Episode 23: Jason Cross

[00:00:00] Speaker A: She does all the trimming and everything. [00:00:01] Speaker B: All of it. Ever since I was a little boy. That's fucked up. Hey, quiet on the set. Quiet on the set, guys. We're recording a podcast over here, huh? [00:00:24] Speaker C: Important stuff. [00:00:26] Speaker B: Big time stuff. Big time stuff happening here anyway. So how about these surfsides, huh? [00:00:33] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:00:34] Speaker B: Are these shotgunable? [00:00:35] Speaker C: Yes. [00:00:36] Speaker A: Have we done it drinker or you drink after. [00:00:38] Speaker B: I'm actually. I'm dry January, but we could dampen it. [00:00:42] Speaker A: No, I don't want to do. Don't put that on me. [00:00:44] Speaker B: I did. I just. I just had a couple beers in Michigan a few days ago. I mean, I'm gonna feel that this is the first. First night of tour. I'm gonna have some drinks tonight. Like, we're gonna, you know. [00:00:53] Speaker A: That bad. [00:00:53] Speaker B: Maybe I'll like, maybe I'll take a weekend in February and like, not. [00:00:56] Speaker A: I'll replace. [00:00:58] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:00:58] Speaker A: I did the whole. [00:00:59] Speaker B: Works that way, I think so I. [00:01:00] Speaker A: Did the whole dry February. But what's funny is we only did it from like the super bowl to the end of February. So we not only picked the shortest month, but we also picked like from a time. Could be the third, could be the seventh, maybe the ninth to the end. And then at that point I'm kind of like, dude, it life's too short. Cut down on my drinking during the week. I won't go out and party on weekends so much. [00:01:20] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:01:21] Speaker A: I'll just cut. But I'm not gonna go every fucking day for 30 some days and be like, I did it, guys. [00:01:26] Speaker B: I did it last year. I did it. We did. We went well on like the last day of January. We were in New York City for the first time and we were celebrating and I was like, I'm getting drunk. [00:01:36] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. [00:01:37] Speaker B: And I did. And I woke up the next morning and I was like, holy, dude, I'm never drinking again. [00:01:42] Speaker C: Literally. [00:01:42] Speaker B: I was like, why did I do that? Like, I have felt so good all month long. And then, you know, and one thing leads to the next and we got right back on the. On the pony. But, you know. Yeah, it's like, I think it's just good to do because especially with in just this industry, you guys know, it's non stop. [00:01:56] Speaker A: Dude, I did it in 2023. I did 45 days. And I don't really remember what. I think it was more of the. It's more that like, challenge of. I mean, I don't really need to do this. So coming here, doing these concerts, wouldn't drink. And even Wayne which have you. You've met Wayne before? [00:02:14] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:02:14] Speaker A: Okay. Even Wayne's like, dude, you're not still not drinking, are you? [00:02:17] Speaker B: Wayne's an animal. [00:02:18] Speaker A: But we were having. I mean, I still had fun. I still went out, did all this shit. It just. It was more of a. Just a. I wanted to try it. Now I'm just kind. Listen, I've done it. I did a couple years ago. I don't need to do it again. [00:02:28] Speaker C: I go like a week just to make sure I still can. Absolutely, you know, a couple days, complete drunk. [00:02:33] Speaker B: If I go like seven to 10 days, I'm like, all right, we're fine. Everything's fine. [00:02:37] Speaker A: Yeah, Once I get past the shakes, then I'm like, dude, I'm good. [00:02:40] Speaker B: You start. You start cracking a fifth of 5:00 at your lunch break, then, all right, we need to talk. But like, until then, one of my. [00:02:47] Speaker A: Funniest bits, years ago that a guy did, I cannot think of his name right now. He actually played down the street here at Jukebox. I'll think of his name. But he was always like, the rationale of people not drinking, you know, of like how they make it such a big deal that they're not drinking anymore and they really make you feel bad. Cause you are, you know. And then your buddy of like, no, man, dude, I'm not drinking anymore. Like, I've got a problem, man. I have a problem. Oh, yeah. He's like, you got a problem? He's like, you ever woke up in a fucking alley with a cat severed head in your fucking hands and like, God, no. Then you don't have a fucking problem. Shut the fuck up and do the shot pussy. But his bit of like. Like the level of when you compare it to something else. [00:03:26] Speaker B: No, you're good. That's not a problem. That's a good friend. [00:03:29] Speaker A: I will find that bit. It was so funny for the longest time. [00:03:32] Speaker B: I do love comedy though. I was really into Tom Segira and then Shane Gillis came along and Shane Gillis is like, his. His