Backstage Bucks County Episode 5 - Evan Walton, Real Estate Mogul and Founder of Wineskin

WEBVTT
00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:01.760
What's up, everybody?
00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:02.799
Matt Friedman here.
00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:04.879
We are back at Backstage Bucks County.
00:00:04.959 --> 00:00:07.120
We are here with the legend, Mr.
00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:07.919
Evan Walton.
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.599
Evan, what's happening, brother?
00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:11.039
I just came over to see you guys.
00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.800
He just walked upstairs.
00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:21.519
He says that, but he came prepared with some epic t-shirts from the greatest band ever.
00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:22.719
Oh, yeah, definitely.
00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:26.079
The greatest band ever, probably one of the best t-shirts ever, Wineskin.
00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.239
So, first of all, thank you for the t-shirt.
00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:29.359
It's a good one, too.
00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:30.719
They don't cheap out.
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.640
So, what's going on, man?
00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:33.759
How are things?
00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:35.439
Well, life is great.
00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:45.920
Yeah, just hanging around, came over here to talk to you guys, and I guess about music and real estate and life and and maybe how all those things have woven together in my own life.
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.719
I mean, that's uh the only subject I can really uh pontificate on.
00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:52.880
So let's pontificate further.
00:00:53.119 --> 00:01:01.520
So your background, obviously, um you and Dustin are in Wineskin together, legendary band around here in Bucks County that's been around 30 years.
00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.560
32 years.
00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:03.280
Wow.
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:05.599
So Dustin's 32 years old.
00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:08.400
I was gonna say you picked up Dustin when he was in diapers playing the drums.
00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:09.840
He was actually birthed at a gig.
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:10.400
Yeah.
00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.840
It's it's really weird.
00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:13.760
Being conceived, I don't doubt that.
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:14.239
Being birthed.
00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:15.519
Right out of a bass drum.
00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:16.239
It was amazing.
00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:16.799
Yeah.
00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:19.439
Oh my God.
00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.319
So you're obviously you're an amazing guitar player.
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.959
Um, you know, you're a real estate legend in the area.
00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.560
We've become friends over the past couple years through bands and shows intertwining.
00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:28.959
Yep.
00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:30.560
So start from the beginning, man.
00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:35.680
Take us all the way back, you know, either track, real estate, music, whatever, uh, whatever you want to kick off with, man.
00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.760
Well, I guess music came first.
00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:45.439
Like as I was winding uh winding down my uh academic career at Del Val College, uh, we started the band.
00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:52.400
I started with two high school mates, neither of them are here still, but uh that was in 1993, and then sort of like pre-internet.
00:01:52.480 --> 00:02:00.719
So we did all our flyering out of a van and made paper, you know, brochures or flyers and did a mailing list with mail.
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:01.920
Whoa.
00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:02.719
Way back.
00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:03.599
Yeah, way back.
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:06.560
Yeah, so pre-internet, pre-cell phone, pre-all that stuff.
00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:28.479
So and we started playing then, gigging regularly, which I just have never stopped, and that's it, just grew that I guess brand, at least here regionally, and at some points in time grew it larger, and it's just been a part of my life since, and it's evolved slowly, like through you know, just the natural things that happen to people in life.
00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:34.719
You know, someone would be in the band for a long time and attrition out, someone else would come in, and yeah.
00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:39.039
Uh and unfortunately, you know, we've lost two guys over the years, and and that's sad, man.
00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:39.680
I didn't realize that.
00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:40.400
I'm sorry to hear that.
00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:55.039
That's yeah, those guys were both good friends of mine, you know, from pre-high school age, and uh lost my drummer to a you know, just poor choices, and our bass player died three years later of uh colon cancer.
00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:56.159
Oh gosh.
00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:57.120
I'm sorry, man.
00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:58.319
Yeah, it's a cautionary tale.
00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:02.879
I mean, we hear it all the time, and we've actually written a you know good number of songs about it and losing people.
00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:08.479
I grew up, I've lost six guys in my life that were athletes.
00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.680
I mean, I you know, played college football with half of them and lost to overdoses to fentanyl, this or that.
00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:23.039
And I don't know what it is, you know, if it's this region of the country is more rampant with it uh or or what, but I I I don't know what to attribute it to, man.
00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.039
I don't I don't know.
00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:36.000
I I think you know, I guess you just feel like it can happen to you or you're because you're beloved in a circle of some sort that you're uh you know you're impenetrable.
00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:39.120
You know, it's part of bragging rights, partying when you're young.
00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:39.759
It's true.
00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:41.680
And that can convert into addiction.
00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.039
Uh which you know, which I definitely saw.
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:54.800
So uh but yeah, but otherwise, I mean the band has been uh totally a part of my being since I was 21 and I'm 53.
00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:55.840
Wow.
00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:56.639
It's been a long time.
00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:58.080
Does that make up 32 years?
00:03:58.159 --> 00:03:58.879
I went to public school.
00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:01.840
You have to excuse that even at Catholic school it's 32 years.
00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:03.840
Same math.
00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.319
Yeah, even at farm school it's still 32 years.
00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:14.800
Uh so but I've been lucky to make so many wonderful relationships and had uh seen a lot of cool things.
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.079
It's you know, being in a band is fun.
00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.720
Whether it's monetized or you make money or not, it's a lot of fun.
00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:19.120
Yeah.
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.240
You know, and sometimes it's a big pain in the ass, too, but it's a lot of fun.
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.279
It it definitely is.
00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:29.439
Yeah, one of the things that you know, when we first got to meet, I think it was a couple festivals we were kind of crossing over and playing.
00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.160
First of all, I mean, you can slay.
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:37.519
You're a great guitar player, you're a great vocalist, you're a great band leader, you know, having Dustin in the band.
00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.800
So I I I was always curious of two things about wineskin.
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.600
One, where the hell did the name actually come from?
00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:44.720
So we'll start there.
00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:45.279
Okay.
00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:46.800
Short, disappointing story.
00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:50.319
Simply a footnote in a book, and I said, Boy, that's a cool word.
00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.800
And then when you read what it is, it's not really that cool.
00:04:52.879 --> 00:05:00.800
It's like a lamb's intestines converted into a bag that carries wine, which, you know, you probably wouldn't do that now.
00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.920
And there's like some Old Testament reference to it.
00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.040
Yeah, it's biblical as well.
00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:05.279
Yeah.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:06.000
Gotcha.
00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:06.319
Okay.
00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.879
I didn't know if it was like totally made up word.
00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:11.040
I I was waiting for this opportunity to ask you kind of where it's a good thing.
00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.759
So we are a pen of biblical proportions, yes.
00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:23.600
So that yeah, it was just a f in college, it was a footnote in a book that I probably didn't read all the way, but I thought, uh, there's our name.
00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.480
There's and I didn't want a band name with the in front of it.
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:27.040
Gotcha.
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.279
The Beatles, the cars, the whatever.
00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:30.720
I wanted a single word.
00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:31.199
Right.
00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.959
So Well, you nailed it.
00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:33.360
I love it.
00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:33.759
That's great.
00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.439
I'm f I finally got the answer I was looking for.
00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:36.000
There it is.
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:43.920
Secondly, is how and why did Dustin come into your life and how did he end up sitting on the throne for the band?
00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:51.759
I think the uh the calamity of errors that that brought him to us was that we were running a jam at Bobby Simone's bar.
00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:52.959
Oh, yeah, sure.
00:05:53.120 --> 00:06:00.959
And then after Tim's passing, uh, we had a fellow named Jim Hines kind of jump in for a year or two, or maybe a little bit longer, something like that.
00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.879
And Jim had a great history.
00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:04.079
Yeah, we've heard that name a ton.
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.399
Like Pierre mentions him all the time.
00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:06.800
And yeah.
00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.680
So Jim was a drummer for Brian Wilson.
00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:10.560
Wow.
00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:12.959
So he had like yeah, he was like a he was like a real story.
00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.480
So he had relocated to the area.
00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:15.680
He's like he's like a real drummer.
00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.360
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:25.600
And uh he started jamming with us, and then he he just kind of stepped into the spot because uh he was around, he was nice enough to take the position.
00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:26.720
I think he enjoyed it.
00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:30.160
He certainly gave us some disciplines we hadn't had before.
00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:47.839
And then I think he just was starting to retire, and then uh Dustin, I I think through uh the bass player Mark Carson had introduced uh him to us at the jam, and then I think uh we didn't have a drummer for a gig, so I called him and he was you know Yeah, I was I was mowing the lawn.
00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:49.519
And it was like Is that a true story?
00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:50.959
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:51.279 --> 00:07:00.160
Sometime in the summer, and I took a break and I looked at my phone and Martin was like, We need a drummer who can do it 50 bucks in a cheeseburger, bring your own drums.
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:01.839
I'm like, not doing anything tonight.
00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:02.560
It's Tuesday.
00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:03.759
And that's a raise, really.
00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:04.560
Yeah.
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.839
Right as you were conceived out of the out of the kick drum.
00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.319
Right then.
00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:08.560
Yeah.
00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:10.399
And I'm like, all right, see ya.
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.279
So I think you end up doing the car show with us without rehearsal.
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:13.519
Yeah.
00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:14.240
Yeah, that's right.
00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:14.879
Yeah, that's right.
00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:15.759
Without rehearsal?
00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:16.480
No rehearsal.
00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.040
No rehearsal.
00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:18.480
I hate how good you are at music.
00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:19.120
I'm not.
00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:20.319
I just don't like rehearsal.
00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:21.360
It's how bad we are.
00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:22.959
Yeah, it's totally worth it.
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:24.480
It was really a good fit in that regard.
00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.720
But you came and did the gig, and then I said, Here, you know, if you want the job, it's yours.
00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.800
And then about 15 years into it, he was like, Would you like to become an official member?
00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:33.680
I'm like, Oh, sure.
00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.120
Yes, well, congratulations.
00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.120
Qualifies for pension for a 1K.
00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.160
Nice all that thing.
00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.519
Long-term DI.
00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.879
I cash out all my share.
00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:43.439
Yeah.
00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:44.480
His shares.
00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.279
Nice.
00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:50.480
So was it always uh because right now you guys have like this weird cult following.
00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.759
I mean, I I don't know if I told you this, Evan, but I think I told you this story.
00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:58.639
I was at I was taking my kids to the movie theater in Warrington maybe a year and a half ago.
00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:09.279
We were seeing something on an afternoon right around the holidays, and somehow the guys I was with, we were talking about music, and wineskin somehow had come out of someone's mouth.
00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:15.199
And literally the guy who was behind the bar, like serving drinks at the bar in the movie theater, was like, What?
00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.720
You guys know wineskin?
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:26.480
Like, I've been going to their shows for and I'm like, this is perfect because every time that your name comes up, someone in earshot like has that same reaction.
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.839
So, do you get that a lot?
00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.120
Do people come up to you and recognize you locally and sort of have that that same thing?
00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:32.720
Yeah, I think I've grown accustomed to it.
00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:34.799
Yeah, but it's interesting.
00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:43.759
I mean, I guess if you stay here long enough, but I you know, I think we're good at it and we're we've become part of the fabric of the community here.
00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.039
And I don't know.
00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.639
Always happy to do everybody's benefits.
00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:46.960
I don't know.
00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:48.480
It's been a part of everybody, you know.
00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:54.799
We have a lot of friends who come out who are have been saying the band for 30 years, or we play at their houses or set, etc.
00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.200
So it's like uh I it's not just a band.
00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:00.720
I think we've become it's a family, we've become a bit of a destination.
00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:02.000
You know, I see like guys get married.
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:02.720
That's really cool.
00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.120
I like that.
00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:03.360
Yeah.
00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.360
Ten years later, they're divorced, they come back.
00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.279
Oh, and I'm single, I can come out again.
00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.320
We'll do all the parties, we'll do the marriage and the divorce parties.
00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:10.960
Yeah.
00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:11.440
Yeah.
00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.600
So yeah, that's for whatever reason, I think I do it because I love it.
