BOBBYCAST: Matthew Ramsey on the Origin of Old Dominion & Why a Band Member is Left Out of Photos + Turning Down a Chance to Play with Taylor Swift - Twice! + Meeting His Hero Bruce Springsteen + Locking Eyes with Tim McGraw in the Bathroom + His Favo... - The Bobby Bones Show

Summary7 min read

The Bobbycast #536: Matthew Ramsey (Old Dominion)

Podcast: The Bobby Bones Show
Host: Bobby Bones
Guest: Matthew Ramsey, lead singer of Old Dominion
Date: September 12, 2025

Episode Overview

Bobby Bones sits down for an in-depth conversation with Matthew Ramsey, frontman of the country band Old Dominion, to discuss the band’s origin story, the dynamics behind the scenes, mental health, missed opportunities (including turning down gigs with Taylor Swift), creative journeys, memorable industry moments, and the experience of building a career at a later stage than most. The episode offers candid insight into leadership, vulnerability, the pressures of creative success, and what it really means to chase joy instead of just accolades in music—and life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Old Dominion’s Band Dynamics & Member Participation

[05:06-07:15]

Bandmate Wit’s absence in band photos:
- Matthew Ramsey shares: Wit suffers from “crippling social anxiety,” so the band reached a new agreement to allow him to skip interviews and promo events but still fully participate in musical aspects.
  
  “Anything that involves playing music, he’s there… but other than that, he’s on his own, which he appreciates.” —Matthew Ramsey (06:00)
- Open discussion on accommodating individual needs in a team, and how mental health is increasingly recognized in band decisions.
- Ramsey emphasizes, “Every personality needs to be led differently.” (07:24)

2. Creative Leadership, Individual Experiences, and Growth

[07:52-08:41]

Acceptance that members experience the same performance differently and that’s okay.
Ramsey reflects on learning “two things can be true at once” from his marriage, and how he applies it to band leadership.

3. Matthew’s Artistic Journey: Art Before Music & Early Jobs

[09:49-11:38]

Ramsey studied illustration at Virginia Commonwealth University, initially pursuing art as a career.
Worked at a stained glass factory, painting and designing church windows—an early pursuit blending art and craft.

4. Cravings for Normalcy vs. the Drive of Creativity

[11:42-13:48]

Both Bones and Ramsey discuss the tension between wanting a “normal” life and the relentless drive to create and prove oneself.
Notable quote:

“I wish I was the type of person that was cool with [normalcy].” —Matthew Ramsey (11:53)
The pair agree that personal ambition is a double-edged sword—never fully satisfied, but propelling them forward.

5. The Story Behind ‘Barbara’ and Album Naming

[13:48-16:28]

“Barbara” as an album title started as a joke, not connected to a song or a real Barbara.
The character “Barbara” developed spontaneously; the cover model was in her first modeling job.

“Then this character just appeared in all of our brains.” —Matthew Ramsey (15:12)

6. Turning Down Taylor Swift – Twice

[01:41, 16:31-17:47]

Ramsey was twice offered a spot as acoustic guitarist and background vocalist for early-career Taylor Swift, turning it down both times—first for the birth of his child, second to focus on writing.

“I was super broke and needed the money, but ultimately decided that’s not why I moved here.” —Matthew Ramsey (01:41, 17:40)

7. Songwriting & Nashville Wisdom

[20:59-24:35]

Matthew only moved to Nashville to be a songwriter, studiously avoiding the stardom chase.
Shares formative advice from songwriter Darrell Scott:

“If you’re moving there to be a star, then don’t do it. But if you’re moving there to surround yourself with the best songwriters… then by all means, you should go.” —Darrell Scott via Ramsey (21:30)
Ramsey passes on that ethos: authenticity matters more than trend-chasing.

8. Old Dominion’s Formation & First Big Gamble

[26:59-29:16]

Band was a loose collaboration at first—friends playing out for fun and showcasing songs.
“Break Up with Him” was the first song they wrote together and chose to hold back from pitching to other artists, committing more seriously to the band identity.

9. Facing & Accepting Rejection

[29:53-30:53]

Open about being rejected by “every record label in town multiple times”, learning to protect themselves emotionally by focusing on fun instead of expectations.

10. Meeting Heroes & Industry Stories

[33:02-38:51]

Ramsey tells the story of meeting Bruce Springsteen, sitting with Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz, and being treated like a peer by Springsteen after his Broadway show.

“He made it easy to just be yourself.” —Matthew Ramsey (38:26)
Comments on artist insecurity and the mutual recognition among creatives: “You’re still an insecure person.” (33:27)

11. Stage Adventures: Locking Eyes with Tim McGraw in the Bathroom

[49:23-50:31]

Surreal moment meeting Tim McGraw backstage, with McGraw singing full blast in the bathroom, unfazed by Ramsey’s presence.

12. Musical Inspirations, Beginnings & Concert Memories

[51:04-53:54]

Wide musical background: 90s grunge, The Temptations, and more.
First concert: Huey Lewis and the News.
“Watching people lose their minds, going, how do I do this for a living?” —Matthew Ramsey (52:54)

13. Songwriting: Process, Inspiration, and Unintentional Overlap

[54:10-56:16]

Discussed the prevalence of accidental song similarities and being approached by other artists over unintentional overlaps.
Ramsey likens songwriting overlap to comedy: “There’s only so many things you can write about… you’re gonna land somewhere familiar at some point.” (55:10)

14. Creative Output & Routine

[56:54-57:32]

Ramsey writes around three times a week “at most”—not an everyday writer, unlike some band members.
Prefers creative bursts over a strict routine.

15. Best Old Dominion Songs: Writing & Live Performance

[60:47-62:29]

Writing: “My Heart Is a Bar” and “Written in the Sand.”
Live: “Memory Lane” for audience energy and collective experience.

16. Reflecting on Success, Hits, and Current Goals

[63:45-65:19]

Industry “hit” definitions are fluid; now focus is on fan connection, memorable live moments, and creative fulfillment.

17. Touring Abroad: Adjusting to Non-U.S. Crowds

[72:12-74:27]

European tours require adapting—fans abroad are more focused on music, storytelling; less about “the party.”
Reflects on learning to slow down, communicate differently, and appreciate cultural differences.

“Over there, it’s more about the music, and they want to hear more talking and more stories.” —Matthew Ramsey (72:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Bandmate Wit’s Anxiety:

“If you’re the person that is anxious and doesn’t like to talk, it shines a light on you a little bit. And people want to make him talk… It really freaks him out.” —Matthew Ramsey (05:18)
On Turning Down Taylor Swift:

“They needed an acoustic guitar player… I was super broke and needed the money, but ultimately decided that’s not why I moved here.” —Matthew Ramsey (01:41)
On Creative Drive:

“I wish I was the type of person that was cool with [normalcy].” —Matthew Ramsey (11:53)
On Artistic Rejection:

“We got turned down by every record label in this town multiple times… What do you want to do? We’re having a good time.” —Matthew Ramsey (26:14)
On Meeting Bruce Springsteen:

“He made it easy to just be yourself.” —Matthew Ramsey (38:26)
On Performing for Small/Large Crowds:

“We don’t care about the small part. You know, that’s natural… in America, it’s as much about the party as it is about the music… Over there, it’s more about the music, and they want to hear more talking and more stories.” —Matthew Ramsey (72:13)
On Accepting Compliments:

“My instinct would be to be self-deprecating when receiving a compliment, but someone explained to me it’s like someone handing you a gift and you slap it out of their hand…” —Matthew Ramsey (69:30)
On Touring Europe and Adapting:

“We came out for the party, and… they’re just staring at us and listening very intently… Let’s just take a step back and let’s engage with them and talk to them a little bit more.” —Matthew Ramsey (72:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[05:06] — On Wit’s social anxiety and band agreement
[11:53] — Struggles with wanting normalcy vs. creative drive
[13:48] — Origin and concept behind “Barbara” album/title
[16:31, 01:41] — Turning down Taylor Swift gigs
[21:30] — Life-changing Nashville advice from Darrell Scott
[26:59] — Old Dominion’s organic beginnings and “Break Up with Him”
[29:53] — Processing repeated rejection, staying resilient
[33:02] — Meeting heroes, including Bruce Springsteen and Adam Duritz
[49:23] — Tim McGraw bathroom story
[51:04] — Early musical influences and first concert
[54:10] — Songwriting overlaps and artistic generosity
[60:47] — Old Dominion’s best written and best live songs
[63:45] — The evolving meaning of a “hit” and creative satisfaction
[72:12] — Adapting shows for international audiences

Final Thoughts

This episode is a goldmine for fans of Old Dominion, aspiring musicians, and anyone interested in the vulnerable, behind-the-scenes realities of the music business. Through humor and honesty, Bobby and Matthew explore the balance between following passion, making tough choices, facing rejection, and building lasting artistry. Ramsey’s wisdom and self-awareness make this conversation especially resonant for anyone balancing ambition with a desire for genuine fulfillment and connection.

