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Bobby Bones
This is an iHeart podcast. Thank you to the presenting sponsor of today's episode, American Express. Between my shows, 25 whistles. Lots to say, too much access. It's a lot of traveling for work and I get to attend a bunch of different sporting events. And while the travel can take a toll on me, sometimes, all the points I get makes it so much better. With the Amex Platinum, you earn five times membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels. But book through amextravel.com on up to $500,000 in flight purchases per year. Plus you get access to the Centurion Lounge, making travel that much more enjoyable. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. For more information visit www.americanexpress.com travel. Get ready to save big.
Amy Brown
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Keith Urban
Beauty.
Amy Brown
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Bobby Bones
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Amy Brown
Don't miss out. Shop now and elevate your style space and self care. Shop the friends and family sale going on from June 3rd through the 9th at Macy's.com NBC Nightly News Legacy isn't handed down or NBC News. I'm Tom Brokaw. Hope to see you back here.
Ryan Seacrest
I'm Lester Holt.
Amy Brown
It's carried forward.
Bobby Bones
Tom Yamatz is there for us. Firefighters are still working around the clock.
Keith Urban
As the world changes, we look for what endures.
Bobby Bones
We are coming on the air with breaking news right now.
Amy Brown
We look for a constant and from.
Keith Urban
One era to the next, trust is.
Amy Brown
The anchor For NBC Nightly News.
Bobby Bones
I'm Tom Yamas. A new chapter begins.
Keith Urban
NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Evenings on NBC.
Amy Brown
I'm in this bar and I look over at a table and I see Toby.
Bobby Bones
I'm like, no way.
Amy Brown
That's Toby Keith. I think you cut one of our songs. He goes, huh? Oh, yeah, man. Did you like the song? He goes, we cut it, man. And then he just looked back at his drink and I was like, okay, moving on. Years later, I got to know him and I told him that story. He's like, man, I'm so sorry.
Bobby Bones
Welcome to episode 516 with Keith Urban. And this was us at Keith Urban's new studio that he built that he owns. And we used a clip of this for the ACM television special that is on Amazon prime video if you get a chance and you want to watch it. But we had, like, 45 minutes, thought it was a really good interview, so we wanted to play it all back here. Couple things. Keith's touring. The high and live world tour going on now wraps up in October, and it wraps up in Nashville, but there are so many stops. The Australian leg kicks off, and he's playing in a city called Wollongong. Wollongong. Never been there. Never heard of it, actually. But sounds like a place I'd like to go. So you can check that out. He's got Chase, Matthew, Alana Springsteen, Carly, Scott Collins on tour. Keithurban.com if you want to go check out. His shows are so awesome. I think some of the great stories we've learned about Keith in the past that we don't get to here because we did an episode a long time ago with Keith Urban where we talked about. And we could even put that up later this week, too. The old Keith Urban episode. Yeah, where we talked about his dad, and he talked about his dad. Like, super detail. I'd never heard him talk about his dad that much. So, yeah, we should put that up. But he talked about, too, like, playing at the airport, where he would stand on, like, the conveyor belt thing in the middle. Not the part that moved, but the conveyor belt moved around it. And so he would play music there, and then people would come and get their bags, and they'd get their bags and walk away. Then he'd start over the next time. So really interesting, his story. And here we talk about, like, when he moved to Nashville and where he lived. Exactly. And hope you enjoy this. And then after this 45, 50 minutes with Keith Urban, we're gonna talk about bands that get a lot of hate but don't deserve the hate they get. So we had this already recorded, and we were just gonna team it up with something, so. So we're gonna put it at the back end of this because I really liked it as well. So Keith Urban, episode 516, if you wanna watch this, by the way, we've loaded it up, the whole thing. Bobby bones channel over on YouTube. It's where we put all the Bobby casts. Bobby bones channel on YouTube. All right, here we go. Episode 516 with Keith Urban. Thanks for having me.
Amy Brown
Thanks for coming.
Bobby Bones
Pretty cool space.
Amy Brown
Thank you.
Bobby Bones
So what is this, like, your dream studio? Did you build this?
Amy Brown
I didn't build it. Now this got built in the mid-90s, but I did a lot of recording here.
Bobby Bones
So before you bought it, you recorded here?
Amy Brown
Yeah, a lot of stuff on all the albums from Golden Road all the way forward.
Bobby Bones
So in that case, is it like you're waiting for it to go for sale?
Amy Brown
Since I couldn't believe it was for sale, put it that way, you know, and buying it was. I felt like I bought my school. That's what it felt like.
Bobby Bones
That would be weird.
Keith Urban
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
But also awesome, because then you're the ruler.
Amy Brown
Yes.
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Amy Brown
That's great.
Bobby Bones
There's a lot of stuff I want to talk about. I think for me, your origin story is really interesting, especially when you come to Nashville. Like, when you move to Nashville, like, where do you live? What kind of place do you live? Like, for a new artist moving here? Like, small apartment?
Amy Brown
Well, weirdly enough, the first place that I stayed with my manager, when we came here, the very first trip, we stayed over the road at Shoney's Inn, which is now Comfort Inn. And the room that we stayed in is literally right there. And it's crazy to walk out the door of this studio and look over and see that room that my manager and I stayed in on the first trip. And to go from there to here is mind boggling.
Bobby Bones
So why do you say you and your manager, you guys came together here? What was that relationship?
Amy Brown
We, you know, we just. I made a little demo tape that we just got on a plane and came over here. We really didn't know anybody. We just did the classic thing of walking up and down 16th and 17th Ave. And going in and seeing if they'd let us play them. My little cassette demo.
Bobby Bones
So you record a cassette of songs? How many songs you think?
Amy Brown
Just guessing, maybe five or six songs that I'd written.
Bobby Bones
And you felt strongly enough about it that we're gonna go to Nashville? He felt strongly enough about you.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
That's a lot of trust into a person too, by the way. Like, as a manager going, I trust this guy. Like, this is my guy. You fly here, you're staying at the Shoney's Inn for. What do you think? At night? How much?
Amy Brown
Oh, more than we could afford at the time. I mean, we spent everything we had on the plane ticket, you know, paying nightly rent.
Bobby Bones
And then how do you do it again? You're knocking on doors. But what doors do you knock on if you don't know what doors are important?
Amy Brown
Anybody that would listen, we would play it for. And I was so proud of it, you know, and thought Oh, I can't wait for everybody to hear this. It was terrible. In hindsight, it was just terrible. What do I know, you know? But played it for people that would listen to it. And it was all very much like, thanks, but, you know, so it was really heartbreaking, you know, it was just soul sucking. But I went anyway. I want to be here. I want to live here. Let's go, let's go.
Bobby Bones
When you say let's go, do you go back?
Amy Brown
Yeah. So I was only on. It was really hard to get visas back then, and I couldn't legally stay longer than, you know, a certain period of time. I couldn't make any money here, not legally. So I could come from for a couple of weeks, try and get with people to write, and then I'd have to go back to Australia and I was doing little shows at corner pubs or wherever I could on my own solo to just stock money away so I could then get another plane ticket, come back and just keep doing this back and forward forever.
Bobby Bones
How long did you go back and forth?
Amy Brown
I don't know, two, three years, something like that. I would come over for a couple of weeks and write with some people and then go back and come back over. But I was staying in a hotel, probably down here at the Shoney's, I think, still. And this guy who was an engineer at one of the publishing places I went to, he said, listen, I live on my own. I've got a spare room at my house if you want to stay there, instead of a hotel. So I stayed at his house. And when I left to go back to Australia, I left a bunch of. Bunch of clothes in the drawer. And he called me, he goes, hey, you left some stuff here. And I said, yeah, I'll be back. Because I wanted to feel like I was moving in. So I was in Australia thinking, I've got clothes in Nashville. Like, I have. Like, it was like saying, I have a place there, you know?
Bobby Bones
Or you left a toothbrush at somebody you're dating's house, so now you know.
Amy Brown
Same kind of thing.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, you gotta go back.
Amy Brown
Exactly.
Bobby Bones
So the more you would come over and it's a pretty intimidating place because you're coming to. I mean, where you are, there's music. Where everybody is, there's music. And you're kind of King Ding. And then you get here and you're like, wow, this is. The Giants are here. Did that motivate you to get better, or did it more inspire you to get here so you could be around it to grow into it, all the above.
