← Tony Mantor's : Almost Live..... Nashville
Tony Mantor's : Almost Live..... Nashville
Band of Heathens:Harmony, Grit, and the Art of Creating a Lasting Sound
00:26:21
Loading summary
Transcript61 lines
- [00:15]
A
My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent. Through my years of experience, I've recognized two essential aspects. Industry professionals, whether famous stars or behind the scenes staff, have fascinating stories to tell. Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life. Stories. This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information on how they evolved into their chosen career. We will delve into their journey to stardom, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who help them achieve their goals. Get ready for intriguing behind the scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment. Hi, I'm Tony Mantour. Welcome to Almost Live Nashville. Joining us today is Ed and Gordy, two of the driving forces behind one of the most respected and road tested bands in American roots rock, Band of Heathens. Known for their rich harmonies, killer songwriting, and a true collective spirit, these guys have built a sound that blends rock, soul, and Texas grit in a way that feels timeless but never stuck in the past. We're going to talk about the stories, the songs, and the brotherhood that's kept this band rolling strong for years. They've got a great story to tell us. So before we dive into our episode, we'll be back with an uninterrupted show right after a word from our sponsors. Thanks for coming on.
- [01:52]
B
Yeah, thanks for having us.
- [01:53]
A
Oh, it's my pleasure. You have a really distinctive band name. I'm always curious about how names like that came together. Can you tell us how that came about and the story behind it?
- [02:04]
B
I'd say that's a good question. We didn't really come up with it. It was given to us. We're not 100% sure who gave it to us. We basically were doing a weekly residency in Austin kind of in the latter part of 2005, and it was a very loose collective of musicians. I wouldn't. I don't even know if I would call it a band yet. And we'd get together Wednesday nights and we had this kind of jam with multiple singers and a rhythm section and we called it the Good Times Supper Club. And one week we showed up to the gig and it was listed in the newspaper as the Heathens. And we thought maybe it had been double booked or, you know, we were going to show up and have to defend our. Our weekly gig. But there was no other band. The Heathens was a name that somebody thought it would be funny to call us. Those early days were there was a lot of tequila and it was a Very loose show. So that morphed into the Band of Heathens, and. And here we are 20 years later.
- [03:00]
A
When a band first comes together, there's usually a vision behind it, what it's going to sound like, feel like, and become. What was that vision for you when you first started this journey?
- [03:12]
C
There was absolutely no vision. The vision was that we were all going to leave doing the Band of Heathens, which was formerly referred to as the Good Times Supper Club. We were going to leave that and go back to our regularly scheduled careers being solo singer songwriters, you know, playing acoustic or fronting our own little ensembles. There really wasn't a lot of thought given to it, I would say. You know, a happy accident might be one way to phrase it, but I think what ended up happening was there was kind of an instant chemistry with those pieces and the spirit of. I think the spirit of that ensemble and the way it was. I would say the way that it was received by people that were coming to hang out and watch us play. Both people we knew and then people we didn't know. Very quickly, it just kind of took fire. And it was one of those things sort of like, you know, if, you know, when you have to be tuned in and listening to the universe. I think we. We had a bit of a eureka moment where it was like. I remember one of the other rules of the project was that we could net. We couldn't rehearse, but we decided at some point we should learn a tune or two outside of each of our individual catalogs. And it was like we were. We worked up this song by the band called. It's a lead belly song, but kind of the version of the band called Ain't no More can on the Brazos. And I remember all of us singing together, and I just had this thought, like, this is exactly what I want my band to be, but this is like. This is so much more than I could have ever imagined, what I would be able to do just with one voice. This idea of this collective and the sort of the collective energy of everybody coming to it, full heart and full throttle was. It was pretty undeniable, you know, honestly, God, that was. That was kind of a moment for me where I was like, ooh, something's happening here. I have to kind of pay attention to this and see where this takes us, you know?
- [04:45]
A
Yeah. I read that each of you already had solo careers, and this project kind of overlapped with that. You had a vision for how you wanted this band to sound. Like you said, this is kind of like the band I would want. So how did you bring all those pieces of the puzzle together and get everyone on board with becoming a collective instead of individual artists?
