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Brad Paisley Swings into 5th Gear
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Anonymous user Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:19:08 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Brad Paisley is throwing his life into fifth gear. The new album from Arista Nashville chart-topper Brad Paisley, “5th Gear,” is scheduled to be released on June 19, but luckily for fans in Bakersfield, they will be treated to a live sneak preview as his Presents Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour with special guests Jack Ingram, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift. Stops in Bakersfield in May. Juggling a busy rehearsing and recording studio Brad took a quick breather and shared some of his favorite memories of Bakersfield and the late, great Buck Owens.


Hi Brad, how’s the new album coming a long?

Things are going great. I’m in the studio right now. We have 15 tracks recorded and it looks like all 15 are going to be on the album. We planned on this amount of songs so I’m glad we can keep them all.

If you had to pick a favorite song or two, which would they be?

Let’s see what is my favorite? I would say it changes everyday, really. It’s a toss up between two. The first is called “If Love Was a Plane.” It’s an artsy look at love and then there’s “Letter To Me,” which probably is my favorite. It’s a song that is written as a letter to myself at 17. I like this song for the things I say in it. I’m neck deep in recording and finishing up the album before the label needs it. I feel like I’m pregnant right now, anticipating the release and carrying the new project for so long.

Speaking of being pregnant, congratulations on your new baby. Are you hesitant to hit the road with him still being so young?

Thanks. Well, the touring schedule wasn’t in my control. We only knew we were pregnant nine months before, obviously, and the tour had been planned way before that. When you have a baby, like with anything in life, you just have to figure out how to make it all work out. But I’m not dreading leaving at all. At this point in my career touring has gotten a lot easier for me, I’m not gone that long. And maybe a little time away getting some sleep on the bus isn’t a bad thing.

You’re headed to Bakersfield in May. What do you like about our town?

I love it there. I spent a lot of time in Bakersfield with Buck Owens and everyone over at The Crystal Palace. I love the heritage of Bakersfield and a lot of that is because of Buck and Merel. They really made Bakersfield famous. They both epitomize exactly what I want to do and who I want to be as a Country musician in many ways. I admire your town, if not more than Nashville. Unfortunately Nashville is the place you have to move to do your thing and get noticed in Country music. But if the place to be was Bakersfield I would have been there. I think I relate more to the music made in Bakersfield than in Nashville.
 
What is one of your favorite memories of Bakersfield?

I spent about four New Year’s Eves with Buck at The Crystal Palace. But it was the first time I played with him that is the most memorable. It was one year when I was single and had no plans of my own. It was about December 28, freezing and pouring rain in Nashville, all the roads were closed. I was still a new artist at the time but had met Buck before, so I had Bakersfield in mind of visiting because I wanted to be somewhere warmer than it was in Nashville. So I called up Jerry over at Buck’s place and said ‘I don’t have any New Year’s plans, what’s Buck doing?’ He was playing a show on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I asked if Buck wanted a guitar player and Jerry said he would and Buck flew me over to Bakersfield. I got to be a side man for Buck Owens, that was just about the best New year’s Eve I’ve ever had. He was a great guy.

Do you ever get nervous before the show? If so, what are some pre-show exercises you do to shake the jitters?

You know, I don’t really get nervous anymore. We’ll be starting this tour around the time this article runs. So we get really prepared in rehearsal. The only thing I might be a little nervous about is the new material. There’s a lot to remember, from cues to lighting to gadgets on stage but I know it’ll all work out. It’s probably more exciting because we’ll be playing new songs for the fans. I’ve been doing this a while, so I don’t worry too much.
 
 
 
 
 

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