008: Troy Cartwright
On Episode 8, I'm joined by Nashville by way of Dallas songwriter Troy Cartwright. During this one, we talk about moving to Nashville, navigating the songwriter realm, his debut EP Bull Run, and what's coming next.
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Read the transcript
Thomas Mooney: Hey everyone.
Welcome to the new slang
podcast. This is episode eight.
I'm Thomas Mooney, the editor in
chief of new slang here in
Lubbock. And this week we have
singer songwriter Troy, Troy
Cartwright on the podcast. I
guess it was a couple of weeks
back. He was here in Lubbock,
who's playing the Thursday show
at blue light. So we set up the
microphones and all this podcast
crap up in the pool room. And we
had this conversation about Ryan
Adams and his new record, and
what is of surgical since
sturgill Simpson stuff and Jason
Izzo kind of commentary. And
yeah, I mean, there's a few
people walking through because
there was this, like lawyer
meeting out in the back patio,
which is one of those like,
yeah, you would think that no
one would be up at blue light or
at Toms at, you know, seven
o'clock, six o'clock in the
afternoon. But of course, it was
the third Thursday, and there
was a lawyer meeting in the
back. So there's a few people
walking through who slightly
inebriated attorneys. Anyways,
this podcast episode is brought
to you by the blue light. And
this week, their shows are going
to be for this weekend, at
least. Thursday is going to be
Rob Baird, who Rob as you'll
listen in the podcast. He's, I
guess, co-produced Troy's new
upcoming record. And he'll be
playing Thursday. Friday is
going to be Paul coffin, which
Paul is also going to be on the
the podcast on Friday, we're
going to record an episode with
him. And then Saturday, it's
gonna be Brandon Adams and the
sad bastards. Which if you are
remotely familiar with Lubbock
music, you will know that
Brandon is one of the underrated
underrated artists of the last
10 years and really probably
influenced more people in the in
this last 15 year period than
then you would then probably
anyone else. So he'll be playing
Saturday. And then on Sunday
actually that they're going to
be having the patio open and an
upcoming loving songwriter by
the name of grant Gilbert will
be playing full band up there.
Sundays are always free so you
can go up there and play or not
play but go and see live music,
cheap drink specials and all
that kind of stuff. Nice for a I
don't know an enjoyable Sunday
evening. It's not too cold or
too hot outside. I should
probably also mention that this
coming Tuesday is going to be
Dalton dominoes drink Oh, Music
Festival thing. It's you know
just a one day day festival with
music going on. In the blue
light and on the back patio.
There's of frickin a laundry
list of artists ranging from
local guys like Randall King and
no dry county to guys like Cody
Canada playing and like Sam
Riggs is playing and Shane
Smith, john Bauman. Just Just to
give you a preview of some
people playing you'll want to
get there early. I think like
doors, open it to 2pm I think
it's gonna be music from
essentially from 2pm to close.
And so yeah, you'll want to get
there early because it's not
like blue lights, the the
biggest place capacity way wise,
it's not like you're gonna let
1000 people win or something
crazy like that. So you want to
get there early, get your spot
if you did not buy presale
tickets that were available a
few weeks back. Yeah, so be sure
to go and see that on Tuesday.
And also just the that the day
before you you may not know but
on Mondays at blue light is
singer songwriter night, in
which I mean, I don't have any
confirmation or anything, but
I'm sure that some of those
people who are playing Tuesday
will be there on Monday as well.
Just doing the open mic night,
so that's always free. And if
you're a songwriter, or anyone
who just like likes z i guess
the beginning stages of of any
kind of career go up on Monday.
It's live music, it's free and
it's a it's a good time to see.
I don't know like a mix of
people who are beginning their
careers and every once in a
while you'll get a somebody who,
who was at that point, you know,
three, five years ago show up
and can play a few tunes.
Anyways, I don't want to just
ramble on like I'm doing Right
now, too much longer. So yeah,
we'll go on get on to the Troy
Cartwright interview in my guess
like a few seconds. Thanks.
Okay, well, I really don't do
intros here, but uh, how's it
going, man?
Troy Cartwright: I'm pretty
good. How are you?
Thomas Mooney: Not too bad.
That's good. Just that was
working at my grandmother's yard
all day. So, I don't know. That
was a what? Like mowen Yeah, and
like, like raking leaves and all
that kind of. I'm really
indulging shit. Yeah, I'm not
really into yard work at all.
But yeah, I'm what's what's kind
of funny though, is like she's,
uh, she's looking for a radio
and she couldn't find it. So she
just put her iPhone out there
and it was playing some recce
hand. Hey, so there you go. I
mean, that's some good music
right there. Yeah, it's, uh, my
grandma's kind of funny about
that. Like she's got like four
records on her iPod right now.
Is that one of them to read che
Han? The last Stapleton record
to Turnpike records. Wow. And
that you to record because she
does not know how to the one
Troy Cartwright: that they made
you automatically download?
Yeah, that's funny. That's
almost like a desert island
compilation. You know, if you
got stuck on a on an island with
five records. Those one wouldn't
be some bad ones that she's
probably not the one but yeah,
maybe if you wanted to end your
life, you know, on the island.
That would be the right
soundtracks. Yeah, that's the
thing, though.
Thomas Mooney: I do think that
that one song miracle of Joey
Ramone, which was the US and all
those iTunes, or I guess iTunes,
iPod commercials. Yeah. I don't
think that song is that bad.
Troy Cartwright: Like I? Well, I
mean, they're you too. So it's
not like they're horrible. Yeah,
you know, I mean, at one point,
they were pretty good. Just,
yeah, sort of like, I read this
interview with Billy Joel. And
he was just making basically
ripping out and Johnny was like,
we, we've written enough good
songs. Like, we're old. We don't
need to keep doing this. We can
just tour on our back catalogue.
And I always thought that was.
That was interesting. I kind of
admired him more for that. Yeah,
I don't know.
Thomas Mooney: I get what he's
saying and all that kind of
stuff. Yeah. But I also think
that, you know, if Dylan had
quit in the late 80s, sure, like
Springsteen or somewhat you know
what I mean? Yeah. Then you
wouldn't be you wouldn't get,
you'd miss. That's great. 90s
Records like time out of mind.
Yeah, that's, you know, that's
very true. But okay, we're just
talking about the the, the
Island Records. Yeah. What, what
would be your five? Man? I feel
like this is one of the things
that you just have to do an
impulse. Well, impulse pick. If
Troy Cartwright: I'm gonna if
I'm gonna reflect on the records
that I still listen to that I've
been listening to, for the last,
you know, 10 years, that pretty
much all Ryan Adams records. So
Heartbreaker for sure. Easy
Tiger demolition. There was in
my top three. And then I don't
know probably that that staples
and records. That's pretty
classic. And then there's this
old Pete Yorn record. Used to be
big on MTV, I think it was
called for Nancy. Or maybe maybe
that was a single I think the
record was called music for the
morning after something that
might have been a sophomore
record. I can't remember but the
one was for Nancy and closet.
That was a great record. And I
still like it.
Thomas Mooney: And say, you
know, I never really listened to
Pete. You weren't at all. I
guess like my one Pete Yorn
thing was like, Oh, he did that.