- [05:06]
B
Well, I think that early on, like Ed mentioned, the sound of the group singing together was really a thing. And it. Especially when it didn't feel like there was a lead singer, when it was just a mass of voices. And I think that spirit of a band just really resonated with us. And we just started kind of taking it on the road regionally, and then we went out to the Rocky Mountains. And I think we never had any. We didn't really, like, have a vision for, like, being stars or being famous. It never really was about that for us. It was about, you know, chasing that feeling of. Of making music that really speaks to our souls and really resonates and connecting with audiences. And so for us, it was really just, you know, we were having fun. And once we started, we made a live album, which then turned into, okay, let's go into the studio and make a studio record. For us, it always was, all right, let's just be able to make one more record. Let's just, you know, let's make it to one more gig. It was always just kind of one step in front of the other, and we really didn't have a plan for long career. It was kind of just like, hey, while this is fun, let's keep doing this and keep chasing this and hopefully it's successful enough to do one more.
- [06:18]
A
Yeah. With several people in a band, everyone brings their own unique style and background. When you started putting all these pieces of the puzzle together, what were some of your personal influences that shaped the band?
- [06:30]
C
Well, I mean, to kind of follow up on Gordy's point too. I think it took some sort of. Some guys left early on. There was definitely some kind of. Some people coming and going. So we had the kind of initial core lineup with the original five GU guys. I think within that, you know, we were. There was things like the band, for sure. Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead. I think those were kind of the things we agreed upon. And then everyone kind of brought a little bit of a different flavor into it as well, too, I think. Which is. Which is kind of what made it interesting, you know, I think Gordy's earlier stuff tend to lead a little bit more singer, songwriter and country. You know, like Texas songwriters like Guy Clark and Lyle Love it and Townes Van Zant and I had kind of really come up being very into R and B music. You know, like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett and things like that. And I think it was also partially us recognizing that those things actually all fit together nicely, you know, and a lot of our favorite music was the collision of those things and, you know, just finding the spot where they worked in a complimentary way. I think that's when we started to kind of really be able to unlock what we're still doing today.
- [07:32]
B
I think one of the influences, I don't think you mentioned, Ed, was Little Feet. I think that's one of the great bands that had kind of the R and B side to the kind of roots Americana sound. I think that was one of the early influences of the band, in addition to, you know, Dylan and the Band and all the other influences Ed mentioned.
- [07:52]
A
Now, when you sit down and write a song, of course, every songwriter has their own way of approaching it. Do you write the lyrics first, come up with the melody first, or do you just get together and let everyone's influences impact the way the song is going to be developed and recorded?
- [08:10]
C
Well, I think. I mean, I think all of the above, all shapes and sizes. And I think even in an individual song, it could be all of the things you mentioned, you know, like. So Gordy and I have written a lot together. That usually starts with something like, you'll have an idea, or I'll have an idea about either, you know, a title or a lyric, or maybe it's a musical thing. It could be any of those things that would start a song and then kind of go from there. And then as far as the collective kind of just like bringing something into the room and having it be a collective thing. I think the way we make records, the way we produce ourselves, the sound that we get ultimately as a. As a band and of the band of Heathens, that's from the collective sort of like. Let's say Gordy has a song that he wants to present to the band. Like, I've heard the song, and we've maybe worked on it, but when we're making a record, it's like, okay, it's Tuesday morning. Hey, what do you want to work on? It's like, okay, well, today we're going to work on the song called no Direction, which is one of the songs on. On Countrysides. And Gordy would come in with his guitar, play the song for the band and be like, all right, let's all go sit at our. Sit at a spot. You know, pick an instrument. Pick a la. Let's start throwing some ideas around, and let's see what happens. It's kind of, you know, I think all those things that you mentioned are really important parts of kind of getting to. There's the essence of a song when you're writing it, but then there's the essence of a song when you're putting it to tape or recording it. That's the thing that's, that's there, you know.
- [09:20]
A
Yeah, absolutely. Now you just mentioned the recording studio. Everyone works in the recording studio a little bit differently. Everyone has their own way they approach it. When I'm here in Nashville producing a new singer, my structure and the way that I work will be different than others, and that's okay. So what does yours look like when you go into the studio first thing? What is the things that you start to do and as the day progresses, what are you hoping that you will get done during that period of time?
