Hey Joe, Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
You bet Mike, it is great to talk to you.
Here in Denver we have watched you for the last few years. The difference in both yours and the bands stage presence is amazing. Is that just being more relaxed or what?
I think if you spend more time with the same guys on stage your comfort level increases and just like dancing with the same partner you learn where and when the other person is going to be, which allows you to be more mobile and not be afraid of stepping on each others toes. And also the guys and I really have a great time on stage and we make it fun!
How was recording this album different than the last?
I recorded “Take Me With You” in Chicago with friends of mine and I was gigging with about four different projects at the time so it took me over a year to make it. “Drive” only took me a few months to make and although I wrote all the tunes myself just like on “Take Me With You” they where all pretty newly written tunes. I also went to Nashville to record “Drive” at one of the best studios in town.
I think “Drive” has expressed more of a commercial side to me as a writer than “Take Me With You”. I had accumulated the first songs over years for “Take Me With You” and had no idea if there would ever be a second one so I tried to express all sides of my writing on “Take Me With You”.
Is your touring band on the new recording?
Yes, some of the guys did some background vocals but as for musicians on “Drive” no, I went to Nashville and used session players to complete it for me to get the Nashville sound! All of my guys are perfectly capable of doing the project but just for ease and of course the almighty dollar I opted to go the route of the session players. I was lucky enough to get Eddie Bayers on Drums who has won 11 Grammy’s and has played with the likes of Vince Gill, George Jones, Randy Travis and more than I can mention. Gary Morse played pedal steel and he is on tour right now with Brooks and Dunn and was with Dwight Yoakum for many years. Troy Lancaster played lead guitar and he can be heard on all of Rodney Atkins records, Keith Anderson’s and numerous others. Mike Rojas and Gary Smith played keys and they have played for a who’s who in Nashville. Larry Beaird played rhythm guitar and can be heard on most of Rascal Flatts CD’s as well as the new LoCash Cowboys CD. I hope at some point to record a live CD with The Last Free Exit Band: Landon Martin-Bass, Grant Snider-Keys, Jeff Davis-Lead Guitar, and Brian Crawford-Drums. These guys are the best and they bring their “A” game on stage every night…
I am lucky to get to share the stage with the likes of these guys!
Does it seem that there is more interest in the more traditional Country in other countries than here in the US?
I think there always has been Mike, They have always embraced the more traditional sound and I think that is cool as heck. You can have a long career overseas as a traditional country singer.
You’re getting decent airplay overseas, any plans on touring out of the country?
Would love to and we got real close to doing a USO tour, which as a US Air Force Vet I wanted to but it has yet to happened. I always love touring overseas to spread country music world wide baby!!
Both albums have radio worthy music on them, your touring your ass off in support of your music, is it starting to pay off?
I want to say I Hope it is! This business is totally and always has been about the fans and the music, but sometimes without the funding of recording contracts or large tours it gets tougher and tougher to keep this circus on the road. We toured over 280 days last year and are on track to do almost that many this year. We are in no way getting rich off this and to say we do it for the love of the music is completely true. I can tell you that record deal or not, I will play my songs as long as someone will listen and as long as they dance…
What do you do to relax on the road?
We watch DVD’s of Family Guy, Eastbound and Down, weird movies and live concerts of artists that play anything that we don’t!! We love to be tourists in towns we tour and try to take time to go see the sites and check out local food and talent.
How big of a part does the “new” media Internet etc... play in the way a band does business now days?
I think without it you have no chance to make it as an artist today. Social networking has replaced the days of mailers, posters and word of mouth for a band. Sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube have all ignited careers. I try to get involved with those sites as much as I can. Mike things like e-teams and street teams are what get the “Buzz” going about an artist now. I am amazed at how one funny YouTube video can get you a record deal! I keep plugging away and hope that through all the above mentioned sites and first and foremost good music and lyrics I can somehow make a living out of this!
I see you play the festivals occasionally that have got to be a blast…. Are the one off shows as fun as playing for a whole week?
Anytime you get to bring your music to 10 to 20,000 people in one show it is such a rush. A lot of times our shows are only an hour at a festival, so we really have to bring it on stage to the make them become fans.