Scarlett Johansson. Yeah, like
collab record. Right. Right.
Just a few years back. But
Troy Cartwright: and yeah, he
released a record like kind of
recently, I didn't listen to it.
He did. His first few records
were pretty good. But this was
like, in the time of like, were
the only way I really listened
to music was you know, it was
like 12. So it was like, run
home. Watch TRL on MTV. And so
it was like, Pete Yorn was like
the only guy on there who
wasn't, you know, like a boy
band. So yeah, I always kind of
liked it. And then, you know, I
also liked like, pod and stuff,
because I was 12. So you never
realized I guess at the time
that what you're listening to
then will you will still enjoy
when you're quite a bit older.
So
Thomas Mooney: yeah. It The, the
TRL age is kind of, uh, okay.
Somebody had posted this video
on YouTube. And it was like
little five second clips of
songs from mid 90s, early 2000s.
Yeah. And my first thought was,
oh, man, I wish like somebody
had a list of all of these so I
could just go check them out.
And then I found that list and I
screenshotted it and so I could
look them up that next morning.
I had it was just was a bad.
There was a great it was good in
a bad way. Yeah. You know, like
there's some songs that you're
just like, oh my god, what is
this one of the things I thought
about was so much of the pop
music was based off of, like
club dance kind of stuff. And
now like pop music there for a
while was like all like, based
off of the the idea of being a
folk band in the Mumford and
Sons kind of way. Yeah. You
know, and I don't know when that
transition happened but then
Troy Cartwright: yeah. And now
it's like, I don't know. It's
like EDM ish. Mom, you know, I
it's interesting. I think about
too all the time. Like, was john
mayer, like very popular on the
radio? Like in? I don't know,
circa 2008.
Thomas Mooney: I don't know
about a I remember. The only
thing I can really remember him
being is the like, daughters
area era. Yeah, your body is a
wonderland, which I think is
like for 2004 or five. Yeah,
maybe. Yeah, that sounds about
right. And then maybe he was
already like, into the the blues
trio kind of stuff.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. And that
definitely didn't get any radio
play. But no, not at all it
continuum. I don't think there
was much on there that was on
the radio either. But it's so
interesting how. I don't know.
Like, just the fad changes. Like
what works for pop radio, then
and now and I don't know. It's a
weird. It's a weird game for
sure.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. Because if
you if you don't get a record
out in 18 months later, right,
you could just be forgotten, you
know? Oh, yeah. There's only so
many people who can transcend
that period where you're just
going Oh, yeah. Well, Dr. Dre
are still waiting on detox. You
know? Yeah, that's very Chinese
Democracy by
Troy Cartwright: that's just the
the music industry man is hard.
Yeah, hard to make it hard to
make it out here for sure.
Thomas Mooney: Okay, so like,
Ryan Adams. always loved Ryan
Adams. Yes. Well, what what is
your like, your tentative
ranking of his records? I mean,
I know there's a lot of them out
there. But like what is your you
know?
Troy Cartwright: I there are
some that I I'm not even that
crazy about I really like like
Heartbreaker was the first one.
So it's always number one for
me, because that was the one
that was like, why I started
playing this kind of music.
Somebody my buddy left it in my
car when I was 16. You know,
like a burn CD. And, you know,
he wanted to back after like a
week and you know, so I was so
into that and then and then I
would say so that's one two
probably easy tiger. But maybe
demolition. I think that's an
underrated record. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney: demolitions,
underrated. And, in my opinion,
29 is severely You think so?
Yeah. What about I love that car
analogy record to see I kind of
like, you didn't like it. Round
like, I guess right after easy
tiger. Yeah, I was just kind of
like, Oh, man. Yeah. Cuz he also
did the whole I'm retiring after
this.
Troy Cartwright: Oh, really?
See? I never I don't know
anything about Yeah, like his
actual, like, day to day career
until like, maybe 2009. Yeah, so
I missed this whole,
Thomas Mooney: like, right after
cardiology he was like, I'm
done. I'm finished. I'm not
gonna. I'm not playing anymore.
I'm not gonna record it. And
then of course, you know, 18
months later he has something
else. Yeah, we're what it was,
Troy Cartwright: like ashes in
fire maybe or? That was the next
one.
Thomas Mooney: I think he had
like a double record. That was
kind of like just compilation
ish. Oh, yeah. Well, there
Troy Cartwright: was a EP that
extra cheese. Yeah. EP that came
out. I didn't I didn't even
bother by that.
Thomas Mooney: I think that was
done by what record label was he
on? He was on. Oh, man, while
sciway Yeah, I think that was
like a Lost Highway. Like, hey,
Valentine's Days around here.
Hey, man, you know, kind of
thing.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, that I
went really down like really
deep down the like the internet
rabbit hole. And I found this
article. I don't know when this
would have been early 2000s
maybe but it was like there was
a point where like old 90 sevens
and Ryan Adams were like,
considered on the same plane.
And that just kind of blew my
mind like discovering that
later. Because I mean, I love
the old 97 But yeah, Ryan Adams
is like, yeah, you know, sit in
front row at the Grammys. See,
Thomas Mooney: I have this
friend Jeff, who used to be in
first for cowboys. And he's
like, more old 97th and Ryan
Adams but he's still loves right
now. But he says that there was
a an Austin City Limits episode
that was oh 90 sevens and
whiskeytown Okay, and that like,
apparently Rhett Miller went
over and knocked on their door
and was like, Hey, you guys have
any? I don't know. What do you
asked for maybe some beer or
like some cups or some something
some ice and they just didn't
say anything to him and he just
did there. So that's what I
heard or that's what
Troy Cartwright: I did. Yeah
Ryan Adams definitely seems like
someone who, like you know, they
always say don't meet your
heroes like, I don't think I
would like that. I would hate to
be disappointed. I just love him
so much so yeah,
Thomas Mooney: yeah, I don't
know he's there for a while like
it was just you know, slept
celebrity worship for Ryan Adams
for me like I yeah, I don't know
love absolutely and I still love
his music you know? Yeah but I
think he's one of those guys
where he's definitely past his
prime like that's not insane
he's putting out okay music
right good music but like from
Heartbreaker to like gold roses
just
Troy Cartwright: now grad which
which record is easy plateau on?
That's called rose it's a second
disc yeah yeah which is
Thomas Mooney: gold Rose is I
think it's pretty funny is that
since it was split up into two
discs, everyone was either like
disc one disc two and I I've had
this conversation with people
gonna be like yeah, I just put
disc two and I could and I could
not take that discount. So I
didn't know about disc one. What
was on disc one for six months
and vice versa.
Troy Cartwright: There you go.
See I didn't even I didn't care
for disc one very much. Yeah,
it's it's one one like
Mockingbird?
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, I don't
know. Like, this one's like
Mockingbird and what else is
there? Magnolia mountain?
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. I just
like these. The plateau was like
such a jam for me. Yeah, I know.
Thomas Mooney: I I just got like
hooked but I guess what hooked
hooked me on to disc two was
just let it ride. First off.
Yes. It's just like a man's.
Yeah, it's great. Yeah. And
there's like a the that second
verse in that second or third
verse. was just so fucking
amazing. Yeah, like, I can't
even I can't say what it is
right now. I can tell you but
like, therefore, when I got the
record, it was like, Man, this
is Yeah, I could get like a
tattoo of that. You know, like,
something dumb? Probably. That's
Yeah. Good. But, dude, that's a
lot of waiting for you now.