latest special is like the best I've ever seen. I've watched it like six times and I laugh harder every time I watch it. [00:03:45] Speaker C: So he. He came to Peoria probably last year and hated the place. Hated it. [00:03:50] Speaker A: He talks about on a podcast. He shits all over. [00:03:53] Speaker C: The worst place to ever go. Peoria, Illinois. [00:03:56] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:03:57] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. No. Yeah. [00:03:58] Speaker B: All the places he's been to. [00:03:59] Speaker C: That's Peoria all over it. [00:04:02] Speaker A: He's not the only comic that's probably ever said that too. [00:04:05] Speaker B: But I'm sure they just. They just. It's low hanging fruit, you know? [00:04:07] Speaker A: He's so funny, Nate. What? Bargazzi. [00:04:12] Speaker B: Very good. [00:04:12] Speaker A: I didn't see it until I saw a thing where he's the highest grossing comedian of 2024. [00:04:17] Speaker B: And he's clean of all of them. [00:04:18] Speaker A: Clean comic, no cussing. [00:04:20] Speaker B: Crazy. [00:04:21] Speaker C: He's coming here. [00:04:22] Speaker A: I saw. I saw Matt Rife in Chicago at a comedy club and he is hilarious. [00:04:26] Speaker B: Yeah, dude. [00:04:27] Speaker A: But I love. [00:04:28] Speaker C: Yeah, Nate. Nate will be here. I think it's April, really. He's coming to Civic Scenario. [00:04:31] Speaker B: I think I like listening to Joe Rogan when he has other comics on because they like talk about the industry and it's very relatable. Like between the music and the comic industry is like, they're like one of the same. [00:04:41] Speaker A: Joe Rogan's standup is hilarious. [00:04:43] Speaker B: Yeah. So it's crazy because he like, it's a. It's a show he like puts on. He's a totally different person on stage, like, than he is on his podcast for the most part. Oh, you know, completely different. Yeah. [00:04:53] Speaker A: He's up there sweating out of his shirt. [00:04:55] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:04:55] Speaker A: And just over there talking about the craziest shit. [00:04:58] Speaker B: His eyes, like popping out of his eyes. [00:04:59] Speaker C: It's all like. [00:05:00] Speaker A: You actually start thinking about it, you're like, dude, he's not wrong. You know, and one of his other things, like, our forefathers would come back and be like, you guys didn't write any new. You mean tell. We wrote that in with a feather and you guys haven't came up with any new shit. What's wrong with it? Some of his points he makes are so funny and they're so true. [00:05:17] Speaker B: It's good when a comic is. He's a smart dude. He knows a lot of smart people and it's good when. When comics are smart. [00:05:23] Speaker A: I watched. I watched his interview with Mel Gibson and one Mel Gibson is very intelligent of all things he's talking about. But the amount of shit where Joe like remembers, like medicines to facts, to history, to all these conspiracy, like all of it. He's like very well rounded and whole. [00:05:41] Speaker B: Encyclopedia and that beautiful bald head of his. Yeah. [00:05:44] Speaker A: Appreciate you taking a moment to come on, dude. [00:05:46] Speaker B: For sure. I've never done a pre show podcast. I like it. [00:05:48] Speaker A: You haven't? [00:05:49] Speaker B: No. Actually, you know what? I take that back. If Toad from Stoney's heard me say that, he'd kill me. I. I've gone out there twice and they usually. We do a podcast before the show out there, but that's about the only time. This is great. So first time here? Yeah, first time at Cruising. I've heard so many good things. I know a lot of people that have been up here, and we'll talk. [00:06:05] Speaker C: A little bit about that as well. [00:06:06] Speaker B: And, yeah, I'm pumped. [00:06:07] Speaker A: And we have, like. There's a mix of emotions. I mean, everybody has gone through their phases. Somebody said it best out of John Langston's group. I don't know if you know J.D. [00:06:16] Speaker B: Absolutely, Grover. [00:06:18] Speaker A: So J.D. had the funniest thing about cruisins. He's like, our bus will be on 74 or on 1 of the interstates, and it'll say, you know, Peoria, exit 104. And he goes. And everybody on the bus has a totally different emotion. There's somebody over in the back puking in the, you know, toilet. Somebody's crying. Somebody's trying to get off the bus to go to cruisins. You know, other people are. I mean, he's like, there's a whole different. People are just still just very moved because they were here for two days, back to back. [00:06:48] Speaker B: Oh, damn. [00:06:49] Speaker A: They went hard. [00:06:50] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:06:50] Speaker A: Very hard. [00:06:51] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good camp. [00:06:52] Speaker A: Yeah. No, that was a funny emotion or a context of cruisins. But, no, we've had a lot of. A lot of different