The cool thing about playing multiple dates at the same venue is you get to become friends with the staff the patrons and if you play your cards right they will come back and bring more and more friends the next trip through.
What is the biggest show you have played?
When I was a kid I played with a band and we did a show for 30,000 people. It was a complete rush. The best show for me was a couple years ago I was headliner for my hometown’s fair.
Who are your influences, who did you listen to as a kid?
Merle, Willie, Conway, Larry Gatlin, Van Morrison, Ronnie Millsap, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis, Kiss, The Band and my all time favorite was Buck Owens!
If you could go onstage or record with anyone who would it be?
I would love to sing back up vocal on a Ronnie Dunn recording. If he where still around I would have loved to jumped up on stage with Buck Owens.
Thru the years you have opened for quite a few national acts, are there any that stand out as just outstanding on and off stage?
Merle was a lifetime dream and some of the coolest guys have been Phil Vassar, Blake Shelton, Ritchie McDonald, Terri Clark and one of my favorite singers to work with recently has been Jason Michael Caroll
You have a side project going, a TV show on Fox Business Network called “Hotmixology” What’s that all about?
Hotmixology is a show about everything booze related and is on Fox Business Network. It airs three days a week and is filmed on location across America and in the Hotmixology Lounge in a secret location in Denver, Colorado!!
How did you get involved with that?
The host Dave Elger is a great friend of mine with a vast background in "boozeology." Many years ago I was a touring artist for Jim Beam and did a tour across the country called "Pucker Rocks," I played college venues with just me and my guitar. Dave was on tour with me as my tour Manager and to make a long story short we have been collaborating together for years so it made sense to work with him on this project. I have been on 5 episodes and wrote the theme song for the show. It is a great show to learn to be a home bartender and learn about your favorite brands!!
Thanks Joe, Good Luck with the new album and its always good to see you when you come to Denver.
Thank you Mike, see you at a honky-tonk near you soon!
Albums
| Date | City | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24-29 | Denver, CO | Grizzly Rose |
| Aug 30-31 | Pueblo, CO | Colorado State Fair |
| Sept 15 | Olpe Kansas | Olpe Kansas Catholic Church Function |
| Sept 10-11 | Columbia, MO | Whisky Wild Saloon |
| Sept 13 | Witchita, KS | Mort's Cigar Bar |
| Oct 7 | Catoosa, OK | Cabin Creek at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino |
| Oct 14 | Catoosa, OK | Friction at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino |
| Oct 15 | Claremore, OK | Dog Iron Saloon |
| Oct 21 | Sallisaw, OK | Cherokee Casino |
| Oct 22 & 23 | Grove, OK | J R Spanky's |
| Oct 26-31 | Denver, CO | Grizzly Rose |
| Nov 4 & 5 | Catoosa, OK | Cabin Creek at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino |
| Nov 12-13 | Columbia, MO | Whisky Wild Saloon |
| Nov 19 | Claremore, OK | Dog Iron Saloon |
| Nov 20 | West Siloam Springs, OK | Stage Seven at West Siloam Springs Cherokee Casino |
| Dec 9 & 10 | Catoosa, OK | Cabin Creek at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino |
| Dec 29 | West Siloam Springs, OK | Stage Seven at West Siloam Springs Cherokee Casino |
| Dec 30 | Catoosa, OK | Cabin Creek at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino |
| Dec 31 | Wichita, KS | Port Of Wichita |
Up Coming Shows for Joe Worrel
Interview with country singer Joe Worrel
 | ||||
| ||||
Joe's new album is aptly titled “Drive” Since if the right people hear this music there is no reason for Joe not to be a driving force in country music. “Drive” is a honky tonkin’ good time… he will have the dance floor full with songs like Boot cut Jeans, Hell to pay, and Baby I love you more. Meanwhile, the Bluesy side is going to have all the lovers in the dark corners of the club. If Craig Morgan or Kenny Chesney released this album it would be on the Radio tomorrow, that’s how good it is!
| ||||
All photos by Breanne Hanson
By Mike Martin
Westminster, Colorado