For tour dates and more:
weareolddominion.com

Record: “Barbara” released August 22
Tour: “How Good Is That?” World tour

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Transcript568 lines

[00:00]
Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
[00:05]
Matthew Ramsey
On Fox One.
[00:06]
Commercial Voice
You can stream your favorite news, sports.
[00:08]
Matthew Ramsey
And entertainment live all in one app.
[00:12]
Commercial Voice
It's raw and unfiltered.
[00:14]
Matthew Ramsey
This is the best thing ever. Watch breaking news as it breaks. Breaking tonight, we're following two major stories.
[00:21]
Commercial Voice
And catch history in the making.
[00:26]
Matthew Ramsey
Debate drama touchdown. It's all here, baby. Fox one, we live for live streaming now.
[00:36]
Bobby Bones
What's poppin, y'? All? It's your girl, Imani. And I was struggling with my symptoms.
[00:40]
Commercial Voice
For over 10 years.
[00:41]
Bobby Bones
It felt like it took forever to.
[00:43]
Matthew Ramsey
Know what it was and I'll get.
[00:44]
Bobby Bones
More into that later. But even afterwards, finding the right treatment, forget it. But then one of my derms recommended.
[00:51]
Matthew Ramsey
Something different and things started to change. Stay tuned to hear more of my.
[00:55]
Bobby Bones
Story during the next break.
[01:05]
Commercial Voice
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[01:42]
Matthew Ramsey
I was offered playing twice to play for Taylor Swift. They needed an acoustic guitar player and a background vocalist and I was super broke and needed the money, but ultimately decided that's not why I moved here.
[01:58]
Bobby Bones
Hello, everybody. Welcome to episode 536 with Matthew Ramsey, lead singer of Old Dominion. Really artsy guy. Second time we've been able to sit with him for an extended period of time and I know him from random coming on the show. We've been out on some of the same, like music festivals. Like we'd play some shows they were playing. So I got to know him a little bit. But it's always fun to sit with somebody because you learn different things about them when you just sit with them for an hour. So really cool guy. You know, the fact that he went to college and studied illustration, like he draws like paints. He's that kind of artist as well. So he went and he studied illustration at Virginia Commonwealth University before pursuing music full time. Thought he'd do that, thought he'd paint, be an illustrator. He's done a lot of the band's early artwork, piano, guitar, all that kind of stuff. And we do reference his health later on in the episode. In 2021, he had a bad ATV accident. Broke his pelvis, played shows on a like a throne Remember that?
[02:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[02:55]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. So really like them. Really like them as a band. They have a new record called Barbara that came out August 22nd. They are out on tour right now on the How Good is that? World tour. You can go to we are Old Dominion dot com. They've won seven consecutive CMAs for vocal group of the year. I think eight total. They're crushing it. Check out we are OldDominion dot com and here is the episode with lead singer of Old Dominion, Matthew Ramsey. Hey, I'd like to start this with a little something I've started recently called pre show chit chat. But we don't really have anything to talk about. But we just kind of chit chat and sure do a little small talk. How you been?
[03:30]
Matthew Ramsey
I've been good. I like that. Let's. Let's loosen up. Let's force some small talk.
[03:35]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, yeah. I'm real bad at small talk. A little bit. Is this an exercise for me to get better at being human?
[03:41]
Matthew Ramsey
I actually just saw a whole thing about small talk and how quickly it's. How beneficial it is at first, but how quickly it wears out and it's useless.
[03:54]
Bobby Bones
It makes people like you quicker. If you're good at it, it sets a really strong first impression.
[04:00]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[04:00]
Bobby Bones
Like my friend Eddie, excellent at small talk if he's the Tom Brady of it.
[04:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[04:06]
Bobby Bones
Like, it doesn't matter who you are. Warm, smiley. How about that weather? How was traffic? And you're like, wow, this guy, he's really listening.
[04:14]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. And I think that this person was saying, like, the art to it is to move beyond the superficial as quickly as you can. So, like, you know, nice place. Oh, thanks. And then to go into like, are you happy here? Do you. Do you like.
[04:28]
Bobby Bones
Quite the turn. That's quite the turn.
[04:29]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. I like it though. You know, like, holy cow. Do you like living here?
[04:33]
Bobby Bones
Are you sad?
[04:34]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Are you just as sad in this new place as you were in the other places? Yeah.
[04:41]
Bobby Bones
Well, that was chit chat.
[04:42]
Matthew Ramsey
Well, there we go.
[04:43]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, that was fun. Everything been good?
[04:45]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, man.
[04:46]
Bobby Bones
I mean, I watch on social media, so I have a bad interpretation of how you've been doing. You look good.
[04:51]
Matthew Ramsey
Thank you. Thank you. I mean, yeah, that's the only interpretation you get is what we choose to show. But yeah, it's good. It's extremely busy.
[04:58]
Bobby Bones
Let me ask a question. I don't think it's uncomfortable and I can cut it if it is uncomfortable. How come you guys do photos without wit?
[05:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Whit is. Yeah, I've known wit my whole Life. And he's always been the same. He has a crippling social anxiety.
[05:18]
Bobby Bones
Really?
[05:19]
Matthew Ramsey
Yes.
[05:19]
Bobby Bones
He doesn't come to the studio sometimes as well?
[05:22]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, no, he. I mean, just to get into the weeds a little bit with it. And I don't think he would mind me saying this. We had to come up with a new agreement within the band with him so that he could not. He could opt out of that stuff because it makes him super uncomfortable. And of course, if you're the person that is anxious and doesn't like to talk, it shines a light on you a little bit. And people want to make him talk. And then when people want to make him talk, he's just like, it's even worse. I don't want to do it. It really freaks him out. So he really doesn't. It's beneficial to us all that he's not there because, you know, there's band dynamics. So when it was really coming to a head for him, we were sitting there going, man, why are you being such an asshole? And he's like, I can't take this. And he finally came to us and was like, I can't do that part of it anymore. It really freaks me out. And so we kind of came up with a new agreement where he doesn't have to do that stuff.
[06:25]
Bobby Bones
Does he still like drumming?
[06:26]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's in the band 100%.
[06:29]
Bobby Bones
So he's still in the band.
[06:30]
Matthew Ramsey
Everything is still 100 in the band.
[06:31]
Bobby Bones
You guys, for understanding and allowing. Because that is, I would say, a very non traditional thing to happen in a band where everybody's a member of the band fully.
[06:38]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah.
[06:39]
Bobby Bones
That's a mental health thing.
[06:40]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally. Totally. So. And we realized pretty quickly once he finally kind of voiced his struggles with it, that it was gonna be better for us all if we just kind of. So basically, the agreement is anything. Anything that involves playing music, he's there. Or pretending to play music. Like a music video or something like that, he's there. Or like a real promo shot to like promote an album or something. He's there for that. But other than that, man, he's. He's on his own, which he appreciates.
[07:16]
Bobby Bones
I like that. I'm glad to hear he's still in the band. Glad to hear that it wasn't like a concrete. We all have to do the exact same thing because everybody's needs are different.
[07:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally.
[07:25]
Bobby Bones
And I'm not sure the dynamic within the band, even in a leadership role, but I have learned that every personality needs to Be led differently.
[07:35]
Matthew Ramsey
Absolutely.
[07:36]
Bobby Bones
And that has taken a lot of leadership and also a lot of not being the leader to learn that, because I have a couple different groups that I manage. But if I just go to, like, my radio show podcast crew, they're like nine people there.
[07:48]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[07:48]
Bobby Bones
And if I did a blanket on and treated everybody exactly the same, that would not be good for the organization.
[07:52]
Matthew Ramsey
It wouldn't work.
[07:53]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
[07:53]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. And for us, too. I think it's taken us really, to this point, you know, within the last year or so, to even. Or at least me to realize, too, like, within this group of guys that I've known from practically my whole life, it's fine for us to have different experiences. Like, you know, I can come off stage going, that was the best show of my life. And another guy going, that was the worst show of my life. And I'm like, what? You're crazy. That was amazing. And they're going, not for me. And it took. That used to really bother me because I wanted everybody to have the same experience, but I had to learn we can all have different experiences.
[08:26]
Bobby Bones
Something else I've learned, because I've been married now four years, is that two things can be true at once.
[08:31]
Matthew Ramsey
Absolutely.
[08:32]
Bobby Bones
I'm like you. I was like, it must be universal. Either it's universal or it didn't happen.
[08:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[08:36]
Bobby Bones
Like, if it's not. My wife has taught me that multiple things can be true.
[08:40]
Matthew Ramsey
It's definitely true, man.
[08:42]
Bobby Bones
We can have different feelings about things, and that same thing could have happened so totally.
[08:46]
Matthew Ramsey
And, you know, there's different. You know, there's obviously different roles in a band. So, you know, my job is different than Brad's or Wits or Trevor's or Jeff's, you know, so my focus is on something completely different than theirs. Half the time, I feel, like, the.
[09:00]
Bobby Bones
Pressure on the lead singer. Well, it's.
[09:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, you get.
[09:05]
Bobby Bones
You get the spoils, but also the difficulty of you have to stay healthy more so than everybody else, because your voice, for sure.
[09:12]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah.
[09:12]
Bobby Bones
It's like me again. I'll just compare it to, like, the radio show is that everybody else. Any of them can. Are replaceable for a day.
[09:20]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[09:22]
Bobby Bones
It can go on. If I'm out, the whole thing shuts down. So it's my responsibility, because I care about those people, to make sure I'm doing all the extra things so that I can be healthy.
[09:31]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. It's definitely. I'm not a. I'm not a huge. I have to get, you know, more sleep and, you know, if my voice Is not there then imagine if you.
[09:39]
Bobby Bones
Were 22 in this successful and famous though, because it'd be a whole different deal. You'd be out living it up.
[09:43]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, totally. It would be. I'm thankful every day that we did not succeed at a young age like that.
[09:50]
Bobby Bones
What were you doing at 22?
[09:52]
Matthew Ramsey
22, I was still living in Virginia. I was working, I think at that point I was working at a stained glass factory basically.
[10:04]
Bobby Bones
Were you able to have art in your life in a way that you could make any money at that point?
[10:13]
Matthew Ramsey
That was as close as I could get at that point in time. You know, I. I have a illustration degree and. And so my. My goal was to have art be a job in some way, shape or form, whether it be visual or music. And that was. That was as close as I could get to having like a job that was. That had some sort of semblance of art to it.
[10:39]
Bobby Bones
What were you doing?
[10:40]
Matthew Ramsey