00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.919
I think Dustin does it for the same reason.
00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:18.639
I don't think he would.
00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:19.919
I actually hate it.
00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:20.320
Yeah.
00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:20.639
Yeah.
00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:21.919
Well, I was totally wrong, man.
00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:24.159
But you were conceived out of a kick drum, so what other choice do you have?
00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:25.279
Yeah, yeah, no choice.
00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:34.240
So when you guys are first starting out, was it I mean, you're the it's kind of an eclectic blend of a lot of different things that you guys play because I've seen you, you know, a number of different times.
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:37.600
It seems you guys have your thing so dialed in.
00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.120
Like the harmonies are great.
00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:44.799
You play off of each other, you can jam, you know, with the best of them, but it's it's cohesive and it's tailored.
00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:50.639
So like what would you call it's not jam band, it's not yacht rock, it's not rock and roll, it's kind of the intersection of all these things.
00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.440
Like, what is it?
00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.600
I mean, that sounds like a good summary.
00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.240
I mean, I the spirit of the band has remained the same the whole time.
00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:01.600
Like, we were a a trio when we started, then we added a keyboard player, we had a sax player over the years.
00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:09.200
I've had different rhythm guitar players, we've had probably three, four keyboard players at this point.
00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.240
Uh Joe Bonner.
00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.679
Joe's, yeah, Joe's fantastic.
00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:15.679
He's been with us at least fifty maybe twenty years, almost twenty years.
00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.879
He just doesn't leave.
00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:17.919
You know, he doesn't leave.
00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:18.480
Yep.
00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.200
Um so I I don't know why.
00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.240
It's just a spirit of feel free to explore.
00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.440
There's no uh instructions on how to play the song.
00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.799
Like, here's the song we're gonna play.
00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.320
Why don't you do what you think is right?
00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.600
Yeah, we'll see how that goes.
00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:35.440
And if it doesn't go well, we'll do it different.
00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:36.320
Right.
00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:41.919
I mean, it's a cool way to sort of approach it, but I mean, early in the days, you guys were doing more originals, right?
00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:50.720
Because there's still people that I come across that still have your old record, like the guy from John and Peters, you were just saying, like, has your physical record playing in his car, you know.
00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:55.279
So there's how did you guys kind of go from the original thing to covers, or did it just naturally sort of?
00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:56.960
I think it's just naturally evolved that way.
00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:03.360
We could we still play some originals, like not it used to be 90% of the set, now it's probably 10 or 15% of the set.
00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:08.639
And I guess I don't know, maybe you just start to adhere to the market.
00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:13.039
Like you know, people want to come out and and dance and have a good time.
00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:22.720
And and we play songs our way, but like you know, it's not that you don't recognize the song, but the you know, our energy is there, our signature is on it.
00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:34.240
So yeah, we've recorded uh three albums and an EP, like in the early 90s, that was like a cassette, and then we did three CDs.
00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:38.320
The last CD we did was probably almost a pretty long time ago, like 06 or 07.
00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.200
And oh wow.
00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:45.679
Uh that was recorded in Virginia with David Lowry from Cracker, produced our record, and you know, we spent time with him.
00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.360
That was a great experience as well.
00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.000
So I mean the whole thing, it's it's just an experience.
00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.480
Yeah.
00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.679
It's it's my life.
00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:00.240
It's you know, it's it's funny because like looking at our experience in music too, we he and I remember how we started the band or the project or whatever.
00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:07.919
We were literally sitting on my back porch and we're like, you know, COVID was starting to like open up a little bit, live music was happening again.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.120
I'm like, you want to just go wing it and just play a bunch of music?
00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:16.480
And I love country music, I love the songwriting, I love that style, and my wife and I met out you know, over it.
00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.240
And you know, so there was never like an ego, there was never really a plan.
00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.879
It was just like I we've been playing music together since we were in middle school.
00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.080
Do you want to go do it?
00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.120
And it seems like you guys were sort of birthed out of the same ethos.
00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.799
It's like we love music, we have the gift to play it, let's just go do it.
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.399
You know, was that kind of how it came together?
00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.200
Yeah, I agree.
00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:37.840
And I think something you said is very important is that there's no ego.
00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:38.639
Oh, yeah.
00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.360
Zero ego.
00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.279
Big time people come up to us and say that.
00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.399
They're like, I don't understand.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.120
There's no ego.
00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.480
Why what's that?
00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.279
Yeah, what is that?
00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:45.600
Yeah.
00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.000
Yeah.
00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.320
And if it's not fun, I certainly don't want to do it.
00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.840
Like we have fun, and the band, the guys are friends, and it's important.
00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.399
And our the people in our lives who are important are also friends with each other.
00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:56.879
Right.
00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:57.840
You know.
00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.519
So not that it has to be that way, but it's turned out that way, which is nice.
00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:15.440
It's yeah, I mean, you've curated that over whether you realize it or not, over 30 years, nothing, whether it's a band, a company, or relationship, lasts that long without, you know, kind of staying humble and staying, you know, true to like why you started it in the first place.
00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:15.919
You know?
00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:16.879
Yeah, that's true.
00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.600
I appreciate that.
00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.480
Yeah, man.
00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:26.320
No, it's it's cool because you know, we're just trying to curate this community through the show, through the music, through the band, and like playing festivals.
00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.200
You've always been sort of at uh at the cornerstone of that.
00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:35.840
You know, if people ask us like, hey, to play a show, and it's like, well, who else can do it that brings you know a good community feel?
00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:37.679
And it's always you guys, you know.
00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:43.759
We're just sort of you know, I'm following in your footsteps of what you've built over 30 years, you know.
00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.039
It's gonna be fun, those footsteps.
00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.080
Always fun.
00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.720
Yeah.
00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.080
We try to keep it light.
00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:53.039
You know, it's a different style of music, of course, but it's all the same stuff.
00:13:53.200 --> 00:14:01.279
And you know, uh talk to me a little bit about like what what you've seen over the years in Bucks County specifically around a music scene here.
00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.639
Like, has there been one?
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:07.759
Have it has it gone through like you know, pockets and and highs and lows, and like where do you think it is right now?
00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:15.279
Yeah, I think there's always been a level of music scene here, and it's definitely seen apexes and pinnacles, and it's it's declined.
00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:23.840
Um, there's been a tremendous amount of great players that I've had the opportunity to interact with here that are pros, that are full timers, that you know, also come out to jams.
00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:28.320
You know, New Hope has had a lot of that uh opportunity.
00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:34.559
Um and we've been a part of that, I mean, since the early 90s, I started playing at Johnna Peters in '93.
00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.679
You know, so like like physically a lot has changed.
00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.000
Like you used to start at 10 o'clock and get down to 2 a.m.
00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:49.759
and get home at 3 30 smelling like a pack of Marlboros and a case of Budweiser, but uh you know, which was great, but those days are over.
00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.320
I mean, I guess.
00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.519
It's six to nine, the dinner crowd.
00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.399
It's six to nine.
00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:57.759
I feel like the the the crowd that maybe comes to see live music wants to go home earlier too.
00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.240
Sure.
00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:58.639
Yeah.
00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.320
It's past my bedtime, so I feel that way often.
00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:06.000
Like it's you know, it's a little bit of a push to get out of the out of the house some nights.
00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.480
I'm like, I don't really feel like doing this tonight.
00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:10.639
Although once you arrive, it it's well worth it.
00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.600
It hasn't changed yet.
00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.879
The scene has definitely changed.
00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:35.519
Like players have come and gone, venues have come and gone, except John of Peters and maybe one or two others that are, you know, cornerstones or staples of the and so you know it's just opened the door to a lot of cool relationships and a window into people who play full-time and how they see the world and how the world has you know sometimes roughed them up, you know, it's a tough way to go.
00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:38.399
I would question whether or not I would want to do it full-time.
00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:38.879
Yeah.
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.200
Yeah.
00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:44.799
Did you ever did that ever come across your mind as something like we could make a really a full-time thrust at this?
00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.919
And or have you always had either real estate or some other kind of career?
00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:52.720
Yeah, I definitely made a big dummy decision when I was younger, like maybe in my late 20s.
00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:55.200
Like we had A, I had kids early, like so.
00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:00.240
By the time I was 24 or 23, 24, like we were parents.
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:02.159
But I had the had the band.
00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:18.000
And like I was I started selling uh insurance out of college because we were you know, we were pre my wife was pregnant and we were still in school, and I said, I I gotta get as soon as I get out of school, I gotta get a job that has health insurance.
00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.480
Yep.
00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:25.840
And so in the newspaper, which is where you would look for a job then, this is like 94 or 5.
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.840
I don't know, something like six, ninety-five.
00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.600
Julie's born in '96.
00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.559
So it's been in '95.
00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:35.519
So I found a job, it said health insurance the first day, was selling life insurance out of an office in Quakertown.
00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.519
I said, that is my job.
00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:43.039
So I called the dude, and they were like, you know, high turnover sales job, but it was prudential.
00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.000
They had health insurance.
00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.879
I got a license.
00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:51.679
I started, you know, they gave me some kind of minimal draw, but it was enough to have uh, you know, a baby.
00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.279
And then I stayed with it for a couple years.
00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:57.200
But after three or four years of that, like the band was doing well.
00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:01.200
We were playing four nights a week, like from Buffalo down to about Baltimore.
00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.240
Wow, really?
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.360
Yeah, like a lot.
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.000
And I went to work every almost every day.
00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.599
Like, not every time, but like if we played Harrisburg, I would drive home.
00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:14.079
If we played, like if it was under four hours, I would come home because I had to take my daughter to daycare.
00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:21.759
So I as long as I was home by sunup, I get Julia to daycare, and then I could go to work, and then you know, the next night would be Asbury or wherever.
00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:29.440
Uh, but so I quit my insurance job, which, you know, long term is a nice gig because it's like a residual income business.
00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:35.039
So I left that, and then I spent about maybe two years, a year and a half, just full time.
00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:37.599
So we had two vans, we had a garage full of equipment.
00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:51.200
I did all the booking, all the promotion, I arranged all the interviews, news, newspaper stuff, you know, you know, the lead stuff to get into an article in the paper, like before, you know, a week before you get to Williamsport, your article's in the paper, because you were dealing with periodicals a lot.
00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:58.640
And ultimately the yield was as much as I could put into it is about as much as I could get back out of it.
00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.359
Makes sense.
00:17:59.440 --> 00:17:59.599
Yep.
00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.000
So and we weren't a pop band.
00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:12.960
We were kind of floating and out of this the burgeoning like jam band scene, and and we get some radio play, we made records, but you know, as much as like you could make, you'd pour it right back in.
00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:16.720
And ultimately I said, This is like I'm just man, I'm burning rubber.
00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:23.359
Like, you know, luckily we bought a townhouse like when I was working, like and the mortgage was not through the roof.
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.240
Like it was okay.
00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:29.039
My wife had a job, but at some point you're like, I you know, I can't be up to 4 a.m.
00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.559
like four or five nights a week.
00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.839
Like, yeah, that's a lot.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:38.400
Yeah, it just got hard, and then you start to see like you know, people become casualties of that lifestyle, and I don't want that either.
00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:45.039
It's it it's a whole different perspective and a whole different slice of life that a lot of people don't realize.
00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:48.240
Like when we interact with people, they're seeing us on stage.
00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:54.799
We have these quick little you know flashes of a relationship with people, yeah, that's true, and then you don't see them again until the next show.
00:18:55.039 --> 00:19:05.680
So, I mean, for you being having do you think that having a young family and being that young saved you and kind of like kept you more on the straight and narrow versus like a lot of the other casualties?
00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:12.400
Or could you have seen yourself kind of going more five, six nights a week, like not having to be home the next morning to go to daycare?
00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:17.759
Yeah, I I think I probably would have damaged or hurt myself.
00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.240
Yeah.
00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:18.559
Yeah.
00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.599
No, I think having an anchor was it was critical.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.079
And and I had to learn how to balance.