Yeah, so least favorite Bryan
Adams record though.
Troy Cartwright: I don't know. I
didn't like gold very much. Did
you not know. But that was like
the peak of his fame to probably
right.
Thomas Mooney: It's very much
like, I guess people could
describe it as like, his tryhard
moment. Yeah. Like,
Troy Cartwright: I think that's
what it doesn't sound like Ryan
Adams to me. Yeah, I don't know.
I mean, it does. But yeah, it's
I don't know. I don't know what
he's going for.
Thomas Mooney: I think he was
just looking for commercial
success. Yeah, yeah. I mean,
like the. Okay, I've got a, this
is my chance.
Troy Cartwright: Well, yeah,
you're sitting there in that in
that canon. You know, with that,
I think about that all the time.
When I'm writing my own music.
It's like, you know, I mean,
it's a lot smaller stakes, but
you're thinking all the time,
like, oh, man, is this song
gonna work on Texas Country
radio, or, you know, are people
gonna like this? And like, it
sucks. It sucks to be you feel
pressure? And you wonder, you
know, for him if he's just,
yeah, it was like, Okay, well, I
mean, right, because to have a
commercially successful record,
like, unless it's really out of
nowhere. Like, you got to have
all this infrastructure. So if
he was set up for that, and he
was just thinking, alright, this
is my chance. So maybe that's
what he tried to do. I don't
know. Yeah, it's not, you know,
there's worse records out there
for sure. Yeah. But I didn't I
don't know. I didn't like that
one that much. So,
Thomas Mooney: yeah, a couple of
songs on there that I go. Oh,
yeah. I'm trying to think of off
the top of my head. I mean,
like, I guess like rescue blues.
Yeah, he's on there. I don't
know. That's also like the
record that he called and all
his buddies, you know, like,
right. What's his face from
Counting Crows? I think sing
some. Oh, yeah. Many vocals and
Troy Cartwright: guys got a
ridiculous voice too. Yeah. But
very big hands. I don't know if
you knew that. No. large hands.
Heard the the anti Trump Yeah,
yes. Exactly. Yeah. Oh my god.
Thomas Mooney: That's okay. You
mentioned something earlier,
just the like, what point does
wondering how successful a song
is not necessarily even like how
successful but like, if it will
mean something to somebody else.
When does that even?
Troy Cartwright: When is that
internal? like yeah, your
psyche? Ah. I think you're
always I think, for me, I it
never goes well. When I go into
it. thinking oh, I need to write
a song like this. So like for
instance, I don't know year and
a half ago we opened for
American aquarium in in Dallas
and those like those guys are
awesome. I love them and I got
home I got to write a song like
this. When I wrote it, I thought
it was awesome for like, a
couple weeks. And then I went
back to it. And I was like, this
sucks. Yeah, it was I thinking,
you know, I think you do that
with, with a lot of songs. So I
think it just depends on, on
where you're at with the song.
And I know for like this new
record, that was like, you know,
we were picking from my producer
for probably, like 30 songs. And
it was trying to figure out the
right, the right songs that fit
maybe like, as an album, and
also, you know, trying to let
that go, he was really pushing
me to let that go. Because, you
know, you get I mean, you know,
I'm lucky enough to make a
living, playing music, but like,
you know, it's tight. So you
want to go to that next level,
you know, and it costs money to
make a record. So you don't want
to screw it. Yeah. And, you
know, two years down the road,
you're out of money, and you're
two years older, and you know,
your facts. So yeah, it's hard.
Thomas Mooney: I do think it's,
it's this. Even if you want to
believe that everybody should be
a, the songs come first, the I
don't, I'm not thinking about
what anyone thinks of the songs,
right, I'm gonna do that thing.
That's very, very, very
difficult to do. Like, it's like
a half of 1% does that and is
able to make it you know, right.
And I guess like, you have to
think about it in the way that
probably the people buying your
records, also bought records
that are I guess, like outliers
for them, as far as sure, you
know, these incredible
songwriters or you know, like
these one percenters, but then
also, you're having a you're
diving into the market? Have
they bought every KC Donahue
record? Or you know what I'm
saying later? Sure. So, where's
the balance of
Troy Cartwright: that? You know,
yeah, where's the balance? And
also, like, Are you trying to
think? Are you trying to think
bigger, you know, it's like,
everybody wants to be nationally
successful? I mean, that's one
thing. I mean, my favorite using
air quotes, Texas country guy,
if you want to call that as, but
probably hates Carl. And, you
know, and he had a lot of
national success, and obviously
sign a loss highway and, and all
that, but I mean, I, I think as
a songwriter, that's sort of the
model, you look to someone who
can kind of, I don't want to say
it's pandering, it's just like,
the style of music you create,
does it work for this audience?
And, you know, unfortunately, in
this scene, a lot of it is, it's
just bad. Yeah. Like, I don't
know why anyone listens to it?
Yeah, I don't, I'm not sure that
people do that much. It's just,
it's there, you know, it's on
the radio, and there's a whole
system in place, and which,
which is great. You know, it's,
we're very lucky here, in Texas,
red or whatever to have, have
the infrastructure in place to
where you kind of can catch a
little bit of momentum from from
the radio side, or, you know,
there's players and they're
established, whereas I feel
like, on the Americana side,
it's a little bit less, there's
not as much of a structure, I
guess, right? Yeah, makes sense.
Yeah, there's certainly big
players in America as well. But
you know, it's a bigger, it's a
bigger stage. So it's harder to,
to kind of get up that ladder.
So I think that's one thing
that's really unique about, you
know, being in Texas and playing
this circuit is, you know, you
get this scene like rewards,
bands, who, you know, you got to
you got to be talented, but if
you work hard and stay the
course, like you can, at least
for the most part kind of make
it happen. You know, and I think
the, the hard part is, is just
trying not to plateau or, you
know, get I don't get complacent
and not, you know, not make new
records or just start getting
wasted every show or
Thomas Mooney: whatever, what
sucks is like, whenever an
artist decides that, that they
only want to do Texas, right,
you know, and sometimes, I
guess, like, you know, if you're
playing in Texas, and like the
last six months of shows, the
last year shows have all been in
Texas, that's fun and
everything. But also, if you're
not always trying to think like
Well, let's try and get at least
some dates going out west or
like route east. And you have to
have like a
Troy Cartwright: state of mind
bigger than Texas. You do. Yeah.
And well, it's a long term
mentality to write because
eventually, you know, you're not
going to you when you get
bigger, you're going to have to
stop playing taxes as much
because you're going to ruin it.
You know, you're gonna ruin
your, your draw. Yeah, that is,
you know, for a lot of guys what
allows them to get the bus and
make the badass record that that
sounds you know, like $100,000
Record ever, you
Thomas Mooney: know, and that's,
you kind of have to think of
Texas in the same way that of a,
of a venue or a city. Yeah. Like
you're not playing blue light,
you know, once a month, right,
like, nobody would come you
play? Yeah, you
Troy Cartwright: got to play
every three or four months. And
yeah, you know, it's like, you
know, I've always thought of it
as like an incubator. And trying
to find, I mean, you know, I
was, I grew up in Texas, but I
was living in Boston for five
years. And I was like a Wedding
Singer. And it was like, What am
I doing with my life, like, I
don't want to, I want to play
music. I don't want to do this.