people play here. And I think I told you earlier, you know, everybody from, you know, Lil Wayne to Bone Thugs and Harmony's played here to Gordon Wallens played here. [00:07:05] Speaker B: Let's go. [00:07:06] Speaker A: You know, Hardy's played here. Bailey Zimmerman. I mean, just the list goes on. [00:07:10] Speaker B: And it's. It's one of the. It's. Well, I will say it's one of the spots that you. You hear about it when you're in Nashville. When you're doing this thing in Nashville, this is one of the spots. You know, it's like here and, like, Windjammer and Stoney's was on that list. You know, they get. They got all the posters of everybody that's, like, come through there when they're on their way up, you know, and it's like, it's really cool to see where those people are now, you know, so you guys done a great job. [00:07:30] Speaker A: And they used to have this old saying of, like, if it plays in Peoria, it plays anywhere, you know, so back in the day, different breweries, even McDonald's, different chains would, like, test things here. Yeah, because you have this Midwest culture of Chicago meets, you know, blue collar, white collar, you know, a lot of trades Union type people because of caterpillar and everything. So, you know, you think of guys that are in the union, you know, primarily that are. I drink out of the same cup of coffee every day, like to change their mind and to get them to say, I like this. [00:08:02] Speaker B: Yep. [00:08:02] Speaker A: And so I think there's that just Midwest vibe. I don't know why, but. So it is tough. It's. Artists come through that I personally think are great, and they come through and didn't do what they thought they could in sales. And there's other people come through and they crush it. Yeah, they crush it every time. And we'll see. It's an interesting. [00:08:16] Speaker B: Fingers crossed, boys. Fingers crossed. [00:08:18] Speaker A: So how long have you been. Where are you born and raised? [00:08:20] Speaker B: Born, raised in Jackson, Michigan. [00:08:22] Speaker A: Okay. [00:08:22] Speaker B: Small town just outside of there called Parma. But most people know Jackson and. And you went to Nashville November 2020. So like four years. [00:08:31] Speaker A: Just over four years ago, right in the middle of. [00:08:34] Speaker B: Oh, dude, it was wild. It was. I. I got down on Broadway like, first week I was there, met a dude through. Through Clayton, and his name is Michael Leatherman. And he was asking Clayton if he wanted to play these gigs. He had like three gigs that he needed somebody. It's like acoustic duo stuff, right? And he said, I got Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And Clayton's like, oh, Friday. And I was like, I'll take Saturday. And he's like, for real? And I was like, yeah, let's do it. And I literally, that was it for me. And I just like, busted ass on Broadway. It was sketchy though, dude. Like, it was half capacity. Nobody could even stand up in the place. I forgot. I forget about this, like, how wacky it was. People couldn't stand up and dance in the restaurant. They had to be seated. Really, the people, somebody would come to them, be like, hey, you need to sit down. And they close early, dude, it was so weird. And I'm like, I don't know how I survived, dude, because, like, you weren't making any money, you know. [00:09:22] Speaker A: What was, what was the driving factor of the timing of that, of November 2020? What were you doing at that time? [00:09:28] Speaker B: Well, I wanted to before, like, I. I came. I went down to Nashville in January 2020 with Sadie Bass, and her and I go way back. And she was. She set up some rights for us and co writes and we got together with some people and wrote and I was like, oh, shit, like, I need to come down here. And we had just been on the Brantley Gilbert cruise and we met a bunch of Nashville people. From there. So, like, I knew I had, like, a little bit of a base, you know, I knew some people down there now, and I was, like, acclimated. And so her and I were like, yeah, we're doing it. Let's move down, like, this summer. And then covet hit. So we just kept kind of like, pushing it out, pushing it out. And finally I was just like, October, my birthday came. I was like, all right, dude, it's now or never. Like, I'm just. I'm gonna do it. It doesn't work out, whatever come back. And it's been there ever since, and it's been great. Best decision ever. Scariest decision ever. But, yeah. [00:10:16] Speaker C: I just seen you were with Clayton last week. [00:10:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:19] Speaker C: At a show there in. In Nashville. And I. We're buddies with Clayton, and. And Clayton's been up here. Obviously he's from. From around this area as well. And I reached out to him. I was like, oh, we're gonna see. See Jason next week. And he's like, man, just wait. And then we were here with. With Macy and. And. And Colin. [00:10:35] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:35] Speaker