00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.920
Like, do I want to play music for a long time?
00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:33.680
And I mean, I love this, I love doing it, I love all the things that come with it, but you know, whatever a rock star said, like you can't be at the party.
00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:36.240
I mean, it was Steve Ray Vaughan, you can't be at the party every night.
00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.759
Like it's a bad idea.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.160
Yeah.
00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.640
And other things are rewarding in life as well.
00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:45.599
Like work is rewarding, like it makes you feel it makes you a well-rounded day.
00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.400
Yeah, of course, right?
00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:50.319
You feel like you have value, like having children is very rewarding.
00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:58.640
Like, so like once you get, I guess you get past that like youthful lens on being in a rock band.
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:06.079
After two or three years of you know, walking into a club and carrying your shit, and like you realize nobody, most of these people don't give a fuck.
00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.599
I could bang pots and pants in my head.
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:12.079
Like, as long as they're bartenders and the managers getting paid, like they don't really give a shit.
00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:18.640
Unless you get to a point where you're really playing large venues, and everybody, you're the headliner.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:24.480
And even then, like if you're an employee in that act, you're not getting, I mean, you gotta own everything.
00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:33.039
Like, you know, I didn't have, I don't think I had the relationships or the mature enough mindset to understand how to build the brand out to make it a lifestyle and a living.
00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:35.759
And I'm not even quite sure I wanted that lifestyle and living.
00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:41.519
You know, there's other ways to live, and they they seem more comfortable, better.
00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.319
Yeah.
00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:52.160
Well, it's it's interesting because like a lot of people, you know, when we interact with other bands, other artists that are trying to do it, you know, they're like, Well, how are you doing so many different things?
00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:58.480
And you know, you we play a lot of shows, and I've had full-time jobs and a family, and you know, I relate a lot to you.
00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:02.079
Where I for me, at the end of the day, this is a hobby.
00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.440
Like, I love playing music.
00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:08.640
We were blessed enough to be able to do it and actually have people pay us to do it, which still doesn't make sense to me.
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.319
But it I'm a dad first.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.559
Like, that's my responsibility, that's my purpose.
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:20.559
So if we're gonna play a show, to your point, Buffalo, Virginia, whatever, I'm driving home that night because that's that's my responsibility.
00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.759
That's my that's what I need to do, you know.
00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:28.480
It is, and it it helps you leave, even though I like in my head it'd be like this sucks.
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:38.400
I gotta go home, like from York or wherever the hell you but what would I remember now about the night I stayed out till six instead of two?
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:42.160
Like, you know, in Asheville, Pennsylvania Club.
00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.359
Like nothing.
00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.400
Yeah, if you've been to Asheville, it's it's beautiful.
00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.759
It's not in Bucks County.
00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.319
Yeah.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.680
No, it's definitely not.
00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.279
Yeah, we don't work that that market.
00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.079
No, no.
00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:59.279
So the the yield in other spaces has proven to be a a much greater bounty than I I think than.
00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:05.839
You know, and you watch people who decided that that was more valuable use of their time.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:12.160
And whatever demons they had in them, there's a lot of things in inside of people that you can't you don't know.
00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:30.559
Like they are they do have strong addictive personalities or a real fear of missing out or like an insecurity that drives them to want to always constantly be around this uh adulation that you get from you know even a local band, like you get it, and it like gives you it's like some kind of false uh high about who you are.
00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:38.880
You're you know, if you can you can get intoxicated on that, it's not good for you, and it's not good for the real relationships in your life.
00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:52.400
I have found you know, so uh but I think coming to that realization has helped me or given me the I guess the the compass to make this thing run for so long in a healthy way.
00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.279
Yeah.
00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.400
No, it's cool.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:08.000
I you're you know, you're someone I look up to in that regard because you know, not that you have to be dad and you know have a nine to five and you know be band leader on the same day, but some days you kind of do, you know, and it's not like some days you do.
00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:16.559
I've always wrestled with uh feeling like I have to be three totally separate people in the same day just to achieve all those things, you know.
00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:27.039
And for a long time I had a you know, somewhat corporate software nine to five where at night, you know, I was like afraid almost to tell people at work like what I did as a musician.
00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:29.440
But once they found out, they were like, Oh, that's cool.
00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:32.319
I didn't realize that you had this outlet or whatever it was.
00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:42.400
So it took me a really long time to fully integrate all of those things into one where I felt authentically just me, like I just do these things in my day.
00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.160
Yeah, that's a really good assessment, right?
00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.000
Because you have like three three different things.
00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:49.200
How do I combine that all to and you want to be authentic to yourself?
00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:58.960
Right and yeah, everyone's just they're different, like you just don't run in every day to someone you know that has you know these different things going on.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:03.599
So, like when did that happen for you where you felt like it was fully integrated, where you could be all three?
00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:15.279
I think probably after I decided I didn't want to be uh uh looked at as a somehow like you feel like you can cross over some line, like you've become famous or cool or a rocker or something like that.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:17.920
You're like, oh wait, that's all a bunch of crap, actually.
00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.200
I'll just be me.
00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:23.680
Like, even though it is a much different I it's tough to call it a hobby.
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.279
Like it it it is a hobby, but it's a big it's a it's a business.
00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:27.839
It's a big hobby.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.839
So it's to me it's a business.
00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:37.759
It's like you know, yes, it's an outlet, yes, it's creative, yes, it's different, but we I try to run everything we do as if it's a startup.
00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:45.119
You know, like you want to take care of people and pay them well and what they deserve, and you want to your client is the venue and you want to make sure they're happy.
00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:51.039
So we're trying to shoot content and like over-deliver value back to them to get them to bring you back, you know.
00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:57.680
But it I guess it just at some point I realize like it isn't hunting or fishing or golfing, like that's different.
00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:04.319
Like even though like I probably burn up as much money as if I played golf all the time.
00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:09.839
I mean, like by the time you add up all I mean, uh if I did the books, I would be negative a bazillion.
00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:18.960
So like so luckily there's no accountant, and you know that's money I take you know when LC's in the house.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.240
But just see that.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.200
It's my own flush fund.
00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:27.440
So but you know what you realize it's because you love to do it, period.
00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:30.720
Like, you know, you'd get old or you'd become empty otherwise.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.960
I mean, like you have to hey, you're Dustin, you're right.
00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.680
It chooses you.
00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:38.000
Like, you know, you feel I feel natural playing guitar, it's good for me.
00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:46.160
But uh yeah, eventually, yeah, I just like because I'll be at my office and I'm like doing stuff for work, and I'm like, oh, I should probably promote my show.
00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:54.799
So then I switch, I'm like, ah, but you know, the the small advantage we have with the uh the internet now is that you can click for five minutes and cover a lot of ground.
00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.519
That's true.
00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:59.119
Yeah, you don't have to go to the newspapers and like tell William Sport you're coming in a month.
00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:10.319
No, I used to drive to the truck, like, because we'd be playing the truck on a Friday, so you'd like you'd have to look at city paper and figure out what bands in the next 30 or the previous 30 days are somewhat aligned with what you deliver.
00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:15.599
You're like, well, we have to go stand in front of the venue and hand out the paper flyers all night.
00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:18.960
Like, I mean that I think for the most part is gone.
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:23.440
You know, maybe it'd be in retro now, but that burned up a lot of the clock.
00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.559
You're like, this is a lot.
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:30.880
I gotta drive down to the city just to hand out flyers to come home to go back Friday and to play the gig for nothing.
00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.160
You know.
00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.920
So yeah, you can get a lot done.
00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:39.759
Like you can order t-shirts, stickers, and promote your band like in a lot of spaces in a half hour.
00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.079
Right.
00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.759
And then I can put my other cap back on.
00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.119
And it's nice, it's like a relief.
00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:46.319
I'm like, you know, maybe I'm ADD, or maybe you are, maybe we all are.
00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.599
Without question.
00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:50.079
Yeah, which I think it's an advantage.
00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.119
You know what?
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:58.480
It's funny you say that because not long ago, it was probably about six months ago, I was watching something, I forget who said it, but it was literally about that.
00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:06.079
They said, I have extreme ADD, and you know, guy was an entrepreneur, a million projects, but he's like, I use that as my competitive edge.
00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.440
Well, that makes total sense.
00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:14.079
Yeah, like if there's a script to get rid of it, I don't want it.
00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.480
Right.
00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.039
You know, right?
00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.680
I agree with you.
00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.359
Like, this is great.
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.799
I'm crazy.
00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:24.400
You know, if you're a musician, you're there's some partial imbalance in your head, but it's great.
00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:34.960
And then when you talk about it to people at work or my clients or your own clients, like now that you're comfortable in that space, like they appreciate it.
00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:38.079
And we like a lot of my real estate clients come to see the band.
00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.480
Right.
00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:54.720
And then they become friends, like you know, you know, relationship sales is important, but you just develop natural, it's a it's the space, and we're lucky to have this neat vehicle, Wineskin, which is so people come see, you're like, Oh, this is fun.
00:27:54.799 --> 00:28:05.359
Like, you have a big crowd here, everybody's having a good time, and so it's and then even clients that like Jeff, for example, like who runs uh you know, does a lot of charity work.
00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.880
He's car for cancer.
00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.079
Does car for cancer?
00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.279
So his name is Jeff Madison.
00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:13.039
He has a car for cancer and the live like Brent Foundation.
00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:15.519
So he was a client, that's how I met Jeff.
00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:18.559
And I thought, you know, I'm gonna invite this guy out.
00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:25.200
We had a couple beers, and I'm like, all right, you're gonna come see meet the band, and then you he you're like, oh, like it's not just a regular thing.
00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:27.440
We are a little bit of a cool niche here.
00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:33.839
So then we play all his events, we do the fundraising with them and the poconos and all the spots, and it's great.
00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.880
Like, what an opportunity.
00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.880
Like the so the music, yeah, right.
00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.640
The music's taking you to so many spaces.
00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.079
Like, that's awesome.
00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:45.839
That's the that's the perfect example of the full intersection and the integration of all of those things.
00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.880
Absolutely, yeah.
00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.920
You know, and it's cool.
00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:54.640
It took me, you know, like I said, I it took me personally a long time to even recently to get to that point.
00:28:54.720 --> 00:29:21.279
I left my corporate nine to five, you know, and now we're building stuff like this because I feel like A, there's a ton of people that are creative doing cool stuff in Bucks County that I I just feel like I live here, we have, like you, a unique opportunity to just build community just by the nature of like playing music, you know, because it's where people are have you know letting their hair down and doing their thing, and we're the people that are sort of the curators of that a lot of times.
00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:31.440
But you know, one thing I wanted to ask you a lot of people that are friends of ours, musicians, starting out as acoustic performers, they ask us a lot like, how do you build brand?
00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:36.880
How do you, you know, I want to break into Nashville or I want to do this or that, or I want to be the next this.
00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:44.720
And my advice to them is like, you have to set an expectation of what success looks like for you.
00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.720
Like, what is your version of success?
00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:50.640
Not fame, not stardom, not record sales.
00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:54.160
It's like, what do you what are you doing this for?
00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:58.079
How does it fit into your life and your journey and your story that you want to tell?
00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:04.960
You know, I'm curious for you, like, what advice would you have to someone that asks that kind of a question who's a musician coming up?
00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:07.119
You know, how would you frame that to them?
00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.680
Well, what you said, I think is right.
00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:11.279
So what are you doing this for?
00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:15.839
And like, so and after playing a long time, like people go, oh, someday you're gonna make it.
00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.960
I'm like, I have made it.
00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.079
Yeah.
00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:18.960
I have made it.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:21.359
This is this is where I wanted to be.
00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:26.480
Like, or maybe not when I was 20, but at this age, I definitely am have made it.
00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:30.000
Like so, why do you why do you want to do this?
00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:33.599
If it's for the glory, then you're you're not really a musician.
00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:35.359
You're someone who just wants to be looked at.
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:37.440
Yeah, it's just you just want fame and that's all.