I started off painting. So there's. If you. If you look in and hold like church windows and. And you see like the Jesus looks like a painting in the stained glass window. That's a whole process. And I was painting those windows and then they fire em in a kiln and then they put them in the window. And then I kind of developed into designing some stained glass windows for a couple churches.
[11:06]
Bobby Bones
Did you almost do that? Was that almost a path? Could you have done that on a bigger level?
[11:11]
Matthew Ramsey
I could have stayed at that job. It was a family business and I liked the people there. It ultimately actually is what led me here. I met some people that led me to Nashville, but I don't think I could have done that forever. No, that would have driven me crazy. I. I need to. Something has to be different every day for me to be happy. And if I had some sort of job where I just showed up every day at a desk and sat there at a computer, it would drive me absolutely insane.
[11:38]
Bobby Bones
Do you ever have though, the part where it's like you wish it was something a little more consistent though?
[11:43]
Matthew Ramsey
At times I think yeah, I think that's a struggle that I have within myself is wanting that quote, unquote normalcy, but quickly realize how unhappy I would be with that. But I wish more so, I wish I was the type of person that was. Was cool with that.
[12:01]
Bobby Bones
I was talking to my therapist about that yesterday where it was. I was talking to him because I feel like I at times have an unhealthy appetite to prove myself right or to prove others wrong or just to prove different.
[12:14]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[12:15]
Bobby Bones
And, and it's. They're slightly different. And I was like, man, I wish I just had a little less tenacity. So I just stop sometimes.
[12:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[12:25]
Bobby Bones
It would just be easier on my body, on my mind. I wish I was just, I don't want to say settled because I don't think that's fair to people. I wish my goals were different.
[12:32]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, I get what you're saying.
[12:33]
Bobby Bones
Because I've never meet them. It's all, It's. I can't meet how I set them. I can't meet them.
[12:37]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[12:38]
Bobby Bones
Which leads me in a perpetual state.
[12:39]
Matthew Ramsey
There's always more. There's always another level. There's always.
[12:41]
Bobby Bones
And I don't like that about me, but I also understand why that's important and the success that it's brought me.
[12:46]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. It's also gotten you a lot, so.
[12:48]
Bobby Bones
But double edged sword.
[12:49]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[12:50]
Bobby Bones
Never fulfilled. But have way more than I thought I would.
[12:53]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally.
[12:54]
Bobby Bones
And so, yeah, I do have that, that issue sometimes. I'm like, man, I wish I just like, was like some of my friends and like had a job that I knew what I was doing and when I went home, I didn't ever think about it anymore.
[13:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, I used to, I used to kind of struggle with, you know, like. Yeah, I'm from an extremely small town and I used to kind of struggle with some of my like, friends from there. Talking about how brave I was for moving to Nashville and chasing after this. And in my head I'm sitting here going, you're the brave one for staying here and doing that and working a job. Like, to me this is an easy path out, like, you know, to go just run down whatever road I was there. That was to me the easy choice, the brave choice was to settle down at 20 and get a job and work that job for the rest of your life. That to me took so much more bravery than what I chose.
[13:49]
Bobby Bones
I was driving over here after work and I saw the billboard for Barbara and is that a character?
[13:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[13:55]
Bobby Bones
Okay. Then I saw a picture on your Instagram with her.
[13:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[13:59]
Bobby Bones
And I didn't know if that was really somebody. Like, it was like your aunt. Like, who's Barbara? Where did, where did this come from?
[14:05]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, you know, we always are. We have a running list of album titles. Always. And most of them are unusable. They're jokes. You know, we just make ourselves laugh. And Barbara came up one day, probably a year or two ago, just laughing at the idea of naming it after a person and, you know, picking a name that was not Common anymore. You don't know. I don't know a lot of barbers.
[14:30]
Bobby Bones
I don't know one.
[14:31]
Matthew Ramsey
If I do, they're older. And Barbara came out, and we laughed at that. And it was down to the wire, honestly, to pick the album title. We were gonna name it after one of the. One of the songs. And then at the last minute, we were like, man, let's just do something funny. Like we did on our first album, which was called Meat and Candy. And, you know, the label was like, what are you guys doing? And once. Once they kind of figured out who we are, they got so excited that we pivoted and called it Barbara. And then the character kind of came out of that as soon as we agreed, all right, let's call it Barbara. Then this character just appeared in all of our brains, and we were spitballing what she looked like and. And what kind of person she was. And so we found this amazing model who. We just found out, like, the social media clip you just saw of her at the show, we. We found out at that show this is her first job as a model. She's never. She's never done anything like this before.
[15:27]
Bobby Bones
Is she older or younger playing? Older.
[15:29]
Matthew Ramsey
She's older. Yeah. She's. I mean, she plays it up, obviously, for that. For that photo, but, yeah, she's. She's an older lady, and she's beautiful, and her family, I think, and friends were telling her how beautiful she was and that she should try modeling. So she put her headshot out there, and three months later, we picked her up, and now she's signing autographs when she walks through the hotel.
[15:55]
Bobby Bones
I thought it would be a concept album at first, too, when I saw that was based around a person. It's not that.
[16:00]
Matthew Ramsey
No, no.
[16:01]
Bobby Bones
It's just. We're just not gonna name it after a song.
[16:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. We just wanted something interesting, something to entertain ourselves, really.
[16:07]
Bobby Bones
Well, it definitely made me think, or made me take a few seconds ago. I wonder what that's about. I mean, I quickly forgot because we're in a world of being overstimulated.
[16:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[16:14]
Bobby Bones
But I thought, next time I see Matthew, I'm. Ask him.
[16:16]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. At least makes people stop for a second. Yeah. You know? Yeah.
[16:19]
Bobby Bones
Do you have a song. You don't have any songs about Barbara, though. Does her name come up on the record at all?
[16:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Not at all. No. It's just. It was just.
[16:27]
Bobby Bones
He didn't like Taylor Swift, Easter egg.
[16:29]
Matthew Ramsey
It was just our baby, you know, that's our. This is our baby. And we named her.
[16:32]
Bobby Bones
Barbara, when you came to town, did you have any gigs playing as a side person for anybody else for a while?
[16:40]
Matthew Ramsey
No. I got offered. I was offered playing twice to play for Taylor Swift at the beginning of her career.
[16:52]
Bobby Bones
Like first time guitar, like rhythm guitar?
[16:53]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. They needed an acoustic guitar player and a background vocalist. And, you know, this was. I don't even know if she had a hit yet. You know, she might have had Tim McGraw. Yeah. But I knew her drummer and, and he called me and asked me to do that, and I turned it down the first time because the first gig was on the due date of my first child. And I was like, I can't guarantee that I'm not gonna leave you hanging, so I can't do it. And it was just for a couple gigs. And then later he circled back around and asked me again and I was super broke and needed the money, but ultimately decided that's not why I moved here. I didn't move here to do that. If I'm out on the road with another artist, then. Then I'm gonna lose focus on writing, which is the whole point of me being here.
[17:48]
Commercial Voice
Let's take a quick pause for a.
[17:49]
Bobby Bones
Message from our sponsor, Untold Stories.
[17:53]
Martine Hackett
Life with a severe autoimmune condition, a production from Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics, is back with Season four. Join me, Martine Hackett, as we explore the realities of life with myasthenia gravis or mg. And chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or cidp, will uncover the stories of resilience and self advocacy in the face of uncertainty. From overcoming misdiagnosis to finding empowerment in small victories, these are moments that change us. Here's a glimpse of what's in store.
[18:23]
Podcast Announcer
Whenever I go to my specialist, he mentions the R word remission. Is it possible? Like, is it over? But also knowing it's never really over, but just being able to say, hey, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Stay the course. Don't give up on yourself. Every single person living with autoimmune illness has a life worth living, and it's up to you to define that, to capture that, and to go guns blazing.
[18:47]
Martine Hackett
Follow and listen to untold Stories on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[18:52]
Commercial Voice
Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra durable LG X Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's Be real. Your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG XBoom and for a limited time, save 25%@LG.com with code Fall25. Bring the boom. Xboom.
[19:22]
Pharmaceutical Ad Voice
This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir lamivudine living with hiv continue to live authentically and embrace every possibility. Do consider how you stay undetectable. Do learn about Devato. Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. Do find out how many medicines are in your HIV pill. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Devato is as effective with two medicines. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Do embrace every day.
[19:58]
Commercial Voice
It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B if you have hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse, worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.
[20:37]
Pharmaceutical Ad Voice
Do ask your doctor about fewer medicines. Visit or call 1-877-844-8872 to learn more.
[20:54]
Bobby Bones
And we're back on the Bobby cast. And when you moved here, was it. I'm going to commit to writing.
[20:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, that was the goal. I didn't. I didn't really want to be in a band. I was just wanted to be a songwriter, you know, I think.
[21:08]
Bobby Bones
Funny how it shakes out.
[21:10]
Matthew Ramsey
I know I met. Well, I met this guy Darrell Scott at a. At like a. There was a public radio program called Mountain Stage and it was a lot of like bluegrass and folk music and I used to really love listening to that. And they had like a festival and I met him and he's written, you know, he wrote A Great Day to Be Alive and a couple of the early Dixie Chicks songs and a bunch of other stuff and he's an incredible player. And I moved, I saw him. I got the chance to go to like a little workshop at this festival and I asked him what he thought about moving to Nashville, and he said, if you. If you're moving there to be a star, then don't do it. But if you're moving there to, you know, surround yourself with the best songwriters in the world and the best players in the world and learn how to get better, then by all means you should go.
[22:05]
Bobby Bones
Why do you think he said, don't move if you want to be a star?
[22:09]
Matthew Ramsey
He's an interesting person. I don't know him very well, but he's kind of the. He's not the typical. He's pretty. He's pretty. I want. The only word I can think of is, like, reclusive. But, you know, he's a pretty sullen, quiet dude and extremely talented and extremely successful, and I'm grateful for that advice, but I think, you know, you can get caught up in the wrong thing, in the wrong goals, and if you're chasing fame and there are people that do chase fame and it works out for them, but I think that's ultimately not going to be fulfilling. So I think he was just looking out for his fellow songwriters and saying, man, it's a disappointing road to go down there and. And chase after stardom, but if you take the time to dig in and learn, then it'll be a much more fulfilling journey.