Amy Brown
I knew when I got here, I just wanted to be here. All the best were here. All the best guitar players are here, all the best songwriters are here, the best producers, the best. Everybody is here. So I just wanted to get here and get going. I knew it was going to take a while and I just wanted to get going, you know.
Bobby Bones
When did you get your first piece of positive feedback?
Amy Brown
Monday. Just last Monday.
Bobby Bones
Good for you.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. I'm glad it's happened.
Amy Brown
Thank you.
Bobby Bones
That's pretty cool. I'm rooting for you. Yeah.
Amy Brown
It'S all incremental, you know, it's. I'm sure you got a similar experience where it's just increment. Just one good enough thing happens that you just hang in there. I mean, I didn't have option B anyway. I mean, I had no other plan, nothing. It never occurred to me to go back to Australia. That was never part of the thinking, ever. It was just, well, stay here until something happens.
Bobby Bones
When you look back at that tape that you made and now, you know, anything that creators make a long time ago, hopefully it makes us cringe because that means we've grown, right? Like, that's the goal and thing I do. I want to, like, cringe at something I did two or ten years ago. But when you look back at that, what can you still identify as special about that?
Amy Brown
I think I had a good intrinsic sense of melodic structure for songwriting, and I think people recognize that here. So I was able to get in with really good songwriters pretty early on. And I think even though my voice needed a lot of work, there was some good fundamentals in particularly commercial songwriting. You know, hook choruses and catchy melodies and things like that.
Bobby Bones
Songwriting is interesting because you're coming from a place where my assumption is based on other conversations. There's not a lot of co writes. Like, the co write is really learned in Nashville. So were you writing songs by yourself and then having to learn the Nashville co write culture when you're here?
Amy Brown
Yeah, it was. Then I signed a publishing deal. It was very small income for me, which was perfect. That's all I needed. I didn't need much to live on, and I had a really crappy rental car. And I would drive down to Music Row from this guy's house that I was living at every day, five days a week and walk into this, you know, windowless room with two yellow legal pads and a couple of acoustics and try and write a song with a total stranger. And it was. I hated it. Like, hated It. It felt I hated going to school, but this was even worse. I don't know why. It was just, like, I just felt so insecure, so out of my depth. You know, I'm writing with these professional writers, and I don't know what I'm doing, and. And it was not inspiring. I was used to having a drum machine, writing with a bit of a groove, getting a vibe going, and that would inspire the way I write songs. And nobody wrote like that. It was literally legal pads and an acoustic and windowless room. I'm like, how do you write in here? What? There's no vibe, you know? But from that experience, I think I learned a lot about songs, even more about song structure and how to write a song that isn't vibe based, but it actually has the bones of a good song.
Bobby Bones
Do you feel like those experiences writing in an environment that you weren't completely comfortable, not because of the people, but because of what you were used to? And also where you did your best work, do you feel that also helped you understand where you did write the best and how you wrote the best? Because you're in a room with no windows, and you're like, okay, I'm learning here. But it kind of reinforced the idea of you like to write with a vibe, you like to write with a machine, and so therefore, you knew where you'd be the best.
Amy Brown
Spot on. That's exactly what it did. I mean, it reinforced how I don't want to write or how I can't write. It's not don't want to. It's like. It's not. It's not bringing out the best in me. You know, it's not inspiring me. I feel intimidated. I feel suffocated, and I can't write like this. And I think a lot of it was to do with, you know, the foundation of country songwriting is lyric. The melody seems to always come second. The lyric is key. The story is important. That's what's important. And I was coming from it the other way, where the melody and the hooks and the riffs, those were driving the story and everything else. So I just had to find my environment and way of writing and people that also love to write that way.
Bobby Bones
Do you feel like now when you write with people that, you know, are feeling a bit of the same intimidation from riding with you, you can remember that version of yourself.
Amy Brown
Oh, yeah.
Bobby Bones
And kind of help them through it?
Amy Brown
Totally. Totally. I neutralize the situation immediately. I'm like, I don't know what's gonna happen today. Maybe nothing. But let's just jam a bit. Let's have fun. Have you got any ideas? I can, you know, zero. No pressure, no expectation. You know, maybe we write, maybe we don't. Maybe we just go to lunch. Doesn't matter. Maybe we just hang today and that will end up creating a song the next time we get together because we know each other better.
Bobby Bones
You have a publishing deal and you said it paid you a little. Enough to get by. Did you have any success in your first publishing deal? When did you start to have success as a writer?
Amy Brown
I really. I mean, I had to record my own songs to get them cut to the degree that. Because I wasn't. I wasn't a professional writer. It wasn't what I came here to do. I didn't come here to be a writer. I was an artist. And. But I could write.
Bobby Bones
And that was the first way to make money too, right? Like a steady check at least.
Amy Brown
Yeah, it was a steady check. And it was a way for songs to maybe get cut by other people. And a few little cuts here and there, you know, like we wrote a song. My buddy and I wrote a song, a Christmas song that Toby Keith ended up recording on an album. I was completely unknown. Cause this is the early 90s. And I heard that he cut this song we wrote. And I was like, the song is called Jesus Gets Jealous of Santa Claus. And it's just. It's a really beautiful song. It's all about the anti commercialism of it, right? And so we wrote it, he loved it, cut it. I was amazed. Cause I mean, Toby is a great writer. I'd never met him. I was down on Lower Broadway one night at a bar. And this is long before Lower Broadway is what it is now. Nobody went down there. I'm in this bar and I look over at a table and I see Toby. I'm like, no way. That's Toby Keith, man. I'm gonna go home and say hi. Cause I gotta wait to introduce myself now. And I went over, I said, toby, my name's Keith Urban. I think you cut one of our songs. He goes, huh? I went, you recorded one of our songs? You know, Jesus gives yellow. He goes, oh, yeah, man. And I went, well, thanks for recording it, you know. Did you like the song? He goes, we cut it. And I went, yeah, yeah. No, thank you. That's amazing. But you're a great writer. I just wondered, did you love the song? He goes, we cut it, man. And then he just looked back at his drink and I was like, okay. Moving on. Years later, I got to know him and I told him that story. He's like, man, I'm so sorry. He couldn't have been nice. And we became really, really good friends.
Bobby Bones
The first time I met Toby, I said, toby, how's it going? He said, first time I met him and we again became friends. He said, google me.
Amy Brown
How's it going? Google me.
Bobby Bones
Yes.
Amy Brown
Love it.
Bobby Bones
And I said, okay, what am I gonna find? My health and how much money I have.
Amy Brown
Oh, my God.
Bobby Bones
And I was like, what is up with this dude? Later on, same later on. I did a lot with Toby.
Amy Brown
Like, yeah.
Bobby Bones
But yeah, that was my experience too with him. He was very. No nonsense how he felt.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
It's funny talking about just going to a bar and seeing Toby Keith sitting there. I mean, I think that's kind of the magic of this town. And a lot of the stories that I have are from people who just like, see you walking around the mall. Like most of them. Like, I saw Keith urban outside of Forever 21. You didn't go in, but like, I saw your wife out in a makeup store. Yeah, I was in there.
Amy Brown
And what were you doing in there? Yeah, just a little. Just a little.
Bobby Bones
Hang tight. The Bobby cast will be right back. Thank you to the presenting sponsor of today's episode, American Express. I'm always traveling for work, which means I'm constantly trying new restaurants in a bunch of different cities. Some good, some bad. And while I love most of food, I try the rewards I am earning with my Amex Gold card while eating in these different cities is the best part. With Amex Gold, you earn four times membership rewards points on purchases at restaurants on up to $50,000 per year. And now you can leave the restaurant and get straight to action. The with access to card member entrances at select venues. That's the powerful backing of American Express card member entrance access not limited to AMEX Gold. Card terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com withamx hey, it's Ryan Seacrest.
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Bobby Bones
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Amy Brown
Everything is. It was just the people. It's this hub. It's the one thing I miss a little bit about Music Row not being what it was. You know, it got decentralized. It kind of just went off into all these people's homes with personal recording studios and various things. And people didn't have to concentrate on the row as much anymore. And it's sort of a bit sad cause Nashville is such a community. And I think that cross pollinating and enmeshing with artists, songwriters, publishers, managers, everybody intersecting all the time was really healthy.
Bobby Bones
What got you your first traction as the person you came here to be an artist.