So he moved to Texas, and, you
know, started playing and I
would say, in the last, only six
or eight months has finally
gotten to the point where I feel
like I can kind of keep my head
above the water, I guess. And
now with the new record of them
sort of like trying to survey
the landscape and see where, you
know, where the next move is,
and obviously, like, we got a
lot of still got a lot of work
to do growing. growing it in
Texas or whatever, you know,
we're not a huge name or
anything, but we're getting
somewhere, I suppose. Yeah, I
hope so.
Thomas Mooney: You, you sent me
the record just this afternoon.
Yeah. afternoon, evening. Yeah,
I saw somebody on Twitter the
other day ask the breaking point
between the afternoon and
evening. And I said five o'clock.
Troy Cartwright: I was gonna say
430. So 430.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, I say five
just because of that's typically
like the workday. Okay, I'm with
you. But regardless, anyways,
this this new record. Yeah. What
do you do it? And like, how long
did it take to? You said, you
cut it down from my, I guess you
were picking from 30 songs or so?
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. So I did
it in in Austin, with the called
rattletrap Studios, but as
produced by Rob Baird, and Brian
Phillips. And Rob, you know, is
kind of like, Oh, my, I don't
know, he's my dude. Like, he was
always been really cool to me.
Like when I was first getting
started when I you know, when I
I still make trips up to
Nashville. But at one point, he
was up there. He's back in
Austin now. But you know, we
had, we had some beers or
whatever. And this was like, two
years ago, just got to talk and
and kind of hit it off from
like, a music that we liked
standpoint, you know, and we're
playing the mercury lounge in
Tulsa. I don't know back in
October, maybe. And he sent me a
text. He's like, Hey, dude, I
want to produce your record,
because I've been looking around
for producer and I've like been
going up to Nashville and
barking up that tree to see
like, want to produce my record
and like, none of it felt. It
didn't feel good, you know, just
felt like something. I don't
know. It's like it's a struggle,
right. And you're trying to
grow. So you know, you want to
like get a good producer. But
But BDP the other producer had
done a lot of a lot of other
records that I that I liked. So
I'm blanking. I'm blanking on
the guy's name, David. new
record fables. Oh, David Maris.
Thank you. Yeah, yeah, he did.
He did. Not fables, but the
record before that. The rooster
maybe? Or like the, the, the one
with whatever the number I got a
name. But anyway, yeah, it done
some really great work forever
phones right here. But we could
look but I mean, I feel like
this cheating, you know,
Thomas Mooney: so I'm just not
gonna look, I looked at my phone
that
Troy Cartwright: yeah, it's
like, I gotta tighten. So see,
yeah, we started working on
that. And we started tracking it
in December. But before that,
end of October, November, I
would just go to, I would just
go to Rob's house in Austin,
he's got a little back house. So
you can just kind of crash there
for a few days. And I just, we'd
stay up till like five in the
morning. And I just play play
songs. You know, and like I
said, we probably played over 30
songs, and we'd write them down
and kind of got a list going and
then, you know, pared it down
and tried to make a record that
sounded like a record, not just
the record I did before I was
proud of a lot of it, but it
just felt rushed. And, you know,
some of it, I listened back and
I'm like, man, like, I didn't,
it didn't feel like me, I guess
you know what I mean? Like,
talking about that struggle?
Like are you trying to sound
like this or that and yeah, you
know, so I feel like with this
record, it's, you know, we
struck a really, it just, you
know, it sounds like me, it's
the songs I wanted to do and I
wouldn't I think as much as we
could we kind of blocked out the
are you trying to, you know,
who's gonna listen to this or
whatever. It's like, well, let's
just make the record that you
want to make and, you know,
hopefully people like it and if
not, I guess you know, do
something else. I don't Yeah,
that's not gonna I can't do
anything else. But just figure
something out. Maybe. Maybe the
next record. Just Just make
Michael cheesy country tunes or
something. If this doesn't work.
Go easy,
Thomas Mooney: cheesy country
saying teams. Yeah, if there's a
lot of background noise on this,
it's just because there's people
walking through. We're at blue
light right now
Troy Cartwright: we are but uh,
the guy with the skateboard has
gone, which more sad about?
Yeah,
Thomas Mooney: I don't think
really there's gonna be too much
background noise. I know that
will be on there. Yeah, yeah,
that's for sure. But that's
okay.
Troy Cartwright: Man. So so
anyway. Yeah, so we did that.
And then we went back and, I
don't know, first week of
February and did the rest. And I
don't know. I think it's I think
it's really special man. I think
it's got some really nice
moments. And I don't know, it's
just it's not you know, you. You
work on something for so long.
And then you just now it's like,
we're just waiting. You know, we
got all the lineup all these
ducks. And yeah, that was one
thing. I was like, laughing at,
like, a really good buddies with
the guys from flatland. You
know, and they like finish the
record and like, put it right
out. Yeah, man. Like, that's
crazy. Obviously, it worked out
very well for them. But like
I'm, I'm much more like, I don't
know, I get really into the
minutiae of want everything to
be like really specific way and
like the release to be a certain
way. Yeah. I don't know if it
freakin matters at all. But
yeah,
Thomas Mooney: that the the
flatline release. I remember
talking with cleddau. Probably
like a month before the release
month and a half. And it was
like, yeah, we're still I'm
getting all nervous because I'm
still working on doing this
stuff. and blah, blah, blah. And
then, you know, a month later,
it's like, oh, we're gonna
release the record. In two
weeks. Yeah. And here it is. And
I was like, shit, man, you guys.
just did it. You guys got it
finished up. Yeah, they busted
it out. Yeah. That's awesome. I
don't know. I think it's a it's
interesting. The different ways
you can make a record and I
guess, like, think of what a
record is. Right? You know,
like, that's, I, for most
people, it's just, you know, a
collection of songs. Sure. It's
like, and probably for a lot of
buyers. It's a collection of
songs in which I don't like half
of them. Were not even
necessarily I don't like half of
them. But I don't listen to him
because I didn't never listen to
him. Right. You know, what?
that's entirely different thing.
But, you know? Well, I think if
you're able to go ahead,
Troy Cartwright: I'll just say,
I think also, it gets a little
bit harder as you go along. You
know, like you, I don't know,
overthink it, or, you know, you
want it to be like, I'm just
nervous about like, I'm, like,
sometimes like so like, just
basically sick to my stomach
about this new record. I'm just
like, yeah, are people gonna?
Are people gonna like it? Is it
any good? I don't know. I don't
know. Yeah. So it's, but Yeah,
it is. It is interesting. For
sure. Everyone's got their own
process. But that's, that's the
beauty of it. You know, it's
hard. So there's no
Thomas Mooney: set way. You
know, when I I interviewed Dave
Cobb the other day. Oh, really?