[23:08]
Bobby Bones
What would you say to somebody asking you now that same question?
[23:11]
Matthew Ramsey
I tell them that story a lot. And I tell them there's no shortcuts, and there's. You just have to. As cliche as it is, you just have to do your thing and chase after what's exciting you and what's in your heart. And don't worry about what you hear on the radio or what you see on TikTok or what. Don't worry about any of that stuff. We all get caught up in chasing after that. We still do, but ultimately, you have to. Have to focus on what's making you excited and pull the industry to you rather than chase after it, which is.
[23:51]
Bobby Bones
Extremely hard to do, but it is something with longevity.
[23:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[23:55]
Bobby Bones
I think, you know, there are a lot of artists who. And I think creative, predictive text is difficult because if you're chasing or if you're trying to predict how you're going to fit into the current sound. It takes a while to have your work fully manufactured out.
[24:15]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally.
[24:16]
Bobby Bones
By the time it's done, you're years behind. It could have been shifted. It could have been gone. This sound that you're chasing, you could be behind it.
[24:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[24:24]
Bobby Bones
And I think it's easier to fit but long term. And I've now, I've been around here for 13, 14 years. Like I've seen the cycles now go through a few times.
[24:32]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[24:32]
Bobby Bones
Where as much as everything changes, it's the same thing over and over again.
[24:35]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[24:36]
Bobby Bones
And if you're guessing and jumping in the middle of a guess, you might be there for a second, but it's going to be gone.
[24:42]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. And it's going to be ultimately frustrating for you because you're, you're going to hear what you're creating that sounds very similar to what's on the radio. And you're going to be like, why is nobody paying any attention to me? We had to go through that. I went through that as a writer and as a band. You know, we went through that whole thing going like, why is no one. This sounds just like everything else. Why is no one paying any attention? And it's because they were looking at what was next. Like, I just, I was just listening to. There's this guy, you probably have heard of him, but. Well, you know, the new Bieber record, you know, Daisy's huge record, produced by McGee and Scott. McGee and Dijon, I think is, how you say his name. Super creative team that is now producing all this super popular pop stuff. But for years they were this underground thing creating something completely new that was. Now people are knowing what that sound is, but it was created years ago.
[25:36]
Bobby Bones
I think there are artists too that we can look at and go, man, they pulled the highway to them. They didn't jump on a highway of car even in our time here. What year did you move here?
[25:46]
Matthew Ramsey
2002.
[25:47]
Bobby Bones
Okay, so I was here a few years after you, but have been here a while but like somebody like Sam.
[25:52]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[25:53]
Bobby Bones
Even Kenny back before that. Right. When Kenny went Beach Kenny kind of.
[25:57]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure, yeah.
[25:58]
Bobby Bones
Different.
[25:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. That he finally was like, this is who I am.
[26:02]
Bobby Bones
Yes. And I think there's real power in getting no's when you're being authentic to who you are. Because if you get no's when you're not being you, you're like, God, I just got told no and I was being fake to begin with. It's like two losses, right?
[26:14]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah, totally. Whether you know that or. But. And we got those no's, you know, so many times we were just telling this story, you know, we, we got turned down by every record label in this town multiple times. But at that point we were fine with that because we were just having fun and we, we were enjoying ourselves. And our, and our manager at the time, he Would kind of assemble us at a lunch after we got rejected and be like, okay, guys, it's another no. What do you want to do? And we were like, that's fine. If. If it's not for them, that's fine. We're having a good time. So we just kind of kept going. Now, it helped that we were having success as songwriters at that point, but you could eat. Yeah, we could. We could at least do that.
[26:59]
Bobby Bones
So what was the idea behind you guys getting together as a band?
[27:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Initially, it just kind of randomly, organically happened because I knew Whit since I was in seventh grade, and then when he went to college, he was in a band with Jeff, and Brad was in that. At that same college, and they were all playing together, and I was coming up and opening shows for them, and, you know, we were friends. Then I moved to Nashville, and I started writing with Trevor. We were having all these songs I couldn't afford. You know, I grew up in bands, and even though I wasn't here to make it as an artist, I still like playing my songs out. I still like playing bars. And, you know, I wanted to play. I wanted to play these songs that I was writing. And so I had buddies who would do it for free. And they were good, and they were my favorite people, and they were my favorite musicians, and so they were like, yeah, sure, we'll come play. And so we just started playing, and then we realized, oh, well, we could. If we wanted to, we could get in my van and drive to the next state and make a little bit of money. And we needed that at the time. So, yeah, sure, let's hop in the band and in the van and go play a couple shows. So it really was just for fun and to make a little bit of money and to showcase the songs that we were writing for other people. And then it. It just kind of grew. It wasn't until we wrote Break up with him, that's the first song that we held back from anyone. First song that we went, wait a minute. There's something really different here.
[28:35]
Bobby Bones
Dang. Did that feel risky?
[28:37]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, it did. It felt kind of. It was every. It was going against everything that we had for the past decade been trying to do was just write and put everything out to the world to try to get people to record them. And then that one came along, and it was also the first one that the five of us had written together as a band. So there was something kind of special about that, that we were like, okay, don't play this for anybody. There's there's something going on here.
[29:01]
Bobby Bones
You're also committing to being a band a little more when you do that.
[29:04]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[29:04]
Bobby Bones
Because that's money you could be making somewhere else if somebody cuts it, puts it out as a single.
[29:10]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[29:10]
Bobby Bones
But you're going, we're going to punt on making money with this. That cements. Hey, we're actually trying.
[29:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. We're gonna. We're gonna make a run for this. And I know it used to frustrate some other people, some other artists that were kind of on our same level because we on the surface didn't seem to care if it worked or not. And there was a big part of us that. That didn't care if it worked or not, that we were just truly enjoying ourselves. Of course, whenever something good would happen, we would get excited, you know, but then we would quickly tell ourselves, this is never going to work. There is no way this is going to work.
[29:47]
Bobby Bones
You think a little bit of that is because you guys, you weren't 25, but so you'd been through a lot of rejection.
[29:51]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[29:52]
Bobby Bones
This business is natural for rejection.
[29:53]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[29:54]
Bobby Bones
Doesn't even mean you're not good. So don't take that in that way.
[29:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally.
[29:56]
Bobby Bones
If you're here long enough, you're rejected a thousand times.
[29:58]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, you have to get rejected.
[29:59]
Bobby Bones
Do you think a little bit is because you guys had been rejected a bunch for sure. That you're like, we don't want to get too excited because we've been down this road.
[30:05]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. There's some self preservation there for sure. So, I mean, it took us until recently to be like, okay, I think we're. I think we're good, you know, but yeah, there's a. There's a lot of that self preservation that goes into that mindset for sure.
[30:20]
Bobby Bones
Were you guys different minded on who's serious about it and how serious about it? At first, like, some of you guys were. Got really in and some were just middle.
[30:28]
Matthew Ramsey
Not really. I think we were pretty unified. I think. I think one of the early kind of. I don't even want to call it a struggle. It was just a mindset shift was once we did have a hit and. And maybe two, we were still going, this is temporary. There is no way this lasts any longer than this.
[30:53]
Bobby Bones
You guys have seen it be temporary for so many people.
[30:56]
Matthew Ramsey
Most of the time. If it works, it's very temporary. So we had laid so much groundwork in the songwriting community and in that world, we didn't wanna let go of that. So it then became a Weird balancing act of like, okay, what songs do we hold back? And do we. Or do we still hold back any. Or do we. Do we push it all in here and cut off that faucet? And everything is for Old Dominion now. That was a hard switch to flip.
[31:25]
Bobby Bones
It's a version of Burn the Boats. Like, we don't want a way out, so we got to burn the boat so we can't go sail back to our country.
[31:32]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[31:33]
Bobby Bones
I mean, whenever I was. Because I started in Austin and I did a show in one city, and I would buy these little $2,000 equipment racks, and I had to learn how to syndicate myself. And my company, they never said.
[31:46]
Matthew Ramsey
No.
[31:46]
Bobby Bones
But they were like, okay, you're in Austin, Texas. What are you gonna do? How are you gonna syndicate? So I started and had all these. We were running at an intern that was an engineer. We made that job up, and I was on in, like, 11 cities. And then the company was like, whoa, whoa, whoa. This is kind of bigger than we thought. And it ended up me going to Nashville, but I had to burn all the boats of every market that I had when I was doing pop and hip hop.
[32:09]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[32:09]
Bobby Bones
It all had to go away for me to go and do this, and I couldn't go back. That's terrifying, because all the stations that I left, Elvis Duran was going on these other shows. So once I committed, I was Burning the boats.
[32:20]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah.
[32:21]
Bobby Bones
And it is a different level of I'm now freaking committed.
[32:25]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[32:25]
Bobby Bones
And so I can see when you say that that's what that would feel like, because you have to. You have to commit.
[32:30]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. It took us probably too long. I mean, it's still. You know, it's still a question that's in our head all the time, you know, because we write all the time, so. And especially if. If I, like, if I'm a writer on a song with two outside writers, it's a little bit harder to get it into the Old Dominion world than it is if the other guys are on it. And that goes for everybody, but it's still, do I pitch that song, or do I. Do I try to sell these guys on. On this one. It's a. It's a weird game that to play.
[33:02]
Bobby Bones
Was talking earlier today about meeting heroes and.
[33:08]
Matthew Ramsey
Forever.
[33:08]
Bobby Bones
It was, I want to meet him. And then it was, nah, I don't want to meet him, because I don't be disappointed. Now I'm kind of like, let's just give it a run.
[33:15]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[33:16]
Bobby Bones
Let's just see what happens.
[33:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, why not?
[33:17]
Bobby Bones
Because some of them are going to be awesome and some aren't. And in the end, again, I think I've now have the luxury of knowing that it doesn't matter how high up you are in the fame ladder. You're still a person.
[33:27]
Matthew Ramsey
