules. Unless they are trying to come HERE. Then you have the same chance as anyone to adapt things to you. In my own era, the late 80's into the early 90's, the "Blue Eyed Soul" singers were everywhere. Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell, Travis Tritt. T.Graham Brown had the 'Run for the border" Taco Bell commecial. Blues songs were sneaking in everywhere.

Then, that DAMN OKLAHOMAN, GARTH BROOKS, came in and changed the landscape. Justin, he did much of the same type music your man Cody is doing here,traditional country stuff, but had HUGE energy. HUGE STAGE SHOWS, and THAT reset the bar for everything you still see today. Shania, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Even George Strait and Alan Jackson, all had the huge multi media stage show. 

The latest to the panthenon would be Taylor Swift and the younger country singers that have taken over, with large rock type stage shows, energy in videos, and total music packaging.

What the guy you have offered here (and again, you asked me, I didn't go after him) seems to lack in what you have played is ENERGY, that it takes to engage modern audiences. And yes, he will find the fan base in the "cowboy states of the West." Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, etc.I know a guy here who does a "Tribute to Chris Ladoux. He flies out to those states a few months out of the year and does very well. Most of the people across the rest of the country don't even know who Chris was except for a line in a Garth Brooks song, "Much too Young to Feel This Damn Old." Chris did have a pretty decent career until he died of cancer, but was never quite the mainstream artist. He was a very successful niche artist. Which can be pretty lucrative and have it's own rewards in fan base.
What is kind of funny about that whole thing is that Chris ended up doing BIG STAGE SHOWS BECAUSE OF GARTH!

So the "Texas/Nashville' cultural clash is always going to go on. Nashville doesn't have it for Texas, but they sure have it for us. Wish it wasn't that way because I deal with a lot of Texas artists and writers who come here because they have gone as far as they can in Texas. A year ago I had the #1 Austin Songwriter of the year. He was sick of the 'go it alone' nature of Texas artists and how they were so unfriendly to people who didn't do it their way. And I do know a few that come here pretty routinely and try to fit in.

Don't look for them to start co-writing or extend a lot of hands. You can be blackballed pretty easily.  Just try and learn what you can from both worlds. No reason you can't exist in both of them. Just don't try to convert anyone. 

MAB 

Just try and learn what you can from both worlds. No reason you can't exist in both of them. Just don't try to convert anyone.

-MAB

Very well said Brother, thanks for all the info.

Just got back from the Festival and wanted to share some pics with you guys, MAB it's funny you talk about many Texans attitudes towards Nasvhille, it's pretty pervasive down here. I sat next to a guy with a shirt that just made laugh cause we (me and you) have been discussing it, I told him I HAD to take a picture, he was happy to oblige.

Heres some fun pics from the festival, of "Moooozik Festiball" as my kids call it.

This is Jesse Raub Jr. a local act who's making some noise round the region...

Here is a pic of a "Texas Merch" setup... like MAB always says about Pat Green and the paycut analogy... these guys were moving tons of Merch and are local acts frankly, like MAB says we support our own, he's making good money here in the State, nice little trailer to boot...

Here's me and Mike Harmeier lead singer of Mike and the Moonpies, Bryson was "Starstruck" lol nah he was being shy, Mikes a super cool dude, he was prodding him in the head in another picture I said he was just pining for a younger audience. Really cool guys, based outta Austin.

Just a little shot of the city plaza where it was being held, actually got to hang out with some of my coworkers on the Parks side getting paid overtime to sit and watch a free show!

My little man having a snow cone and enjoying the show!

And MAB... here's my personal fav... yeah go grab the Maalox LOL!!!! This guys shirt pretty much sums it all up!!!! LOL

Justin,

Yep, I guess that says it all. My shirt might say, "Why should Nashville even matter to you?" It's the whole attitude that I just don't get. When did the "Texas Recruitment call" go out to Texas forcing them to join the Tennessee Divisions? Are their arms breaking from being twisted to come to Nashville?  Are there "Nashville recruiting stations" on the street corners there? It is what is so hard for us to understand. You have your own country, Texas, you have your own charts, your own clubs, your own route, you make your money, you have your fan base, you sell your products, have your own festivals, have your own world, what does it even matter what Nashville thinks or means? 
Like everybody in every other place knows NOBODY SENT FOR YOU! If you don't like it, DON'T COME!

I guess we should get out our "Hate Texas" shirts. Maybe we could open up our "Dallas sucks' concessions on Lower Broadway. Maybe if we could get our door people to turn people away when they read a liscence that says "Texas" on it. Maybe we could do the "boycott Texas" and quit standing up for Rick Perry against everybody that wants to cuss the political situation over there.  

I've never seen a clearer case of 'Industry envy." Texas needs to get over it and appreciate what they have instead of builidng up hate and resentment.  And some of us here in the Volunteer state are still willing to stand behind Texas when a lot of the rest of this country wants them to be absorbed back into Mexico. Remember, we sent Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Might need some allies before long.

But if they want to hate us, I guess they can. JUST QUIT EXPECTING US TO LIKE THEIR LONG WINDED DATED SONGS.
Get out of 1985. 

MAB 

LOL MAB,

So true man, you know it's right "Industry Envy" is the perfect word for it... It's almost like we're wasting our breath, (I say we) but you know what I mean, it's like why the heck bother hating on a state when Lord knows all these guys secretly would give their left arm to get to Nashville and that's their dream... It's like it's really (sadly) just the "cool" thing for these guys to do? Bash Nashville, I just don't get that... It's really even not sooo much the artists either, i mean they are part of it, but it's the FANS i've noticed with the mentality of this snub your nose at the Nashville establishment, I think you would agree with me, it's one part naivety, one part ignorance, and one part Texas arrogance/pride as you've pointed out. We're good at that. BUT TRUST ME, we are a loyal bunch and old Crockett is still respected, he came down and helped our tail ends and he's still a  hero down here!!!

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only writer in the industry down here in Texas Music Scene who really gets this honestly... I can't even post a tweet with two bands and have it retweeted because artists don't see each other as friends/cowriters/etc. they are just direct competition and would rather die than give another artist some free advertisement. They play friends in public, but in private the animosity is palpable. Off my soapbox. Great discussion MAB.

I don't think you have to agree with the "anti-Nashville" feelings to understand it.

1.)  Nashville is the establishment -- who doesn't want to rail against the establishment (if they are not part of it).

2.)  To outsiders, Nashville looks like a closed shop that just doesn't want anybody else in.  Thanks to MAB, we know why that is -- it is all about relationships.  Relationships take a lot of time and energy and presence.   ... and we know from folks here that outsiders can become insiders.  

3.) Outside players (whether Texas, NY, California, Florida and all points in between) have paid a lot of dues to get where they are now.  They can't understand that they have to pay their dues all over again in a brand new place.  Heck, I have heard this attitude on these pages in the past.

If you were selling out shows, moving a lot of merchandise and have a lot of fans; then you would expect a commercial marketplace to accept you with open arms.  The truth of the matter is that if you go to http://www.texasmusicchart.com/Pages/Chart.htm, you see that Cody had 1,300 spins on 75 radio station (in a week, I guess).  That's a lot to us -- but how does that compare against any of the top 10 in the current billboard 100?   http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs ;

By the way, I think Me and My Kind is just fine, and I think the energy level is just fine.  But maybe when you have heard a 1,000 songs just like that before, it is hard to get pumped up.   If I had recorded a tune like that, I would be thrilled, but you have to admit, there is really nothing new and fresh going on there.    It is a good ride on well worn, beaten down path.