- [09:51]
B
Well, I don't know if video is going to be a part of this, but I'm in the studio now. Like Ed mentioned, you know, we'll bring songs that he and I have been working on or maybe Trevor, our keyboard player might be hip to. But we don't generally go out and play the songs live or even like flesh out too many parts. I like to keep a song very open ended when I'm bringing it to our band. And so when we show up for a day to work, like Ed said, it's wide open, you know, as far as like what the guys can do. And we try to. Sometimes we'll put up some guard rails sonically, like what we. What we want to go for and a batch of tunes. But we love to let the guys in the band, let their personalities shine through and we want these recordings to sound like the guys that are in the band. I think there's leaving kind of room for those parts to develop and for the magic to happen. I think that's one of our, one of the ways that we like to work. I mean, you spend more time and more money in the studio that way, I think, you know, rather than working out all the parts ahead of time. But I do think that the, the magic you get from that is worth the time and the effort. You know, in the, the Beatles documentary that came out, I think it was Get Back. There was something I love that made me feel good about the way we work where someone will have an idea and all the guys. I mean, this is arguably the greatest band of all time. The first half hour or hour it seemed like they're working on a song. It sounds awful and all the guys are just, like, noodling away, playing garbage on top of each other as everybody's trying to find their parts and find the little hooks. And all of a sudden you'll hear George Harrison find a little part. You know, as. As a fan, as a listener that knows the finished product, you recognize, like, oh, that's where he discovered this hook. I think we. It was comforting to see them work that way because I think we. We work in a similar way where, hey, the first half hour of us hammering through something, we're trying different grooves, different textures, and everyone's just throwing ideas at the wall until you find something that, you know, feels like it works well with what everybody else is doing. And then all of a sudden, it kind of congeals into a song and it. Okay, now the parts are starting to really reveal themselves, and I think that's a fun way to work.
- [12:00]
A
Yeah, you just brought up studio magic. A lot of people, they do not understand what studio magic is. Has this ever happened to you where you've had an idea, you worked it out, everyone is feeling the music, playing their parts. It's really grooving. Then it happens. A mistake, but that mistake is so damn good, you just can't let it go. And you say, we have got to make this better.
- [12:24]
B
Absolutely. I mean, yeah, that's the magic. It's the unplanned. The unplanned things. And I think purposefully leaving room for that unplanned moment to happen is. Is one of the secrets. I think some people, it's great to be prepared, but I think, you know, getting the. The right people in a room and letting them kind of have a. A free for all. Searching for the magic is one of the key ingredients, you know, for at least for the first little while, working on a song.
- [12:49]
A
Now, looking back, you say you've been doing this for about 20 years or so. When you first started out, you were individuals. Then you became individuals within a band. You started developing that and evolving. What do you see for a difference, if any, in the way that you collaborated back then to the way that you collaborate today?
- [13:14]
C
Well, I think, you know, I think we had all had band experience as well before coming into this band, but I think is, you know, it's like, as we've gotten better at what we're doing, I think when you're younger, there's kind of an instinct to. Things would get maybe we get a little more heated. Like, your opinion in the moment becomes very important, and you're very precious about It. And I think now we've gotten to a point where, you know, it's like everybody trusts everyone else they're working with and, and nobody would intentionally steer anything in the wrong direction. You know, there's faith in that and there's also enough comfort with each other to be like, hey, you know, okay, let's try that. And you know, we'll try it. But it's like, yeah, that's not really working. Okay, cool, let's move on to the next thing. Because everybody knows it's not coming from a personal place or a place of ego. It's coming from a place of like, hey, what can we. To get to the best version of this song. And that's like, you know, that's not always seamless or smooth like Gordy's talking about. It's not always comfortable or it doesn't always feel good to be honest with you in the moment. But a lot of that, A lot of being able to be present in that creative space is to have, you know, one is to try to not get your feelings hurt and two is to have a really short term memory. So, like, if something doesn't go the way you want it to go, there's a pretty good chance pretty soon it will come full circle. And well, like, I mean, I've definitely had days in the studio where like, you know, if we started like 10, have a cup of coffee, we're like into a new song. 11:30, quarter at 12, like I've like done. I've k hold and it's just like, I'm the worst. This sucks. Like, I've contributed nothing to this. And then, you know, at 12:26, you do something. So like that. What was that? That was great. Do that again and like, hey, all right, cool, let's, let's work that and we'll put it here, we'll put it before the chorus and we'll put it in the post course. And like, dude, that's the song. That's the, that's the hook. And you're like, you feel like you're the king of the world and you're vindicated. So, you know, it's always a good reminder to just to be open to that. And the more, the more that you do it, the more you get comfortable with that cycle and the shorter. You're sort of like, you know, the shorter emotional roller coaster it becomes and you're able to recover quickly because ultimately like, you want to be present because this stuff's happening so fast. If you lose it in the room, and you kind of become a non participant, like you won't be participating and what ends up happening with the tune, you know, and that's the whole point of being there. That's the enjoyment of it.
- [15:19]
A
Yeah, absolutely. Been there, done that. What are your thoughts, Gordy?
