Read the transcript
Thomas Mooney: Hey everyone,
welcome to episode number 27 of
the new slang podcast on Thomas
Mooney. And this week's episode
is with Kay Phillips. This
interview was done probably like
a month back now, this was back
when Kay was opening shows for
Counting Crows and Rob Thomas on
this. I guess really like two
month, two and a half month,
three month tour all over the
nation. And he was doing these
little sideshows in between if
they had any time and one of
them was at blue light and so it
was like a Thursday and he came
in played at blue light. So I'll
make this intro super short. If
you don't follow new slang
already, you can find us on
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search for new slang. On Twitter
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at New slang underscore lbk if
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podcast already, go ahead and do
so if you've not rated us yet.
Please do that as well. We have
some really great episodes
coming up. I know I've still not
pulled up the blue light singer
songwriter finals yet, but I was
gonna I'm gonna get that done
pretty soon. I guess. episodes
coming up soon are going to be
curious Sweeney and Brandon
Adams. One with Susan Gibson.
And then also one with Benton
Leachman. They'll be coming up
really really soon. We'll see if
if Dalton Domino or red Shay Han
or whoever is playing this
weekend here in Lubbock. Maybe
Wade Bowen if they want to jump
on the podcast, so yeah,
anyways. Yeah, here's the
conversation with Screamin' K
Phillips. But why prepared me?
Yeah, yeah. You're okay.
K. Phillips: I kind of distorted
it there. But I think this is so
great. Where do you get these
boom arms? Just from Amazon, I
guess Amazon. Someone like that.
sound? Okay. Good. Oh, yeah,
sounds great. Okay, well, we're
only gonna be worried about that
beer next year computer. No, you
weren't until I said something.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, until I
picked it up. Yeah, of course. I
was like, knock on wood. Okay.
Well, the thing is, okay, I saw
somebody pulling pulling here
earlier. Yeah, that's why I put
my shit on the pool table. So
they can't Yeah, well, they had
like a beer right here. And I
was like, move that. I mean, for
fuck sake. Yeah. Come on. It's
not like is the only fucking
thing that Yeah.
K. Phillips: Has electricity
running through it like people.
I mean, there's people places
over here growing up with
things. Yeah. That are electric.
And Are we rolling? Yeah, we're
rolling. Okay, we started. I
guess Last time we talked. Was
You're like a week before going
out on this massive tour. Oh, my
gosh. Okay. So what's what's
happening now? How many weeks
he's happening now? I'm a man
now. I was a boy transformed.
Yeah. Can we close on here?
Yeah. It was a, you don't think
10 weeks of your life could
change you. But when you when
you're in a van, and you're
following a bus that has a bus
driver, and you're playing gigs
that are three hours away from
each other every day. It I mean,
it's just kind of taxing and we
have. So we're on tour with Rob
Thomas and the Counting Crows.
And I'm very, we're very lucky
to be there. And the crows and
Rob, they always bring out other
people who they like, you know,
and from what I've seen with the
crows, it usually breaks the
band up. You know, a lot of
great bands have played but they
don't always last after this
tour. Yeah, like the to or
breaks the band, you know. And
we haven't done that. I my band
is largely the band somebody
darling. We lived in a house. I
think we talked about this last
time. I moved up there because I
was in Austin and it was so hard
to find anybody to play with me
that they wanted to do it for
the music and not not The money
you know, it was hard to find
anybody who gave a shit about
their craft, you know? Oh, I
hate to say that there, there
are cool dudes in in Austin.