Yeah. And he's just talking
about Yeah, just matter of fact,
about how, yeah, we slyke
whenever I cut that record with
Sergio those four days, you
know, and just like, oh, shit,
man, you guys. But that's his
whole that's his philosophy on
record making. Let's make
something quick and fast. And
like capture a moment, you know,
right. versus a fine guess like
this? Yeah. He said, like, yeah,
they cut it in four days. Oh, my
God. And like the Stapleton
record, he said, two weeks. And
that was like in, I guess, like
the, I think they did the
surgical record at at Cobbs like
back studio. And then the other
one was in, like, RCA CDs, or
something like that. Fancy
studio. Yeah. Which He's like,
in charge of now. Oh, really?
Yeah. But anyways, it's like,
regardless of, if you think to
like, of course, four days is
really short. But like two weeks
is also very short.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. Yeah, it
is. And it goes fast to like,
you know, this record, we did it
and basically to one weak
stance, you know, and like, I
think what a lot of people don't
realize, too, is, you know, 1012
hour days, at the end of the
third day, you've been sitting
essentially, in a room with loud
noises. Yeah, you know, with
drums and, you know, you're just
trying to get the arranger down
and you've heard every song 15
times. Yeah. And you just sort
of get, like, brain goop? I
don't know.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. What's
that? And then probably the the
next the next part is the the
whole, you know, mixing and
mastering and then, you know, if
you're really into that, you're
listening to it. 1000 more
times.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. Yeah. And
you're, you're trying to figure
out, you know, if this is right,
or you know, If I tweak this,
this is gonna sound better or
and then suddenly tweaking
you're like, Oh, wait, and then
I go, can we go? Yeah. Can we go
back to the other way? So? Yeah,
it's interesting. This was a lot
different than the record I made
before this just in terms of the
process. So what was what? How
did you guys do it last time?
Last time? I did it up at 115
recording studios in Norman with
with Washington. He's done.
Yeah, throwback records and john
fullbright Records and you know,
I, I was still pretty new. So I
didn't really have a band yet,
per se, I had a guitar player,
Glen, who still with me, and
kind of just hired some guys to
play from Dallas and got in
there and like, wasn't 100%
sure, like, what songs we're
gonna do? And you know, just
kind of tried to make it No, no,
it was poorly planned. I think
the result was, in the end was,
you know, was was good. It got
me Got me somewhere got what got
me where I needed to go. And I
think, like, West did a really
great job on the next flight
home, which was our first single
and that really kind of started
us down the down the path or
whatever. Yeah, we are now. But
for this record, you know, it
was just like I said, a lot more
time planning songs. And then I
ended up using studio guys and
guys who had worked together a
lot, which save us time in the
studio in terms of, you know,
I'm coming to the songs with to
them with the songs like pretty
much acoustic some of them, I
had some arrangements in mind,
but, you know, we bang it out
one way, and then we say, Okay,
let's listen to this reference
track. And, you know, we, it's
very nimble, there was no words,
if I were to do with my band,
that would be sort of this
institutional knowledge of what
we've always done it this way.
So the producer says, we want to
try it this way. But like, you
know, yeah, it can create, like,
maybe a weird. I don't know,
attitude or vibe in the studio.
So it was really cool. Like the
vibe was, it was it was really
awesome.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, I've time
around. I've heard about like,
maybe not necessarily, like the
band being, like, the regular
band being lazy about it, like,
well, but like, in a while, this
is going to be so much more work
if we do it this way. Right. In
a like, Well, we've been doing
it this way for six months now.
Troy Cartwright: Right? Should I
let you know? Yeah, like I said,
it's just the institutional, you
know, it's just and then you
hear it the other way, you're
not going to like it, because
they're used to the other way. I
know, like, when we would switch
stuff around. Even studio guys,
it was uncomfortable for me. But
you just kind of step back and
say, you know, and that was the
other thing that was a lot of
trust. With between me and I
trusted Robin and BDP kind of in
their, their ears, I guess and,
and kind of so it was it was
just good man. It was a great
experience. I learned so much.
And you know, I'm hoping it'll
open some doors or whatever. I
don't know. I don't know how
this works now. Yeah, like now's
the hard part.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. What's, uh,
what was the most difficult song
to write? To write?
Troy Cartwright: Well, so how
could you, which is I think
track seven or eight was a song
I'd written a different way. It
was about a different thing. And
I was on a personal story, I
suppose. Girl, my girlfriend was
was we were both living in
Dallas over the summer. And
she's, she's in school. So she
had to leave at the end of the,
you know, at the end of summer
and go back to school. You know,
it was it was it was tough. So,
I kind of came to it. For me, it
was a love song. And it kind of
got tweaked to being more of
like, you know, how the, the,
you know, the theory of the song
is how could you leave
basically, of course, wasn't
actually the, necessarily the
case, but it was that it was
just capturing that feeling of,
you know, and it was very, I
don't know, very vulnerable
feeling. And, you know, it was
hard to write it, wrote it at a
you know, it was a hard, hard
couple weeks, I suppose in my
life. And I don't know, I really
think songwriting is important
in that way. Just to my life,
you know, it's songwriting is
just kind of the only thing. I
would say the only thing nobody
told me to do, but I mean, I was
writing songs I was 14 just
because I was pissed at my
parents or whatever and, and,
you know, it helps me I'm a
pretty oftentimes pretty like
depressed guy or a dark guy and
you know, gives me some, I don't
know relief, if that makes sense
or so I I don't know. I like
that part of it. And and I like
the I just like the process of,
you know, we're talking about
what that server record, it's
like you're just trying to
capture this little, this little
feeling I guess.
Thomas Mooney: It's in. It's
interesting as far as like, like
songs can be just a moment in
time, right? where, like, last
week, whenever we had BJ and
will on, BJ is talking about, I
hope he breaks your heart. And
it's a great story. And he was
like, you know, I went back and
wrote wrote that song, and I
didn't really think it was gonna
be more than that. And somebody
captured on YouTube. Oh, and
then people started wanting that
song, like requesting that song.
And that's how, like the song I
guess, got put on, eventually
recorded and put on the record
and all that kind of stuff.
Yeah, you just say now. It's,
uh, he doesn't feel that way.
Now, it was like a moment of
seeing his girlfriend walk into
the bar where he was playing
sure with the guy, right? And
him going backstage and writing
that song down, and then going
back out there with an acoustic
and pointing her out.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, calling
her out on it. And it's awesome,
though. It's such a great story.
And I mean, it's, you know, sort
of, like, anthem for them at
this point. Yeah. Which is
really cool. And I think, I
think songs, every song has a
different process to like, on my
record, like the last track is a
song called Arkansas. And that
was a song that happened pretty
much in 15 minutes, just kind of
started playing and then it kind
of came out, maybe tweaked it a
little bit. But then then there
are other songs on there. Like,
what happened was the first
tracker busted. I mean, what
happened was I probably worked
on maybe for over a year, off
and on and, and busted was about
something else. And then, you
know, I like to write as I think
of songwriting sort of is like
polishing a really like, dirty
bowl. So initially, you just
kind of trying to get most of
the big stuff off and like get
it down to paper and on your
phone. And then sometimes that's
good enough, and other times you
listen back and tweak it and
then, you know, sometimes you
can just fall down the rabbit
hole of tweaking this and then
oh, no, well, now this line
doesn't make sense. So it
definitely depends on the song.