Amy Brown
Again, it was all little incremental things. The publishing company I assigned to was run by a guy called Barry Coburn, and he was managing Alan Jackson at the time. So in 1994, Alan was shooting a music video and they needed a long haired guitar player and so they asked me to do it. And it's a similar Toby's thing in the video.
Bobby Bones
But you didn't play on the song.
Amy Brown
No, but I'm in the video to.
Bobby Bones
Mercury Blues, one of my favorite Alan Jackson songs.
Amy Brown
Thank you. Yeah, sorry.
Bobby Bones
Videos.
Amy Brown
Fully above. So it's a similar story to the Toby thing. Like I didn't know Alan. I was so excited. You know, we're in a soundstage somewhere and I'm on this platform and I've learned Brent Mason's guitar solo note for note the night before. Cause they're gonna be zooming in on me and they film me for a little bit and then I see Alan come in. I'm like, oh my God, it's Alan Jackson. This is so, so freaking awesome. I mean it's 1994, he's king, you know, and he comes over with his KOO seat and he kind of just looks at me and he looks back at the camera and then they run the song and we both shred together. We're literally two feet from each other. And they take a little break to set some lights, whatever. And I'm waiting for him to say something. He looks around me and goes, looks back at me. Never said a word to me. Like not one word. We finished the thing and he just walked off and I was like, oh. And I went home and my buddies were like, what was Alan like? I go, I didn't really meet him. And they go, I thought there was a thing with the Tui video. I said, yeah, no, never met him. And again, got to know Alan years later and he's like, man, I'm so sorry cause I hated that video. He said, you gotta understand, it's the first video I'd done where they brought in some slick LA producer director. I didn't wanna do it, but they wanted to sort of change my image and make it look slick. So they said, we can't use your band. And he goes, I always use my band. What do you mean? And they go, no, we have to use these other people to pretend to be your band. Me, right? You know, so he hated it, obviously hated this long haired dude who's not his guitar player. So I totally got it. And we've become really, really good friends since then.
Bobby Bones
What's so funny about Alan? The first time I met him, not a video, but ACM Honors was doing a show and I was doing like one funny song with the guitar. I was talking. It was after Like Jake Owen was playing and I was doing a thing and Alan Jackson was behind me, but it was raining, so they're moving everybody along and they paused and I saw Alan Jackson, never seen him before. And I was like, this is crazy, Alan Jackson. And I said, hey, Mr. Jackson, Bobby Bones, nice to meet you. He said, nice to meet you. And I looked at him, he goes, all right then. And that meant go away later. Awesome. But he hit me with the all right then. And away I went, great.
Amy Brown
And this sounds same experiences with the holy spirit. Yeah, it's great.
Bobby Bones
And then again we find out how frigging cool they are later. Right? And I think that's a bit of my point too is people are getting first impressions of you today all the time in the same way, but because you got to live the full experience same way. I asked you about songwriting. Like there are probably a lot of new artists that you meet a lot of the time and that ask you, hey, what advice do you have for somebody like moving to town or a new artist? Like, what is the standard Keith Urban advice for a new artist?
Amy Brown
Well, it's always different because the whole thing is changing constantly. You know, it's like you don't have 20 years experience, you have one year's experience 20 times. That's very different because it's constantly changing. So you know what I had to do when I got here? You don't have to do that now. There's like so many other ways to get, find an audience, to make music, to write songs, to get them cut. There's just so many ways to do it now. So it makes it better on one hand, but on the other there is way more competition. It's just you're sort of drowning in it now. There's so much new talent.
Bobby Bones
Tell me about signing your first record deal.
Amy Brown
Well, my first one was signed in Australia. I signed it because I won it. I won a competition where I got to record a single for EMI Records and I did that and they liked it and so they said, let's do a whole album. So I did a whole album, but I already wanted to come here, you know, so recording it to me was just a way to have an even better demo to bring over here. But I had some success with it in Australia and got a band and worked my way up to having a rogue crew. This is after eight, nine years in the clubs already. So now I've worked my way up to this five piece band, three man road crew, got merchandise. I'm like, this is great. I Got an album, songs on the radio, like everything I've ever wanted. But I really wanted to go to America. And so after all that work, I come here and you just start from the bottom again. Literally. Nobody cares. You can't bring your band. I have no money. So I'm right back to ground zero and starting to pay dues all over again. It was another five, six, seven years.
Bobby Bones
Here in Nashville until you got a deal. Yeah. And what was the first single they ever wanted to put out on you?
Amy Brown
Well, technically it was with my band, the Ranch. And so we did a song called Walking the Country and we did a video. We had so little money for the budget that we recorded two videos in one day.
Bobby Bones
Only so much time. So you gotta cram them both in.
Amy Brown
I think it was like 15, may have been 10 grand or something. And we shot two videos. We went out to a place called Adams, Tennessee. We went to this abandoned kind of street where the stores were all boarded up. We put the camera in the street aimed at the stores. We stood in front of there and shot that video. They turned the camera around and we did our other song on the other side in this, where they'd torn down a building and we played in the rubble. So, you know, we shot it all in one day. It's crazy.
Bobby Bones
What was the success of the singles you put out early with the Ranch?
Amy Brown
God. Well, it. The critics really liked it, but it didn't get any real push. I mean, radio didn't know what to.
Bobby Bones
Do with us, you know, because of the sound.
Amy Brown
Yeah, the sound and the look. And they just like, what is this three piece band? And who's this long haired guy? And. And I look back at it now and I'm like, oh my gosh. I mean, what. What were we thinking? We were never gonna fit in. We just weren't gonna fit in. And I was frustrated because I didn't come here to be in a band. You know, the three piece thing happened. Cause I had a five piece band in Australia. I couldn't afford to bring everybody. So. Okay, what's the minimum I can bring? Well, as a guitar player, I can bring bass and drums. Then I got a band. Okay, three piece. Great. I'll bring my bass playing drummer. They were the two guys in the band that didn't sing. My keyboard player and rhythm guitarist sang. So I'm here in a three piece band. The singer, no harmonies. I'm like, man, this is not gonna work. And then my bass player left, got a singing bass player, and we became this three Piece band because of economic reasons. It wasn't an artistic choice.
Bobby Bones
When you're finally Keith Urban, what was the first piece of material or song that you put out that actually gains real traction or that sells tickets or got you on a tour? Right. Like, you put something out that somebody noticed you enough that it changed your life. What song was that?
Amy Brown
Well, I mean, technically, the first one was a song called It's a Love Thing, which was the first single off the solo album that I did that did okay. And then we put out a song called where the Blacktop Ends, and that did better. Sorry, You're Everything. It was a ballad called you'd're Everything that did better. And then the third song was but for the Grace of God, which became my first number one song. So it was this very slow, incremental movement, like, okay, we finally get traction. And then we did Blacktop after that. And then I got to make another record, which became Golden Road. And first single off that was Somebody like you.
Bobby Bones
Was that song transcendent in how it landed as opposed to your past stuff?
Amy Brown
Yeah, because I'm a live guy. I play live. It's what I do. The early years in Nashville was so hard for me because there was no. I wasn't playing. I wasn't playing anywhere. I found out very quick that if you play down Lower Broadway, nobody wants to sign you because they go, well, you're just one of those. You're just a cover band. You're not an original artist, you know? So I'm like, ugh. So I can't even play anywhere. So after the first solo record, I got to put a band together and tour and get back into my place where I feel so at home. And I think by the time we made Golden Road, I was feeling that sense of who I am musically. You know, it had. I like to say that record had more stubble than the first one. It was a bit looser, and it was more raw, and it was. I took more. I had more confidence in the studio of making the music that I wanted to make, not what was on the radio or anything like that. And it turned out to be the music that was the right music.
Bobby Bones
Did you ever have concern of being pigeonholed as just the guitar guy?
Amy Brown
No, I never had that because, I mean, I always see myself as a duet. I mean, my guitar and my singing, they go together. Same way with Glen Campbell or somebody like that. It's just. Or Vince Gill or anybody. For me, the two go together. But even more than those guys, because they have These voices. And I think me and my guitar are one.
Bobby Bones
I pay a lot of attention to your tone and not your voice tone, like your guitar tone. And even the slightest change changes the sound of a song. How much time do you spend focused on tone?