C: And they're like, yeah, just wait till you see him on. On stage tonight. So I'm. I'm super. [00:10:40] Speaker B: Oh, they're talking me out, dude. Super good. [00:10:44] Speaker C: So, yeah, no pressure, no pressure. [00:10:46] Speaker B: I definitely got those first show. I got the first show jitters going. Like, the whole drive up here, dude, I'm just, like, really getting myself fire. It's. It's not like. It's not like a nervousness. I always tell people it's more like nerves but not nervous. You know what I'm saying? It's like adrenaline. Like, I'll get my heart pumping just thinking about being up on stage. Like, I just love it, you know, And I get so, like, excited about it, but I'm. I'm excited. This is my first official tour with another artist. [00:11:13] Speaker C: Really? [00:11:14] Speaker B: Yeah. So all the last year, like, any kind of interview that I had or podcast I was on, it was like, what's your goal? What do you. What's next for you? I'm like, well, like, honestly, my main priority is, like, I want to get on a tour with somebody. And I just kept saying. I kept saying it. And then, you know, Lakeview and I, we played a show in my hometown last summer, and it did really well. We about sold it out, and now here we are. It's just full circle moment, you know? So it's like I have been waiting to, like, have something like this go where, dude? I just want to play my own Music. Yeah, I just. I love the music that I make, and I just. I love being able to play it for people and. And people that actually, like, buy tickets to a show and they're there because they, like, care. They want to be there, you know? Wow. Sick. That's all we asked for. [00:12:09] Speaker C: I'm a sucker for acoustic and just acoustic sounds and just that. That. That breakdown. And I was on. On your YouTube. And Austin makes fun of me because I'm like, the stalker of the two of us. [00:12:21] Speaker B: Somebody's gotta be. [00:12:22] Speaker A: He's a stalker. I'm the one that kind of shows up. [00:12:25] Speaker C: Yeah, but I. I am definitely the stalker. And. And so I was on your YouTube and listening to all your. Your acoustic and. And, you know, plush STP and. And stuff like that. I was going through all of them just this morning and. And last night, preparing for today, and I just love your voice. I love the. The sound. [00:12:42] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:12:42] Speaker C: And, yeah, no, I'm. I'm very excited to see on stage. [00:12:47] Speaker B: Thank you so much, man. [00:12:48] Speaker C: No, that's awesome. [00:12:48] Speaker B: Yeah, that was a cool little project. I didn't even. That almost didn't get done. [00:12:52] Speaker C: Really. [00:12:53] Speaker B: Yeah. Because we recorded the audio, and at the same time we did the video. [00:12:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:12:58] Speaker B: And the audio was just. [00:12:59] Speaker C: Okay. [00:13:00] Speaker B: Like, it just didn't turn out good. We were kind of unprepared. Like, I didn't know what the hell I was doing. And we. I had another guy that. From the guy that shot the video edit it, and then I went into a studio and kind of did some overdubs on it because we just had to, like, the guitar was wonky and, like, so I just had to play over it. But it's. You know, it's all the same parts. It's just, like, the process we had to go through. And I'm so glad that, because it is one of my favorite things that I've done. Yeah. [00:13:26] Speaker C: You know, I mean, it sounds amazing, and the video is just. [00:13:29] Speaker B: Thanks, dude. [00:13:30] Speaker C: It's the same, so. No, that's awesome. What kind of things are you getting into in 2025? And. And I know you're out with Lakeview here for. For the first quarter or so. What else you got going on? [00:13:40] Speaker B: Just working on new music. I've. I like this 2024. The music that I put out was really, like, the direction that I want to be going in. It's got. It's been kind of cool because I feel like I actually, like, found my sound. You know, like, people say that they. It take. It takes, like, a Lot of work and. And a long time to, you know, some of my earlier stuff. I'm not. It's still me. Yeah. But there's been, like, an evolution, you know, it's like. It's kind of like what I've grown into. I, Like, I. I've gotten with new producers and new, you know, session players and new writers. So it's just like, now things are. It's kind of just like. Like, chucking away at it, you know, and, like, chiseling it down to. To where, like, it needs to be. So now it's like, I know exactly what needs to happen. And so this new music coming out, it's like, it's 100%. I'm like, yeah, this is. It's great. So definitely working on that. We got a couple in the chamber and. Yeah, just. I mean, hopefully I'd love to get on another tour this year at some point and just play as many shows as I can. I've been playing cover gigs for so