00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:42.079
You want adulation, you want people to like you because you are under a spotlight.
00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:44.880
Like that's as useless.
00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:50.240
I'll skip to terrible analogies, but it's useless.
00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.799
I won't even say it.
00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.240
It's terrible.
00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.640
Um but it's useless.
00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.680
It's a useless space.
00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:00.400
If you just want adulation, I mean that's it's empty.
00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:08.480
So if you want to develop relationships and rapport and friends and uh, you know, all that stuff, then why are you doing this?
00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.519
Why do you want to play music?
00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:12.160
Is it just in you so much you have to get it out?
00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:18.000
But brand building in Nashville or that New York or anywhere else, I I wouldn't have the I don't know what to do.
00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:22.240
Yeah, it we're obviously uh, you know, more connected to that.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:35.759
And when we were first starting out, you know, I thought just playing country music and writing, I felt like there was a part of me that had to be there in Nashville and like shaking hands, kissing babies, doing the whole thing.
00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:43.519
And over time, you know, I I sort of had to even zoom out with our career and just realize kind of to your point, like, what are you doing this for?
00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:51.519
You know, the reason why I started again, I was playing in my early 20s and you know, kind of the Philly bar scene and playing covers and whatever.
00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:58.640
But during COVID, my wife came to me and was like, you need to find a way to work music back into your life because you're a better person when you do.
00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.680
That's a good wife.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:09.680
And for me, uh, you know, what I don't deserve a partner like that, you know, who recognized that and I was pissed off and you know, miserable and drinking sitting on the couch.
00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:14.400
And so it took that moment to drinking and sitting on the couch necessarily bad?
00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:17.519
Not necessarily, but probably more than I should have been.
00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:22.240
Well, yeah, I was gonna say, you know, there's a bottle of angels everywhere.
00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.960
If we get there, you know, when we hit the halfway mark.
00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.920
Yeah, there you go.
00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:33.359
But you know, so for me, it took, you know, that was sort of my compass to revisit this whole thing.
00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:38.240
And I knew there was something in me that I had to either say or just do with music.
00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:42.480
Did you have sort of were there times like you've been doing this 32 years?
00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:45.599
I'm sure there's times where you're sort of like, all right, this is it.
00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:48.000
You're 16, like, why am I doing this?
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:51.359
You know, do you have sort of those ebbs and flows with it to revisit?
00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:56.400
Yeah, and I mean I've definitely like found the answer, I because I I want to do it.
00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.079
That's pretty simple.
00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.039
I mean like that's it.
00:32:59.119 --> 00:33:02.079
And there was definitely although without it, yeah, I get irritated.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:17.359
Yeah, you know, like if we don't play, and there's definitely been points like when our first drummer died, like I mean, suddenly, like, you know, you're here, he played it with some guys at Jonathan Peters, came home, uh, you know, stayed up late, woke up dead.
00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:19.759
So, you know, that's a tough phone call to get.
00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:25.039
Like that's somebody who you're like, you're so woven in it's not you're not just friends.
00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:28.000
I mean, there's like a whole your musical journey together.
00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:29.599
Like, first of all, their story's over.
00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:38.000
They have two kids, like, know everybody, and so anyway, the whole thing is super sad, but uh I don't know, where were we going with that?
00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.400
I forget.
00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:42.799
But anyway, like just like revisiting why you do it, keeping it going, yeah, keeping it going.
00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:45.680
So it was hard to say, well, I guess I should go back to doing this.
00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.240
Sure.
00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:52.480
At that point, I'm sure you're like, well, like what is yeah, what is this is bad, like but it's not.
00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.559
But it's because you want to do it.
00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.519
I want to do it.
00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.240
No matter what.
00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.200
Yeah, no matter what.
00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:00.079
So like I didn't make that decision.
00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.880
Right.
00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.000
You know.
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:07.200
You have to live by your own decisions.
00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:07.519
Yeah.
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:15.840
So yeah, so there's been a few times where I did not play for elongated periods, which would be like six months or nine months without gigs.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:20.400
Yeah, I started, I was like, wow, I actually like truly miss it.
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.039
Yeah.
00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.360
Yeah.
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.159
I know the feeling.
00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:24.079
We go through feeling and it's therapy too, you know.
00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:24.800
Absolutely.
00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.519
It's great.
00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.599
Yeah, you're you make a great point, man.
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:32.320
Like there's times throughout the year we go through lulls like this almost every year.
00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:36.800
It's like we come off of the high of playing wedding season, festival season.
00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:40.000
It's October, you know, every October is like the pinnacle.
00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:44.480
And then November hits, we have like one or two theater shows, and then we are off.
00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:49.920
I do this purposely because I need the reset after, you know, usually a season.
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:54.639
And I try to take like a month or two off in January, February, there's nothing going on anyway.
00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.119
Sure.
00:34:55.519 --> 00:35:01.039
But, you know, he and I talk, and it's like a lot of times in March, we're like, what are we doing?
00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:03.920
What like is it is it gonna be this bad, you know?
00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:08.480
And then by the time June hits, we're like, Oh, oh my god, I need a break from this already.
00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:11.199
And it just comes in those cycles every year.
00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:20.960
But you know, I know for you, it's like music, this is what you do, and it's what you have to do because it's oxygen, it's your bloodline, it's it's everything, yeah, you know.
00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:26.559
But I mean, talk about that because I'm sure a lot of people feel that way in the in the wintertime when nothing's happening.
00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:28.000
You're like, God, is this ever gonna go?
00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.960
Don't do it.
00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.239
Not good.
00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.280
Don't do it.
00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:34.559
Um, yeah, people ask me, like, oh, you know, what kind of advice?
00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.119
My my six-year-old wants to be a musician.
00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:39.760
What and I'm like, don't do it.
00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:43.360
Um, and that's the best of advice I could ever give anyone.
00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:51.760
But no, um, you know, you think about like, oh, maybe I'll stop doing it or try to stop doing it or anything like that.
00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.360
And no, it keeps you up at night.
00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:54.559
You're like, I can't do that.
00:35:54.639 --> 00:36:05.039
There's it, it just I think it was you're born with it, you know, and it it never leaves, no matter how hard you try to, but you just have to embrace it and you just keep going.
00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:10.639
And sometimes you don't know what the hell you're doing, but you just you just keep going and going and going and going and going.
00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.840
Yeah, we don't know where it's going.
00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.119
No, you don't know where it's going.
00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:14.000
But if you keep it.
00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:15.599
That's sometimes the hardest part, you know?
00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:17.039
It's the unknown.
00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:17.599
Yeah.
00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.559
It's unknown.
00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:26.880
It's funny, like, if you keep making noise, like other people notice, and it's like you connect, like some other person wants to have an event, they're like, I'm gonna call those guys.
00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:33.039
And then you get this call from some person, you're like, okay, then you meet this new person and you go see some new venue or facility or event.
00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:35.280
And sometimes you think, like, oh, I really deserve this.
00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.800
Other times, like, I don't deserve this.
00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:39.119
What's you know, and it's that's it's a weird that's the hardest part.
00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:48.239
It's so weird because you know, to your like it's not a normal thing, it's not a nine to five, it's not a you know, there's nothing's promised.
00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.400
There's it's it could all go away.
00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:53.440
You can look at like, oh, that's the goal.
00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:56.559
Yeah, yeah, you know, it could all go away tomorrow.
00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:56.960
Yep.
00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.519
Or today.
00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:05.760
We were just sitting on the couch right before this, you know, shooting another episode with uh Ben Luber, who's one of the uh basketball coaches at University of Penn.
00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.079
Cool.
00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:12.639
He spent his entire life, and I've known him for most of it, playing basketball, like around one thing.
00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:16.239
And even he acknowledged, he's like, all of this could go away for me tomorrow.
00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:19.760
Yeah, even with a 40-year life dedicated to one thing.
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:22.559
For whatever reason, however it would happen, it could go away.
00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:27.920
Yeah, you know, like I think about if music left us, you know.
00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:32.719
I I I don't know what else I would fill that void or how I could fill that void.
00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.159
It's unlike anything else.
00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:35.440
It's I don't know.
00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.239
Yeah.
00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:38.480
It's fun like robbing a bank.
00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:39.840
Yeah, you know what I mean?
00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:43.039
You're like, wow, I got away with it again.
00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:45.280
Like every gig, I'm like, this is great.
00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.480
I can't believe we did this again.
00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:48.079
And it's weird because it's out of your control.
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:51.760
You can only control so much of it, and the others are you just gotta just let it go.
00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:53.039
Like, I don't, you know.
00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:55.199
It's the weirdest, it's the weirdest thing.
00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.960
It's it's unlike anything.
00:37:57.599 --> 00:38:02.400
Once we start playing every night, I feel like you know, when the thing goes down on the roller coaster and you're like, here we go.
00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.440
Here we go, I'm in.
00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:04.639
Yep, and here we go.
00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:07.119
Three hours of rolling out.
00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:08.159
Yeah, that's it.
00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:13.599
No matter whether you're playing for one person or 20,000 people, I look at the same, you know.
00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:21.440
Uh what are some of the most memorable, or maybe the most memorable show that you guys have played together?
00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.800
What comes to mind for you?
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.480
For Dustin and I?
00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:27.679
Yeah, like with as with Dustin as a member of Wineskin.
00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:28.880
I don't know.
00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:29.679
What was a good one?
00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.159
I don't know.
00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:31.920
Probably none of them.
00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:38.320
Um actually I I joined and it went downhill.
00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:42.719
I I honestly think everyone.
00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:47.679
I know, I feel like every show is like just because we go because we go in with with the right mindset, yeah.
00:38:47.840 --> 00:38:50.400
You know, or below zero expectations.
00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.559
And because of that, you're like, wow, you know.
00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.199
Yeah, yeah.
00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:55.679
I mean, like the outdoor stuff, like it's bigger than us, too.
00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:57.039
It is it is bigger than us.
00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:58.239
Like so it's like it's great.
00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:59.360
Outdoor stuff is great.
00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:00.320
I I love it.
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:06.400
But I don't know, I can't think of any particular night that gives me a rise more than you know.
00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.000
Sometimes it's just playing real good.
00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:09.599
And I I yeah, yeah.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.119
So it's more the play rather than like the venue or the setup or you know.
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.880
Yeah, I certainly appreciate a good venue.
00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.840
I mean, it's nice to play.
00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:16.960
It's like the energy.
00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:19.199
Well, yeah, the energy and the connection that we have.
00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:25.519
But you try to make the best of it, and you can't again, you can't force it.
00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:27.199
Sometimes just it just happens.
00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:29.679
You're and that's the cool thing about music.
00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:32.159
Uh it's like a spiritual thing or something.
00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:32.639
Uh-uh.
00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:33.119
You know?
00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:36.079
Yeah, and that's where it it it exceeds hobby.
00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:42.559
Yeah, like there is something like your spirit animals like right awakened, you know, when you're when you're playing.
00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:45.280
You know, what would you know what else drives you?
00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:45.840
Uh-huh.
00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:48.159
Yeah, I nothing to that degree.
00:39:48.320 --> 00:40:00.960
I mean, to your point about it being like a spiritual thing, at least for me, that's when when we're playing, it doesn't matter if it's in a bar, acoustic, whatever, or like a festival, big crowd.
00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:04.719
For me, I just feel like I'm most myself in that moment.
00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:08.159
Like, I don't there's no noise, there's no clutter, there's no chaos.
00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:13.280
It is just pure, honest, like that's what I feel like I'm here to do.
00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:15.840
Yeah, whether I'm any good at it or not is all subjective.
00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:17.440
You can't put a price on that, you know.
00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:18.880
But it doesn't even matter at that point.
00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:20.639
It's just like this is what I'm people think.
00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.480
I won't, I I I truly don't.
00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:24.719
If I did, then I wouldn't be in this business, you know.
00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:25.280
Right.
00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.800
Yeah, you can't think about that.
00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:28.159
You can't, you know.
00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.159
Yeah, exactly.