Amy Brown
It depends. You know, sometimes it's. Every song's different. Every song's different. I'm only seeking inspiration. That's all I'm waiting for. I'm just waiting for a sound or a tone or something where I'm inspired to play something. And that could be through a cheap amp and you could have dialed it up immediately. And you go, this sounds good. Let's go play a solo. And you go, good, that was great. Moving on. And then the next song, you're like. You spend a whole day noodling and doing this and whatever. So they're all different.
Bobby Bones
What song that became a massive hit took the longest to actually have fully done?
Amy Brown
Oh, gosh.
Bobby Bones
Ah, maybe. Maybe rewrites. Maybe re recording.
Amy Brown
Yeah, Weirdly enough, Making Memories of Us took a long time because I grew up with Don Williams records, and they were so simple. There was like nothing on them. They're so simple. And when we cut Making Memories, it had a Don vibe in its structure in the recording, and I wanted to get that minimalism. And we recorded it and it was sort of like this. And then we spent a long time stripping it down, Stripping it down, stripping it down. Replaying the guitar. Re singing it, re singing it, re singing it. Trying to make it more and more simple, less slick, you know, just more singer, songwriter.
Bobby Bones
Is there a moment where you go, this is it? Or is there never a moment where you go, this is it?
Amy Brown
Both. Both. I mean, I've heard songs on the radio where I go, oh, I'm really happy with that. You know, I hear somebody like you now. I still am really happy with that. Days go by, things like that. And then I'll hear other things like, oh, I wish we had of. Wish we had of whatever. But more than anything, I'm happy with it. You just gotta get away from it for a while, have some perspective.
Bobby Bones
You're still so creatively driven today as, I guess, the first time I met you 10 years ago. Like, I still feel like you're creatively chasing whatever it is that inspires you. Do you still feel as creatively driven now as you did 10, 20 years ago?
Amy Brown
Exactly the same as when I lived over there at Shoney's. I feel pretty much the same. I got a better group of people I can write with and work with and I have more capacity and facility to create the things that I hear in my head, you know, from years and years of doing it. But the adrenaline rush and the excitement of writing and creating something like Straight Line, which is the single we have out now, when that comes in the studio, it's like, it's an amazing feeling.
Bobby Bones
The opposite of the question asked a minute ago. What song fell out of you and was done the quickest and you're like, wow, that's great. And it took almost no time.
Amy Brown
Somebody like you was a bit like that because it was a great band. It was the very first song I'd done with Dan Hough. I think the bones of the song just happened to be really good. And we recorded it at the sound kitchen. Everybody on the floor. So Chris McHugh was here on drums, Jimmy Lee SOS is here on bass, Tom Bukovac's there on guitar, Tim Akers there on keyboards. I'm in the booth over there with banjo and a vocal and Dan Huff is sitting in the middle of the floor with an electric guitar. And Justin Ebanker's in there and he hits record and away we go. I've got a recording somewhere. I used to set up a video camera in the control booth and just capture a take, you know, and I have the recording of us. You hear the song start, you hear it finish and you see Justin go woo. Like this in front of the console. And it's the end of the. It's the take. It's just. It was crazy.
Bobby Bones
There are stories about ACDC and Angus and he would play so hard for so long, he'd sweat so much that he would lose 5, 7 pounds a night, right? Cause he would go like my version of that that I tell people is you watching you perform because you go so hard and you're so active on stage, singing, playing, running into the crowd. Is there a ramp up period for you getting in shape before you have to go on the road? Because these are very active shows.
Amy Brown
Yeah, I just, I mean, I think we're the same. We like being in decent shape anyway just to do the things we want to do, you know, move the way we want to move, do the things we want to do. And I live to play, I really do.
Bobby Bones
Is that still your favorite part of all of it, live?
Amy Brown
Yeah, yeah, but I mean, I love being in the studio. That's why I bought this studio. I could spend months in here, never leave, you know, I don't have any other hobbies or interests. I love making music it's pretty much, I don't play any sport, not really. I love writing, recording, I love touring.
Bobby Bones
So recently you did a project and you recorded and then you decided, ah, we're going to start over. After putting significant time in, will you just kind of tell me that story?
Amy Brown
That's never happened before. So really since the first record, the way I make them is quite. It's not chaotic, but it's very spontaneous. You know, the studio's booked, we got the players booked, got a song chosen to do I'll Drive in that Day. And maybe as I'm driving in, I'm like, I don't really feel this song. I have this other song that I'm sitting on, or it's half written or something, and I'll play it for Dan. And I go, let's do this one. Forget that. I've always made records that way. So the spirit of it is always what I want to do. You know what I mean? So it's got that. It's now, it's fun, I'm passionate about it, it's what I want to do. And I thought sometimes my records sort of go off in weird musical directions and maybe I need more discipline and make a focused record. So I went in with this idea that I was going to make a much more focused record and call it 615 and it'll be very focused and it'll be only this and only that and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, you know. And I ended up with this record that was pretty linear. It just sort of did this. It didn't have all the stuff, the spontaneity just didn't have the spontaneity and the spark and the spirit. So I scrapped it. And the first song we wrote was Straight Line, which bursts with all that rhythmic spirit and liberation because I'd just come out of this attempt that didn't work at all. And I'm like, that's to your point earlier about writing songs. You learn what you don't want to do. And I learned why I don't make records that way. It's just much more fun for me to be spontaneous in that process.
Bobby Bones
And we'll call it the linear part of this journey. Did you ever feel like, ah, this isn't feeling right? Or were you done with it? And you're like, man, this didn't capture really what I want to capture. When did that happen? Where you had to evaluate, hey, we may do this again.
Amy Brown
When I was sequencing it and I get it, you know, sequencing what does it matter anymore who listens to albums top to bottom? You know, but sometimes sequencing, for me, is the way to decide what even makes it onto an album. The sequencing kind of tells me, well, you don't need that one. This one over here that I was leaving off would actually go good right there. So that one does make sense. So when I started sequencing these songs, that was when I realized, oh, there's a lot of very similar sounding songs here. You know, just I was touring at the time, so I was sort of recording sporadically. I'd come off the road, we'd cut one song, we'd be like, ah, fantastic. Sounds great. You know, you go out and tour for a few weeks, come back, cut another song, that's great, blah, blah. Without thinking, you put all these together, you're not going to want it. That's what happened.
Bobby Bones
When we look at the ACMs, you're one of the few to do it. The Triple Crown, to hit 1, 2, 3. When you move here, the goal is probably just to eat and pay the bills.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
But now that you look back and you have, you know, one of the few things that any country music artist has, the Triple Crown, like, can you look back at old Keith and be proud of him?
Amy Brown
Yeah. Yeah. And especially the perseverance and tenacity to just keep going even when it seemed. I'm glad it didn't seem as weird and crazy to me as it did to everybody else. It seemed so crystal clear why I should be here. But I realized at the time people must have. And I know they were sort of going, what the hell is this boy doing here? This is crazy. He's crazy. You know, I'm glad I didn't know that at the time because I felt really comfortable here and like I should be. It just took years and years and years of chipping away to finally figure out how to fit in and not lose myself. That was the balancing act that took the longest to figure out.
Bobby Bones
To walk through all three pretty quickly. Like, Best New Artist. You're that guy. Does that change you? Does it change how people treat you in town after you get the trophy, the award?
Amy Brown
A little. I mean, just more in awareness, that's all, in potential. Like, potential, you know?
Bobby Bones
Male vocalist.
Amy Brown
Oh, man, that was a shock. That was a shock.
Bobby Bones
I believe you when you said that. Like, why? Why?
Amy Brown
Because I've never seen myself. I guess I've. I'm so singer, guitar oriented that to think of my vocal as being an independent, singular thing. I've never given. I Just didn't. Didn't see myself in that category.
Bobby Bones
So when you're nominated, do you feel like you're just not going to win? Like this is cool to be nominated.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
And when they called your name, it was a genuine shock.
Amy Brown
Yeah. And especially because you, historically you get nominated and then you get nominated the next year and if you're lucky, the year after that. And then eventually, eventually they, they give it to you. Cause you've been nominated so many times. So to get nominated and win it is, is a, is, is a big shock.
