I got into rock music at thirteen, listening to Van Halen, learned how to play the electric guitar.
My guitar, it was new when I got it, but it has a hole like Willie's where it's just worn out from my pinky going back and forth over the wood over all these years. I got Willie Nelson to sign that spot on my guitar. I'm a huge fan of him.
My wife is cool enough to let me write about personal things, to be a songwriter exploring the shadowy sides of love.
I'm part of the party, getting the crowd fired up, singing songs, pouring drinks, whatever it takes to get them to have a good time. When I walk into the meet-and-greet, someone's always going to have a story, a sad story or a happy story.
I try to make an album that reflects what I love about country music. It's not just all about happy parties all the time. There are some sad songs.
The transformation that happens when a young artist goes on the road - you put the acoustic guitar down and start to play the electric a little louder - it gets a little bit ragged.