You're still an insecure person.
[33:30]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. Wildly insecure. Or you wouldn't do this job.
[33:33]
Matthew Ramsey
Totally.
[33:34]
Bobby Bones
Like, this is a job where. Where people are being creative for the most part, they're searching for something, some love, some fulfillment. You have to have a screw loose to do it.
[33:42]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Isn't that funny too? Like, I think. I think that's still shocking in this day and age. It's still shocking for fans to find out that their favorite artists are just broken, insecure people.
[33:52]
Bobby Bones
But that's also what makes them their favorite artist. Like, you wouldn't have the ability to write, draw, create, see things differently if you didn't feel things differently.
[34:00]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[34:01]
Bobby Bones
So for me, it's always been like, do I want to meet my heroes? And was talking about it because one of my heroes went up from when I was kids coming to town, and I'm like, do I even go and be like, ah, I'm an adult man.
[34:12]
Matthew Ramsey
Who is it? Can you say?
[34:13]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, it's an athlete. His name is Mark Grace. He played first base for the cubs. Yeah, I'm 45. So I walk up and I'm like, dude, I loved you when I was 12.
[34:21]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah.
[34:22]
Bobby Bones
So we were kind of having that debate, and there's like four people on my list of folks that I have never got to interview or spend time with that I loved, and that's Mark Grace, Sting the wrestler, David Letterman, who is my hero my whole life. Steve Martin, who is not so much for his acting, although he's been great, but his comedy is like magic. He's got my favorite book ever.
[34:42]
Matthew Ramsey
That book. Is it Born Standing Up?
[34:43]
Bobby Bones
Standing Up.
[34:43]
Matthew Ramsey
It's an incredible book.
[34:44]
Bobby Bones
My favorite book. Yeah. So it's. Those are that. And I haven't met any of them. When you moved to town, did you ever have those moments where it's like, I don't know, do I want to meet my heroes? Did you meet any of your musical heroes?
[34:55]
Matthew Ramsey
I have now met some musical heroes. When I moved to town, I was. And Phil Vassar was. Was instrumental in getting me to move to town. So I. And. And he was a songwriter that went on to have an artist career too, and that I was excited to meet him and kind of. He sort of was a mentor to me big time. And we're still close. So I met him right off the bat. But other than that, I didn't really meet anybody. I remember actually there was. There's this club on 8th Avenue that's called the Sutler, which is. I don't know if it's there anymore. There's a restaurant, I think, for a while called the Sutler, but. But it was this dirty little club that I used to play at all the time. And I remember setting up to play one afternoon, and Kenny was sitting at the table doing an interview. And, you know, I couldn't have known that at that point in time that I was going to meet him and become friends with him. But, yeah, I stopped myself from saying anything there.
[35:55]
Bobby Bones
But who now have you met? It doesn't have to be in music.
[35:58]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, well, I got to. I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, and I got to meet him, which was crazy. Were you able to be yourself as much as possible? Yeah. This is a funny story, because I went, so I'm such a huge nerd for his music. He did this Broadway play, one man show thing, which, you know, was.
[36:22]
Bobby Bones
It's on Netflix, too.
[36:22]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. And I wanted to go. And I wanted to go by myself. I didn't want anybody to know that I was going because I didn't want anybody sitting next to me talking through the whole thing. I just wanted to focus on it. So I decided to go by myself. And I never do this, but I messaged our manager, and I was like, hey, man, I've never asked you to pull any strings, but if you can pull some strings and I could get to meet Springsteen, that would be incredible. And so he's like, I'll see what I can come up with. And he wound up getting in touch with them and his tour manager, and they texted me and said, hey, it's up to Bruce whether or not he wants to meet you. It's either gonna be before or after the show, but just let us know when you're here. So I got there, like, two hours early, of course, and I was like, I'm here. And he was like, all right. Bruce says he'll meet you after the show. So. So I go in and I take my seat, and it's a beautiful seat. And seat next to me is empty. And finally they fill in, and I hear this guy.
[37:23]
Bobby Bones
You say, it's a beautiful seat.
[37:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, it was. I mean, beautiful view.
[37:27]
Bobby Bones
All right, all right.
[37:30]
Matthew Ramsey
The seat was so plush, but so I can recognize this guy's voice next to me. I was like, who is this And I kind of put it together finally. I was like, oh, that's Adam Duritz.
[37:42]
Bobby Bones
From my favorite singer of all time.
[37:43]
Matthew Ramsey
So also huge, huge influence. So I'm all excited.
[37:47]
Bobby Bones
You're a kind of Crows guy.
[37:48]
Matthew Ramsey
Huge.
[37:48]
Bobby Bones
We'll go there in a minute.
[37:50]
Matthew Ramsey
So. So I'm sitting here going, okay, I gotta wait in a break in this conversation to introduce myself. And so the conversation lulls and I turn to him and he turns to me and he goes, you're an old dominion, are you? And I was like, holy shit. Like, you know, I was not expecting him to recognize me. And so then we were just fanboying. I'm sitting there fanboying with Adam Duritz over Bruce, and they come and they take me and him backstage afterwards. And we were just hanging out in the dressing room, and he's, you know, Springsteen treating us like peers, just asking us how our tour is going. And it was just total shop talk. So he made it easy to just be yourself.
[38:30]
Bobby Bones
That's. That's a great story.
[38:31]
Matthew Ramsey
It was amazing.
[38:32]
Bobby Bones
Had Adam met Bruce?
[38:33]
Matthew Ramsey
He had met him one time before.
[38:34]
Bobby Bones
I think, but they weren't friends, so he was also.
[38:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, he was also geeking out, you know.
[38:38]
Bobby Bones
I don't know if I could have enjoyed the show the same, knowing that I was probably going to go back and meet him after.
[38:42]
Matthew Ramsey
It was. It was hard, but I don't know.
[38:44]
Bobby Bones
It was a beautiful seat. He had a beautiful seat.
[38:46]
Matthew Ramsey
It was. Yeah. If you'd have felt the cushions, it would have put you at ease.
[38:50]
Bobby Bones
That's pretty cool story.
[38:52]
Matthew Ramsey
It was. It was pretty rad.
[38:54]
Bobby Bones
The Bobby cast. We'll be right back.
[38:58]
Martine Hackett
Untold life with a severe autoimmune condition. A production from Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics is back with Season four. Join me, Martine Hackett, as we explore the realities of life with myasthenia gravis or mg, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or cidp. We'll uncover the stories of resilience and self advocacy in the face of uncertainty. From overcoming misdiagnosis to finding empowerment in small victories, these are moments that change us. Here's a glimpse of what's in store.
[39:30]
Podcast Announcer
Whenever I go to my specialist, he mentions the R word.
[39:33]
Martine Hackett
Remission.
[39:34]
Podcast Announcer
Is it possible? Like, is it over? But also knowing it's never really over, but just being able to say, hey, there. There's light at the end of the tunnel. Stay the course. Don't give up on yourself. Every single person living with the autoimmune illness has a life worth living, and it's up to you to define that, to capture that, and to go guns blazing.
[39:53]
Martine Hackett
Follow and listen to untold Stories on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[39:58]
Commercial Voice
Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra durable LG X Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because, let's be real, your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG X Boom and for a limited time, save 25% at LG.com with code Fall25. Bring the Boom XBoom this ad is.
[40:29]
Brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Tobito, Dolutegravir Lamivudine if you're living with hiv, look ahead. Do chase a dream. Do consider how you stay undetectable. Do Learn about Devato Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. Do find out how many medicines are in your HIV pill. Most HIV pills contain three or four. Devato is as effective with just two medicines. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Devato. Do dream about tomorrow.
[41:05]
Pharmaceutical Ad Voice
It is unknown if Devato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B. If you have Hep B, don't stop Devato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.
[41:41]
Commercial Voice
Do ask your doctor about fewer medicines. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872 to learn more.
[41:58]
Bobby Bones
This is the Bobby cast. Did you tell anybody afterward that you went to the show?
[42:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Oh yeah, I told them.
[42:04]
Bobby Bones
Like why didn't you tell us?
[42:05]
Matthew Ramsey
Well, it was funny because we were playing like we were playing a private show in New York the night before that and so I told them aft like, like that day I was like, I'm not flying home with you guys. I'm I'm going to this Springsteen show. And they were. They were fine. They're like, that's cool.
[42:21]
Bobby Bones
You like musicals?
[42:22]
Matthew Ramsey
I love musicals.
[42:23]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. I've kind of become a musical guy. I didn't think I would be.
[42:25]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, I've always loved them. I've always loved them. They all make me cry. I cry at the end of every one of them. I love them.
[42:32]
Bobby Bones
Wasn't exposed to them growing up in a small town in Arkansas. And so I was kind of like, I don't want to hear people singing. But, man, you go to one or two.
[42:38]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[42:39]
Bobby Bones
And you're like, oh, this is a different level of talent. It's a different type of. Of performer. And the fact that they do eight shows in a week, that's wild.
[42:47]
Matthew Ramsey
I don't know how they do that.
[42:48]
Bobby Bones
That's a grind. And NBA players, like, we're doing home and back. Back to back games, bro. You all see these Broadway performers. They're doing two a day, and some.
[42:56]
Matthew Ramsey
Days, I mean, that's their entire life.
[42:57]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. It's crazy. What's the best one you've ever seen?
[43:00]
Matthew Ramsey
Oh, gosh. Probably the color purple was really good. The first ones I went to, I was in high school, and I was on the yearbook, and I got my first trip to New York City through the yearbook. We tagged along with another school, and every night we would go. So I got to see the who's Tommy, which was incredible. How to succeed in business without really trying. And Miss Saigon. All of them blew my mind.
[43:33]
Bobby Bones
You got to go to the major leagues. Your first games were at Yankee Stadium.
[43:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, it was incredible.
[43:37]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, that's.
[43:38]
Matthew Ramsey
And I was immediately like, whoa, this is wild. And now I've seen. You know, obviously I've been to Hamilton, and, you know, I'd say every. I say, they all make me cry. I went to spongebob at tpac, and it made me cry at the end.
[43:54]
Bobby Bones
Hamilton. I went to see Hamilton, and I didn't know what I was getting into in that. I go in and I. I called my agent, and it was when the show was popping hard. So I was just like, hey, can you get me in? Like, I just want to go, I'm here. I think I was up there working, and I was like, I'm here. Is there any way you can give me a ticket? So I went to that show by myself, and like two hours before, and she was like, got it. You know, at the time I was with caa. She's like, we have some seat there. Have these seats. And I go. And they start and they're like, so here we are. They're rapping and I'm like, man, I can't wait to catch up. And they start talking. Like when they start actually doing dialogue that's not rapping. I was like, I'm gonna catch up and. Because I. And then I realized about a third of the way through the whole thing is that. And then I got in and loved it.