long, dude. [00:14:42] Speaker A: That's how Clayton felt. [00:14:43] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:43] Speaker A: He's like, not. Not that he's on Broadway, but he. He felt. And compared it to, like, being trapped on Broadwear. I'm getting trapped in playing these covers for sure. And he just, you know, last went. Even in our podcast with us, it's like, I gotta just rip the band aid off. Like, I gotta just say I'm done doing covers. [00:14:59] Speaker B: Well, you know, it's like, boohoo. You know, like, we're over here just, like, doing shit that most people would love to do to make money, you know, and it. But it's like, it gets to a point where even. It's like, okay, it's not exactly what I want to be doing. I still have a good time. As soon as I hit that stage, whatever, you know, we're playing Chattahoochee. I'm like, whatever, dude. I'll be Alan Jackson for a minute. Like, cool. But, you know, in the long run, it's like I'm just ready to. That's why I'm so excited about this tour. It's like I'm. It feels like that next step. [00:15:28] Speaker A: How did it come about with Lakeview and you and, you know. [00:15:32] Speaker B: Dude, we just. We met. Luke and Jesse and I all met, I don't know, probably three years ago in Nashville and just writers rounds and shit, seeing each other around town. A promoter back home who does some shows in Jackson had us both play a show in my hometown. We almost sold, like, a thousand tickets. It was like. It was crazy. Ever since then, you know, we just. We've always talked about it, and we just kind of been waiting for the right opportunity. And they actually. I want to say they asked me to come out for a couple of shows last year, and I just couldn't. I couldn't swing it, like, financially where I was at at the time, you know, but we had a really good year of shows this year, and I've, like, just kind of been saving up or putting it back into the business. And so now this time came around, and it's actually even better because, you know, I feel like they're, like, leveled up since last year, since their last headline tuners, like, being on the road with Stained and Breaking Ben and getting their on xm and, like, they're doing some really awesome shit. [00:16:26] Speaker C: So, yeah, we went up and saw them. Chicago, Tinley Park. And that's when we did a podcast with. With Luke and Jesse. [00:16:32] Speaker A: I don't know if you've seen any of it, but we started the podcast and we kind of looked at the schedule. We decided we were going to do this. And like, two weeks later, I mean, we have Ella Langley here. And, I mean, I got a set of balls on, but I don't have balls enough to be like, hey, you know, you'd like to be our first on our podcast that we have no followers. We've never done anything like, I'm. No way. We did not do it with Ella. We actually our first David Morris. Then we did George Burge and Corey Smith and Austin Williams. [00:17:02] Speaker B: Dude. [00:17:02] Speaker A: But in my head, I said we'd been talking with the boys, and they're like, come up to Chicago. Let's do the podcast in Chicago. Their first big tour, and I want to launch it as our first. So it's episode one of Tailgate Beers is Lakeview. You know, we had some curveballs because the union up there or somebody was like, we can't have cameras or anything inside of the amphitheater. And so we had to do it on their bus, which they had a pretty decent bandwagon. Bandwagon bus, whatever it is. Podcast I thought turned out pretty awesome. It was. I mean, that's amazing. [00:17:37] Speaker B: I can't think of really a better setting for a music podcast. [00:17:40] Speaker A: You know, I'm a massive rock fan, so, like, I'm big into, like, again, motionless and why Atreyu Breaking Benjamin. I burned those CDs up back in the day. And then I've never got to see Stain because Aaron Lewis was not touring with Stained at all for however many Years. So I'm like, God damn it. I'm like, all I want to see. So for me to go watch Stained. [00:17:59] Speaker B: Break this, Break the cycle is my first album CD I ever bought when I was like 13 is wore it the fuck out on my. My Sony Walkman. Yeah, dude. [00:18:07] Speaker A: Now that I'm in it and as I know more people, I love when, you know, they go out there at tailgate and tall boys or at another event and all these people are like, you know, who are these guys? You know, I'm here for Riley Greene. [00:18:22] Speaker B: Or I'm here for country. [00:18:24] Speaker A: I'm here for Stained. Who the hell are these guys to Then next thing you know, they're kind of bouncing their head, and by the end of it, they're fans. Like, to earn those fans. And that's where, you know, Luke and Jesse had said there, like, we. We love that shit. We love when you're just staring at us, bored out of your mind to start with. And by the end of it, you became a fan. [00:18:43] Speaker B: Just can't help it. There's. [00:18:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:18:45] Speaker