They're great players that will,
you know, learn your stuff. But
I just felt like when I moved to
Nashville, when I went to
Nashville to play it, it seemed
like, oh, man, these guys are
really good. And they're really
cool. And they want to get
better, which is what I want to
do. And I had a band, but I
ended up I ended up living in a
house with the band, somebody's
darling. And they're, they're
on. They're on a break why amber
does acoustic stuff and, and I
mean, when I was coming up, they
were they were on the road, I
was on the road, I was, I was in
a Prius with a little brave, and
they were in like a converted
box truck early, you know, like
a mini bus kind of deal. And
we'd be playing the, sorry,
these peas are so hard. We'd be
playing. I don't want to say the
places but for touring
musicians, they like the worst,
the worst of the worst in in
certain parts of Birmingham,
Alabama or Atlanta, Georgia, and
and it's just like, their door
gigs. And you're just trying to
get your foot in the door and
you're trying to make enough to
keep going and and that was that
was probably seven or eight
years ago. Yeah, that we were
doing our first big pushes on to
the east and west coast. And
these guys are their road dogs,
but they're some of my best
friends recently got off
Adderall on the sewer. I've been
taking Adderall since I was 15
years old. And I was like, yeah,
this is going great. I played
Red Rocks, not on Adderall. It
was like the first show. I've
played, maybe ever, like not
taking I have a doctor and it's,
it's a load, I take 30
milligrams. It's not that big of
a deal. But it just kind of
keeps me where I can get my
stuff done, you know. And I
started going through
withdrawals, like three days
after we played we played a sold
out show at Red Rocks. We didn't
sell it out. Yeah, the crows and
Rob Thomas sold it out. But uh I
was fine that day. But the next
few days. I started like, having
like, I don't know, like, these
crazy mood swings you I mean, we
know each other. I'm not really
like a moody guy. Like I don't
think I I've never gotten mad at
anybody, but I, you know, I like
blew up on my band. And because
I ran out of this prescription
that were supposed to last few
months like they magically
disappeared. I don't think it
was anybody in the band. But But
then I tried to get a
prescription sent to Vegas, and
we have a tour book, you know
that the crows give us in the
address was on the wrong. And so
like all our merge and all our
everything was was sent to a
different address. But when
you're going to a different
place every day. It's hard to
like call my doctor and be like,
I'm gonna be here. You know?
Yeah, he's actually flying to
the gig tomorrow. Really? Yeah.
Which is cool, but
Thomas Mooney: that's good.
Yeah.
K. Phillips: So what we're
saying, Oh, yeah. It's true. Or
breaks up most bands but not us.
Knock on wood. Yeah, there's
some dates left. I guess there's
some days. Yeah. Out of the blue
light. Yeah,
Thomas Mooney: I think that
basically, anyone who has been a
is a mutual friend of us as has
been living through your
Instagram poll Really? like
yeah, cuz it's, it's kind of
cool seeing like, this. This
tour. Yeah. Cuz it's, it's been
across the country. It has.
Yeah. And if you if you're on
following you on Snapchat, and
Twitter and Facebook and all
that stuff, you're seeing all
these little Yeah,
K. Phillips: moments, man, some
things are so great that I I'm
afraid to post them because I
don't want people to get
jealous, you know, but honestly,
like any songwriter that I've
met in Lubbock would crush this
tour. And, and I think all the
people you know, behind that,
behind that curtain would love
love to them. And that's what's
so great about this place.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. What a
like, okay, obviously you're on
a date here in Lubbock. What are
they doing tonight? What is what
is Rob Thomas and Counting Crows
do
K. Phillips: what Rob is doing?
He's in Austin, and he's doing
like Little radio show, because
he has a new single out. And
Adam is looking for somebody to
watch a movie with. That's what
he likes to do on his days off.
Yeah. I feel so dumb. Like, he
knows so much about cinema.
Yeah. And I don't, you know, I
thought I did. But yeah, he's
like bringing up, you know,
curious Allah and how it's like,
I don't know, like this
spaghetti westerns were just rip
offs of Kurosawa and like gray.
Is that like
Thomas Mooney: Japanese film
stuff? Yeah. Okay. Like, I'm not
a big film, film guy either.
Okay, I just kind of figured
that's, yeah, I mean, let's go.
I'm starting to get into Yeah,
well, I started watching, uh, I
guess like these. I'll get into
the the wormhole watching like,
YouTube videos of like, top 10
or whatever. Yeah. And there's
just one channel. I can't think
of the name but they're always
doing like top 10 moments, top
10 just different things with
the film. And then half the time
they're these old. Like Japanese
films that I'm like, I've never
heard of this, but right. It's a
little intriguing now. Yeah, I
don't know.
K. Phillips: But yeah, the the
Instagram posts. I like
yesterday, I met Billy Gibbons.
Oh, yeah. I didn't want to post
about it. Because, like, in so
many ways, that guy is my hero.
I mean, style wise, like, not
even music style, but just, he's
got a brand like he's fucking
cool. And he's like, wrapping
this thing. That's, that's us.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, it was
just, it's not just the beard.
It's an entire package. This
K. Phillips: texture Cali kinda
like, yeah, like cactus and
badass single pickup guitars and
cool rat rods. And it's kinda
it's like, yeah, that's what
we're that's what we like, you
know? Yeah. When I met him, we
so we played it at a casino
called San Diego last night. And
a lot of these tours, I'm
finding out like you play in
casinos. And because they pay.
Yeah, well. So I go up to him.
And I'm like, Hey, Mr. Gibbons,
I'm not here to take a picture.
I just want to, you know, tell
you like, You're the reason why
I play single pickup guitars
and. And he's like, Oh, yeah.