[44:32]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, you have to relax. You had to be like, what am I missing? You're like, it's ok. Okay. There's, there's enough. They're going to give me enough information that I'm going to be okay.
[44:39]
Bobby Bones
I really was like, I'm lost. So I'm just going to wait until they talk. And they never talked. And it was at that point I was like, okay, they're never going to talk. Yeah, take it in.
[44:50]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[44:51]
Bobby Bones
And then, then it was amazing. Like, I really liked it, but I did not know what I was getting myself into. I saw Kinky Boots, thought that was really good. I've seen Wicked twice and I don't even like watching movies twice. Dude, that's, it's, that's, it's amazing.
[45:06]
Matthew Ramsey
I've never got to see that.
[45:07]
Bobby Bones
It's amazing on Broadway. I've not seen it on Disney plus. Mike, you watch the movie?
[45:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, the movie's good. Yeah, the movie is good.
[45:14]
Bobby Bones
I've not seen the movie. I loved the Broadway production and then I watched it when it came here off Broadway. It was, it was great. And so that was good. And then Book of Mormon. Hilarious.
[45:26]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, that's great.
[45:26]
Bobby Bones
Love Book of Mormon.
[45:28]
Matthew Ramsey
Well, Wicked, I'm terrible at actors names and she's giant.
[45:33]
Bobby Bones
Kristin Chenoweth.
[45:35]
Matthew Ramsey
But the girl who played Cynthia Erivo. Yes.
[45:39]
Bobby Bones
Oh, the movie.
[45:40]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, the movie.
[45:41]
Bobby Bones
Got it.
[45:42]
Matthew Ramsey
She was. When I said the best one I saw was the Color Purple, she was the lead in the Color.
[45:47]
Bobby Bones
Oh, really?
[45:47]
Matthew Ramsey
And it. I, I cried because of her talent. I was just like, I can't believe I'm in the same room as this person right now doing what she's doing.
[45:56]
Bobby Bones
She was that good.
[45:57]
Matthew Ramsey
It was wild.
[45:58]
Bobby Bones
I've spent time with her, but I was on American Idol for four years and she came in as a guest judge and so I spent a whole day with her. She was as nice as could be.
[46:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[46:06]
Bobby Bones
But she never sang.
[46:07]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[46:08]
Bobby Bones
And everybody can sing. I'm sure she's good.
[46:11]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[46:12]
Bobby Bones
But it's different, huh?
[46:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, it's wild. It was, it was really incredible. A small theater too, so you could just feel everything. It was really. I'M sad it's not there anymore, but it was great.
[46:23]
Bobby Bones
Do you ever do musical theater?
[46:24]
Matthew Ramsey
No, I never did, but it's funny. Like, we. We just had this conversation talking about wit again. We had this conversation kind of similar to what we're talking about just. Just this past winter about musicals and how much I like them. And he was like, I'm understanding you so much now, hearing. Hearing this. And he was. He was like, man, I get what you're trying to do with the show now. I get what you're after. And I hadn't even put it together that there was probably some theatrical musical thing that I was feeling and channeling a little bit. He was like, okay, well, whenever I'm fighting you on this stuff, just don't listen to me. And I was like, I don't. But, you know.
[47:12]
Bobby Bones
You mentioned Adam Duritz. That's one of the. He was on the list of people that I hadn't met.
[47:18]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[47:18]
Bobby Bones
And a couple of times. And he brought this up the last time we were together. He said, I remember the first time that I heard your name. They were like, hey, Bobby Bones is going to come back and meet you. And you didn't show up. And I was like, yeah, I didn't want to meet you.
[47:29]
Matthew Ramsey
I don't know.
[47:30]
Bobby Bones
That's what I said.
[47:31]
Matthew Ramsey
Scared. Yeah.
[47:31]
Bobby Bones
I said, I don't want to not like you.
[47:33]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah.
[47:33]
Bobby Bones
Because you're my favorite band of all time.
[47:35]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[47:35]
Bobby Bones
And he was like, I get it. Because he's neurotic. I think we all have a form of neurosis. And he has. Definitely has a form that I understand and in a way, relate to. And he was like, oh, I get it. There are people that I like, don't want to ruin that image of.
[47:51]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[47:52]
Bobby Bones
And then he was going to come over to the house, and then Covid hit. Right, Mike? Yeah, I got shut down. Got shut down. So then he came to the studio, and he had a reputation of. Because I was a big fan. And so his reputation was he doesn't give a lot in interviews.
[48:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[48:06]
Bobby Bones
Not because he doesn't want to give a lot. That's just not his personality to be Mr. Interview.
[48:09]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[48:09]
Bobby Bones
He was awesome.
[48:11]
Matthew Ramsey
Now. Yeah, he's a. He's all over the place talking now. That's pretty cool to hear.
[48:15]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. It was so great. And then they were coming back through town. He was like, hey, I'm coming by and I'll come play. I would never have asked them to play because they're on that level of. I Don't want to bother them.
[48:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure, yeah.
[48:25]
Bobby Bones
He was like, no, we'll play. He's will play whatever you want. And I was like, are you kidding?
[48:28]
Matthew Ramsey
That's awesome.
[48:29]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, it was awesome because I'm such a fan. The only time I've had that experience as well, like, being in a room going, I cannot believe this is actually happening, is I love Ben Folds.
[48:37]
Matthew Ramsey
Oh, yeah.
[48:37]
Bobby Bones
And those. The Venn diagrams have been Folds and Adam Duras. They cross over in a lot of.
[48:42]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure. Yeah, yeah.
[48:43]
Bobby Bones
Love Ben Folds. And he played and was like, hey, I'll play. He's like, I got an hour. I'll play whatever you want. And I'm like, are you kidding?
[48:50]
Matthew Ramsey
That enters into that musical theater type of world too.
[48:53]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
[48:54]
Matthew Ramsey
So cool.
[48:54]
Bobby Bones
I thought it was so cool to be able to have something that I love my whole life and be able to semi dictate.
[49:00]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[49:00]
Bobby Bones
What I wanted.
[49:01]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[49:01]
Bobby Bones
You ever get in a room with. Because again, your peers are creators.
[49:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[49:07]
Bobby Bones
And even like Bruce Springsteen, they have a piano back there. Like, who. Who have you been playing around or had. They've been playing around you, and you're like, man, if I could have told myself that I'm in this room with people just around. But it's people that I love that myself 15 years ago would have freaked out, man. Trying to even like a writer's room.
[49:24]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[49:24]
Bobby Bones
Because, I mean, we get jaded sometimes. All the stuff that we do that we forget sometimes.
[49:28]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. These are big. These are big dudes. These are big deals. There's a funny story. This isn't like that. But the first thing that came to mind was when it was backstage at an award show, walked into the bathroom, and Tim McGraw was warming up for his.
[49:47]
Bobby Bones
Is that a euphemism?
[49:48]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, he was warming up.
[49:50]
Bobby Bones
He was singing.
[49:51]
Matthew Ramsey
He was warming up for his. For his performance. And there was no way to get to the urinal without running into him. And he was just full voice back there singing, that's how you talk to a woman. And he locks eyes with me and he's just singing. And I looked at him and I was like, for sure he's gonna stop at some point and break. He didn't. He just kept going. And I looked at him in the face and I was like, this is the most surreal moment of my entire life right now. That didn't break him. He just kept on going and then walked out of the. Of the bathroom. And I was like, what the hell just happened?
[50:31]
Bobby Bones
Have you spent much time around Tim?
[50:33]
Matthew Ramsey
No. No.
[50:34]
Bobby Bones
Super cerebral guy. Very well read.
[50:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[50:36]
Bobby Bones
Like consumes books.
[50:39]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[50:39]
Bobby Bones
And the crazy thing to me about Tim McGraw is how high he still sings.
[50:43]
Matthew Ramsey
His voice is crazy.
[50:45]
Bobby Bones
Crazy because you see and you know the hits, but whenever he sings in person, he sings so high, it's. It's a very difficult place to sing.
[50:53]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, you don't.
[50:54]
Bobby Bones
And he lives in it.
[50:55]
Matthew Ramsey
You don't. Visually, it doesn't match up. You're like. And I mean, he's got a pretty good range too. He can, he doesn't always showcase how high he can sing, but man. Yeah, he's so good.
[51:05]
Bobby Bones
He gets after it. Well, what did you listen to growing up? Bruce Springsteen, obviously. Or was that later once you like appreciating?
[51:12]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Bruce Springsteen came in like probably college. Before that I was full in 90s grunge. I was a huge sound garden. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, all those guys. But I also was. I was exposed to a lot of different music. My dad is a huge music fan. He's not a musician, but had a pretty eclectic record collection. And he would just sit there and play DJ and you know, he would pull the record out, put one song on, and while that was playing, he was finding another one. And it was everything from old school country to the Temptations and stuff like that. So I just was from an early age exposed to all different types of music and loved it all. So my friends would make fun of me for taking out the Nirvana CD and putting in the Temptations and listening to that and being just as happy with it. So I kind of listened to everything.
[52:09]
Bobby Bones
I used to say that country music was about where I was from and that's why it was prominent in my life. But the alternative stuff was how I felt.
[52:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[52:17]
Bobby Bones
Because I was like an angsty teen. Yeah, me too. Oh, man, I'm so sad.
[52:21]
Matthew Ramsey
The first time I. The first time we went to Seattle, I was like, oh, it's like walking around in my 17 year old head like, you know, like, look at this place.
[52:29]
Bobby Bones
What was your first concert?
[52:30]
Matthew Ramsey
Huey Lewis. And the news was my first concert.
[52:34]
Bobby Bones
I was probably 11, so a parent wanted to go.
[52:38]
Matthew Ramsey
No, I was. That was Back to the Future, Time, Power, Love. So I loved Huey Lewis and I was young enough for those tickets to show up in my Easter basket.
[52:51]
Bobby Bones
Oh, that's cool. Who went with you?
[52:53]
Matthew Ramsey
My mom.
[52:54]
Bobby Bones
Did she like Huey Lewis?
[52:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that was, that was also the moment too. I was like looking around this arena, watching people lose their minds, going, how do I do this for a living? How do I affect people like this? This is crazy.
[53:10]
Bobby Bones
Best Huey Lewis songs. So power love. Awesome. Because it's Back to the Future, right? It's.
[53:14]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, that's Back to the Future, right? Yeah.
[53:16]
Bobby Bones
Hip to Be Square, kind of the jam back in the day.
[53:18]
Matthew Ramsey
There's so many good ones. Because it's Hip to be Square. If this is it.
[53:22]
Bobby Bones
Oh, if this is it, please. Oh, that was so good. Because I kind of had like a doo wop thing in the 80s. It had like the. Sonically sounded like an 80s instrument.
[53:30]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[53:31]
Bobby Bones
But still had the. This is it. Oh, man, that's a good one.
[53:36]
Matthew Ramsey
So we. And we actually, on this record, we kind of ripped off Huey Lewis as close as we could. We. We definitely win it. There's one song in particular where we were like, let's just make a Huey Lewis track. Let's just do all Huey Lewis. Let's go full Huey Lewis and see what happens. And it's awesome.
[53:50]
Bobby Bones