Yeah, but I like the I like
working in I enjoy the it's kind
of like a puzzle.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. The actual
work of putting the floor.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, well, and
I just, I just love the, the
craft of songwriting. And I
think, you know, it's, it's kind
of like, a calling in a way And
oftentimes, you know, not
rewarding and, you know, it's a
struggle. It's a struggle, being
a musician, and, you know, but
that's, you know, I'm sure any
job anyone has, they feel like
it's a struggle. So, yeah, the,
Thomas Mooney: on this record,
one of the things I noticed was
that, especially on this first,
like three tracks, or some three
or four tracks, yeah, like the
opening lines are just really
vivid images, likes very
specific things. Yeah, you know,
is that you'd like that. You'd
like to try and get that in the
the first line in the song like
the, to, I guess, start the the
image in the listeners head
right off the bat, with
something just straight into the
point.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. You know,
of course, it depends on the
song, but I like the I call it
like a towel. So if you tell
someone in a song, like turn
down, the sheets, turn off the
light. When you hear that, in
your mind, you're, you're
staring at probably a bed in the
bedspread is a certain color,
and the light looks a certain
way and a lampshade and it's
arranged in a certain way in the
room. And I love how you can say
so little and maybe put someone
in the song immediately. And
it's their own world that
they're imagining. So I think,
you know, as much as I can I try
and do it that way or like with
with somebody else's problem,
like the first line is, is like
your little cry baby. So
obviously, that's not really
setting the scene as much as it
is. It's just, you know, that
was how I felt at the time.
Yeah. But I think it's
effective. I think, you know,
it's it's a cold start, too. So
I think it can be a little bit
jarring.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. In a good
way. Likely busted. You're
starting to just in the in the
car. Yeah. You know, that's I
think like the the those first
line images are. That's one of
the first things I had noticed
on. Yeah, just like though the
one playthrough that I did.
Yeah, yeah. Well, that's, that's
great. Yeah. I think, I don't
know. Busted is kind of my I
like that. That's sort of like
my ideal sound too. It's like I
think it was like in a desert II
sound. That's always what I'm
trying to kind of capture. But
yeah, it's hard. Desert II sound
Yeah. barren and space and yeah,
dusty. Dirty. I don't know what
did you guys? You're talking
about like talking just about
music with Rob. Yeah, before
even getting this record going
becoming friends and like
becoming better friends that
kind of shit. Yeah Did you did
like before going to the studio
kind of thing did you go? Hey,
can we make this record sound
like I want to like, point you
in a direction and I want it to
sound this kind of way. Yeah,
but specific ideas specific
record your songs,
Troy Cartwright: um, we had more
stock ideas and styles and you
know some of them stuck around
and some of them didn't like
obviously, at the time we were
both really into the Stapleton
record and that was kind of that
it's maybe well peak for me. I
think it peaked nationally, like
maybe exactly two weeks later.
But But so, you know, we spent a
lot of time thinking about that
record and thinking about you
know, we really bonded over some
of those Ryan Adams records and
and I mean, there, there's a lot
of one of my all time favorite
records is that he's Carl
trouble in mind, I think. Yeah,
with bomont. And I think the
trouble in mind record was was
sort of the starting point. It
was like, let's make something
like this. And there are a few
songs in there that the you can
definitely feel the influence.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, man. It's
never this busy. Ever. We're
having a good time, man. Sorry.
Yeah. I mean, I don't know.
Yeah. I'm sure I've been that
guy. Yeah, many a time. But
anyways. Okay, speaking of like
Harry's and Sergio, they both
add new records out. Yeah. Have
you Have you listened to him
yet? Have you? You know, I have
actually dived in. I have not
listened. I listened to the the
Hayes single. What is it lovers?
Mike leavers. And yeah,
something like that.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah. And I
maybe that's the record name. I
don't know. Yeah. Um, so for the
sake of the song, that was the
thing. Okay. Yeah. I really
liked that. The spiritual
record. I have not gotten to yet
now because I didn't want to,
but I was sort of saving it. But
I did listen to like this two
and a half hour podcast with Joe
Rogan. Yeah. That was like,
surprisingly, like mind blowing.
Yeah, awesome.
Thomas Mooney: This is that's
what this podcast is two and a
half hour. Yeah, I can never do
that. I feel like shit, man,
like we've run out of. Yeah. But
go ahead. Pause the podcast
about like, did you go into the
making of the record and all
that, like, what
Troy Cartwright: do you visit
LinkedIn a little bit. But I
think more they just talked
about life. And I mean, what I
admire so much about Jason
Isbell, and sturgill is like,
there's some guys who sort of
kept the path. You know, they,
they're in their later 30s, I
think maybe early 40s. I'm not
sure. You know, and they never,
but they just kind of kept
going, and kept growing. And I
just I admire that. I love the,
I mean, obviously, Jason has had
some, a lot of success, like,
but But um, you know, I, I think
I, you just you get older, and
you learn more, and you kind of
think about life a certain way.
And in that, that's one of the
reasons I'm really excited.
Listen to this. 30 Records.
Yeah. Is it any good? Oh,
Thomas Mooney: I think it's
great. Yeah. What I find
interesting about just both
those records is that I think
like critic, they've been
critically acclaimed. Sure. But
there has been some, I don't
necessarily want to call it
blowback. But like, This record
is not because obviously, people
don't like this record is not
better. Modern sounds. I wonder
matter. Modern, says 2.0. And
same thing, like I wanted k mag
Yo, yo, 2.0. Right. And it's
like, the anti kickback. It's
very slow and sad. And yeah, you
know, they're all just singer
songwriter songs. You know,
they're not Ramblers, you know,
they're not. barroom ballads are
right. And I think it's just
interesting to see. I think
there is a difference between
saying, I don't like this record
and saying, I didn't want this
record. You know, I felt like
like, you can say you don't want
those songs or like you don't
like the songs. I think that's
perfectly fine. Yeah, but you're
kind of like Saying that
whatever. Like creative bone,
like in whoever's body like
inserted was body like you're
just saying like, no, don't turn
that off. Yeah, you know, or.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, I know
exactly what you're saying. And,
you know, and I guess what that
says, isn't that part of the
reason? Like maybe why we like
them so much is because they
just don't care. Yeah, or maybe
they don't I think everyone
cares a little. But I mean, so
cool for sturgill to have all
that success, you know, he could
kind of do. Honestly, whatever
you wanted, and people were kind
of by it. It doesn't mean to
listen to it. But yeah, you
know, I mean, I think that's
very freeing. As an artist, I
mean, that's one thing Ryan
Adams has never been afraid of
is like, Hey, I made this
record. I'm gonna take a
complete left turn now and make
this record and you can like it
or not, I don't really care.
Thomas Mooney: I think that's a
few weeks back, I was talking
about, like, surgical is bull
and Stapleton they're they're
more or less the the the three
leading the the new face of sure
America and a country, whatever
you want to call it. And they're
really good at all three facets,
if you will, of music as far as
the voice songwriting in style,
yeah. But what I was saying was
that you could boil boil them
down to being really elite at
one certain thing, or like you
know sturgeons voice or mean,
Stapleton his voice, right? It's
just incredible, right? He's
able to, but just so much raw
emotion into a vocal take. And
his bowl is like, you know, just
an incredible songwriter. Yeah,
lyrically, it's just and on the
surgical, on the other hand is
like, theme wise, like ideas.