You're you're from Austin.
You're playing tonight at 630.
And I was like, are you? Are you
joking? Yeah. Are you gonna come
and he was like, Yeah, I was
like, Yes. Yes. That and then I
wanted to take a picture. Yeah.
And we talked about resonators
and I told him you know, it's
basically you and Van Morrison
like as far as van more for like
the singing and, and, but I was
telling him like, your whole
vibe was like, I, I want to I
want to incorporate that I only
play pink guitars. And anyways,
he's, he sent me like a video of
Van Morrison playing in like
1965 with them. And so we
started like an email chain and
stuff and trying to get me to
buy this resonator. I don't
think he realizes how broke I
am.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, well, I
mean, now. At least you have his
email versus phone or the song
is really good. As long as
really fucking good. Her name is
Elaine. Oh, okay. I guess we
sound checking right now.
K. Phillips: Yes, she moved to
Nashville. When we moved when we
went on the road, and she
actually rented out my guitar
players room at our house. And
she started writing with people.
And Fox, she's getting good.
Like, I I kind of came up with a
little brave who's a female
singer songwriter. We did a lot
of duo stuff. And I I mean, she
put out some of the best records
that have ever been made in
Texas. londonwill. Such a great
record and but I just felt like
First of all, you shouldn't give
people advice. But I feel like
it's hard for everybody in
Texas, but I think it's even
harder for women. Definitely. I
was like, What are you going to
do? You're going to be the next
free bag. Well, I hate to say
yeah, like, what I mean, there's
nowhere to go like, yeah, or you
can move to Nashville and like,
Thomas Mooney: try to make
connections. And there's a
reason why. Like Kacey musgraves
right is big. And that's because
she got out of the Texas Yeah,
right. And now they're such a
Morris. Yeah, it's such a weird,
not a weird No, I'm not gonna
say weird. It's the problem in
Texas. Yeah, with female
songwriters, because it's like
they, they're not respected as
much. Right? For whatever
reason, by the, by the fans.
Yeah. And then I think it kind
of gets in their head a little
bit like, I have to kind of sing
about these kinds of things.
Yeah, to get up to that level
of, like, top 10, whatever,
whatever the case is, like top
10 artists or top 25 whatever
the case is. They, I think, at
some point you you're writing
about what you want to write
about, right in there's this
like, when these people aren't
fucking buying this? I would. I
gotta think about like, yeah,
going to the bars and being
like, I don't know if the
Mexican beer song. Yeah. Yeah.
Like, I gotta be like,
K. Phillips: I'm not knocking
it. I mean, maybe she wants to
do that. I don't know, at all.
But, uh, I just felt like Alina
was had more artistry in her
than that, you know? And, and
she comes from this place. It's
like, She's like, her family.
They're, they're like cutting
horse breeders and I mean, she
grew up she actually grew up on
a ranch and she, she barrel race
and she rodeoed in college. And
I mean, that's like the that's
what they're trying to sell you
in Nashville, like girls like
that. Yeah. I mean, she actually
she's like the real deal. Yeah,
but
Thomas Mooney: I guess like one
of the parts about going back to
the whole Texas thing with
female artists is like, I've
heard from some people saying,
say that they don't feel they're
as genuine. And it's like, Yeah,
well, these texts is like all
the guys were there. You can see
me. Yeah, but all the all the
guys are faking it. Like they're
not the it's a weird deal, man.
You know, I don't know, this
should have been a cowboy kind
of stuff. Or obviously, that's
totally cool. But you know, that
idea? Yeah. Like being the
example. One of the I kind of
have a problem with this is like
Casey Donohue. His last record
is like about, it's called
something like all night party.
And then like the EP before that
was called pre party. And it's
like, it's clever. Okay, you're
talking about drinking, you're
thinking about drinking? Yeah,
that's not necessarily the
problem. The problem is that all
the songs are about drinking,
and then he doesn't do any of
that stuff. Which I'm not saying
is, like, right or wrong, but
I'm saying like, you're being
just, he doesn't you're not
being genuine. Yeah. And I've
heard about the rules, like,
like, nobody in the band can
drink on stage. Oh, wow. It's
like, so if he's like raising a
red solo cup, it's just water.
Something which i'm saying is
fine. If you're so or if you're
sober. Is that because you're
not drinking? He had a problem?
I don't think so. I think it's a
marketing thing. But like,
that's what I'm saying, though,
is like, yeah, if even if he did
have a problem and stop
drinking, right, why are you
singing songs about like,
getting fucked up all the time?
