Randy Rogers: The Truth Is In The Music...

Sitting down with Randy Rogers, it is not hard to see how his life and lyrics get translated into song.  His easy going manner and roll-with-punches attitude seem perfect for the artist that is highly in demand and often gone from the comforts of home for long stretches.  He has a down to earth sense about him that is tied closely to a “been around the block”, observational style.  The songs he writes are his…meaning the lyrics that fill the albums are “from the heart.  I like records that are snapshots of where you’re at (in life).”  When asked about his upcoming release (Trouble, which should be out in the spring), Randy says “It’s my favorite album I’ve written.  If the world came to an end, I would be happy with this recording.  It’s a very sincere record.  All of our lives and problems are displayed for the world to see so we write about them.  There isn’t much smoke and mirrors with this record; it is said exactly as you would if you need to go to therapy.  That’s what this record was for the band.  We needed to be in that studio as a group of young men.”  When asked about how autobiographical his songs are, he says “I try not to write anything that isn’t (autobiographical).  The songs are true because that’s the only way I know how to write.”

You can hear some of the new tracks on display during the full band shows or catch an even deeper glimpse into the passion behind the songs while he performs acoustically on his annual Hold My Beer and Watch This tour with Wade Bowen.  The guys feed off each other with the comfort level of life-long friends; and seeing how this is the 6th annual such tour, it is almost to be expected.  (Not to mention the countless other performances, writing sessions, and golf outings.)  Even with their schedules growing more and more hectic as the years pass by, they say the tour is a priority to both of them.  It is at these acoustic shows that they seem to be a little looser, play a little more to the crowd, and tell the stories where these immensely popular songs originated from.  If you haven’t caught one yet, they’ll be to your town soon, don’t miss it.

And it is in the stories that take place inside the songs that keep the fans singing along and always coming back for more.  “The melody is usually where I start with a song.  I come up with what I like melodically and try and fit the words in.  I’ve never written a poem and put music to it; I make the music first and then write around it.”  Rogers has written a treasure chest full of songs that his throng of followers can sing from memory at the drop of a hat.  He never puts any fillers on his albums and each one contains a plethora of new material that is battle tested and ready for live shows.  As we have stated before, it is almost unfair to be a fan because there is absolutely no way for him to cram all the favorites into one show per night.  But that’s what road trips were made for, right?   

If you are not able to see The Randy Rogers Band anytime soon, always pay attention to your local listings.  You just never know when the guys might pop up on Conan, Leno, or Letterman again.  Whether you’re an avid fan of the band or if you are/were late to the party, his music is there for everyone.  Every song has a personal attachment to it that one can easily reflect upon their life at some time or another.  He can put a silly twist on things (“Buy Myself a Chance”), give you a nice kiss-off (“Too Late for Goodbye”), or tug at the heartstrings (“Steal You Away”).  One way or another he knows how to please his audience, even if the subject matter that fills the air is painful to live through for the artist himself.  There are too many reasons to list why this will be a top tier band for years to come, so please go and find out for yourself.  We promise you will be rewarded with a night you’ll talk about for a very long time.

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Randy Rogers Band
Big Texas South
July 6th, 2012

Too Late For Goodbye
Better Off Wrong
Tonight's Not the Night
Buy Myself A Chance
Damn the Rain
Speak of the Devil (new)
10 Miles Deep
Again
Wicked Ways
Lonely Too Long
One More Goodbye
You Could Change My Mind
Steal You Away
Looking For You For So Long
Last Last Chance
Lost and Found
Somebody Take Me Home
In My Arms Instead
Down and Out

Interstate
Kiss Me In the Dark

Encore

Sit Here and Drink (Merle Haggard)
This Time Aroun

Randy Rogers ~ Live @ Verizon Wireless

Randy Rogers couldn’t write a bad song if he wanted to.  Ok, maybe he could, but it just seems like writing great, meaningful, songs with substance is second nature to him.  And he’s had a lot of chances, having put out an album every two years since 2002’s Like It Used to Be.  He’s even thrown in a few live albums along the way, like 2004’s Live at Billy Bob’s and 2000’s Live at Cheatham Street Crossing (out of print).  These albums proved the point that hearing him on vinyl or CD is great, but he sounds just as good, if not better, live.  So going to see The Randy Rogers Band perform one of their last shows of the year at Verizon Wireless was a no brainer.

The Houston music scene is a funny thing.  If you are an up and comer with not that big of a following then there are a ton of places to play.  For most country acts, once you have moved beyond the Firehouse Saloon there aren’t many options.   Though many music lovers loathe Live Nation, they are the ones that brought us the House of Blues and Verizon Wireless so we can still see the bands we care about without having to drive to the outskirts of town to do so.  Both venues provide great seating and standing areas, a chance to get pretty up close and personal, and a kick ass sound system that is crystal clear.  And for that we thank you.

So about Randy Rogers, there are no pyros, no dancing girls, and no smoke and mirrors to hide behind.  It’s just five guys coming together as one cohesive unit to deliver the songs to the fans just the way the fans want them, loud and a lot of them.  And how does he reward his fans; with 25 songs spanning 5 albums with a few that haven’t even been released yet sprinkled in.  Every album was represented with the band’s latest offering, Burning the Day just barely beating out 2004’s Roller Coaster for most songs played from an album.  While many older acts have resorted to playing an entire album all the way through in concert (kind of a cool concept) it seems difficult for the RRB to have to condense a set list down to just 25 songs.  They could play any of their albums straight through and their fans would only love them more for doing so.

His songs are relatable, on point, and take you back to a time or situation that you can always remember.  Whether it’s the first time you drank whiskey as in “Never Be That High” or about running into old lovers such as “One More Goodbye”, you can feel the songs reverberate within yourself.  He seems to tell all of his stories from the first person, which is always easier for the listener to follow.    Also, every song has something catchy to it, whether it is the chorus, a smart lyric, or the fiddle guitar tearing down the house.  Though many of the bands songs are up-tempo and easy to sing along to, it is the slower, more melodic songs that Randy’s voice and smart ways with words really catch you off guard.  A couple of great examples are “Steal You Away” and the Radney Foster penned “If I Had Another Heart, I’d Let You Break That One Too”. 

The band made a point of saying that they “know where they’re from” and no matter how long they are out on the road they always return back home to Texas.  And those times they are gone get longer as their popularity grows.  As long as they keep knocking ‘em dead on stage and in the studio, these guys are going to be around for the long haul, and they will have nothing but great fortunes ahead of them.

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SETLIST

Too Late For Goodbye

Better Off Wrong

I’ve Been Looking for You For so Long

Buy Myself a Chance

Tonight’s Not the Night

Damn the Rain

Never Be That High

10 Miles Deep

Lonely Too Long

Missing You is More Than I Can Do

Again

Wicked Ways

One More Goodbye

You Could Change My Mind

Steal You Away

Last Last Chance

Goodbye Lonely

Lost and Found

Somebody Take Me Home

In My Arms Instead

Down and Out

Interstate

Kiss Me in The Dark

If I Had Another Heart, I’d Let You Break That One Too

This Time Around