Yeah, is is is, is more or less
his thing, probably more than
the other two. And I was just
thinking about, like, it's
probably not necessarily harder
for him to go, Oh, I'm gonna
make a this next record is going
to be about this. Right. You
know, I don't think it's
necessarily going to be hard for
him to do that. But it's, it's
probably harder. It's a it's a
bigger jump for the listener to
justify where listeners will
will jump with vocals or softer.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, I mean,
in sterols records, to me are
very vibey Records, and they're
great. Front to back at like
this sort of certain way.
Whereas, you know, Jason is Bill
like, I find myself a lot more
like jumping in between songs. I
love listening to the record
front to back, but, you know,
maybe this week I'm really into
speech or uptown or, yeah, you
know, or, and then, you know,
the next week, I'm jumping back
to like, super eight motel,
which is like, such an
underrated song. Yeah, well,
that song. But, yeah, I know
exactly what you mean. And you
know, stables in the same way.
It's like, traveling. This is
the song. Yeah. And again,
they're all great front to back,
but I think sturgill kind of has
that. It's just so vibey you
know, it's like, yeah, you know,
Thomas Mooney: his his record is
more of a not saying like, the
other records are not records,
but his is more of a what, you
would not be mad if you had to
just put like one track on. And
it writes like one. Yeah,
complete track. No. Individual
songs. Yeah. I think it's an
it's interesting to see what I
guess like, where people want to
stay with music. And I'm saying
it's fine. Like, I know, like, a
lot of people really don't have
the time to invest in musical.
It's like, Oh, you know, I'm
doing, like, I have a life. You
know, I've got like three kids
and right, I really can't decide
on like, exactly what the new
surgical record is supposed to
be about. You know, that kind of
thing. I understand that. Yeah.
You're not like a lot of people
are not listening to music the
way we're listening to music,
right. But I do find it
interesting to see like, we're
like, what's the bridge? That
bridges is too far? Right. I um,
I've gone all this way. But that
one right there. No, I'm not
gonna cross
Troy Cartwright: yet. I'm not
doing that. And I'm really
excited. For what john
fullbright does next. Yeah. I I
just think that guy is like, so
insanely talented. I saw him
last week in New York City.
Yeah. Acoustic show room about
this big. And like, just, you
know, simultaneously,
unbelievably inspired and also,
like, just wanted to quit, cuz
it was so it's just great. You
know? Yeah. Great, great
entertainer and great stories.
Great. Great, you know, great
lyrics, but also he's just great
at playing the harmonica. And
he's very talented musician
overall. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney: I want some one
time and it was here. Yeah. He's
opening for. For Todd Snyder.
Okay, that was like I don't know
how long ago that was, like
three, four years back. Yeah.
And I guess he was gonna play.
He was opening for Patty
Griffin. Okay. actus a couple
for like a year ago. And then he
had to cancel. So I was just
like, mind, man, but I think
Fulbright, like, those are
records that you can just dive
into and just get lost within
Troy Cartwright: that record.
Absolutely. I mean, songs is,
you know, it's such a great
record. And when I was up there,
and in Norman working on my
record, they just kind of
finished the record more or less
than, apparently, allegedly,
there was a record that was made
before. Oh, really, and john
didn't just said, Man, this
isn't what I want to do. I want
to make a record that's hard to
sell. Yeah. And it's like what I
want to do. And he made songs
and it was like,
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, man, that's
songs. It feels like it's a like
the record is. There's so much
talk about how to make a record.
Yeah. Like how to write a song.
Right? You know, like, what is.
I guess like is, you start
writing songs about the writing
process of it. Yeah. But uh, but
Troy Cartwright: you know, it's
great. I mean, guys like him and
Parker Millsap man, it's just
Thomas Mooney: see his record.
His new one is just, he had that
one song on there. Evanson, you
listen to that? I have not.
Troy Cartwright: I think I saw
you tweet about it, which is
maybe what made me tune in. I
think I listened to that. And
it's one about the silver lining
and the pining. Yeah, pining. So
great.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, it's a I
don't know if you listened to
the podcast I did with Drew
Kennedy. But he was talking
about how he thinks the the
perfect way to make a great
American songwriter is to raise
them up in a Pentecostal church
until like, the age of like, 16.
And then really, yeah, well, he
had a very specific he was like,
then at 16 you give him a stack
of Playboy's and like a bottle
of whiskey and a guitar.
Troy Cartwright: Something like
yeah, which I think that's more
or less his story. So yeah. Wow.
That's incredible.
Thomas Mooney: All those guys
though, there.
Troy Cartwright: I know. It's
it's just it's the it's this
Oklahoma thing, man. It makes
being from you know, I mean, he
got turned by to Muslim. I mean,
you got a million amazing bands.
Yeah, dude. Yeah. Oh, my God. I
saw I saw him in Nashville.
acoustic guitar. No band Sunday
night. Played. I don't know. 10
song said no words to anyone.
You know, I think he said thank
you one time, played his last
song just hated his guitar and
walked off. And it was like, it
was incredible. You know? That a
guy's a definitely a songwriter,
to to admire.
Thomas Mooney: I think so much
of their sound. Is the, like,
the southern Gothic overtones.
Yeah, you know, the, the
southern myth mythicism of just
like that. There's so much
history in the south. I feel
like Texas, like we're, we're
part of the South in a way, but
it's more West. It is and
Troy Cartwright: all and even in
Texas is so big to right.
Because, I mean, the Lubbock
sound, if you will, is is a lot
different than you know, the
kind of stuff that they're
making in Austin or, or
wherever. And I guess those are
the two maybe polls that you
would choose from in Texas.
Thomas Mooney: But even what
what's the difference between
like Fort Worth and Dallas? I
bet there there's a little
Troy Cartwright: Dallas even I
mean, Fort Worth is I love Fort
Worth, man. I mean, that's they
got the great music scene over
there mean Dallas, Dallas is
tough, man. I mean, like
sometimes it's hard to tell
people you from you know, when
people think of you certain way
or whatever Fort Worth is kind
of the I've always thought of is
like the gateway to West Texas.
That's kind of always been seen.
Thomas Mooney: That's one of
those things where I bought this
book, and it was a probably a
book came out in like 70 Yeah,
somebody won or something like
that. This is dude, he was going
around Texas going around to all
the like all the bars in Texas.
Yeah. And like ranking them as
well. I was like, kind of that
kind of thing. And I thought it
was weird that he he grouped
like Fort Worth with West Texas
and Mike Dallas would like
Dallas or something. Yeah. But
it was like, but I always
thought that was weird. Or I
thought that was weird. But then
talking with people we were
like, no, like, that's a real
thing. Well,
Troy Cartwright: yeah, it's just
I mean, compared to Dallas. It's
very slow. It's a slower pace
and Longworth and, you know, I
mean, I think people pride say
that too, because of all that,
you know, the stockyards and it
feels very, yeah, I'm sure. But
yeah, I mean, there's a great
scene out there. Dallas has You
know, the places kind of I
started venues like Love and War
theater saloon, you know, which
is like, I started playing at a
saloon Monday nights, because
that's what jacking room did for
like, three or four years. And
yeah, I was like, dude, I want
to, I want to do this. I think
jack might be one of the only
guys that come out of Dallas
that I'm like thinking about the
top my head. I think Granger
Smith wants Dallas. So there's
always that is from Dallas. But
But, you know, it's just, it's a
it's interesting, I guess the
way the way that it all works.