Yeah, well, and so like, that's
kind of like what happens with
these girls as well. Right?
except they're not raising a
empty solo cup.
K. Phillips: Right? Or whatever.
Yeah, well, I mean, the deal is,
we're all going to die, whether
we want to or not, and, you
know, this is all gonna be over.
Like, do you really want to go
to your grave being the guy that
maybe some people do, and I'm
not knocking it, but I just
didn't want. If this is my last
day on earth, I want to be able
to, like leave something that I
believe is beautiful behind, you
know, something that connects
with somebody. And it's hard to
play music, no matter you know,
if you make $50,000 a year doing
it or if you make $5 million a
year doing it like it still
sucks. You still have to play
the casino gigs. You still have
to. Yeah, for morning radio, and
you still have to play the same
fucking song every day. Yeah.
And if you don't believe in that
song, that is that is like a
prison sentence.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. Is that the
problem with writing a song
that's that like the gains that
kind of notoriety that kind of
K. Phillips: I wouldn't know. I
know that. Uh, you know, I'm
saying though. Yeah, I know that
sometimes. Adam doesn't want to
play Mr. Jones. Yeah. Like, I
can imagine that. But then also,
sometime. You're kind of
obligated to. Right. Right. I
mean, yeah, I mean, but mister
Mr. Jones is different from
Yeah. And a few ways from like,
a song that maybe you wrote to
pander to Like a group of for
Thomas Mooney: Margaritaville
Margarita like a good example.
Well, I honestly think it's like
a really well written song now.
But but I've heard the stories
about you know, Jimmy Buffett
wrote that in 15 minutes Yeah,
but how he doesn't drink
margaritas he hates him
absolutely hates. Yeah, which
that's fine too. But I think
it's kind of like I don't know.
There's I'm super tired of it.
Yeah, come on where he maybe you
get tired of thinks of making
millions of dollars on Margarita
machines now that they sell well
like the 100 bucks a pop? The
name Margaritaville. Yeah, just
the brand. You're talking about,
like Billy Gibbons having a
brand. Oh, yeah, he's got a
brand. He's got a tequila and
like Jimmy Buffett, like
everybody else. Yeah, water when
it comes to branding shit. He's
K. Phillips: probably the most
successful Songwriter of all
time, because he turned it into
a business of business. See,
like, I read his books.
Thomas Mooney: Jimmy's books? I
don't know, Jimmy, but I just
refer to him as
K. Phillips: Jimmy. Jimmy. Yeah.
I like like guys that have like
a whole vibe. You know, they
have this like, whole world
built around them. And I mean,
Jimmy was a great songwriter
before Margaritaville.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. I was gonna
say that. I think. I don't know
what his first title or his
first record is. But like,
that's something like, I think
people would be surprised that
it's not the beach vibe. Like,
it's it's really? I think he was
living in Colorado at the time.
Yeah, he was right. And all that
stuff. So it's very I don't
know. I this is gonna be the
only comparison I can really
think of, but like, it's kind of
like john Denver stuff. Oh,
cool. But like a little bit
more. Straight? folk. Yeah, kind
of stuff.
K. Phillips: Yeah, I mean, he he
really is a great writers. But
he also like, did it long
enough. And he figured out that
Oh, oh, this is cool. If I do
this beach thing. And I don't
think anyone had ever really any
white dude from Mississippi
State or wherever you went to
college had done that before.
And that's why it was that's why
it was cool. And kind of clever
and awesome. And yeah, but then
they try to re redo it like
with, like Kenny Chesney tries
to do yeah, maybe, maybe it
works. I don't know, but when
did Margaritaville even come
out? Because I feel like that's
a song to be the 70 that. Yeah,
I'm assuming 70 I'm just gonna
say 73. But it's been around for
like ever, basically, in your
head. Yeah. Maybe 84. Maybe
2004. I don't know. Shit.
Thomas Mooney: You have like one
comment on here, though. Oh,
really? Is this live? No, no,
it's okay. Good, because I'm
just gonna talk shit about
everybody and then I'm leaving
this place and never having to
come back. Okay, so we're
talking about Margaritaville
being so like the brand of
Margaritaville being so big. You
think like Rupert Holmes is like
kind of pissed that he didn't
bank on like pina coladas as
much because he had his room
like that pina colada song. Why?
If you like,
K. Phillips: Oh, that's his
name, if you like. Yeah, and
getting cold in the rain. It is
7777 is? Yeah. Huh. But I don't
know, man. I mean, he hit on
something. And it was only gonna
work once and yeah, it's not. I
can't hate on it. Like it's
pretty well written song and
Scott cool lyrics. And it sounds
like the kind of song that the
writer laughed when he was
writing it, you know, in that.