Bobby Bones
The big one's Entertainer.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
I think if all the voters saw you perform every night, I don't know who else would have won in the last 20 years. Like to watch it or I guess your shows are wild. I think I told you the first time I saw you do a real show, I was like, oh, I'm blown away because I'd heard you play and I've seen you play intimately and I've seen you play on my show and. But to watch a full like arena performance, I was blown away. And I'm jaded. And I remember telling you that, like, I think this is a compliment, but you're awesome. I had no idea, like how enthralled I would be. The people around me would be to watch you embrace the crowd, to get very personal, to get within the crowd, all the energy. So I felt like you'd be entertained of the year every year if everybody had to go and watch you perform. But to finally be acknowledged for that, the big one. Tell me about that.
Amy Brown
Oh, I mean that's, you know, it's the top of the mountain in award recognition. Yeah, it's. I mean, especially for me. Cause I love to do it more than anything in the world. I love to play live and I love to play with an audience. I love to entertain. You know, I'm not a shoegazer. I love to entertain.
Bobby Bones
I'm a shoegazer though, but in a different way. I think we're both shoegazers. Just in a different way than you mean that. Cause you guys, I think maybe one A, one B becomes his shoes. I think you and I are kind of rocking the whole town. I don't ever see a not in great shoes.
Amy Brown
Well, thank you. Yeah, thank you.
Bobby Bones
Or a great car.
Amy Brown
Likewise. Yeah, I remember once get your fancy kicks look.
Bobby Bones
And we'll end on a very music based story. One of my favorite Keith Urban stories is there's this big truck behind me. Big like right on my butt. And I'm like I'm about to get beat up. Whoever this is. I'm about to get beat up. And it was you. And we were going to the Opry. It was during COVID Yeah. And you were in this big truck. I didn't know it was you. I didn't think you'd be in a truck. I thought you'd be in like a. I don't know, a helicopter or something. You know, you're Keith Urban.
Amy Brown
I think it was an F350.
Bobby Bones
It was a monster. But I thought, I'm about to get beat up by whomever's behind me. Because we're going in that part of the operate that's like where no one else can drive. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then. And you're like, hey. I was like, oh, man, thank God. But didn't. You're a car guy?
Amy Brown
Well, my dad loved cars. So I grew up with my whole life we've had. We're the oddball couple. The oddball family in Australia that always had American cars. In this tiny little town we lived in in Australia, we had like Chevys and Pontiacs and Buicks and, you know.
Bobby Bones
Can you fix a car? Like, like chink. Chink. Can you fix it?
Amy Brown
No, I wish I could. It's just. It's the. The driving aspect. I mean, my passion next to music is driving. I drive all the time. And when I'm touring, I'll rent a car. If we're going to get from a hotel to the venue, I'd rather rent a car and drive it myself. I hate being driven.
Bobby Bones
Final question. Because I know how much you value the people that come to your live shows and you put so much work into the live shows. Talk to me about a set list and the art of your set list and how you put together a night.
Amy Brown
I probably obsess over it way too much. A set list. Cause it's an experience. I mean, it's not a group of songs. I'm shaping an experience that I want to create for those two hours for the audience. And I'm trying to guess, will this have that effect? And if we go from here into here, will that do this? Will this be about the time that the audience would want that that should be right, and then we would be able to do this after that, because that would make sense. And, you know, trying to create this, a playlist, you know, trying to create a great playlist for a two hour party.
Bobby Bones
You were closing your eyes as you were even talking me through it. Is that an every night thing where you're changing it or changing it based on how you felt the night before.
Amy Brown
I've learned that it's a delicate balance of don't take too much data from that night, because that was that night in that venue, in that town. And if you go tinkering too much because of that feedback, this audience could be completely different. So just do it enough where at some point the set list becomes pretty solid for me. You know, I mean, I always gotta make quarterback calls because I can't do the exact same thing night after night after night. I couldn't do it. Be like an episode of Severance or something. I just can't do it.
Bobby Bones
Going back out on the road again.
Amy Brown
Yeah. The High and Alive World tour is going to kick off. Got a predominantly new band, new, obviously, new songs to put in there, and brand new production. Working with a production designer I've never worked with before and just trying to create a whole brand new experience.
Bobby Bones
What does a production designer do with you? I don't know that process.
Amy Brown
Just the look of the stage, you know, and for me, what the lighting's gonna do, what the video aspect's gonna do, what the physical environment of the stage is gonna be, what's the material that we're gonna be standing on and the durability of it and the color of it and all this stuff. So that when you. When you walk in, it has a very particular look about it.
Bobby Bones
Other than the music rehearsal part, is there a timing rehearsal part with the videos, the elements that you're putting into the show?
Amy Brown
Yeah, it's tricky for me because I have a lot of spontaneity. So even with tracks, if we've got backing tracks on certain things, that might be just percussion. There may be percussion components that the band is playing along with, but I may not want to do that exact arrangement tonight. So, you know, our track guy knows how to move things in real time. And the video guys are getting really good at knowing how to move things in real time, too, and swap songs around and be on the fly.
Bobby Bones
By getting really good at it, that means being forced to, because you're like, I'm changing this. And so they just have to roll with it. Right?
Amy Brown
It's great. I love that kind of just that spontaneity keeps everybody on edge. Like, nobody can get up. Nobody in the band or in the crew can just be like, you know you're on because you don't know what's gonna happen next. And I love those kinds of shows. You can feel that kind of energy in the audience that. Especially when you go into like a spontaneous thing, a guitar solo or some moment, breakdown moment or something musically, and the band's like, I don't know what's happening, what's going on? And you're like, I don't know either. Here we are. But we're doing it. The audience feel that they don't have to be musical. They just go, what is going on? What's this energy that's happening right now? And it's just unpredictability.
Bobby Bones
So keep the band scared. That's the advice. Keep your band scared at any time.
Amy Brown
Keep monetized. Yeah.
Bobby Bones
I really appreciate you having me out. Thank you. Thanks for showing me the place and always inspired by how you're so inspired. That's a weird thing to say, but that's the truth.
Amy Brown
No, thank you.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I'm inspired by how you stay so inspired. So, yeah, thanks for having us out.
Amy Brown
Anytime, Bobby.
Bobby Bones
The Bobby cast. We'll be right back. Thank you to the presenting sponsor of today's episode, American Express. Between my shows, 25 whistles. Lots to say, Too much access. It's a lot of traveling for work, and I get to attend a bunch of different sporting events. And while the travel can take a toll on me sometimes, all the points I get makes it so much better. With the Amex Platinum, you earn 5 times Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com on up to $500,000 in flight purchases per year. Plus you get access to the Centurion Lounge, making travel that much more enjoyable. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com travel.
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Keith Urban
And personal opinion.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, it's all personal opinion.
Keith Urban
All personal opinion. That's art, right? Like, you judge art differently based on who you are.
Bobby Bones
And number 15, limp bizkit.
Keith Urban
Oof.
Bobby Bones
I put limp biscuit at a nine. I love limp Bizkit and love that time. Was never much of a corn guy, but loved Limp Bizkit and Limp Biscuit was a bit derivative of corn.
Keith Urban
Yeah, they were. Yeah.
Bobby Bones
So love Limp Bizkit. Love the white rocker wrap type thing. I still will watch Limp Bizkit videos now of them doing festivals now and still killing it. Still doing good. Yeah. So I put him in a nine. You.
Keith Urban
I'm gonna go five. Don't care either way because I respect what they did and what they're still doing. Fred Durst. I mean, you know, it's whatever the guitarist, the guy that looked like he wore the contacts, and the monkey guy. Like, that was pretty cool. So I didn't care much for their music, but I respect them. So I go five.
Bobby Bones
Rarely do people say they respect Limp Bizkit.
Keith Urban
Yeah, I haven't heard that. Really?
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
Because I understand their success. I understand why people like them.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I really still like them. I wish they'd come in here, do an acoustic.
Keith Urban
That would be cool.
Bobby Bones
Break stuff. Number 14, Dave Matthews Band. I'm gonna put them at a. I'll go eight. Their live shows aren't for me because they're jam banned in too long. But I really like Dave Matthews Band when it comes to listening to songs or albums.
Keith Urban
Solid. That's pretty solid. I'm gonna put them at an eight for a different reason. I like their early stuff. I like Dave Matthews band till about 2000. Then after 2000, they kind of lost me after space between some of the music kind of. It didn't like. I don't know, it didn't click with me. So I'm gonna go eight. Because I do love Dave Matthews Band. But some of their early, their later stuff or their most recent stuff don't like so much.