- [15:23]
B
Yeah, I would totally agree with all that Ed is saying. You know, it made me think of the be a goldfish, the Ted Lasso. I think the whole thing was like, you know, just having a short memory. And it's what's funny to me. I grew up playing sports, a lot of us did in the band. And I feel like there are a lot of parallels to team sports, you know, with being in a band and collaborating and, you know, really going for it and having a short memory for when you don't land it. I think there's also parallels to being in a marriage and just like, you know, knowing when to contribute, when to compromise. Like Ed mentioned, you know, when you're younger, you feel like your opinion as an artist matters and needs to get through to everybody. And then as you get a little older and more comfortable with the guys in your band and trusting, it's a lot easier to let go and trust the group and. And trust where we're going and. And some days you have all the ideas and some days you don't have any ideas and somebody else picks up the slack. And, you know, that's. That's the fun of making music in a group.
- [16:21]
A
Yeah, exactly. Now, as we evolve, we start out in a certain place, and as we move forward, we hope that we get to where we wanted to be. Now, is there any song that you've written that you look at a little differently today than you did when you first wrote it? Has any of the song's meanings changed over a period of time?
- [16:45]
C
I'd struggle to find a specific example, but I think to the general point that you're making. My favorite thing about songwriting and the art of music is that it's really one of the only malleable art forms. You know, like someone writes a novel or someone paints a painting. It's sort of fixed in time. The cool thing about we make a record and that's a document of a thing, but we continue to play these songs live and they evolve and they change, you know, and even I think my perspective of how I'm singing songs at a particular point in time changes. You know, the character of me 15 years ago is different than the character of me today, you know, singing the same words oftentimes. So I think just kind of like for me, at least on a day to day thing, living with, you know, with songs being living breed and things, I try to be open to that and kind of find some, some, some new spaces within, Within a song.
- [17:28]
A
Yeah, that makes perfect sense. If someone that is not familiar with your band picks up a cd, they listen to it all the way through, what are you hoping that they are going to take away from what they hear?
- [17:42]
B
That's a good question, I think. I mean, each record for us is, is different, so it's hard to say, but generally I think that I feel like we, we live this great privilege of getting to make music and make art for a living. And I love music because it's very closely tied to people's memories and so it can get ingrained into someone's soundtrack of their life very easily just by the way our brains are wired. And that's kind of an amazing privilege to be able to make that music that connects with people on that level. But especially today, I think in this really divided time in our country, I, I believe music is a great unifying force that brings us together. And so I hope people take away a sense of being connected to their fellow humans and Americans and, and world citizens. I feel like love and connectivity and, and just really how we are all one is something that I try to weave through our music. And I hope that's something people take away from.
- [18:47]
A
Yeah, that's nice. Ed, your thoughts?
- [18:50]
C
Yeah, I mean, I, I could. That sentiment, I think like a sense of peace and a sense of joy and listening to music is like always mentioning. It's really an outlet and a valve for kind of like escapism, but in the best, in the best sense of the word, you know, escaping into maybe a higher plane or a better way of being kind of being able to have your eyes open to a way that you could see things and find some peace and joy and contentment within your situation, maybe.
- [19:14]
A
Okay. All right. When you're on the road, and Lord knows I've been there many times myself, it can be a happy time or it can drive you crazy. What are some of the things that you do so that no one drives each other crazy?
- [19:30]
C
Well, we got a bus. That seems to have helped quite a bit because we don't have to fight over who's driving or who doesn't like the way someone else drives. That's been pretty nice. And you know, we can usually agree if we have a drive, a bus driver that we don't like, that we're all kind of in unison with that and vice versa. If we find someone we love, they're. They're great. I think God's great. I think for the band. Well, for me individually, I like to walk a lot. So when we get into a town, I'll kind of try to get up early and walk around and kind of, you know, get a lay of the land, be inspired by some new sites. And then as a collective, as a band, we try to have a meal together, if possible, every day. That's something that we do that I don't think all bands do. You know, it's nice to sort of. It's nice for us to spend time with each other because everybody likes each other. It's nice to spend time not just in. As much as we love making music. That's our job, you know, that's work. So it's like, it's nice to spend time with each other outside of that environment. Just be able to appreciate each other for your sense of humor, you know, the things we do like about each other.
- [20:21]
A
I've got this thing I like to do every now and then. It's called between the Beats. It's basically a round robin of questions. There are no right or wrong answers, just whatever comes to your mind. The first question, what is your personal pre show ritual that you do?
- [20:41]
B
One ritual is we write a set list. Usually I write a set list two or three hours for a show, and I send it to Ed and we go back forth on it. That's always a huge weight that I feel and I stress about, and it feels really good to get that over with. Just trying to craft the best set for each night. Doing a different set each night. And then I would say the other pre show ritual is usually some sort of tequila cocktail.