If there's no joy in the writer,
there's no joy in the reader,
you know?
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. What's the
the closest comparison that
you've written like that? Oh, as
far as like, enjoying the song
and laughing and like,
K. Phillips: the song is called
Rambler? Yeah. Which, by the
way, somebody? My friend gave me
this watch the other day. It's
the Shinola Rambler. Yeah. It's
probably the most expensive
watch I own. He's like, I had to
get it because it's called the
Rambler. I was like, shit. Yeah,
it's pretty like you know, they
make a car called now, but uh,
yeah, the song Rambler was just
funny to me. And I mean, that's
so the the lyrics are. I'm a
Rambler. Honey. I got traveling
in my blood. I didn't come here
to talk. I came here to think
it's gonna run with love. Yeah.
Our blood, you know or
something. And it's like, I'm
Rambo, honey, I got traveling my
blood. I didn't come here to
talk. I came to fuck, which
like, it's just funny like
English 101 No, no, it's like,
yeah, mixing things up you. I
mean, yeah. Let's see. Yeah, but
it's funny. I
Thomas Mooney: mean, two stories
on this. Yeah, one before they
did the whole remodel the men's
restroom here at blue light.
There's the game to fuck that
you had put like all over the
damn bathroom. Yeah, stencilled?
Yeah, and like people were like,
what the fuck? But can you
Philips and like you kind of had
like that kind of going like
Kate Phillips guy. Well, maybe
that's my head then. Like they
they redid it and I don't know
if you've been in there a while
since the remodel, but there is
like another like little game to
fuck. It's not a spray paint
kind of stuff. And then to
funny, I should do a new
stencil. Yeah. Because I
remember like when I will that
first. First day you came here.
You had the stencil on? You're
making all the T shirts. Yeah.
Yeah.
K. Phillips: That's pretty. The
problem is now like we fly
places. So I can't take spray
paint. And also, I'm really
lazy. So I guess I'm not gonna
have that cool. vibe that I was
gonna have.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. The other
story though, was just like the
other day during songwriter
night, which is like the
songwriter competition right now
during blue suite.
K. Phillips: And which I wanted
to enter one time, but I like
literally couldn't get the gas
money to like come down, when
you would have probably went
well now. I think, actually, I
think. Yeah, somebody? I mean,
every year somebody really good
wins.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. Well,
they're they they do like a live
broadcast of it on the local
College Station. And so
obviously, it's live. And like,
you know, we come back here and
do the drawing of like, order
and stuff. And like, one of the
things we tell him, you know, he
can't cuss, like a fuck on air.
Yeah, it's gonna be on the red,
we have iron. And so then we go
out there, or they go out there
and they start singing and I
guess maybe like the second or
third in between, like the
second or third songwriters.
They were split house music on
you know, yeah. And in between,
right. Whenever you say came to
fuck, like, that's the first
thing that thought out, like in
between songs. I don't know if
anyone caught it. So like, I was
like, Oh, there goes that like
that. I mean, it is kind of like
K. Phillips: you write a song
like that. And like, there's,
there's like, so. So get on your
knees and swallow my pride. I
was born to ramble. You were
born to ride? Yeah, it's a
metaphor. It's very deep. Haha.
Yeah. But you write a song like
that. And then you get Bobby
Keyes, who's from West Texas to
play on it. And all of a sudden
you're having to play it. And
I've had to play that in front
of all my grandparents, front of
Adam dirts his parents in front
of a lot of little kids. And I'm
always like, this is just a
character. Yeah, this is just
fun writing. And I, but you
learn like, Oh, yeah, everyone
can laugh about it. It's not
that big of a deal. Like, yeah,
I mean, it's over the kids
heads. And the parents like they
were fucking and that's why they
have those kids like, yeah,
there's the one I have a good
time, you know? Yeah. So. But
I'm always very, I'm not that
guy. You know, which is why it
was funny to write that fun to
write that character. But yeah,
if you if you write a dirty
song, and people like it, you're
gonna be stuck. singing that
song? Yeah. So yeah, like Adam.
Adam loves that song. Because he
like sometimes I won't go. It's
a metaphor. It's very deep. And
he like, pulled me aside. He's
like, after, he didn't say that.
We're gonna say it's a metaphor,
man. I was like, I know, because
I was staring at your mom. Yeah,
so yeah. His parents did come to
the show last night. And I did
have to do that. Yes.
