Laurie: So your album has been released, did you have any expectations for it?
Rockie: No, I didn't. I don't have expectations for this new record. We are working on a new record and a new single that comes out later this year. My goal is to make the best possible record that I can and hopefully make it a little better than the last record that I made and so this first record on Universal South is actually my 4th album. I did 3 vocal albums and 1 all instrumental record. I just wanted it to be better than the last album. Each time I grow as a writer, I grow as a musician, and try to do better so I'm not trying to look peripherally at other artists. I'm not concerned where Joe Nichols is. I'm happy for him and I wish him the very best, and he's my friend, but if Joe gets to do something that I don't get to do, I don't get mad about that, I just feel good for him. I think there's room at the table for everybody, you know.
Laurie: Oh, absolutely.
Rockie: There is a big table and it's a big country. A long time ago Todd Rungren said in an article in Guitar Player magazine, I remember reading him saying "if you have an art regardless of what that art is and you work until you are proficient at it, and you are will to go out and beat the bushes there's a market for anything because the country is so varied and there is such a group of people that you are able to find someone who will listen to just about anything." So that is what we've done over the last decade is went out there and found the people that like the same kind of stuff that we do.
Laurie: What is it like for you the very first moments that you walk out on stage?
Rockie: That is my favorite time of the night, the time we get to play which seems unbelievably short. You know it seems like it is so short the time that we spent getting somewhere, setting up or booking or doing all the pre-work to get the show or the sound checks. I love every single part of it. I like driving up here or flying or however we get here. If you noticed I carry my own stuff in, I set my own stuff up. I've been doing that for 15 years. I go around and talk to everybody. I enjoy every part of this. It is such a blessing to get to do this. So many time guys spend their time sitting in the bus or sitting in the back room and not realizing that all these amazing people are out here visiting and we can hang out with them and enjoy not just the time on stage. On stage is the time we get to do what we've been practicing a getting ready to do for all those hours and all those weeks.
Laurie: The CMA fest is a little over a week away now.
Rockie: Is it?
Laurie: Yep
Rockie: Oh, cool!
Laurie: What are you looking forward to the most?
Rockie: Did you see our River fest show last year?
Laurie: No
Rockie: Ok, our Riverfest show last year was generally received as one of the best Riverfest shows of last year. As a matter of fact, The Tennessean put us on the cover. The picture on the cover was us. But I didn't tell any of my jokes. Because I'm funny. I lost my favorite girlfriend one time because she said I wasn't funny, and I'm going to tell my jokes to prove that I am funny at the CMA Riverfest. I'm going to take a minute and tell a joke. I didn't talk that much because you only get like 20 minutes so we really crammed in the music We wanted people to see that Mike and Kevin and Tony could really sing and that I can sing and that they can sing around me a whether I'm in key or not, they just make me sound great so I wanted to show off this band and we played a lot but I didn't talk. I talked a little bit but this show I'm going to be funny and tell my jokes.
Laurie: I wish they would give you more time.
Rockie: Well they can't really because there are so many people that are vying for those slots and it's hard to get them. We are lucky; this year we are playing it Saturday at noon. Like the great spot. Last year we played Sunday at like 2 o'clock in the morning or something when nobody was there and we still got such a good response that we were able to do it this year on Saturday afternoon. We are going to try to be a little more casual with our 20 minutes and maybe we won't cram 4 or 5 songs and maybe we will only do 3 songs. I really want us to show our personality because the guys in our band are so personable and they are kind and I want to get that out that we are funny too. I am funny you know, do you want to hear one of my jokes?
Laurie: Ok.
Rockie: First off all my jokes are from my 13 year old or they come from my 4 year old, but they are great jokes except for the schnauzer joke that didn't come from them, I stole that from Mike Snyder. But anyway... There's this guy, he's an atheist and he's walking through the forest. He's enjoying the nature and splendor of everything and out of no where comes this huge grizzly bear. The bear gets up on both hind legs and growls really loud GRRRRRRRRRRRR. The atheist stops and yells "Oh, my God, help me!" It just comes blurting out of his mouth. Then this huge booming voice from heaven goes "I thought you didn't believe in me?" Both the bear and atheist are stunned. The atheist said "well I'm in a jam and it just kind of came out, I need some help." Then the big voice said "Would you like me to make you a Christian?" And the atheist thought about having to go to church and all it and then said "maybe you can make him a Christian" and he pointed at the grizzly. The big voice said "So let it be done" Then the bear immediately falls on his knees and pulls his paws up to pray and the atheist is standing there with his mouth open in disbelief and the bear says, "Thank you dear Lord for the meal I am about to be served."
Laurie: Yah, that's a good one, I like that one.
Rockie: See, I'm funny.