00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:33.840
Um yeah, so I mean, kind of a segue from that.
00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:36.880
So the car for cancer thing, you guys have done for a lot of years, right?
00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:38.800
Yeah, three or four or five years, something like that.
00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:53.920
Yeah, yeah, because we've been chatting with trying to get him on the show, and just like, you know, but you guys part of what you do is like you're big on community relationships, trying to get those moments together where wineskin is like the the energy thrust for those moments to even happen, right?
00:40:54.159 --> 00:41:01.280
So, how much of that, how much of that do you guys do like in a given year, you know, just giving back or doing charitable stuff or shows for people that care about?
00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:12.159
You know, a couple or four, five a year, which is we would do more if there were like events that really it seemed like it was useful.
00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:17.920
Like the feel like the events were really adds value, like you know, a lot of people say, Can you do this?
00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:20.639
And you go, well, I don't that actually we're probably not the right fit for your event.
00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:32.159
You're better off with a DJ, or like I understand your enthusiasm, but there are events that there's a different uh source of entertainment that's a better fit for your event.
00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:34.559
So when it seems right, then absolutely.
00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:44.239
And uh yeah, like we do bring an energy, and we're lucky enough to have that intangible whatever that so yeah, I I love to do it.
00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:48.400
I mean, for the you know, making the same amount of money, it's okay.
00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.280
Right.
00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:58.320
Well, I mean, uh, let's talk about that for one second because it's a core thing to go from hobby to you know, being a pro.
00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:04.639
You've been at this 32 years, so you can confidently say like you're a to a degree a pro musician.
00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:07.440
Like you've had a band, whether you want to call yourself that or not.
00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:08.559
Yeah, no, I get it.
00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:18.239
You know, from an outsider's perspective, you've hit a level or a uh, you know, a kept it going for 32 years in anything, a a relationship, a business, a a band, you know.
00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:25.039
So what's I guess the what's been the key to like the longevity and the success that you guys have had as a as a band?
00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:29.920
Well, for me, like it's just been you know, uh treat everybody very well.
00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:34.800
I I'm not worried about if uh the monetary result is what I needed it to be that night.
00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:37.599
Like, you know, club owners are happy to rip you off.
00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:39.840
Like, I just don't sweat the small stuff anymore.
00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.719
Like I don't care.
00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:56.480
Like the music, the relationships with the guys who are in the band and everything else that is around it is so much more valuable to me than I'd have to be making actually I don't know if there's amount amount an amount of money that would be more valuable than that.
00:42:56.639 --> 00:43:10.000
So like like it's such a nucleus of my life that all of our all of my friendships are built around it or have been delivered from it or to it.
00:43:10.239 --> 00:43:22.079
And like my kids babysit the kids of our Dave, our bass player's kids, like all the wives know each other, like we have dinner together, we have a shared experience.
00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:24.320
Like, I you know, what else do you want in life?
00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:27.119
I mean, I don't I'm not sure how much more money would change that.
00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:42.079
Like, I I'm I'm comfortable, like my career delivers a good lifestyle, I can pay for all the things I need, like, but to have this added world, like, sure, I I treat it, you know, I treat it with great value.
00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:46.719
It's fragile, like you said, it can change in a minute, and it's and that's happened to me.
00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:53.039
I realize how hard it is to put those pieces back together and like and accept that.
00:43:53.760 --> 00:44:03.280
But I I wouldn't there's you know, I don't think there's anything more the money thing, uh, you know, I guess if you could Find a way to make money at this and do that as well, well, that would be great.
00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:05.440
And I'm sure there's people that have found that path.
00:44:05.599 --> 00:44:23.840
Uh I have found a path to make money, and I have found a path that you know has delivered a nice the kind of life that I like, you know, and and introduces me to what I think are interesting people and people with similar interests and who are kooky and eclectic and arty.
00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:27.679
And yeah, like I mean, like it's like it's not boring, you know.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:30.320
Like people who start a podcast in a in a strip mall.
00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:30.639
Yeah.
00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:31.280
Yeah, right.
00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:34.320
Um no man, it's look, it's inspiring.
00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:40.960
Like every time in the the the quick, you know, um opportunities that we get to really sit down and talk.
00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:44.480
Like we really haven't in this forum, you know, really gotten to know each other, and it's cool.
00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:47.599
And I look at you, like I said, as someone who's done it.
00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:58.320
If I can have a you know, a 10, 15, 20, 30 year career playing music to any degree, it fulfills me in a way that is way more important than any money ever could.
00:44:58.639 --> 00:44:59.760
You know, that'd be cool.
00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:02.719
And I feel because of that, then that's when the money comes.
00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:05.599
You know, it's yeah, it's it's gonna be a byproduct of it.
00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.559
I I agree.
00:45:06.719 --> 00:45:10.079
Uh, but if it's not, I like it's okay.
00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:12.559
But all you know, I must have some muscle memory in my head.
00:45:12.719 --> 00:45:19.599
Like, I literally like if we're playing Friday by like Tuesday, I'm like thinking about like I should play that song a little different.
00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:24.639
Like when I'm driving, I'm like, oh what time will I load in on Friday?
00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:27.119
Like you know, do I need strings?
00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:30.960
Like, I mean, like it it and then I it come Friday, I'm excited.
00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:31.920
Like tomorrow I'll be excited.
00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:33.280
I'm like, I can't wait to get over there.
00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:34.960
Like and make racket.
00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:35.920
It's a pizza place.
00:45:36.159 --> 00:45:36.320
Right.
00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:37.119
That's awesome.
00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:39.840
Now another thing is tell us about the moose.
00:45:40.159 --> 00:45:42.880
Because that's that's urban legend.
00:45:43.199 --> 00:45:46.639
Yeah, you know, that's a that's a happy sad story, you know.
00:45:46.719 --> 00:45:53.119
It's it's so it was a I don't know if any building with a private club in it that we had the opportunity to own and run for a while.
00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:56.400
But so there was a great old banquet hall upstairs.
00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:58.480
And I said, well, this is neat.
00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:59.679
Let's try booking bands up here.
00:45:59.840 --> 00:46:10.159
So we brought in a lot of great, you know, like touring acts kind of on the I don't know to say tertiary secondary circuit, like between like New York and Philadelphia.
00:46:10.239 --> 00:46:12.400
You could squeeze them on a weeknight for a good value.
00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:20.480
So we would get like we had cracker, we had a lot of the Wien guys come over and all versions of Wien and Pink would show up, right?
00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:22.559
Yeah, we had Pink there, like Oh wow.
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:37.679
I mean, luckily she's a local character, and you know, and and again, through making music, like someone knew that person, connected to that person, and uh, you know, it's funny enough, like she wanted to do something there, so she got my cell number and us, you know, at home, and she called and she said, Yeah, this is uh Alicia.
00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:39.760
I said, uh neat okay.
00:46:39.840 --> 00:46:40.880
But my daughter was doing homework.
00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:42.719
I'm like, hey, want to say hi to my daughter real quick?
00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:43.440
That was real neat.
00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:44.480
Oh wow, that's really cool.
00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:45.760
But we had a lot of different accents.
00:46:45.840 --> 00:47:03.920
We had Vince Wellnick from The Grateful Dead, we had a lot of guys come through that at Bernie Warell was there a couple times, like uh Mike Hampton, like so like these guys from Parliament Funkadelic, and like regional players who live here or national players who were who live regionally, you could get them in on off nights, or if they weren't touring, like you know, they could keep their guys working.
00:47:04.079 --> 00:47:04.239
Yeah.
00:47:04.400 --> 00:47:08.400
So it was a and with cracker, like it was a great, and that's how we developed a relationship with cracker.
00:47:08.559 --> 00:47:10.159
Like uh, you know, I didn't know David Lowry.
00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:12.480
He reached out to me before going down to record the album down there.
00:47:12.719 --> 00:47:14.320
Yeah, before yeah, he reached out to me.
00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:16.159
I he sent me an email and I read it.
00:47:16.320 --> 00:47:17.599
I was like, Who's David Lowry?
00:47:17.840 --> 00:47:22.079
Like I didn't I didn't necessarily recognize his name, but I looked him up, like, oh, it's a guy from Cracker.
00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:29.039
So I called him and he's like, We're coming, you know, somebody gave me your number, and we're going from Philadelphia to Albany, wherever the hell they were going.
00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:30.079
He's can you squeeze us in?
00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.880
I was like, Yeah, of course.
00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:31.599
Of course, yeah.
00:47:31.760 --> 00:47:32.239
Oh my gosh.
00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:34.400
And so that opened that relationship.
00:47:34.719 --> 00:47:39.760
That's pretty cool because you there's a uh a moment there where you mix the music with the business.
00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:40.960
Yeah, right?
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:46.320
Yeah, well, we had a bar downstairs, and that whole thing, like the bar business is just a black hole.
00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:47.199
So that was a mistake.
00:47:47.360 --> 00:47:47.679
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:48.400
Oh boy.
00:47:48.480 --> 00:47:51.440
Yeah, I would I would never in my life do that again.
00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:54.159
Like, you know, when people say, Oh, you should run a venue.
00:47:54.239 --> 00:47:55.760
I'm like, never.
00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:57.039
Like, it's hard.
00:47:57.199 --> 00:48:02.079
If you like losing money, cash is like water, like yeah, it just Well, you've done it all.
00:48:02.719 --> 00:48:04.079
Yeah, well, you learn everything.
00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:04.719
I have to learn everything.
00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:06.639
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:13.599
It's it's such a natural progression though, because I mean we've even entertained conversations like that, like when Puck was for sale.
00:48:13.679 --> 00:48:21.679
Oh, and you know, we have a couple buddies who own uh, you know, my buddy Tubby owns like Steampub and had the salt uh the salt house, and now he owns Candlewick.
00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:39.679
And so I've always it's always been like present because when you talk to guys like John that owns chambers, and it's like, man, how do we could I do how do you yeah, like you know, could we just be the music component and like we can bring in all our friends and and then you step back and you're like, why in God's name would I ever want to be in that business if it's not my thing?
00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:42.960
One thing could go wrong, there's nine things that you didn't see go wrong.
00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:43.440
Yeah.
00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:53.519
And that your phone will ring every hour of the day when the ice maker breaks, the bread guy didn't show up, the waitress didn't come in, the bartender's fucking the manager, and then that's a big problem.
00:48:53.679 --> 00:48:56.239
Like show up and play music, right?
00:48:56.400 --> 00:48:59.440
Yeah, I'm just yeah, it's not that we play there when we four.
00:48:59.840 --> 00:49:11.039
You you're the asset holder, and really the your team on the field are you know, everybody's like a drunk or like you know, parties too much.
00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:14.079
Like the whole restaurant business is upside down, unless you're good at it.
00:49:14.159 --> 00:49:15.519
The guys who are good at it are great at it.
00:49:16.079 --> 00:49:22.559
Yeah, like and I know a couple guys who become they've made money, like they've learned, they know how to do it, they know how to control it.
00:49:23.440 --> 00:49:24.719
Takes a special personality.
00:49:24.880 --> 00:49:26.079
It's not my personality, right?
00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:27.280
Yeah, oh me neither.
00:49:27.360 --> 00:49:33.519
I would get way too caught up in all the yeah, like just wanting to overpay people and just have the best band there.
00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:36.480
I would be a sucker and lose my shirt instantly.
00:49:36.880 --> 00:49:39.599
Yeah, it won't happen overnight, but you'll wake up naked.
00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:41.039
I'm just gonna tell you.
00:49:41.199 --> 00:49:41.920
It's every night.
00:49:42.239 --> 00:49:44.719
I was gonna say it wouldn't be the first time, hopefully not the last.
00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:47.039
That's also good advice.
00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:52.239
So shifting gears a little bit, so you've been a real estate agent, you've been a realtor in the region for a long time.
00:49:52.400 --> 00:49:55.039
Addison Wolf is right downstairs here in New Hope.
00:49:55.280 --> 00:50:01.360
You know, sort of the the intersection or integration for you, music, real estate, business life, family.