Thomas Mooney: Okay, so, on this
tour, I guess like, I don't
know, maybe the last couple of
dates. Aren't if you've been
doing this every time. Yeah. But
at least in the last couple
dates you've been playing?
You've gone up there and played
with them, right? Yeah,
K. Phillips: no, let's play B
three with them on the last few
songs. Yeah. And last night, he
like hush the band down. And it
was sold out. It was at this
casino and it rained out because
it's outdoor in this like Pueblo
amphitheater and it rained out
and so they came back and they
did like one hour of like all
their fucking best song. It was
so bad asked but so I plan on
hanging around. I play in rain
King, and it just rained out and
this is our closing song and he
brings it down because they're
they're like jazz guys. Like
they improvise. And he like he's
like Van Morrison. Like he'll
point at somebody and they have
to start playing But I just
figured he's not gonna make me
do that because there's like 15
badass musicians on stage that
he's played with his whole life.
Yeah. Any quiet man down. He's
like, play and I was like, no
me. He was like, and like he
made me like play a solo like in
front of this sold out
amphitheatre on this real v
three, which is like a 1940s
instrument. And I mean, I don't.
I grew up playing organ like an
actual organ but I don't. My
chops are more like it was
exhilarating. And it was so
great to play my real
instrument. You know, because
there's a I get so screwed as
somebody who plays piano and who
plays organ because I can't tour
with those things. Yeah, I'm,
I'm the only person on stage.
Like, imagine if a drummer
couldn't do it with actual
drums. Yeah, they had to play
like, electronic drums
everywhere, or like, a guitar
player had to play a fucking
kitara. Like, it's just not the
same. Yeah. So getting to play
that, that real instrument in
front of this sold out show and
for my hero, and I'm playing one
of my favorite songs of his in
the p3 sounds so good. It's just
like, sweet and everything I
want my keyboard to sound like,
but it can't because yeah, it's
not that, you know? Yeah. It
was. It was a special night. But
I was so so nervous while I was
playing. And then after we get
offstage, me the guitar player
was like, you know, he wanted
you to keep going. I was like,
Really? You know, because I'm so
used to being just sitting in
with people and I just do a
little bit and then I get out of
their way. Yeah. And he wanted
me to like, take off on like,
two minutes. So flow are really
in front of this sold out show,
man. Like, dude,
Thomas Mooney: I feel like this
is one of those. Maybe like the
I don't know, like it reminds me
of maybe I'm romanticizing this
too much. But like it reminds me
of like the the kind of like,
big tours you would think of
like in the 70s Oh, yeah,
Jackson Browne kind of Oh,
totally. Yeah, they still do it.
Like how many people are on this?
K. Phillips: I don't know. Okay,
so there's six buses. Yeah. And
Adam and Rob kind of have their
own bus. And then there's
there's a bus. It's so funny,
because coming from the Texas
thing. It was like one bus.
Yeah. And that was the pinnacle.
Yeah. And now if I saw somebody
one bus, I'd be like, oh, where
does your crew ride? Yeah,
you're pulling a trailer with
the prey. VO cute. No, but uh,
and there's, there's 618
wheelers, and six buses. Jesus,
they build a stage every day for
the crows and for Rob. So
there's probably 60 people while
going out in a everyday there's
catering. I've got a breakfast,
lunch and dinner. We didn't know
how we were going to eat, you
know, everyday we have hotel
rooms. It's, it's in Robin Adam
come and watch every single
show, really, which is I think,
you know that. They, they
definitely grew up in a time
where people were buying
records. And in that sense, they
were lucky. But these guys like,
when you when you tour for two
months with somebody and they
come see every show, you
realize, like, there's no way
they weren't going to be
successful. Because they're,
they have this stick to
itiveness you know, like,
everyday. They're right there.
They introduce me. They don't
have to do that. Yeah, they,
they watched my whole show. They
interact with me. You know,
like, I don't think I would do
that. You know, I think I would
probably be like, Hey, good luck
with your show tonight. I'm
gonna go watch some TV on my
bus. Yeah. And, and that's, it's
like, I admire them. I already
admired them, you know, but I
know that they're not just
lucky. Yeah, seeing them.
There's a reason. First, man,
person level. They they're
really good at being in the
moment, you know, and then just
like it's kind of hard, I think
for artists to do that, you
know? Yeah. And to, to kind of
like, observe you know, the
scene instead of just like
taking millions of pictures and
checking out like being in your
head, you know? But everyday
they're there. And, and we're in
like a group text together and I
just realized, like, I
everything I thought about Being
a rock star was wrong. You know,
you can't. You can't you can do
it where you're an asshole and
you're, you destroy your body
and you you tell everyone to
fuck off. You could do that for
a little bit. But you can do it
for two months. Yeah. But just I
mean, there's no way they
weren't gonna be successful, I
think after getting to know
them. They and they love music.