And I mean, I think you're in
luck, you know, you get you get
jealous of what the kind of
community here. I know, I do.
You know, I wish I wish. You
know, we had something like
that. And, and, you know, over
in Dallas, it would have been a
lot easier. I mean, part of
like, getting started was just
trying to find the right. People
to listening room. Yeah, well, I
mean, right. crownless the guys
who write songs in Dallas are
just like older guys doing it
for a hobby. So you go to like a
songwriter night or whatever.
And you're the youngest one
there, and it's not relatable.
And that was really hard. You
know, and, and I always kind of
had this even when I was living
in Boston, this sort of like,
fascination with with Lubbock.
And what it was like here and
just kind of got lucky like
getting into here because we
played at Magnolia motor lodge
in Fort Worth, and with the hog
Molly's Yeah. And they were
playing here like a week later.
And they were like, hey, do
y'all want to come open? For us?
It was like, dude, yeah, we'd
love to you know, we've been
coming back ever since. But I
mean, without those guys, I
don't think I mean, how many?
You know, there's a million fans
who want to play blue light.
Yeah, you know, so it's a, it's
a cool thing. I don't know if
you guys realize like, how,
yeah, how big of a, I
Thomas Mooney: think it's
starting to get to a point where
I've had conversations with
various people about this, you
know, like, well, and, you know,
do some local guys. Yeah, like,
the ultra sore cowboy guys like
about what is the tipping point
kind of thing? Like, what's the
the point where? I guess like
we've been called underrated
forever. Sure. And at what
point? Do we just become
normally rated? Well, hopefully,
hopefully, never. You want to
Yeah, but underdog status? I
guess within? You know, there's
that article just a few weeks
ago, about like, the 500 rated
places or music scenes in
Lubbock. And I was like, Yeah,
well, there it is, you know,
yeah. You might be right, my
litmus test is gonna be like,
once they start charging for
parking around here, then it's
then it's, it's over? You know,
yeah. Within 10 years,
Troy Cartwright: you know, I
think that's the problem with
like, Dallas or something else.
It's just, there's no place to
go. You know, there's no, like,
besides eight areas, I mean,
deep ellum is kind of coming
back. And, and, you know, I
mean, we're, obviously,
fortunate I was level to be from
there. So like, we don't have
any problem drawing and, you
know, our home market. But you
know, it's cool to be, I think,
last time I played vanilla,
there was like, 160 people, you
know, and like, we're just some
band from Dallas, who hadn't
been around that long and, you
know, people requesting songs,
and you're just like, Man, this
is, I mean, that happens in Fort
Worth. That happens in maybe
Stephenville from time to time.
And but you know, it's, it's
just cool. It's a cool little,
Thomas Mooney: yeah, little
scene, I think what's going to
happen is like, you know, in 30
years, when there's like a book
about this, yeah, loving music.
People are going to get in their
head that, you know, like, oh,
all like, like, all these people
lived in Lubbock at one time,
you know, that kind of right,
because that's what I do with
like, the 70s. Like 70 is love a
guy think oh, yeah, all these
guys lived here at one time.
They're all hanging out. And
like, that's just not the case.
You know what I mean?
Troy Cartwright: But, but I
think it's like a rallying point
anyway, and there are events
that people come back.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. I mean,
like, there was at one point
where, you know, like, Josh, and
like, Well, yeah, in Charlie
shafter. And Brandon Adams, and
they're sure cowboys and like,
all those guys lived here. Campo
Mira. They all lived here at one
point, you know, Grady. Spencer.
Yeah. Was that. Whoops. But, uh,
they were, you know, they lived
here all at one point, you know,
yeah. I don't know. It's
interesting. No, it is very
interesting. It's a now that you
weren't like who they were.
Troy Cartwright: You know, and I
mean, that's, that's the beauty
of it. Right? Yeah. I mean,
you're never gonna make, you
know, friends with someone who's
already made it. I mean, it's
unlikely, you know, yeah. on
that level, like the way like
the friendships that you know, I
have now With with, you know,
with Robert clover, you know. So
it's really neat. Yeah, I feel
like we're all going somewhere.
And it'll be cool, you know?
Yeah, hopefully.
Thomas Mooney: I think so. I
think, you know, it's, uh, I
think like what's happening in
Texas music is there's been a
shift. Yeah, as far as the, it's
going back to more rootsy stuff
more. Yeah, like, natural
sounds. Right. And I think that
it that lends itself to I don't
want to necessarily sit
necessarily say more honest
writing, but it's a little bit
more earthy. Yeah. more grounded
and it's just better. You know,
it's better to that's an
opinion. But,
Troy Cartwright: you know, I
mean, I think I think just to
top it all off that the best
thing that Christy Stapleton and
Isabel and Virgil have done is
make, like the song good
songwriting, like, important
again,
Thomas Mooney: the sake of the
song.
Troy Cartwright: Yeah, exactly.
So I mean, I think that'll pay.
I mean, I think for for
songwriters, you know, are
coming up, I think that they're
paving the way in a very, you
know, it's people are more Yeah,
I mean, people are, you know,
blood people don't like to think
about it that way. But you know,
in Nashville, or whatever, like
they've got their machine and
being, you know, if they'll
start investing in that, it's
good for everyone. So, yeah, I
think it'll be good. We're
coming up on like, a an hour
here. Awesome. Let's get out of
here.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. Hey, guys,
one last note before getting on
to Troy playing a new song off
his new record. I would like to
mention that today, which is
Thursday. That we have Daniel
marcomms. new record streaming
online on Newsline. You can go
to Newsline lubbock.com and find
it there. We'll be streaming it
until tomorrow when when the
album officially comes out.
You'll want to make sure to buy
that record it's a it's pretty
incredible, too. If you could go
ahead and subscribe to the new
slang podcast go ahead and give
us a review and share it with
all your friends that really
helps us out and if you're
looking for the are panhandle,
new slang Lubbock music shirt.
We do still have I guess copies
of it. We still have T shirts
available so we haven't set up a
store yet will we promise I
promise I'll get a store set up
at some point. But if you want a
shirt now you can always just
email us which is at New slang
dot [email protected] So
anyways, yeah, here's Troy
playing a new song off his
upcoming record.
Troy Cartwright: Oh this is a
song on the upcoming record
release date to be determined
sometime late summer This is
song called busted was run kind
of funny Adam wins through down
just chain make it to my
buddies. Sam fool. Fool sound
street wrong salads that's weird
to say red and Shaq Randy is
falling apart. brew can our
booth again Sam things rusty big
p van star it's bursty crowd
trip only the things bad is
worth assessing Potter's Gaddy
Sivan sands began in ash tree.
Very repair sheets and planes we
made his brass have paid see
your shadow Fall in part in our
boot camp Sam things rusty did
he then start just little spark
no gas or heart ran through our
boot camp against things risk be
their star chain Thanks, man.



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