Podcast Summary: On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer

Episode: "Dreaming Up Barbara with Old Dominion"

Release Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Troy Vollhoffer
Guest: Old Dominion (Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi)
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Country Thunder Festival

Episode Overview

Troy Vollhoffer sits down “on the bus” in Calgary with the chart-topping band Old Dominion. With their sixth studio album "Barbara" just released, the group opens up about their beginnings, journey to stardom, struggles for recognition, influences, love for live performance, connection to Canadian fans, and their creative process. The conversation is candid, funny, and reflective, revealing both industry insight and the bandmates' down-to-earth nature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Old Dominion Began

• Origins in Virginia and College Bands
  • Matthew Ramsey (vocals) and drummer Whit Sellers met in middle school in rural Virginia, then reconnected via music circles in college (James Madison University).
  • Multiple members were in different bands in college; eventually, they all trickled into Nashville for songwriting careers.
  • “It kind of just kind of organically formed over a couple years.” – Matthew Ramsey [01:53]
• Early Days in Nashville
  • “Trevor and I were writing songs together, and we thought, how do we play these songs at a bar and we can’t afford to hire a band?...We just started playing for fun. Then for like 15 years later...” – Matthew Ramsey [02:53]
  • Members were focused on songwriting before taking the band seriously.

2. Struggles with Record Labels and Tenacity

• Common Story of Rejection
  • “We got turned down by every record label for, like, the next five...” – Trevor Rosen [04:33]
  • “If you don't have the tenacity to continue on and push through that, you don't have a career, you're back, you know, putting groceries in a bag.” – Troy Vollhoffer [04:33]
• Band’s Mindset: Love and Fun First
  • “I don't know if it's tenacity or stupidity...what we had was just a love for it. We were just having fun.” – Matthew Ramsey [05:03]
  • “For some reason, you can always find something that makes you believe that if I just get that done…” – Geoff Sprung [05:19]

3. Old Dominion’s Breakout and the Power of Live Shows

• Post-COVID Festival Moments
  • Troy’s standout memory: Old Dominion’s first show out of COVID—May 22, 2021, Iowa.
  • “You guys came out and just freaking slayed it.” – Troy Vollhoffer [06:20]
• Evolution of the Live Performance
  • From small bar gigs and cover shows for $400 to headlining major festivals and arenas.
  • “There’s a big difference...between playing the songs and entertaining the crowd…” – Geoff Sprung [07:51]
  • “When you’re starting, you don’t have this back catalog of hits...so you do it, it’s this game like, okay, well, how do we capture the people that are here?” – Brad Tursi [07:59]

4. Canadian Connection & International Growth

• Old Dominion’s Popularity in Canada
  • Sold out the Air Canada Centre (Toronto), with crowd singing every word.
  • Early Canadian breakthrough: Playing "Break Up with Him" at Boots and Hearts Festival's pre-party.
  • “We started playing Break Up with Him and it was crazy...we were taken aback by how loud everyone [was].” – Matthew Ramsey [09:28]
  • “We seem to get a lot of love from Canadian radio too.” – Geoff Sprung [09:56]
• Musical Blend Resonates North of the Border
  • “Our music...is not straight country, you know, we grew up in rock bands...I feel like that resonates in Canada.” – Trevor Rosen [10:02]

5. Hidden Talents & Personal Stories: Trevor’s Hockey Dream

• Music and Hockey Crossroads
  • Trevor Rosen’s hockey aspirations ended after a D1 college stint was cut short: “I got busted for smoking pot three games in, and the dream was over.” – Trevor Rosen [12:04]
  • Connection with the Nashville hockey community through charity camps.
  • The band enjoys the camaraderie and charity work around the game, supporting causes like cancer research.

6. Musical Influences and Inspirations

• Eclectic Roots Across Rock, Country, and Pop
  • Geoff: “My first concert was Guns N’ Roses...then I went to, like, a lot of Southern rock, All Brothers, Black Crows, James Taylor.” [13:56]
  • Brad: “A lot of the same. Plus a lot of the kind of the 90s grunge stuff for me.” [14:19]
  • Trevor: “I was a child of the radio, really...Motown and oldies, like, really was a big influence on me…Could be anything from Faith No More to Nirvana or James Taylor.” [15:17]
  • Matthew: “My first concert was Huey Lewis in the News...whatever he’s doing, I want to do it.” [16:04]
    Also shouts out to Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley.

7. Looking to the Future: Touring and "Barbara"

• World Tour & Next Steps
  • Extensive international touring continues (“We spend more time on the road than most artists do.” – Troy [17:05])
  • Plans for major US and Canadian markets in 2026–27.
  • New album teased.
• The Meaning Behind "Barbara"
  • Name started as a fun idea; the cover art was a unanimous band decision.
  • “We named the album Barbara. And then...wouldn’t it be fun to kind of create an image...we all get this email and...everyone replied like they got email. Like that’s our girl.” – Brad Tursi [17:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Persistence in Adversity:

  • "If you don't have the tenacity to continue on and push through that, you don't have a career; you're back, you know, putting groceries in a bag." – Troy Vollhoffer [04:33]
  • "I don't know if it's tenacity or stupidity...what we had was just a love for it." – Matthew Ramsey [05:03]

• Live Show Philosophy:

  • “There’s a big difference...between playing the songs and entertaining the crowd, you know.” – Geoff Sprung [07:51]
  • “When you’re starting, you don’t have this back catalog of hits...so you do it, it’s this game like, okay, well, how do we capture the people that are here?” – Brad Tursi [07:59]

• Influences & First Spark:

  • “My first concert was Huey Lewis in the News. I just remember seeing the reaction in the room, and I just was immediately like, whatever he's doing, I want to do it.” – Matthew Ramsey [16:04]

• Canadian Connection:

  • “We started playing break up with him and it was crazy...People climbing on shoulders and stuff.” – Matthew Ramsey [09:28]
  • “We all just looked at each other like, what is happening right now?” – Brad Tursi [09:38]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 01:47–03:26 | Band’s origin story and move to Nashville | | 03:26–05:25 | Early songwriting careers, record label rejections | | 06:02–07:59 | First big COVID comeback show & live show philosophy | | 08:24–09:56 | International growth and Canadian fanbase | | 11:02–12:07 | Trevor Rosen’s hockey journey, charity work | | 13:55–16:50 | Musical influences and first musical sparks | | 17:47–18:35 | Meaning & cover of "Barbara" discussed |

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is relaxed, humorous, and brimming with admiration and mutual appreciation among bandmates and host. The conversation freely moves from industry wisdom to personal anecdotes, never shying from the realities of life on the road and the uncertainty musicians face.

Useful For…

• New or longtime fans curious about Old Dominion’s backstory
• Aspiring artists seeking insight on industry perseverance
• Music lovers interested in songwriting, live performance, and musical influences
• Those wanting a sneak peek into the band's future plans and new album "Barbara"

Listen to the full episode for deeper stories and an authentic taste of Old Dominion’s camaraderie and creative spirit.