00:50:01.599 --> 00:50:05.440
Talk a little bit about real estate, kind of why you chose that coming out of insurance.
00:50:05.519 --> 00:50:08.960
And I mean, you've built a really long real estate career, you know, as well, right?
00:50:09.440 --> 00:50:10.639
Real estate 25 years now.
00:50:10.800 --> 00:50:14.639
Uh insurance, I was gonna go back to it when I decided to go back to work.
00:50:14.719 --> 00:50:15.920
Uh it's boring.
00:50:16.159 --> 00:50:17.039
At least I found it boring.
00:50:17.119 --> 00:50:17.519
I've got it.
00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:18.960
Were you doing both for a while too?
00:50:19.039 --> 00:50:19.119
Yeah.
00:50:19.599 --> 00:50:22.480
Yeah, I've had insurance licenses and real estate licenses at the same time.
00:50:22.639 --> 00:50:27.199
I just ultimately decided to wear a hat and be come good at it.
00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:28.559
I like real estate a lot.
00:50:28.719 --> 00:50:31.199
My mom was a realtor for 50 years, my sister is an agent.
00:50:31.360 --> 00:50:31.679
Oh, wow.
00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:35.760
Two of my kids are licensed, my cousin works with me, she's licensed.
00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:51.679
Um I I like the business and it lends itself, it it is a very much there's something about being in a band for a long time, like learning, like you had mentioned, like you have a lot of these quick dialogues with people that like you have a short window to make a connection with somebody when you're out.
00:50:52.159 --> 00:50:56.800
You know, and same thing in I find, and at least call it lead generation.
00:50:56.880 --> 00:51:15.360
Like if somebody calls you about something, like I have maybe 15 or 30 seconds from answering the phone and to listening to their tone, and then uh having my inflection be welcoming to them, to get you wanna you want to get to where it goes from 15 seconds now to a minute.
00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:31.599
And the longer you're talking, and I can get them to laugh, or you can make that that short connection that I definitely learned from being in a bar band, but that you can convert that skill set, like talking to somebody, like listening to them, and then trying to get them smile once, even over the phone.
00:51:31.679 --> 00:51:39.840
It's like, but if you can make a little bit of you deliver a little levity, but you learn to listen to people's tone and how they're talking to you, it's so critical.
00:51:40.079 --> 00:51:45.119
It's just a skill I've developed, I I think, you know, from just being out night after night.
00:51:45.199 --> 00:51:49.920
I hosted open mic nights for years, like you know, I bartended, but I've been in a band.
00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:51.760
That's been the one thing, it's been a theme the whole time.
00:51:51.840 --> 00:51:56.880
And like, so booking a band, it means talking to venue owners or trying to get to them.
00:51:56.960 --> 00:52:04.960
So, like learning that how to navigate or the architecture of a conversation is critical.
00:52:05.039 --> 00:52:07.280
And it's been really important to me and my business.
00:52:07.360 --> 00:52:27.039
Now, lead generation in itself is a whole different uh subject, but when the lead gets to you, converting that 10 seconds on the phone into one minute on the phone into a few more minutes where you can learn about them or vet them, and then change convert that into an appointment, you know, that's great.
00:52:27.119 --> 00:52:31.360
And like so, my turnover rate, if you think of it that way, is is very high.
00:52:31.920 --> 00:52:35.519
You know, so when we can capture a lead, our conversion rate is great.
00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:59.840
Like if I can get in front of somebody or talk to them that uh I it's just you know, like the theory of 10,000 hours, like you become so good or versed at like absorbing how someone is absorbing you and responding to them, and so and letting them know that you have a you sincerely want to be their agent and for all the right reasons.
00:53:00.079 --> 00:53:01.920
You know, you want to get them to the finish line.
00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:04.320
I want to learn your goals, and then I want to get you there.
00:53:05.360 --> 00:53:24.400
So somehow like there is a synergy between I guess playing music and caring about that whole process and uh without going to whatever like sales training or whatever, then same thing is uh that same exact skill set is uh a hundred percent applicable.
00:53:24.639 --> 00:53:26.719
Like if I do an open house, it's the same thing.
00:53:26.880 --> 00:53:34.559
Like I have three seconds to connect with somebody coming through the door that to get them to like me to want to talk to me longer.
00:53:34.960 --> 00:53:39.440
And just like when people come up to you and say, That was great, I loved what you did tonight, you know.
00:53:39.679 --> 00:53:41.599
It's important to ask them their name.
00:53:41.679 --> 00:53:42.719
Like, I want to know who you are.
00:53:42.960 --> 00:53:45.360
I think you like wholeheartedly subscribe to that.
00:53:45.519 --> 00:53:46.639
We do the same exact thing.
00:53:46.880 --> 00:53:47.039
Yep.
00:53:47.440 --> 00:53:48.480
And and mean it.
00:53:48.559 --> 00:53:50.400
Like, love your audience more than they love you.
00:53:50.480 --> 00:53:53.840
Like it is so important, and let them, you know, convey that message.
00:53:53.920 --> 00:53:57.760
Like when you play in front of people, smile, deliver entertainment, be it.
00:53:57.920 --> 00:54:00.960
Like, don't be a crybaby on stage because your amp doesn't work.
00:54:01.119 --> 00:54:04.639
Like, like give your all the whole time, people will feel that.
00:54:04.719 --> 00:54:13.840
And then when you have the chance to talk to them, you know, make it a sincere dialogue, whether it's 10 seconds or it may be longer, you know, five minutes, whatever, make it real.
00:54:14.159 --> 00:54:19.760
And so that same uh process is a hundred percent applicable to real estate.
00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:22.960
So now at the same time become good at all the rest of it.
00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:32.559
But if you can't get over that first minute of dialogue with somebody, you don't have the chance to develop the balance of your life over a relationship with them, right?
00:54:32.800 --> 00:54:35.440
Or a even a single transaction relationship with them.
00:54:35.599 --> 00:54:55.679
So um you know that's just one thing I just though that's probably the the one thing I could say that is a total symphony that is between all of the spaces in my life that is learning how to talk to people quickly and then assessing what's gonna happen with them and then try to develop a relationship.
00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:57.599
That's it's beautifully said, man.
00:54:57.679 --> 00:55:02.800
It really is, and it's so much wisdom that you can take that and apply it in so many different ways.
00:55:03.039 --> 00:55:10.000
You know, I look at I'm big on um kind of what you said that connection is currency to me.
00:55:10.159 --> 00:55:14.960
And yeah, I was just doing a pod, uh, what was the place right before Music Fest that I went?
00:55:15.039 --> 00:55:15.920
I forget the name all the time.
00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:16.960
Oh, Godfrey Daniels.
00:55:17.119 --> 00:55:21.280
Godfrey Daniels, really cool little spot in Bethlehem, legendary spot.
00:55:21.519 --> 00:55:29.920
And um the guy Philip, you know, we were kind of having this similar conversation, and you know, he's asking kind of like where's that come from for you?
00:55:30.159 --> 00:55:34.480
And you know, I went probably way, you know, but 10 layers too deep.
00:55:34.559 --> 00:55:47.760
But for me, I was adopted when I was a kid, so you know, I maybe there's some subconscious, like underlying theme for me that I'm just constantly seeking connection to fill a void or you know, fear of abandonment.
00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:48.800
There's a lot of stuff.
00:55:48.880 --> 00:55:50.960
We're on the therapy couch, so we can talk about this.
00:55:51.119 --> 00:55:59.360
But you know, so for whatever reason, it's in me to sort of over over-deliver what you just talked about.
00:55:59.519 --> 00:56:18.000
Yeah, I'm like a psychopath obsessed with as soon as we come off stage, it could be at a bar, it could be wherever, I need to finish what they started, like that energy exchange, they were able to give to me a lot more than I felt I was able to give to them because of the barrier of space.
00:56:18.239 --> 00:56:26.159
We're on stage, they're out there, I can't find out about their story and make that equal to feel like we are equals at the end of that.
00:56:26.480 --> 00:56:30.719
So I'm like, I'm obsessed with kind of what you just described.
00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:38.000
And maybe, you know, I'm hoping that that's what gives us longevity because I truly believe in that relationship exchange.
00:56:38.159 --> 00:56:43.840
Like, just because you're a fan consuming our music doesn't make me better, different, whatever than you.
00:56:44.159 --> 00:56:55.280
I'm equally as interested in hearing your story so that you can, you know, tell me something that happened in your life, and now we're friends and peers rather than just you coming and consuming our art, you know.
00:56:55.519 --> 00:56:58.159
Yeah, it's definitely it's relationship we're humans, you know.
00:56:58.320 --> 00:57:01.039
Yeah, it is, it makes it human, and it's important.
00:57:01.199 --> 00:57:03.840
Yeah, for whatever reason, it's important.
00:57:04.320 --> 00:57:15.679
But in my business, I have found like it it can convert into like if that relationship converts into them asking me about real estate, whether it's right or two years later.
00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:18.639
How many gigs have we had where you're like, we're gonna take a break?
00:57:18.800 --> 00:57:20.880
You're on the you're on the horn, you're like, close that deal.
00:57:21.119 --> 00:57:21.920
Like, that's awesome.
00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:23.679
Yeah, yeah, I do jump on the phone.
00:57:23.920 --> 00:57:25.599
I mean, not really like you don't have a choice.
00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:32.880
You set up a meeting, like you meet someone, a a stranger that was at the bar or wherever venue, and I'd like it.
00:57:33.039 --> 00:57:39.440
My my career field you know, lends itself to like, yeah, the more people I know is actually good.
00:57:39.679 --> 00:57:40.639
Right, right, right.
00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:43.760
If they choose to call you, they say, Yeah, you know, actually we like that guy.
00:57:43.920 --> 00:57:55.920
You know, do you feel like you chose like not that real estate kind of chose you, but do you feel like it was the only thing or one of the only things you could do to sort of like perfectly intersect that mindset from music?
00:57:56.559 --> 00:57:59.119
I'm definitely not smart enough to have figured that out at the time.
00:57:59.519 --> 00:58:08.239
Like, yeah, this is all you know accidental or whatever the just I I started, I mean, I knew I wanted to remain in sales.
00:58:08.719 --> 00:58:16.480
Uh real estate was a pretty low threshold for entry, like you know, a thousand bucks and you know two tests, and you know, and you have a career.
00:58:16.639 --> 00:58:16.800
Right.
00:58:16.960 --> 00:58:23.039
You know, the ROI on that is great, you know, as compared to you know what I've paid for colleges.
00:58:23.360 --> 00:58:27.280
But um so I thought, well, I'll just get the license and go do it.
00:58:27.440 --> 00:58:31.280
Like my mom does it, I'll just I'll get a license and go start working somewhere.
00:58:31.360 --> 00:58:36.480
I know a bunch of people who were like and I was like, so that's 25 years ago.
00:58:36.559 --> 00:58:44.880
You figure a lot of your peers are getting married, having kids, you know, so they're upsizing, downsizing, you know, it just seemed like a logical thing.
00:58:45.599 --> 00:58:51.760
I I didn't think I definitely didn't have the intention of figuring out that these two things could wire together.
00:58:51.840 --> 00:58:55.039
I think ultimately I figured out how can I wire them together?
00:58:55.440 --> 00:59:01.440
Like, you know, if I sold I don't know, whatever, train parts, it wouldn't make any sense.
00:59:01.599 --> 00:59:05.360
But like, you know, real estate is everybody lives somewhere.
00:59:05.440 --> 00:59:11.440
So yeah, it's a natural extension of like your relationship building skills and the connections and and all that kind of stuff too.
00:59:11.519 --> 00:59:15.280
But you know and being in Bucks County from Bucks County and you sell in Bucks County.
00:59:15.440 --> 00:59:17.119
Yeah, so it's not it's not unnatural, yeah.
00:59:17.199 --> 00:59:20.400
Like if if I could talk about if I'm if I know anything, it's here.