- [21:09]
A
Okay, so who is a person that will probably lose something that's important, and then who is the person that will most likely find it?
- [21:19]
C
Wow, that's a great question. Well, I mean, I would say I'd name another member of the band if I hadn't just recently left my passport at home and had to fly home on a day off to get my passport to get. To get on a music cruise that we were doing. So I'll throw myself. I'll be both people. I'll be the one that lost the thing and I found the thing. So there we go.
- [21:38]
A
That's a very good one. Now, after being on the road, what is the very first real life thing that you want to do after you step off that bus?
- [21:49]
C
I forgot to mention, one of the things on the road, too, is coffee is really is very important with this band. We have some very particular coffee drinkers. So there's a lot of Yelp and Google reviews of coffee finding.
- [21:59]
B
Pull a shot of espresso.
- [22:01]
A
Okay, so when you're on that bus, is it silence, music, or complete chaos?
- [22:06]
C
Yes, all the above. Early in the day, it'd be quieter. Like a keyboard player. Trevor would probably get up. He'd be. You'd hear a lot of, like, just clicking on keyboard. On a keyboard. He'd have his headphones in. I might get up, play my acoustic guitar. A little bit later in the day, we might be listening to music collectively after the show, probably spinning some tunes pretty loud, having a little. Little nightcap, a short party. Yeah. So I think everything and anything.
- [22:34]
A
A song that you might not admit that you like, but what you really
- [22:38]
C
do, I just think, you know, like Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi. I mean, who doesn't want to. Who doesn't want to get down with that, you know?
- [22:44]
A
Okay, one more. If the band had to trade instruments for one song for one night, who would be more terrified and who would be more confident?
- [22:55]
B
I would probably. While I wouldn't actually panic, I would be very excited, but I am probably everybody in the band plays multiple instruments, so I'm probably the least proficient on other instruments. So maybe I might have to say I would probably panic, but I wouldn't actually panic. I would actually love it.
- [23:18]
C
Although you do have a credit, as on drums, on a track that we did recently. So, I mean, you know.
- [23:22]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I've got some bass and. And piano and drum credits, but I wouldn't say that I'm proficient on any of those instruments.
- [23:31]
A
Okay, now, how do people find you?
- [23:34]
C
Bandoheathens.com Band of Heathens on Instagram, Maybe the Band of Heathens on Facebook. But some general combination of Band of Heathens or the Band of Heathens is where we're found in the. In the literal and in the ethereal universe.
- [23:49]
B
If we're on tour in your town and you really want to find us, go to the snobbiest, bougiest coffee shop during the day, and we'll probably be there.
- [23:57]
A
Yeah. That's great. What would you like to say to your fans before we end this?
- [24:02]
B
I'd say, come. Come hang out with us at a show. It's. Every night's different. It's an adventure. We're trying to go take a ride each night. I would say, if you have discovered our music on record. That's great. I love records. It's my favorite thing. But. But I think this band is really a special live. Live band.
- [24:25]
A
That's great. Let's look into the crystal ball right now. What's the next three to five years look like for you on your musical journey?
- [24:32]
C
Well, I think on a. On a 20,000 foot level, making and creating more music, playing more shows and I think on, you know, kind of on a business creative level, just figuring out new and creative ways to share that music with people. I think, you know, as kind of the avenues of being able to release music have opened up in kind of infinite ways. One of our challenges and one of the exciting things is us figuring out how to do that in a way that, that maybe has an opportunity to have some impact.
- [25:04]
A
Okay, great. Now, is there anything that we haven't touched upon that you think is important for our listeners to hear?
- [25:11]
B
I just add, you know, I don't know if we talked about the band being independent, but we've been on our own, independent from day one, never been on a label and feel really lucky to have built up this thing from the ground up. And we're just grateful for our fan base and, and for each other and for you, Tony, for giving us a little podium here to talk about our music and reach some new people. So thank you.
- [25:37]
A
Oh, it's been great. This has been great conversation, great information. I really appreciate you taking the time to join me today.
- [25:45]
B
Thank you.
- [25:46]
C
Thanks, Tony.
- [25:46]
B
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, hopefully we'll see you soon.
- [25:49]
C
Thank you, man. Good talking with you.
- [25:50]
B
All right, man.
- [25:51]
C
Enjoyed the conversation.
- [25:52]
A
It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed the show. This has been a Tony Mantour production. For more information, contact media platomusic.com.