Ask Rodney

[The River Assassin]

How do you write most of your songs. Are you just driving down the highway when you see a billboard for depression and a song hits you. Or do you make yourself sit down a few times a week and write.

[Ticket Mouse]

Rodney, there's a definate standard style of what is narrowly and ignorantly described as Texas Country. Was there ever any thought of changing your literary style to conform with the standard style? If so, how did you resist the temptation? I gotta admit, I love how you punched the scene in the mouth one more time. Lesser artists would have given in and sold out, for lack of a better word, but you stayed true to yourself and took it several steps further than you did the first time. That's what I appreciate most about this record. Your thoughts?

[rp]

Songwriters I am liking right now..... Bruce Springsteen of course, John Prine, Paul Simon, Hayes Carll, Adam Carroll, Ryan Adams....been listening to some Dire Straits, Cake.... just a bunch of different stuff.
As for how I write it's a combination of both usually. I will get an idea out of nowhere, either a lyric or a hook or a rhythm or something and then hammer it out and turn it into something useful for a long time after that. I have to make myself do it, I kind of hate doing it. I like the result though.
I don't guess I've really thought about turning it around and trying to be more commercial. I don't think I could do it. The biggest driving force behind this band is that we think the music we play is badass. That is worth more to us than selling more records or more tickets to shows. We sort of have to have that. It's the foundation of it all - the way our shows are, and the way our record is. That said, the hope is to still be under the Texas Music umbrella, albeit a little off center, but just be a band that pushes things further than most do. I don't know if this is how people will take us, but maybe.

[Ticket Mouse]

Very intriguing answer. My brother recently purchased your CD and was just blown away. I've been trying to get him to come to a show for a couple years but he kept putting me off. He didn't come to the release show but I think I sold it enough for him to be interested. The first thing he said was how much different it was from everything else he's ever heard and couldn't wait until the next show. He's been playing it for all his friends and they've been amazed as well.

Keep it going. Persistance pays off. You'll have a lot more staying power than any of the other generic guys out there.

[fischer]

Dire Straits is awesome.

[Ticket Mouse]

What do you think of the Shooter Jennings version of Walk of Life?

[rp]

I like it a lot. It took a while to grow on me but now I always turn it up when it comes on the radio.

[cowtownmike]

That Adam Carroll cat is all right. I remember seeing him at the Mud Bug Boil last year. I think?

[fischer]

he was at that deal on fry st. with Charlie Robison.

[cowtownmike]

Wasn't that the Mud Bug Boil?

[fischer]

I don't think so.

It was in late june, and I didn't see a single Craw dad.

[cowtownmike]

Damn. They say the mind is the second thing to go. I guess they are right.

[fischer]

I guess you forgot the first thing?

[cowtownmike]

No. If you want to know what the first is; ask mikeswife.


damn.

[fischer]

HAHAHAHA!