Bobby Bones
It's probably because you're not in your formidable years anymore. And that stuff that you grew up with in that time of like 15 to 19, 13 to 19, really becomes you. And if they change it all from that, you don't like that anymore because it's not in your formidable years more than. Their change is just so drastic.
Keith Urban
Could be right. You could be right about that. I mean, dude, I love Dave Matthews so much that I would listen to all their live albums. I mean, their Red Rocks album, I'd listen from start to finish. Dave and Tim, I would listen to a lot of those college albums.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, that's a good one.
Keith Urban
Loved it.
Bobby Bones
That was like from Chicago theater. Right.
Keith Urban
They did a bunch of different ones.
Bobby Bones
The Dave and Tim. There was like one real big record though.
Keith Urban
Luther College, I believe.
Bobby Bones
Is that what it was? That was like Chicago.
Keith Urban
Oh, possibly.
Bobby Bones
I don't know.
Keith Urban
Let's. Let's Google that.
Bobby Bones
I don't know. Number 13, U2. I like you to find. I find them to be overrated. I put them in about a 5. I don't hate U2. I would bet either Chicago or North Carolina from where they're from. Where is it?
Keith Urban
Iowa.
Bobby Bones
Dang, I missed it big time. Okay, you too. I put up a five.
Keith Urban
You're crazy, dude.
Bobby Bones
I put you two where you put limp bizkit.
Keith Urban
U2 is a 10 for me. I still love what U2 puts out. Like, I love U2.
Bobby Bones
They take themselves way too seriously for me.
Keith Urban
They do. They are serious about their music, but.
Bobby Bones
That'S different than serious about their music, than take themselves way too serious. Two different things.
Keith Urban
Oh, you think, like, they.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, they have attached themselves. Like, we have a purpose bigger than everybody else. And you should listen to everything we say always. Because we are rock stars and people have accepted and loved us on a level that makes us superior. They have a superiority complex.
Keith Urban
Unfairly, I think. That is Bono. That's. I mean. And they've chosen Bono as their leader of the band. I get it. And part partly to, like. I mean, he named himself Bono, and then the Edge has a name. That doesn't help that they have these, like, weird first names or whatever. But, dude, U2 is so good. The whole world loves you, too. And I think there's a reason for that.
Bobby Bones
The whole world doesn't love you, too. They had their moment. They're a five for me. They're a 10 for you. Wow.
Keith Urban
10.
Bobby Bones
Genesis a little before us, though, so it's a bit unfair. So the original singer of Genesis was Phil Collins. No.
Keith Urban
Damn. Peter Gabriel.
Bobby Bones
Yes.
Keith Urban
It's 50 50.
Bobby Bones
And then Phil Collins was the drummer who ended up being the singer. I don't have a feeling of love or hate because I don't even know why people would hate them. I mean, I like them. I'll give them a six because I liked some of the early Peter Gabriel stuff. And we've done this in podcasts, like, try to figure out what was what. It's really present on Genesis more than it is a score.
Keith Urban
Sure.
Bobby Bones
I don't know why people don't like them, though.
Keith Urban
I don't know either. And we're definitely at the age where we didn't grow up with it, like you said. And I think that hurts it for me because I would never turn it off if it's on the radio or it's on. Like, I mean, that's cool. I like that song. But I'll never seek Genesis. I. Half the time I don't really even know.
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
If it's Genesis or not.
Bobby Bones
So I go for Green Day.
Keith Urban
I'm gonna go.
Bobby Bones
Sure.
Keith Urban
Love me some Green Day. If ever, like, I'm just like, as a Friday, you know, 6 o' clock on a Friday evening and I want to just go back to a certain time, I will just grab a six pack of beer and Listen to Green Day and, like, just flashback to high school, to college, to getting out of college. I love it all. So Green Day. I'll give a nine because they're not my favorite band, but I love Green Day.
Bobby Bones
I give it a 9 as well. I think maybe people don't like them now because they're extremely political.
Keith Urban
Oh, are they?
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
Didn't even realize. And I guess you two is too, right?
Bobby Bones
Pretty political, but they're not American.
Keith Urban
Yeah, but they do hit on a lot of American politics.
Bobby Bones
They're not Americans. You just go, you guys aren't even American.
Keith Urban
Good point. Like, what are you talking about?
Bobby Bones
Shut up.
Keith Urban
It's not even your country.
Bobby Bones
I know Motley Crue at 10.
Keith Urban
Again. I think it's our age. I don't. I don't hate Motley Crue. I don't see a lot of substance to Motley Crue music. It's kind of just turning on in the background. Home Sweet Home.
Amy Brown
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
They got, like, two songs I like. I think I have a bunch of songs. I am indifferent about that. If it comes on the classic rock station, like, I don't chase down smoking in the boys room. There you go. Right.
Keith Urban
I was trying to think.
Bobby Bones
But if it's on, I'm like, smoking in the boys room.
Keith Urban
Girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, girls.
Bobby Bones
Right. Yeah.
Amy Brown
4.
Bobby Bones
I see why people don't like them or didn't like them because they were cheesy and they were massive in the glam era. And when you're the biggest and part of an era that looks super cheesy, I'm gonna. Yeah, I'm gonna go for.
Keith Urban
I'll go four with you, Nickelback. Go ahead. Go ahead, man.
Bobby Bones
Ten, seven.
Keith Urban
You're crazy.
Bobby Bones
So I think they get a lot of hate because it's the cool thing to do. And people that say they hate Nickelback actually just want to be part of a group.
Keith Urban
I don't understand. Was it cool to ever say they're not cool?
Bobby Bones
Yes.
Keith Urban
Why?
Bobby Bones
That was the cool thing to say was Nickelback sucks because I got so big. Same thing people do to Coldplay.
Keith Urban
Coldplay does not suck.
Bobby Bones
I know, but that's what happened to Coldplay. They got so big, people started to go, oh, it's corny.
Keith Urban
Mm. You don't think Nickelback's music is.
Bobby Bones
You don't think Coldplay's music.
Keith Urban
No, dude. It's very.
Bobby Bones
I love Coldplay, but there's definitely a corny element. It's deep to their anthemic, fast disco type song.
Keith Urban
Is it a little Emo Yes.
Bobby Bones
No emojis. I'm talking about, like, the fast stuff that they do now. Coldplay.
Keith Urban
Sky Full of Stars. You don't like that one?
Bobby Bones
Coldplay gets lame, but I love Coldplay.
Keith Urban
Love Coldplay.
Bobby Bones
Nickelback can kind of get lame, but I think Nickelback's great. And they should not be hated upon like they do because it became cool to hate on them.
Keith Urban
This is one of those things where, like, I think you and I could really get into a fight over. Because every time we talk about it, it's like, you're so serious about, like, no, they're so good. And I'm so serious about, like, no, dude, they suck.
Bobby Bones
You don't write that many massive songs without being a really great writer, even if you think the songs have no texture or depth. They write bangers. The people have spoken. I'm not going to go to a Nickelback concert. I got invited to one. I didn't want to go.
Keith Urban
Oh, yeah.
Bobby Bones
But I'm not because I'm not a Nickelback fan.
Keith Urban
So what do you give them?
Bobby Bones
But I'm a fan of not being a hater for no reason.
Keith Urban
No, no, no, no.
Bobby Bones
Just seven.
Keith Urban
Rate them the way you rated Motley Crue.
Bobby Bones
I already did seven.
Keith Urban
You're crazy.
Bobby Bones
They have enough good songs to come on. I'm like, that's fun. I like the song. Or I definitely don't hate this song. Or I'm singing along with it. Don't even realize I'm singing along with it. Never made it as a wise man. Or look at this photograph.
Keith Urban
Remember I told you how, like Green Day, I get a six pack of beer and go back? Dude, if I ever got a six pack of beer and listen to Nickelback, I would probably throw away that speaker.
Bobby Bones
Yeah, you're a hater for no reason.
Keith Urban
What's our scale?
Bobby Bones
One to ten?
Keith Urban
No zeros.
Bobby Bones
Nope. One Liar. Let's take a quick pause for a.
Keith Urban
Message from our sponsor.
Bobby Bones
Thank you to the presenting sponsor of today's episode, American Express. I'm a big American Express guy. I travel for work a lot. I'm able to use this card in an amazing way for my business expenses. You know me, I'm on the road. I feel like sometimes too much, but all the points I get makes it so much better. With the Amex Business Platinum, you earn five times membership reward points on flights and prepaid hotels. Book through amextravel.com, plus you can work while you're on the go. With access to more than 1400 lounges globally through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including the Centurion Lounge that's powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com AmExBusiness hey, it's Ryan Seacrest.