00:59:20.719 --> 00:59:22.639
Yeah, I've lived here the whole time.
00:59:22.880 --> 00:59:26.239
You know, my kids have gone, I have four daughters, they've all gone to school here.
00:59:26.480 --> 00:59:30.719
Like my most of my relatives are here, like you know, we've been here a long time.
00:59:31.039 --> 00:59:43.599
So yeah, it can offer a lot of insight on not just like, hey, the house is great, but you know, down the street is a nice town, and this is why you should like living here, and let me tell you about the school district, and you know, here's the good mechanic.
00:59:43.920 --> 00:59:46.000
Yeah, you know, so you found a way to get a drink.
00:59:47.519 --> 00:59:53.679
The everything, fatherhood from just you know, it's just real estate to everything in Bucks County.
00:59:53.840 --> 00:59:56.880
You know, it's just when I'm awake, I'm doing it all.
00:59:57.039 --> 00:59:57.519
Yeah.
00:59:57.840 --> 00:59:58.159
Yeah.
00:59:58.239 --> 00:59:58.480
Yeah.
00:59:58.639 --> 01:00:05.519
Like you're just being you, like you said earlier, like you've kind of figured out these things all you become like yourself.
01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:07.199
Yourself is all the time.
01:00:07.280 --> 01:00:08.239
It's not work.
01:00:08.480 --> 01:00:27.360
Yeah, it yeah, it is funny, like you know, over time, maybe it's the older I got, or I I don't know that music didn't get to a point where it's sort of for it was a forcing function for us, or for me, not us, to kind of take inventory of my own life, corporate nine to five, fatherhood, all these different things.
01:00:27.519 --> 01:00:36.400
And I just I felt like I just couldn't there was some kind of a blocker there that I couldn't authentically be all three things equally.
01:00:36.559 --> 01:00:47.519
Yeah, you know, and like I had to sort of hide music from my job, and like I didn't want to sit, you know, at the Sellersville Theater on stage and be like, you know, I just came from work and my certain tie.
01:00:47.840 --> 01:00:49.760
Like you're not a rock star, you know, whatever.
01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:54.880
But you know, I I finally realized like I don't give a shit about any of that.
01:00:55.039 --> 01:01:00.000
I just I just want to wake up and feel good about all the stuff that I get to do in a day.
01:01:00.159 --> 01:01:06.559
You know, get to be a dad, a husband, I get to play basketball with my kids, I get to possibly play or write some music, you know.
01:01:06.719 --> 01:01:12.079
I get to build a company and do all this stuff, and it's like at the end of the day, different path.
01:01:12.159 --> 01:01:15.039
Yes, it wasn't a you know a straight and narrow thing to get here.
01:01:15.119 --> 01:01:19.039
It's hard to explain to my parents why I'm doing all this shit, but I don't care.
01:01:19.119 --> 01:01:23.199
It's what I love, it's who I am, and I'm finally at a point where I feel really good about all that stuff.
01:01:23.519 --> 01:01:25.440
Life is what happens while you're busy making plans.
01:01:26.480 --> 01:01:27.679
That's exactly right, man.
01:01:27.920 --> 01:01:29.360
Someone else sent it to me and I thought, oh.
01:01:29.679 --> 01:01:31.360
I mean, like we've had kids young.
01:01:31.519 --> 01:01:36.559
We've been I I didn't think uh 21 I would be a dad by 23 or 24.
01:01:36.800 --> 01:01:37.119
Yeah.
01:01:37.519 --> 01:01:39.599
And you go, well, okay, well, this this has happened.
01:01:39.679 --> 01:01:40.719
Let's let's roll with it.
01:01:40.800 --> 01:01:41.280
Let's roll with it.
01:01:41.360 --> 01:01:42.960
What do you mean successful children, at that?
01:01:43.199 --> 01:01:44.320
Yeah, like and grandchildren.
01:01:44.559 --> 01:01:46.000
All my kids are and grandchildren.
01:01:46.079 --> 01:01:46.239
Yeah.
01:01:46.320 --> 01:01:48.320
So I'm like, yeah, my kids are good people.
01:01:48.400 --> 01:01:48.639
Yeah.
01:01:48.719 --> 01:01:59.360
You know, and they have been a part of everything that I do and like our my the band has been a part of our household the whole time, you know, which is probably abnormal for a lot of kids.
01:01:59.519 --> 01:02:01.360
But you know, our kids have grown up around it.
01:02:01.440 --> 01:02:02.880
They've known all the people in the band.
01:02:02.960 --> 01:02:04.639
Like we've rehearsed at the house for years.
01:02:04.719 --> 01:02:06.000
They see the gear come in and out.
01:02:06.159 --> 01:02:10.320
Every uh function we have at the house, all the guys are always there.
01:02:11.039 --> 01:02:21.039
In fact, all of the guys in the band who have functions, like we go to each other's weddings, funerals, kids' birthdays, like I mean, it's you know, it's a little mafia-like.
01:02:21.119 --> 01:02:33.039
It's kind of like it's very insular, like we really hang out with each other, but which is not true, but it's a it's a very uh woven together social circle as well.
01:02:33.519 --> 01:02:37.360
So, you know, so the kids have yeah, they've just been a part of it.
01:02:37.440 --> 01:02:40.400
And so they see it, and it's you know, it's a joke in the house, too.
01:02:40.559 --> 01:02:42.320
Like I say, Dad, where are you going?
01:02:42.400 --> 01:02:43.679
It's like why I have band practice.
01:02:43.760 --> 01:02:45.280
And they're like, Are you 15?
01:02:46.639 --> 01:02:47.199
I'm going to grow up.
01:02:47.360 --> 01:02:48.000
Grow up, nerd.
01:02:48.239 --> 01:02:48.400
Yeah.
01:02:48.719 --> 01:02:49.360
Band practice.
01:02:49.519 --> 01:02:50.719
Yeah, what do you want me to say?
01:02:50.800 --> 01:02:51.039
Yeah.
01:02:51.760 --> 01:02:53.519
What up rehearsal.
01:02:53.840 --> 01:02:57.360
Any any advice for me or any young parents out there?
01:02:57.440 --> 01:03:02.880
Because my I have three girls as well, and you had one more than I did, but eight, seven, and three.
01:03:03.360 --> 01:03:04.960
Sort of a similar keep drinking.
01:03:05.039 --> 01:03:05.599
I don't, you know.
01:03:06.320 --> 01:03:08.800
Why do you think that bottle is halfway gone already?
01:03:09.119 --> 01:03:12.079
Yeah, I mean, we we sort of have a similar thing.
01:03:12.159 --> 01:03:13.760
There, I try to bring them to shows.
01:03:13.840 --> 01:03:15.679
They were here earlier, right before you walked in.
01:03:15.760 --> 01:03:24.079
So I'm trying to like expose them to not only music, but just who dad is and like what we do, and maybe it's different than other kids' families.
01:03:24.239 --> 01:03:27.840
But you know, any advice on sort of how to go about that?
01:03:28.079 --> 01:03:36.320
That's the best thing you do is keep your kids involved in whatever you're doing, whether you're a scuba diver or superhero or whatever, Mr.
01:03:36.400 --> 01:03:39.039
Green Jeans, like let them be around you.
01:03:39.119 --> 01:03:43.360
Like that we've always had our kids around us and around the adults that we hang out with.
01:03:43.599 --> 01:03:44.800
So they interact with them.
01:03:44.880 --> 01:03:49.119
They've like they're good at interacting with, you know, people come in.
01:03:49.440 --> 01:03:55.760
My kids go to college and the kids act goofy and like party, and they're like, You have no idea what I grew up around.
01:03:56.000 --> 01:04:01.760
Like, you try having musicians trace into your house at all kinds, or you know, having Chuck Trees on your couch at four o'clock in the morning.
01:04:02.079 --> 01:04:06.320
You know, so they're not phased by anything, but it's okay.
01:04:06.400 --> 01:04:10.320
Like it it hasn't corrupted them in any way, like it's made them stronger.
01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:16.320
Like they see that my wife and I have a a great foundation that we have a family that we work hard to keep.
01:04:16.639 --> 01:04:27.679
And so they say you can have fun, you can do all the great stuff in life, but spend lots of time with your kids so they don't feel like they have to wander anywhere else for um you know whatever it is they're looking for.
01:04:27.840 --> 01:04:31.840
Yeah, you should be the ultimate arbiter of what makes them feel good, you know.
01:04:31.920 --> 01:04:33.920
So our kids That's great advice, man.
01:04:34.159 --> 01:04:34.719
Wow.
01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:36.159
Yeah, great.
01:04:36.239 --> 01:04:37.440
Let's do a shot.
01:04:37.760 --> 01:04:38.400
Fine.
01:04:38.880 --> 01:04:42.159
Andrew, bring the coffee mugs in.
01:04:43.199 --> 01:04:44.559
Um all right, cool.
01:04:44.639 --> 01:04:53.599
So, in the spirit of backstage Bucks County, you being a local musician, realtor, there's probably not many people that know more about Bucks County than you.
01:04:54.480 --> 01:05:01.760
So, first question that we're leading off with everybody is your favorite plate of food anywhere in Bucks County?
01:05:02.079 --> 01:05:03.440
My favorite plate of food?
01:05:03.599 --> 01:05:04.159
A lot of pressure.
01:05:04.400 --> 01:05:06.719
Your favorite dish at whatever restaurant.
01:05:08.159 --> 01:05:10.719
I mean, I I I have like a 15-year-old's palate.
01:05:10.800 --> 01:05:14.800
Like, I'm good with chicken fingers and fries at the country tavern, which isn't there anymore.
01:05:15.039 --> 01:05:17.599
Uh my favorite plate of food around here.
01:05:17.679 --> 01:05:18.800
Uh I don't know.
01:05:18.960 --> 01:05:21.440
Like, we go to bocce a lot.
01:05:21.519 --> 01:05:22.480
I like a fillet.
01:05:22.639 --> 01:05:22.880
Yeah?
01:05:23.280 --> 01:05:24.079
Be honest, yeah.
01:05:24.880 --> 01:05:27.760
I've only been what's uh downstairs is Heart of Oak.
01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:29.440
Yeah, it's the same, same folks run both.
01:05:29.760 --> 01:05:31.360
Is it it's the same menu too, right?
01:05:31.440 --> 01:05:32.639
Like you can order, yeah.
01:05:32.880 --> 01:05:37.840
Yeah, so they have a great you know, I'd say it's our favorite plate of food because we probably just go there a lot.
01:05:37.920 --> 01:05:39.039
Like it's close to the house.
01:05:39.199 --> 01:05:41.440
The guys who run it, Tony and his family, are awesome.
01:05:41.519 --> 01:05:43.519
Like they're super cool.
01:05:44.639 --> 01:05:45.360
I don't know.
01:05:45.599 --> 01:05:48.719
Like in the old days, you know, I used to like all the greasy spoons.
01:05:48.800 --> 01:05:50.239
Like I'm in the car a lot.
01:05:50.400 --> 01:05:52.320
Yeah, you know, but most of them are gone.
01:05:52.480 --> 01:06:00.880
You know, like this like there used to be the cherry top up on six eleven and Prisky's family drive in, like all these old, you know, kind of like What do you call them?
01:06:01.199 --> 01:06:05.440
Dairy Barns or whatever, where you just get a crappy cheeseburger and little diners or whatever.
01:06:05.519 --> 01:06:05.679
Yeah.
01:06:05.920 --> 01:06:07.039
That's my favorite plate of food.
01:06:07.199 --> 01:06:07.440
Nice.
01:06:07.599 --> 01:06:07.760
Yeah.
01:06:07.920 --> 01:06:08.639
Wherever it's at.
01:06:08.719 --> 01:06:09.119
Yeah.
01:06:09.360 --> 01:06:10.239
Love it, man.
01:06:10.400 --> 01:06:11.599
So, second question.
01:06:11.840 --> 01:06:18.400
If we were to open up your phone right now, whatever you're listening to, Spotify, Apple Music, what song or what artists are you playing?