And they work so hard. I don't.
Yeah. Yeah. So really impressed.
Yeah,
Thomas Mooney: I like both of
those bands, Counting Crows,
matchbox. 20. We talked a little
bit about this last time.
They're just such a they're part
of like your childhood. Yeah, I
mean, totally that. For me, I'm
assuming like, you know, from
like, eight years old to like,
18. You know what I mean? Like,
they were just always,
K. Phillips: oh, yeah. So who
like the crows were like 1990.
And then matchbox mad season was
like, 96. Yeah, or one was 91
was 93. And the other one was
96. I only know these numbers
because I hear them talk about
it. And Rob was saying like, he
was covering the crows, because
at the time, you couldn't have
your own headlining show where
you weren't playing like half
covers where he was. I think it
was in Florida, maybe. So he was
covering crows songs every
night. And then you know, the
other thing that's weird as Rob
is like, his favorite artist is
Willie Nelson. He's like written
songs with Willie. And he's
like, he's kind of a country
dude. Like, yeah, he grew up in
South Carolina. And like, I
don't think he had it very easy.
You know? He hasn't really
talked about it that much. But
like Adams, Adams got to have
the best parents you could ever
have. That doesn't make it
easier either. Yeah. But it's
just neat to see that from both
walks of life, they've kind of
come and done this thing and
done it so well. And and now
that they're successful there,
they help other people.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah. See, like,
matchbox 20. I think like their,
like their first three or four
records are so underrated. Yeah.
Like mad seasons really great.
And their first one though, I
can't think of the title. That's
like the
K. Phillips: are you talking
about the tablet? The Secret
record? No.
Thomas Mooney: I don't know.
Maybe I'm not. Maybe I am. I
don't know. It's the the one
that has a record. Yeah. Is that
what's on that? What's three?
That's the one Rams on there. So
like, I can't think of the name.
Mad season is the second record.
Right, right. With the guy with
the Yeah.
K. Phillips: Everybody had that
record? so crazy. But then like,
I mean, even High School. It's
embarrassing, but like when that
Santana record, so for someone
like, Oh, yeah, I was gonna ask
you about I wore that record
out.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, like that
first, like that. First one. was
just so damn good. Like, yeah.
And I feel like that's one of
those records where I'm not
gonna sound old here. But it's
like one of those records you
could put on and just yeah, to
play through. Well, that's what
a great record, you know what I
mean? What you can do with it.
But then, like, I guess, like,
in a way. Like, there is this
little aspect of like, the whole
smooth thing. Yeah, it's become
a little bit of like a punch
line. Right?
K. Phillips: Right. No, because
it was so fucking Yeah, this is
this second most successful song
of all time. According to
billboard, the first being the
twist. My Chubby Checker. Yeah.
Well, second being smooth. But,
I mean, does he play that? Oh,
yeah. Every night. And he kills
he. He sees all the memes and
stuff. Yeah. And he shows me
He's like, Oh, this is funny.
They're both like that, like,
very self aware. There's
actually two like comedians that
when this tour happened they
started like, they kind of
neither one of them look like
robber Adam but one guy like got
on like, black mop. You know,
and the other guy had like got
the earrings and Rob's tattoos
and stuff and they do this like
kind of spoofing thing on the
two of them and, and then being
like best friends kind of thing.
But they really are good
friends. Yeah. And Adams like
someone's taller than Rob and
really, yeah, yeah, I thought it
would be Rob. Rob is my size.
And Adam. I really like six six.
He's a big dude. Yeah. Wow. And
what They come to Lubbock. Why
did why did they? Why didn't
they play Austin? I wish they
would have done the Austin
either. So give the middle
finger to all my ex girlfriends.
Just kidding. But, uh Yeah, um,
they have a, there's so, so good
at the, at both sides of it at
being regular people, you know,
and then the craft and writing
and Rob's always writing and
he's like, and so as Adam, but I
was always showing me like new
stuff he's he's working on and
he's just like, Oh, this shit is
just as hard for you as it is
for me. Yeah. It never gets any
easier. You just write a bunch
of fucking songs and you show
them to people and you go
somewhere. Nevermind, this is stupid.
Yeah. And that's been good. It's
been a good thing to see. But
Thomas Mooney: have you been
running on the road? Or no, you
just kind of like, I wish I
could say I have. Honestly, I
can't. Yeah, but you were.