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Keith Urban
You did this on purpose.
Bobby Bones
No, I didn't. It's on the list. Them out. It's on the list. Nine to eight.
Keith Urban
Look, the reason Creed rubbed me the wrong way. Is because I love Pearl Jam and I hated the fact even MTV did what was. Remember the. The celebrity death matches. Even did Eddie Vedder versus Scott Creed.
Bobby Bones
Because Scott Creed.
Keith Urban
No, Scott Stack, whatever his name is.
Bobby Bones
Respect him.
Amy Brown
He's played with us before.
Keith Urban
Because he tried to sound like Eddie Vedder. I hated that. I hated that he would talk. They sing like this.
Bobby Bones
Do you think anybody that sings like that is trying to sing like Eddie Vedder?
Keith Urban
Yes, because Eddie Vedder didn't try to sing like that.
Bobby Bones
That's what his voice sounded like. Eddie Ved was the first one to ever sing like that.
Keith Urban
Name me someone else who sang like that before. Eddie Vedder.
Amy Brown
Okay.
Bobby Bones
You can't. Everybody's derivative of something, including Eddie Vedder. Go ahead.
Keith Urban
I hated that about Creed, so immediately. I never liked Creed. So I give them a one as well.
Bobby Bones
8.
Keith Urban
You're crazy with arms wide open. Did you ever buy their albums?
Bobby Bones
Oh, yeah. I went to concerts.
Keith Urban
How many?
Bobby Bones
At least two.
Keith Urban
You're crazy.
Bobby Bones
Sticks sail away before me so much. I never saw the hate. So it's just. Do I like them or not? Yeah, I like them. Okay. I watched them do the web series at John Oates house.
Keith Urban
Yes.
Bobby Bones
And they were. He was awesome. The singer from Sticks was awesome. Daryl Hall. Whatever.
Keith Urban
It's a. Daryl's house.
Bobby Bones
Whatever it is. One of the two had a house. An artist would go over, and I was like.
Keith Urban
That didn't sound right.
Bobby Bones
It didn't sound right, but it's great.
Keith Urban
Hold on. We've done this before, man. Where we, like, go down the sticks songs. And, like, they're all so good.
Bobby Bones
Sticks is great. Except they're great as a classic rock band that I never had any sort of relationship with because they weren't alive while I was alive. Like Renegade. Oh, Renegade. That's a jam. Come sail away, Come sail away Come sail away with Mr. Roboto.
Keith Urban
Mr. Roboto is awesome.
Bobby Bones
I got too much time on my hands. I'm in.
Keith Urban
Wait, do they sing? Show me the way. Like I want you. Okay.
Bobby Bones
We played with that band.
Keith Urban
We did Foreigner.
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
Oh, that's cool.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. I'm gonna give him a six.
Keith Urban
I like six. Six is strong. Because they. I do like their songs. Don't know anything about them other than. I did see that lead singer guy at Home Depot one time. Long hanging, crazy. Yeah. Blonde hair.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. He still sounds great. I saw him over John Oates house.
Keith Urban
No, it was Daryl's house.
Bobby Bones
Pearl jam.
Keith Urban
Go ahead.
Bobby Bones
5.
Keith Urban
Why do you do that? I swear, you do that just to piss me off. 5 Because there's no way that you grew up in the 90s. 5 Loving grandma.
Bobby Bones
Don't tell me there's no way I said what I said. 5.
Keith Urban
Explain yourself, my friend loves.
Amy Brown
Sounds like.
Bobby Bones
Sounds like a cartoon character.
Keith Urban
What are you talking. No one sounded like that. Do you remember Hunger Strike?
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
Okay.
Bobby Bones
Remember I saw him play that at a show recently. They played it and the crowd did the other part. They did the Chris Cornell part.
Keith Urban
That's pretty cool when they do that. That wasn't the show I went to. When Hunger Strike came out. I remember people being like, who is that? That voice is so unique, so awesome. Who is that? That's the new lead singer of Pearl Jam, dude. They were just. They were great from the beginning, and they continue to be great. They continue to. To.
Bobby Bones
Didn't they move to Seattle and fake like they're from Seattle to be part of the grunge scene?
Keith Urban
Eddie did. Eddie was. No, no, no. That's not fair at all. Because Stone and Jeff, the two founding members of Pearl Jam, were in Mother Love Bone, who were the roots of Seattle grunge.
Bobby Bones
These are the people. They say Eddie Vedder is derivative of Jim Morrison. They stole a lot of his delivery from Jim Morrison.
Keith Urban
I get that.
Bobby Bones
Neil Young stole a lot of his delivery from Neil Young.
Keith Urban
You think Eddie Vedder sounds like Neil Young?
Bobby Bones
They say Neil's voice is higher. But veterans credited Young as a spiritual godfather of grunge, especially when he sings and does acoustic material.
Keith Urban
Okay.
Bobby Bones
Michael Sti. Because of his mobile delivery.
Keith Urban
Please.
Bobby Bones
Mark Lanigan from Screaming Trees.
Keith Urban
Grunge guy. Yeah.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. So anyway, I'm just saying you had to look that up. Totally original voice that you claim. Everything's derivative of everybody.
Keith Urban
My final answer is a 10 for Pearl Jam.
Bobby Bones
Guns N Roses.
Keith Urban
Ooh, I like Guns N Roses. I'll give Guns N' roses a solid 8.
Bobby Bones
5.
Keith Urban
Really?
Bobby Bones
Yeah. Grunge kind of made them look worthless. They were before me.
Keith Urban
You're right.
Bobby Bones
And grunge made them look weird to me because I never listened to Guns N' Roses in real time.
Keith Urban
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
And so I was kind of like, I like, welcome to the jungle was in football movies. You're in a jungle, baby. And I was like, oh, this is a cool movie. Yeah, it's a five. Coldplay. Unfair, hated. 10.
Keith Urban
You're gonna put him at 10?
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Keith Urban
Nice.
Bobby Bones
I love Coldplay. They have some really goofy, cheesy songs, but I love Coldplay.
Keith Urban
It's funny. You like. You like the sad ones more than the Anthem.
Bobby Bones
Only the sad ones. I don't want the anthemic.
Keith Urban
So you don't like Viva la Vida?
Bobby Bones
No.
Keith Urban
I don't even know what you're singing.
Bobby Bones
Viva la Vida. Journey at three.
Amy Brown
Ooh.
Keith Urban
Journey before me, before us. But still, like Journey. I mean, Don't Stop Believing is a. Yeah.
Bobby Bones
They have a lot of hits, too.
Keith Urban
I'll put them at six.
Bobby Bones
The Eagles.
Keith Urban
Oof. Ten.
Bobby Bones
Eight, for sure. Number one, most hated band, Kiss.
Keith Urban
Oh, why do you hate Kiss?
Bobby Bones
I don't. No, no, no.
Keith Urban
I'm sending the list. Like, why would you hate on Kiss?
Bobby Bones
I think because there wasn't a lot of substance, and it was mostly all on Flash, which was the makeup.
Keith Urban
Yeah. And Gene Simmons tongue.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. But part of that. That's part of the makeup and part of the. We're gonna be creatures on stage more so than just knockout hit after hit or, like, music with depth. But again, I'm not a Kiss fan.
Keith Urban
Forget the death, though. Dude. Those were jams, though. I can roll all night.
Bobby Bones
Go ahead. I know, like, three songs that's the same song you just said.
Keith Urban
Can I look them up?
Bobby Bones
Nope.
Keith Urban
I mean, I couldn't. I couldn't tell you.
Bobby Bones
Like, I know they have Detroit Rock City, but I can't sing that back right now. And they have the slow song from the Paul Rudd movie where he's a mentor. Role models. Yeah, role models.
Keith Urban
Never seen that movie. I think all their music was in that.
Bobby Bones
It was a bunch of songs. Yeah, yeah. Let me see. Because I do like that song. And it's a slow song.
Keith Urban
I love it Loud.
Bobby Bones
That's what I'm saying. They don't have a lot of songs. They have a lot of, like, we. I was made for loving you. Rock and roll Detroit. Heavens on fire. Lick it up. Love Gun Forever. Maybe Forever is a slow. Oh, Beth is the one I'm talking about.