01:06:19.119 --> 01:06:20.000
I don't have either on my phone.
01:06:20.159 --> 01:06:24.079
Well, Jesus, the guy from Wineskin, it doesn't have either on his phone to play music?
01:06:24.320 --> 01:06:25.519
I don't have any apps on my phone.
01:06:26.159 --> 01:06:27.280
I don't know how to do any of that stuff.
01:06:27.360 --> 01:06:30.079
First of all, I have to admit, I've never even listened to a podcast.
01:06:30.320 --> 01:06:30.719
Really?
01:06:30.880 --> 01:06:32.400
Yeah, I've never listened to a podcast.
01:06:32.480 --> 01:06:34.800
I I I don't know how to e-deposit a check.
01:06:35.039 --> 01:06:39.199
Um like I go to the bank.
01:06:39.360 --> 01:06:41.039
Uh I know everybody in the bank.
01:06:41.119 --> 01:06:41.920
Um, I don't know.
01:06:42.000 --> 01:06:43.440
I don't have any music apps.
01:06:43.519 --> 01:06:46.480
Uh if I want to listen to a song, I just go on YouTube and look it up.
01:06:46.559 --> 01:06:48.400
Uh, which is like I have the internet on my phone.
01:06:48.719 --> 01:06:49.119
Oh, okay.
01:06:49.199 --> 01:06:49.519
Well, good.
01:06:49.679 --> 01:06:50.159
Yeah, right, right.
01:06:50.320 --> 01:06:50.719
Big step.
01:06:50.880 --> 01:06:51.440
That's an accomplishment.
01:06:51.679 --> 01:06:52.400
He's a big boy.
01:06:52.639 --> 01:06:52.800
Yeah.
01:06:52.960 --> 01:06:55.039
I don't I don't have any music on my phone.
01:06:55.280 --> 01:06:56.639
So who are you listening to right now?
01:06:56.800 --> 01:07:02.960
Like if you were to put a record on or go to YouTube right now, what's uh where's your your music palette at these days?
01:07:03.360 --> 01:07:08.480
Like for me, like if it's something we're interested in playing, then I listen to it a lot.
01:07:08.639 --> 01:07:12.559
Uh I I don't have like a space that I listen to I listen to symphony music a lot.
01:07:12.719 --> 01:07:13.039
Oh really?
01:07:13.760 --> 01:07:14.320
Oh, cool.
01:07:14.639 --> 01:07:21.360
Um like not opera, like just symphony and you know, mundane jazz.
01:07:21.519 --> 01:07:25.519
Like when I'm driving, I listen to symphony most of the time.
01:07:25.760 --> 01:07:27.519
Or talk radio, like a little bit.
01:07:27.679 --> 01:07:29.679
I don't really like listen to a lot of rock and roll.
01:07:29.760 --> 01:07:34.800
Like I'll put on like I don't like I mean I like the Grateful Dead, so I'll put on the Grateful Dead.
01:07:34.880 --> 01:07:38.639
I have Sirius in my car, which was like a big graduation for me.
01:07:38.719 --> 01:07:41.440
You know, what are some of the channels on Sirius that you go to?
01:07:42.079 --> 01:07:44.639
Uh I like the uh outlaw country music.
01:07:44.800 --> 01:07:55.519
Like I like the 80s and 90s country, whatever that is, like you know, where they has like uh you know, like John Anderson and uh Shenandoah, like those kinds of bands.
01:07:55.840 --> 01:07:56.639
Shenandoah is great.
01:07:56.719 --> 01:07:59.920
We just saw them, they came back for I don't know if it was one night.
01:08:00.079 --> 01:08:02.800
We were at CMA Fest a couple years ago and they played.
01:08:03.119 --> 01:08:05.280
They could still sing their asses off those guys.
01:08:05.519 --> 01:08:05.920
They're great.
01:08:06.079 --> 01:08:06.800
Yeah, great harmonies.
01:08:07.119 --> 01:08:08.159
Harmonies are amazing, yeah.
01:08:08.320 --> 01:08:09.440
I love Alabama.
01:08:09.599 --> 01:08:11.599
Like I love 80s and 90s country music.
01:08:11.679 --> 01:08:23.359
Like in my truck, like I have a CD player, and it's all um Alan Jackson, George Strait, John Anderson, maybe a Grateful Dead CD, and then like I think the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction.
01:08:23.520 --> 01:08:26.000
Like that's like that is honestly what's in my truck.
01:08:26.159 --> 01:08:31.840
Like, I have no, you know, it's just a CD player that's screwed into the bottom of the metal deck.
01:08:32.000 --> 01:08:33.039
Serial killer starter kit.
01:08:33.279 --> 01:08:33.600
There it is.
01:08:33.680 --> 01:08:34.880
Yeah, it is pretty much.
01:08:35.039 --> 01:08:35.439
I love it.
01:08:35.600 --> 01:08:36.239
Awesome, man.
01:08:36.399 --> 01:08:37.039
Last question.
01:08:37.279 --> 01:08:42.560
Um You being uh you know a prominent local on uh from all fronts.
01:08:43.119 --> 01:08:49.439
One thing that only a local can tell you about Bucks County that people outside of here might not know.
01:08:53.680 --> 01:08:56.399
What's one thing that that they don't know?
01:09:02.159 --> 01:09:14.000
I don't know, like what outsiders should know is that um like when they move here, they should not drive like assholes.
01:09:14.399 --> 01:09:18.000
Like especially from Jersey.
01:09:18.239 --> 01:09:22.079
Yeah, so I feel like getting a bumper sticker that says, like, thank you for moving to Bucks County.
01:09:22.239 --> 01:09:23.920
Stop driving like an asshole.
01:09:24.079 --> 01:09:25.119
Like, that's it.
01:09:25.279 --> 01:09:32.000
Like, you know, that would be my only I I'm not gonna tell them what they don't, you know.
01:09:32.079 --> 01:09:33.680
If it's a secret, I'm not telling them.
01:09:33.760 --> 01:09:36.159
Like, right, yeah, you know, so you don't want to give away the good stuff?
01:09:36.399 --> 01:09:37.520
I don't want to give away the good stuff.
01:09:37.600 --> 01:09:39.840
You gotta live here for 20 years before I give you the good stuff.
01:09:40.079 --> 01:09:40.399
Love it.
01:09:40.560 --> 01:09:44.720
So start with not driving like an asshole and then we'll we'll indoctrinate you over time.
01:09:44.880 --> 01:09:45.039
Yeah.
01:09:45.279 --> 01:09:45.680
Oh, yeah.
01:09:45.760 --> 01:09:48.399
I have a whole bunch of pet peeves of out of towners, but yeah.
01:09:48.640 --> 01:09:48.800
Yeah.
01:09:49.279 --> 01:09:52.000
Driving like an asshole is driving like an asshole is number one.
01:09:52.079 --> 01:09:52.399
Like, you know.
01:09:52.720 --> 01:09:53.760
Give me one more.
01:09:55.600 --> 01:09:59.039
Uh I don't know.
01:09:59.199 --> 01:10:07.760
I'm gonna sound pretty petty, but you know, if you are at the restaurant, stop talking on your cell phone to whoever the fuck it is.
01:10:08.720 --> 01:10:09.760
Like loud.
01:10:10.000 --> 01:10:10.399
Yeah.
01:10:10.640 --> 01:10:10.960
Yeah.
01:10:11.279 --> 01:10:12.319
It just bugs me.
01:10:12.560 --> 01:10:15.279
But uh, you know, it's that's like it's probably anywhere.
01:10:15.359 --> 01:10:18.560
It's just, you know, don't be an asshole.
01:10:18.640 --> 01:10:19.520
I you know, I don't know.
01:10:19.600 --> 01:10:20.560
There's a lot of new people here.
01:10:20.640 --> 01:10:22.079
I mean, what do you what are you gonna do?
01:10:22.159 --> 01:10:23.760
I mean, I I hate to see all the development.
01:10:23.840 --> 01:10:24.640
I'm in real estate.
01:10:24.720 --> 01:10:26.800
It's it's ironic, but yeah, yeah.
01:10:26.880 --> 01:10:33.359
I have a degree in agriculture, so I have a great affinity for you know that kind of stuff.
01:10:33.520 --> 01:10:36.159
Open space is you know, once it's gone, it's gone.
01:10:36.239 --> 01:10:37.840
So that's something that's really important to me.
01:10:37.920 --> 01:10:43.680
But yeah, I don't I don't really, you know, do anything in that space to you know do anything about it.
01:10:43.840 --> 01:10:45.600
I should, but we'll get there.
01:10:45.920 --> 01:10:46.960
Yeah, music, yeah.
01:10:47.199 --> 01:10:47.920
I play music.
01:10:48.079 --> 01:10:48.880
If I could do more, I would.
01:10:49.119 --> 01:10:50.239
And listen to Alan Jackson.
01:10:50.319 --> 01:10:51.359
So I mean, it's all good.
01:10:52.159 --> 01:10:54.479
Um anything else for us, man?
01:10:54.640 --> 01:10:56.640
I I think we're we're good on time here.
01:10:56.720 --> 01:11:04.239
I just I'm really glad to have you on the show and imparting all the wisdom and talking all things music, real estate, family, life.
01:11:04.399 --> 01:11:06.560
You know, I've enjoyed having you here, man.
01:11:06.960 --> 01:11:08.319
Yeah, it's been a lot of fun.
01:11:08.399 --> 01:11:10.079
I appreciate you asking me.
01:11:10.159 --> 01:11:11.199
I don't do a lot of interviews.
01:11:11.359 --> 01:11:15.119
So this will be the first podcast that you ever consume that you're actually on.
01:11:15.359 --> 01:11:19.680
I did say to somebody earlier today, I said, I'm gonna go be on a podcast.
01:11:19.840 --> 01:11:21.119
And we're like, you?
01:11:21.520 --> 01:11:24.239
And he's like, uh you don't even listen to podcasts.
01:11:24.399 --> 01:11:28.800
I said, Well we have to download the app on your phone first to be able to even consume it.
01:11:28.880 --> 01:11:32.399
You can't get this on CD, so we're gonna have to figure out a way.
01:11:32.880 --> 01:11:34.640
Steam coming out of my ears.
01:11:35.039 --> 01:11:36.640
Uh yeah, I'll download it.
01:11:36.720 --> 01:11:38.000
Whenever I have to do it what is the app?
01:11:38.079 --> 01:11:39.600
Should we say it, or you say it all the time?
01:11:40.079 --> 01:11:45.600
You can go on YouTube and check out the show and um anywhere you listen to podcasts, Apple, Spotify, all the other spots.
01:11:45.680 --> 01:11:48.479
But yeah, I don't, you know, this has been great.
01:11:48.560 --> 01:11:49.680
I've I've enjoyed it a lot.
01:11:49.760 --> 01:11:51.359
I I enjoy talking about these things.
01:11:51.439 --> 01:11:57.279
I feel like it's something that um, you know, I guess occasionally it's nice to talk about your your own journey.
01:11:57.439 --> 01:11:59.600
Yeah, it's important to share the stories, man.
01:11:59.680 --> 01:12:02.720
That's why we started this whole thing, just to have a platform, you know.
01:12:02.960 --> 01:12:03.760
So, Mr.
01:12:03.840 --> 01:12:05.520
Evan Walton, it's been a pleasure, my friend.
01:12:05.600 --> 01:12:06.479
Thank you for coming on the show.
01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:08.479
Yeah, a great joy, Mr.
01:12:08.560 --> 01:12:09.439
Dustin Napoli.
01:12:09.600 --> 01:12:09.840
Thank you.
01:12:09.920 --> 01:12:11.199
Let's give it up for Evan.
01:12:11.680 --> 01:12:17.439
Thank you for watching and listening to the uh backstage Bucks County show, episode number four, with Mr.
01:12:17.520 --> 01:12:19.359
Evan Walton, and we'll see y'all soon.