You've been writing in Nashville
for
K. Phillips: Yeah, no, I have a
we have a record. I have the
songs ready to go. Yeah, they
don't want to do and. And you
wrote with the will the other
day, right. I did. We wrote a
song. Yeah. I don't know what he
did. It was it was cool, man. It
was just like, you know,
sometimes. I don't think any of
us knew we were going to write
and I just written a song that
day. Which is really fucking
good. I went to BMI office or I
went to some music publishing,
not BMI and some music
publishing office and wrote with
is a real deal, motherfucker.
Yeah. And we I think we wrote a
fucking hit. It's like, I'll
give you the hook. It goes. Ah
didn't lose. Like, didn't lose
and like, um, um, and, you know,
just goes like that. But yeah,
it's uh, I don't know, I just
did that. But it's gonna be a
hit. And then so and then we'll
will pick me up in a van. And
then we went and tried to write
that song, but I think everyone
wants to hung over. Yeah, we
wrote something.
Thomas Mooney: Yeah, it was
cool. Because like that day,
Ross text me and asked me for
your Yeah, rasping. Yeah, I
guess that would be Ross's man.
Yeah, Ross was cool. He texted
me. He was really good. Yeah,
too. he's a he's a good guy,
great songwriter, or songwriter.
cool guy. Yeah. That's okay.
This is, uh, I always say cool
guy. It's very important to me.
But like, this is one of those
things where I think you're
cool. I think being cool does
not mean you're great at
whatever your craft is. No, you
got to talk in horror, but being
cool. Makes you that much
better. Once you're great.
K. Phillips: Yeah. You know what
I mean? It's not a pass to suck.
Yeah. But I mean, yeah, like,
what your job is? Yeah. Exactly.
Whatever
Thomas Mooney: your job is,
like, you can be really great at
something right? and be a
horrible person, but you can
still be great at it. Right? But
just because you're cool.
Doesn't make your make you
great. There's a shit ton of
that in music. You know what I
mean? Like, yeah, but he's a
cool guy. It's like, Yeah, but
anyways, like Ross had texted me
it was like, 80 of case number.
And I was like, yeah, yeah. You
guys met the other day. Here it
is. And then like later, he
picked me out. I saw like a, I
don't know something for will.
And I was like, I'm interjecting
myself in that story. Whenever
the
K. Phillips: Yeah, I would like
to ride with him again. I'd like
to get another shot, I think. I
think I'm not but he goes on to
write two songs a day. And I
kind of like, Yeah, I did my one
song and then. I don't know.
Like, I also that was the first
time I never wrote with anybody
until I moved to Nashville. And
I like it. But that was my first
time to write with two other
people. Yeah. And it just felt
very like for somebody like who
who has like, Ring of Fire add
it was like, too much. Too many
ideas going on at one time. And
it was honestly like, kind of
like, kind of like threw me off
my game like, yeah, in a way.
Like I just wasn't ready. It was
like, playing varsity. Not ready
for varsity. Yeah. Or we're
hungover. Yeah, you just Yeah, I
was. I was hung over. They were
hung over. But yeah, I think we
got a song. Yeah. And that's the
main thing is just get it draft.
Get something
Thomas Mooney: on paper. Get
doesn't have to
K. Phillips: be great. Yeah. And
it may not be great. Could be.
Yeah. I don't know. I've never
heard her and he's just got to
get a draft. Yeah. And then redo
it. Yeah, he's just got to get a
draft. Get a giraffe. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney: Giraffe. Get a
giraffe. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I
don't know. We're rolling pretty
45 minutes. I don't I don't want
to miss Elena's said. Yeah. But
let's see what else. Is there
anything else you need to say?
Um,
K. Phillips: thank you. I love
what you do and keep doing it.
Thank you. Yeah, thank you for
asking me to do this is of
course an honor. And I think
you're giving validity to what
we're trying to do. You know?
Yeah. And I respect that. Thank
you. Thank you and good music.
Well, just wait till the next
album comes out. Oh, which, you
know, by the way, you can get it
on tour right now. I'll give you
a copy tonight. Yeah, I'm just
going to sell it. I'm selling it
right now. Because I need the
money. So go is Have a great day
and they got to get paid. so
dirty wonders out. You should
buy it on tour. Any more dates
you have left? I think I think
10 more dates. There's 10
opportunities. Repeat. Yeah. And
then after this, I'm going on
tour with Jonny Lang. Oh, yeah.
And and then we'll be out doing
like our own club shows again.
Which I'm excited to do. again
after having catering. weeks,
two months. Oh, wow. Yeah,
anyways, yeah. Cool. Awesome.