I was talking to Dirks and he was talking about his song called she Hates Me. And they were like, well, it has the same title as the Puddle of Mud song. It kind of sounds like it. So if we don't get ahead of this, we know what's going to get us. Sure.
[54:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah. And he was like, let's go ahead and add some writers to this song.
[54:07]
Bobby Bones
That's what we did. We added writers on it. Has that ever happened to you guys? Guys?
[54:10]
Matthew Ramsey
No, no, thankfully that hasn't happened.
[54:13]
Bobby Bones
Cuz I think there's probably a couple.
[54:15]
Matthew Ramsey
Times where it could have, but so.
[54:17]
Bobby Bones
Far it hasn't ever had the thing happen where you don't even realize you're doing it, but then you're like, oh, I think I might have been affected by this.
[54:23]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure. Yeah. Trevor's actually gotten into a situation with that too. It was just completely random coincidence.
[54:32]
Bobby Bones
What about the other way around?
[54:33]
Matthew Ramsey
And we've been called before. We've been called by some writers before and said we weren't added to it. But, you know, they're our friends and, you know, and some of these other artists and they've called us and been like, hey, we didn't realize this when we wrote this, but it sounds an awful like. Like one of your songs and we just want to talk to you about it. And we were just like, hey, you're good, man.
[54:54]
Bobby Bones
What are your feelings on that? Because there are only so many chord progressions and chords and.
[54:58]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[54:59]
Bobby Bones
And I guess limitless melodies. But even then you're going to step on something, right?
[55:04]
Matthew Ramsey
You're going to. So it's a Gray area, for sure. I mean, do you ever hear a.
[55:09]
Bobby Bones
Song go, that's for sure our song. And they just need to tell us.
[55:13]
Matthew Ramsey
No, there's definitely some. There's been some where I've been like, oh, this definitely. At least stylistically sounds familiar, but I don't think anybody's ever trying to. I try to think better of people.
[55:27]
Bobby Bones
But, I mean, you may do it. Not even trying to.
[55:29]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[55:30]
Bobby Bones
Because for, you know, this year, not at all. But before I shot my comedy special, I had to shut off anything funny.
[55:37]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[55:38]
Bobby Bones
Because I wouldn't mean to, but if somebody says something funny, it got stored and maybe I found it. And the next thing you know, I'm like, oh, God.
[55:43]
Matthew Ramsey
It's a great, like, comparison. Because comedy's the same way, man. Like, there's only so many things you can talk about. We're all experiencing the same things. I remember, like, for a while there when, you know, self checkouts became a thing at the grocery store. That's what. That's all any comedian talked about was like, whoa, I don't want a robot to do my job for me. You know, it was like, it's so. It's. It's out there. You. You're gonna have to make it your own in some way. So that's the same with songwriting. There's only so many things you can write about. Talk about so many melodies, 12 notes. You know, you're gonna land somewhere familiar at some point.
[56:16]
Bobby Bones
Do you ever accidentally rewrite an old song?
[56:21]
Matthew Ramsey
No, I don't think I have. I don't think I have.
[56:24]
Bobby Bones
Or how about a song that you wrote a long time ago that never got cut, and you're like, man, I don't know. It just wasn't there then. But what if we try to rewrite something like that? Like a concept?
[56:34]
Matthew Ramsey
I suck at that. I'm not good at that. I wish I was better at that because I do know there's ideas out there that I've missed on, but the idea is there. But typically, I'm just. I usually am like, no, missed it. On to the next. I don't know. Don't look back through stuff that often.
[56:52]
Bobby Bones
How often do you write now?
[56:55]
Matthew Ramsey
Now? I've never been an everyday writer. Some of the guys in the band, Trevor could write every. He could write five songs a day. And Brad can write a lot, too. I probably, when I'm at my highest, is probably three times a week at the most. But typically, we'll hit it hard for a couple weeks, and then. Couple weeks, nothing and then, you know, I'm always writing ideas and, you know, concepts down. But to actual sit down and write a song, it's not that often.
[57:32]
Commercial Voice
Let's take a quick pause for a.
[57:34]
Bobby Bones
Message from our sponsor, Untold Stories.
[57:37]
Martine Hackett
Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition, a production from RWBY Studio in partnership with Argenics, is back with Season four. Join me, Martine Hackett, as we explore the realities of life with myasthenia gravis or mg, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or cidp. We'll uncover the stories of resilience and self advocacy in the face of uncertainty. From overcoming misdiagnosis to finding empowerment in small victories, these are moments that change us. Here's a glimpse of what's in store.
[58:08]
Podcast Announcer
Whenever I go to my specialist, he mentions the R word Remission. Is it possible? Like, is it over? But also knowing it's never really over, but just being able to say, hey, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Stay the course. Don't give up on yourself. Every single person living with the autoimmune illness has a life worth living, and it's up to you to define that, to capture that, and to go guns blazing.
[58:31]
Martine Hackett
Follow and listen to untold Stories on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[58:37]
Commercial Voice
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[59:07]
This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Tobato Dolutegravir Lamivudine. If you're living with hiv, look ahead. Do chase a dream. Do consider how you stay undetectable. Do learn about Devato. Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. Do find out how many medicines are in your HIV pill. Most HIV pills contain three or four. Devato is as effective with just two medicines. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Do dream about tomorrow.
[59:44]
Pharmaceutical Ad Voice
It is unknown if Devato is safe and effective if you have HIV and Hepatitis B. If you have Hep B, don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.
[60:20]
Commercial Voice
Do ask your doctor about fewer medicines. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872 to learn more.
[60:36]
Bobby Bones
And we're back on the Bobby cast. Extremely vague question what's Old Dominion's best song?
[60:47]
Matthew Ramsey
Best song from a writing standpoint?
[60:52]
Bobby Bones
There is there. There are no parameters.
[60:54]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[60:54]
Bobby Bones
Okay, let's do parameters from a writing standpoint.
[60:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Man, I really love a song of ours called My Heart Is a Bar. That one is one of my favorites. I think we kind of captured something there that is not talked about much but it's kind of hidden a little bit in the. It's kind of like a Irish bar room kind of song. But there's some heartbreaking lines in there that, that I really like. I also would say the Written in the sand is a song of ours that we nailed and, and became a big hit. And I feel like that one is pretty perfect.
[61:37]
Bobby Bones
What's the best song that you guys play live?
[61:40]
Matthew Ramsey
I would say Memory Lane probably because that one is a moment where we. First of all, you can hear the crowd singing that song louder than anything that we play all night. You know, and especially when the band is full volume and you've got your in ears in and you typically can't hear that much crowd. You can hear them singing louder than the entire set. So I love that feeling. And, and we've kind of extended it from in. In a live form. We just rock it out and it's a, it's a cool moment for us as a band to feel like a band and to be a band on stage and there's so much energy in the room around it. It's. It's a high point for me.
[62:30]
Bobby Bones
How did you guys opening for people affecting how you treat your openers now?
[62:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Tremendously. Because I mean and honestly we opened for Kenny for so long and they treated us so well. We just thought that's how it was until we went out on some other tours and we're like, oh, I'm not welcome here. You know, so. So we. We knew pretty, pretty quickly how we like to be treated and so we try to. But we try to take everything we learned from Kenny into that realm.
[63:05]
Bobby Bones
What's Kenny like?
[63:07]
Matthew Ramsey
He's such a great dude, man. He's a great friend, man. He's just like the rest of us artists. Like we talked about. Weird and self conscious and also confident and completely knows. Yeah.
[63:23]
Bobby Bones
The duality of being an artist because you have to have irrational confidence.
[63:28]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[63:28]
Bobby Bones
Yet the most insecure.
[63:31]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. You have to balance this total belief in yourself and total self doubt at the same time and hopefully land more towards the belief.
[63:41]
Bobby Bones
And if it doesn't, do drugs.
[63:42]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[63:42]
Bobby Bones
That's what I always say to the young kids coming in.
[63:44]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[63:44]
Bobby Bones
Do drugs.
[63:45]
Matthew Ramsey
Do drugs, kids. Do all the drugs.
[63:47]
Bobby Bones
You can do this record. And I feel like any body of work that comes out now, the goals are so different now than even three to five years ago. Like, what's the best case scenario with.
[63:57]
Matthew Ramsey
This record anymore, man? Best case scenario is our fans love it, you know, and we get, we get a whole new crop of songs to put into our set. We're super fortunate, man, that we have built this fan base and this culture where we don't have to worry too much outside of that, you know, we. We know we have our people and there's a real vibe when they show up and when we're all together. So I just hope they like it and I hope that they can use it in some way, shape or form, whether that be to help them through something or, you know, make the party better. That to me is. We are already successful, man. Like.
[64:40]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, that was. My question is I feel like the pressure is different now. You don't need. You don't have to have three number ones or it's not a success.
[64:47]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. I mean, and, and it's the. The industry's changed so much. So, you know, you artists that are just parked at the top, number one all the time, you're never gonna. You're never gonna pop above them. We aren't, you know, so we don't really think about that too much. Yes, a hit would be awesome. You know, that allows us to keep doing this. But a hit, the definition of a hit is changing daily. So, you know, what does that even mean anymore?
[65:13]
Bobby Bones
So is there like 41 ways to have a hit now?
[65:15]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, yeah.
[65:16]
Bobby Bones
It's just getting eyeballs and earballs.
[65:18]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[65:18]
Bobby Bones
Like, like that's a hit.
[65:19]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. And if people are Singing it at the shows. I'm happy.
[65:23]
Bobby Bones
Did you feel ever or did you worry about if you got successful it would kill your drive?
[65:29]
Matthew Ramsey
I never thought about that. No. I think I spent so much time not being successful and convincing myself that even after success that I probably wasn't successful as successful as I, I probably was. But the drive really was creativity based more than anything. I just wanted to. I just want to keep creating, keep writing and keep making stuff and have this job that allows me to do that. It's such a cool thing. It's such a fun, magical little job.
[66:08]
Bobby Bones
Do you ever end up in your life now in a place where this is like, oh, this one from Matthew, he plays music and you grab a guitar and you can still shock the crap out of people.
[66:15]
Matthew Ramsey
I never do that. I would never, well knew like someone. I'd be like, no, no, no, no, no. Get that guitar away from me.
[66:22]
Bobby Bones
Like if you go to a wedding, like they expect you to get up and sing.
[66:25]
Matthew Ramsey
No, no, no. Everyone. I'm like, I'm the guy in the corner for sure. I'm not, I'm not one. I've never been one to perform at parties or anything like that.
[66:35]
Bobby Bones
Even if you're goaded, like, come on, man.