Keith Urban
Beth.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. That's awesome. It's like a Beatles song.
Keith Urban
Yeah, it does.
Bobby Bones
Yeah. Okay, so there's that. Just wanted to see where you fell on the hated scale.
Keith Urban
Yeah. You know, I didn't realize Kiss didn't have a lot of jam.
Bobby Bones
No, we just know him because they got a bunch of paint on their face. That's why when they came back and did songs without pain on their face, nobody cared.
Keith Urban
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
They had no more hits.
Keith Urban
Yeah.
Bobby Bones
All right, that's it. Thank you, guys. We'll see you next week. Thanks for listening to a Bobbycast production. Your dream getaway. Welcome in Starts at the airport. With AMEX platinum, you get access to.
Keith Urban
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Bobby Bones
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Keith Urban
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Bobby Bones
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Keith Urban
Last just a little longer. Flight to Mexico now boarding.
Amy Brown
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Bobby Bones
That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. For more information, visit american express.com with Amex.
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this spring. Stock up on all your personal care favorites and earn 4 times points. Now through June 17th. Shop in store online for deals on all your favorite personal care items like Pantene Shampoo, Native Body Spray Deodorant, Secret Body Spray, Venus Razors, Always Pads, Head and Shoulder Shampoo and Native deodorant and earn 4 times points. Then use those points for discounts on groceries or fuel. You don't want to miss these deals. Offer ends June 17th. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.
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Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show – Episode Released on June 6, 2025
BOBBYCAST: Keith Urban on His Origin Story + Going Back and Forth From Nashville to Australia Early in Career + Signing His First Record Deal + His Favorite Part of Being a Musician + Bobby & Eddie Discuss The Top 10 Most Hated Bands
In this episode of The Bobby Bones Show, Premiere Networks hosts dive deep into the illustrious career of country music superstar Keith Urban, exploring his origins, early career struggles, and eventual rise to fame. Additionally, co-hosts Bobby Bones and his guest discuss the Top 10 Most Hated Bands, rating them on a personal scale of dislike versus fondness.
Setting the Scene ([04:34] - [05:04]): The episode kicks off with Bobby Bones welcoming Amy Brown and Keith Urban to episode 516. They join from Keith Urban's newly built studio, a significant milestone that Amy describes with nostalgic enthusiasm.
Early Beginnings and Moving to Nashville ([05:09] - [07:49]): Amy Brown shares her inspiring journey of moving from Australia to Nashville with her manager. She recounts their initial struggles, living at Shoney's Inn (now Comfort Inn), and the challenges of breaking into the competitive Nashville music scene.
"We really didn't know anybody. We just did the classic thing of walking up and down 16th and 17th Ave. And going in and seeing if they'd let us play them." ([05:52])
Amy describes the relentless effort of writing songs, often facing rejection but driven by an unyielding passion for music.
First Record Deal and Early Success ([24:41] - [28:57]): Amy reflects on signing her first record deal in Australia after winning a competition with EMI Records. This initial success provided a foundation, but moving to the U.S. meant starting over. She details the emotional and professional hurdles of establishing herself in a new country.
"We started from the bottom again. Literally. Nobody cares. You can't bring your band. I have no money. So I'm right back to ground zero and starting to pay dues all over again." ([25:00])
Songwriting and Creative Process ([10:19] - [33:24]): The conversation delves into Amy's approach to songwriting, particularly in the structured environment of Nashville. She expresses her challenges with co-writing in rigid settings versus her natural, vibe-driven process.
"The melody and hooks and the riffs, those were driving the story and everything else." ([12:18])
Amy discusses the evolution of her music, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity and emotional connection in her creative process.
Signing the First Record Deal and Breakthrough ([24:45] - [30:33]): Amy narrates the experience of recording her first album in Australia and the subsequent decision to move to Nashville to seek greater opportunities. She recounts her first number one hit, "But for the Grace of God," highlighting the slow yet steady rise in her career.
"It's an amazing feeling." ([32:52])
Balancing Success and Artistic Integrity ([33:24] - [38:52]): Discussing the accolades, Amy reflects on winning awards like the Triple Crown and how recognition has impacted her career. She emphasizes the importance of staying true to her musical roots despite external pressures.
"It just took years and years and years of chipping away to finally figure out how to fit in and not lose myself." ([38:39])
Favorite Part of Being a Musician ([35:10] - [35:30]): Amy reveals her deep love for live performances, stating that "Living to play" captures her passion for entertaining audiences and the exhilaration of live music.
"I love to play live. It's what I do." ([35:12])
Set List Creation and Tour Preparation ([43:50] - [47:36]): Amy discusses the meticulous process of creating set lists for her live shows, emphasizing the balance between planning and spontaneity to craft memorable experiences for her audiences.
"I'm shaping an experience that I want to create for those two hours for the audience." ([43:50])
Tour Production and Collaboration ([45:29] - [46:31]): The duo explores how Amy collaborates with production designers to create visually stunning stages, enhancing the overall concert experience.
"Just the look of the stage, you know, and for me, what the lighting's gonna do, what the video aspect's gonna do." ([45:33])
Closing Thoughts on Creativity ([32:52] - [37:36]): Amy and Bobby reflect on maintaining creative drive over the years, with Amy affirming that her passion for music remains as strong as ever.
"The adrenaline rush and the excitement of writing and creating something like Straight Line, which is the single we have out now, when that comes in the studio, it's like, it's an amazing feeling." ([32:52])
Following the insightful interview, Bobby Bones and Keith Urban transition to a lighter, yet engaging segment discussing the Top 10 Most Hated Bands. They rate each band on a scale from 1 to 10, where 10 represents the most disliked and 1 signifies love for the band. Their rankings are based on personal opinions, sparking lively debate.
Highlights of the Discussion:
Limp Bizkit
Bobby Bones: "I put Limp Bizkit at a nine. I love Limp Bizkit and love that time."
Keith Urban: "I'm gonna go five. Don't care either way because I respect what they did and what they're still doing." ([50:49])
Dave Matthews Band
Keith Urban: "I like Dave Matthews so much that I would listen to all their live albums." ([52:47])
U2
Bobby Bones: "I put you two where you put Limp Bizkit."
Keith Urban: "U2 is a 10 for me. I still love what U2 puts out." ([53:34])
Genesis
Green Day
Motley Crue
Coldplay
Keith Urban: "I love Coldplay." ([56:59])
Pearl Jam
Bobby Bones: "They have a lot of hits."
Keith Urban: "My final answer is a 10 for Pearl Jam." ([63:00])
Nickelback
Kiss
Keith Urban: "I love Kiss... They were great from the beginning, and they continue to be great." ([67:40])
Overall Insights:
Respect and Understanding: Despite their ratings, both Bobby and Keith often express respect for the bands' contributions to music, highlighting a nuanced understanding that personal taste doesn't diminish a band's impact.
Generational Preferences: Their differing ratings underscore how personal experiences and generational influences shape musical preferences.
Humor and Camaraderie: The segment is rich with playful banter, showcasing the friendly dynamic between Bobby and Keith, even when their opinions diverge.
This episode of The Bobby Bones Show offers a compelling blend of deep industry insights from Kim Urban’s journey and an entertaining debate on some of the most polarizing bands in music history. Listeners gain a comprehensive look into the perseverance required to succeed in the music industry and enjoy a spirited discussion on musical preferences, making it a must-listen for fans of Keith Urban and music enthusiasts alike.
Notable Quotes:
"We really didn't know anybody. We just did the classic thing of walking up and down 16th and 17th Ave. And going in and seeing if they'd let us play them." – Amy Brown ([05:52])
"The melody and hooks and the riffs, those were driving the story and everything else." – Amy Brown ([12:18])
"I love to play live. It's what I do." – Amy Brown ([35:12])
"U2 is a 10 for me. I still love what U2 puts out." – Keith Urban ([53:34])
"I'm gonna go five. Don't care either way because I respect what they did and what they're still doing." – Keith Urban ([50:49])
Timestamps:
Final Note:
For those interested in an in-depth exploration of Keith Urban's career and a spirited discussion on music's most debated bands, this episode delivers both substance and entertainment. Tune in to The Bobby Bones Show on Premiere Networks to catch these insightful conversations and more.