[66:37]
Matthew Ramsey
Never. No, I wouldn't do it.
[66:39]
Bobby Bones
You don't want to do it?
[66:40]
Matthew Ramsey
No. That's terrifying.
[66:41]
Bobby Bones
Is it more awkward with less eyeballs?
[66:44]
Matthew Ramsey
Yes, a wedding would be. I've. I've sung at a couple weddings and that's the only time I've ever been shaking, nervous.
[66:54]
Bobby Bones
Why do you think that is?
[66:56]
Matthew Ramsey
I feel so important, you know, it feels so important in that moment. I think I don't want to screw it up.
[67:03]
Bobby Bones
What'd you sing at a wedding?
[67:06]
Matthew Ramsey
I'm trying to remember. I remember I played at one of my friends weddings. I played an Allman Brothers song. I can't quite remember which one it was.
[67:14]
Bobby Bones
That's a weird ask for a friend because I. When we got married, a lot of our friends are artists and there's this weird land of if I don't ask them, they might be insulted.
[67:27]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[67:27]
Bobby Bones
If I do ask them, I don't want to ask them because I don't want them to think I'm their friend for that reason.
[67:31]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[67:32]
Bobby Bones
And we got married and we had it at our house and it was excellent because we had a couple friends that jumped up and said, hey, we, we want to sing.
[67:45]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[67:45]
Bobby Bones
So like Dan and Shay sang our first dance song, which was from Full House. It was Forever Jesse and the Rippers. But it was a Beach Boy song. Brian Wilson song. Yeah. So once they did that, I know for a fact I had a couple friends that were gonna get insulted if I didn't ask them.
[67:58]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[67:59]
Bobby Bones
And it was so. And I want everybody to have a good time. But it was a weird thing, like, because I knew some of them, maybe I didn't want to ask because I knew they wouldn't want to do it, but I wasn't sure if they'd be insulted if I didn't. It's. It was a weird.
[68:12]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. It's funny because on the. If it was me in that situation, I would be. My natural. And like, your natural instinct is that I don't want to bother them.
[68:22]
Bobby Bones
Never.
[68:22]
Matthew Ramsey
When it's. When it's probably not going to bother them. You know, that's what they do for a living. It's probably not going to bother them. And for me, if I was asked, my natural instinct would be, I don't want to make this about me. I don't. This is your night. I don't want to make this about me. When in reality, I should probably just be like, of course it's not about me. Of course. This is a gift for them. And, you know, why would I be so egotistical to think, like, oh, it's.
[68:52]
Bobby Bones
Going to be about me, and I never want to bother anybody.
[68:54]
Matthew Ramsey
I know.
[68:54]
Bobby Bones
I feel guilty having people have to come to the studio to do interviews.
[68:58]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[68:58]
Bobby Bones
I'm like, I don't want to come up here. When in reality, it's very much a symbiotic relationship.
[69:02]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah.
[69:03]
Bobby Bones
But I'm like, I don't know. I don't think they want to come. So let's not. Let's. Let's not make them get up early.
[69:08]
Matthew Ramsey
I think that's probably, like, in our career, too. Like, I think that's probably stopped us from, you know, because we don't do a lot of collaborations and. And stuff like that. And I think that's basically why. It's because we've been like, I don't want to bother them. I don't want to put them in a position where they have to say no.
[69:25]
Bobby Bones
And I always feel like a body. Two other things. One, how are you taking compliments?
[69:30]
Matthew Ramsey
Terrible.
[69:30]
Bobby Bones
I get. I wouldn't have thought of that question. But hearing you talk, if you feel like you'd be terrible at taking compliments.
[69:35]
Matthew Ramsey
Terrible at it. I've worked on it for. Over the past few years, and same thing, like, I've. It is. Someone explained to me, like, you Know, my instinct would be to be self deprecating when receiving a compliment, but that's a little bit. It's been described to me as if someone's handing you a gift and you slap it out of their hand, it's pretty rude. So I've had to learn to, you know, relax my jaw and it's uncomfortable. Take that compliment in. Yeah. Because it's really tough.
[70:12]
Bobby Bones
And you know, when I give someone a compliment, because I don't do compliments well at all.
[70:16]
Matthew Ramsey
Right. I don't either.
[70:17]
Bobby Bones
But when I give someone one and they like kick it off, I'm like, oh, man, I wish they would have accepted that.
[70:22]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[70:22]
Bobby Bones
Yet I don't do that to myself, which isn't fair. Isn't fair. And I try to do the same thing.
[70:27]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[70:27]
Bobby Bones
I want. I'm gonna allow this to be a precious moment. Thank you. It's hard, though.
[70:32]
Matthew Ramsey
It's so hard because I don't feel.
[70:34]
Bobby Bones
Like I deserve it.
[70:35]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, there's. Well, there's the nagging part of you that knows who you are that you think no one else knows, you know, or you know, you're. You're trying to hide whatever that part of you that you don't like from the world. And allowing someone to see you at all is. You're in danger of them seeing that part of you too.
[70:57]
Bobby Bones
I'm a big. I need to control the narrative. So I don't want anyone saying nice things about me or bad things about me. Because I'm gonna say both.
[71:03]
Matthew Ramsey
Right.
[71:03]
Bobby Bones
I'm gonna do both. I got plenty of bad things.
[71:07]
Matthew Ramsey
I hear it enough in my head.
[71:08]
Bobby Bones
I got plenty of bad things. But I'm also going to tell you what's good. But I don't want you saying anything good or bad because I don't have control of that.
[71:14]
Matthew Ramsey
That it's hard to be a human man. Yeah, it's. It is.
[71:17]
Bobby Bones
How you.
[71:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Physically, I'm good. I'm good. Better than I have been in years.
[71:22]
Bobby Bones
Killed from all the accidents, healed up.
[71:24]
Matthew Ramsey
And, you know, I've got a trainer now. I haven't worked out in a couple weeks now, but just because I'm completely exhausted. But. But yeah, man, I feel really good. I feel.
[71:34]
Bobby Bones
Does anything hurt when it weather changes?
[71:36]
Matthew Ramsey
Everything hurts all the time. I have a new sort of 100%.
[71:41]
Bobby Bones
Your baseline's different.
[71:42]
Matthew Ramsey
My baseline is different. You know, once you. Once you've been through a few of the injuries that I've had, your baseline changes. But yeah, you know, I can't sleep in one position. All night long. Once it starts hurting, I roll over and I'm good.
[71:56]
Bobby Bones
Drugs, man. I'll tell you what I tell the kids. More drugs.
[71:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Drugs do help when you sleep.
[72:01]
Bobby Bones
More drugs. Okay, one last thing about the tour. When you guys go. Cause I was looking. You guys are doing a bunch of UK shows, Europe shows. I don't know. Do you have to go? Okay. Crowds are gonna be a little smaller and a little different. Is that a thing?
[72:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
[72:14]
Bobby Bones
Like, brace yourselves, because it's gonna feel different and don't be insulted.
[72:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, we don't care about the small part. You know, that's natural. We can go to, you know, Alabama, and the crowd is gonna be smaller than it is in the Northeast for us, you know, so that's natural. And especially overseas, there's no way we would expect it to be as big. But we do have to sort of adjust our show a little bit, and it's a different audience, for sure. You know, I think in America, it's as much about the party as it is about the music sometimes. And over there, it's more about the music, and they want to hear more talking and more stories. And I remember the first time. Really? Yeah. The first time we went out there, we came out for the party and trying to throw the party, and we're like, these people aren't partying again. They're just staring at us and listening very intently to everything we're doing. So then, like, next year be like, okay, let's just. Let's just take a step back and let's engage with them and talk to them a little bit more. And that tends to work well.
[73:25]
Bobby Bones
Is that European running? Because you never get to go home? Is that a little harder on you?
[73:29]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, this time we were a little bit smarter about it, because usually when we wind up in Europe, it's usually at the end of the US Tour, and we're exhausted. And then you go over there, and you have to adjust the time. So this time, we blocked a couple weeks off before we go over there. So we're gonna have, like, two weeks to just chill. And then we go over there, and we're gonna have a couple of days before the first show. First time we were going over there, we'd land stage half asleep. Yeah, Yeah, I was. They had to wake us up. The first time we went over there, I was asleep on, like, four bar stools that I'd pushed together, and there was a towel that I was using as a pillow, and I'm laying across these bar stools and they come and, like, shake me, wake me up. Hey, dude, it's time. And I went on stage with, like, the towel print on my face. I had to, like, tell the audience, like, this is not a burn scar. This is a towel. I was asleep two minutes ago.
[74:28]
Bobby Bones
Final, final, final question. Favorite country. That's not America that you've been in.
[74:36]
Matthew Ramsey
I really, really like Scotland. We haven't got to spend a whole lot of time. Also, Portugal. I would say go to Portugal if you get a chance. We got to spend a few days off in Lisbon, which is beautiful. Absolutely love it over there.
[74:55]
Bobby Bones
I haven't been to Portugal. We were doing this. Austria is my favorite.
[74:58]
Matthew Ramsey
I never been there.
[75:00]
Bobby Bones
It's awesome.
[75:00]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[75:01]
Bobby Bones
But I think, you know, it's. If we're only there for a day, it's like going to an away football game. Like, if the. If that small part of the away that that crowd is nice to you, you're like, well, that's a great fan base. But if, like, one idiot. It's like, I hate Texas, you know? And it's really just who you were with at that time.
[75:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Sure.
[75:14]
Bobby Bones
Austria was pretty fantastic.
[75:15]
Matthew Ramsey
We were in. We were in. When we went to Lisbon, we didn't have a show. We just. We had, like, three days off and we were like, let's go to Lisbon. So that was fun to just kind of see the culture. Scotland. We've been to enough. I say that because we've been there enough times now that it's become sort of familiar. Just like any other city that we've been to eight or nine times. We know where the coffee shop is and the restaurant and the bar that we like. And, you know, we can land and just be there and kind of appreciate it for what it is. A little bit more than the other ones.
[75:48]
Bobby Bones
That's awesome. Well, congrats on the record.
[75:50]
Matthew Ramsey
Thank you very much.
[75:51]
Bobby Bones
The record is Barbara and the tour. You're not going to go to any, like, I don't know, maybe some Copenhagen listeners are out there, but maybe.
[75:59]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah.
[75:59]
Bobby Bones
But you still have some American dates left up here. But you guys can go to. We are Old Dominion dot com. Appreciate the time. Always, like, spending time with you.
[76:06]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah, man. Thank you.
[76:07]
Bobby Bones
It's. It's very much ships passing than I always in this town.
[76:09]
Matthew Ramsey
I know.
[76:10]
Bobby Bones
So to get an hour to sit. Really enjoyed it. I appreciate the time.
[76:13]
Matthew Ramsey
Yeah. Thank you for having me.
[76:15]
Bobby Bones
Thanks for listening to a Bobbycast production.
[76:25]
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[77:55]
Matthew Ramsey
What's up everyone? We're Angel, Diego and Jason and we're a wishtub. About Podcast We've never pretended to be anything but ourselves. Now we're the number one Mexican regional podcast.
[78:13]
Commercial Voice
We hustled, kept our eyes on the price, locked in and flow Frio like.
[78:17]
Matthew Ramsey
Sprite Laneta nun ca falta le estudio Cut through the rest Conuna sprite sprite Obey your thirst.
[78:23]
Martine Hackett
This is an iHeart podcast.