B: Crawling out of this. [00:18:47] Speaker A: It happened up there where you got all these rockers. They're like, can Breaking Benjamin just come out now or can Sting come out? Who the hell are these guys? And then again, it was start off with a couple. By the end, everybody's got their hands. [00:18:59] Speaker B: Up, just winning them over. [00:19:00] Speaker A: Dude, it's. [00:19:00] Speaker B: It's great. [00:19:01] Speaker A: I didn't know you'd never been on a tour, like, an actual tour. [00:19:04] Speaker B: Zip, man. This is the first official, like. And it just. I'm telling you, man, it feels freaking good. And the timing couldn't be any better because this is especially like the winter season. Dude, winter season gets weird if you're not, like, doing anything like this. It gets weird, like, especially because I'm, you know, I still play some. Some Broadway stuff here and there, make a little extra cash. And it's slow. It's slow season to the max. And it's just like, sucks the soul out of you, dude. And I've always had to wait. Like, there's like that lol, usually until, like, we hit the road. Usually in, like, March or so. March, April. And so finally, for the first time, I'm like, we got done with the holidays. I'm still kind of in that, like, and that daze. And it's like, oh, it's time to go. And I'm. And it's great because it's just like, kicking things into gear, like, right off rip, you know. [00:19:46] Speaker C: So, like, behind the scenes, since we We've got a. I got a few minutes behind the scenes. So you. You moved to Nashville just generically, right? [00:19:54] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:55] Speaker C: You get your name out there and. And correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, but you get your name out there and then, you know, somebody says, hey, you know, you know, it could be a year. It could be, you know, 10 years. 10 years town, right? And somebody says, hey, why don't you come on tour with us, you opener, get your name out there a little more country wide. And I mean, is that essentially, I mean, where the path goes or what? [00:20:15] Speaker B: Yeah, man. I. I found that it was. It was a lot of. I said yes to literally everything for, like, the first two years that I was in Nashville, I never turned anything down. And I mean, unless it was, you know, stupid or sketchy or Right. But for the most part, it was like any gig, any writers round, it was like, I'm playing it. Anybody that wanted to write with me, you just got to like, try it out. And then. Because you'll never know. You know what I'm saying? So I did that. And then it was like the nights where I was just dog ass tired, but there was something going on and I should be there, you know what I'm saying? And like, you got to get out. You got to get out there and like, show face and meet people and network and, you know, make friends. And it was like, that's always been something that's been really naturally easy for me to do. I just. I'm super personable. I had a lot of friends back home and stuff. And. But when you're running yourself ragged and you're like, on day six of Red Door. [00:21:09] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:21:11] Speaker B: And you're like, dude, I can't do it. But then. But then, so. And so is having this event tonight, and like, these people are going to be here. It's like you got to push through. And then every time I did that, dude, the nights where I was like, I do not want to go do this right now, ended up being like the best nights that I went out, you know, like, I either made some really good friends or I met some really good people to know or, like, whatever, and you got to have that mindset that. That you can literally just push through anything and just say yes to it. I'll just be a yes man. And now I'm to the point where, like, I can say no, I can turn some things down. Yeah, it's all good. And, you know, I can kind of like focus on the on the super important things, I've kind of got to like, narrow down. Absolutely. But yeah, to start off, you definitely got to get there. And then that's how I think as long as you're working hard and you're, and you're, and you're doing that, you're keeping that, you know, momentum, things are just going to kind of like come into your, into your view. You know, we've talked about it with. [00:21:58] Speaker C: Some of the artists we've had on, on the podcast too. I mean, and how much of that is. You have to almost become an influencer in today's world, in today's industry, music industry, to get your name out, get your face out. You got to be on social media. You got to be doing TikToks. You got to be doing, you know, Instagram, Facebook, whatever else is on the horizon when TikTok closes this weekend. You know, how much of a. Yeah, right. No, same thing, same thing. But how, how much, how much of an impact on, on, on, you know, a career or, or, you know, what you're doing to get your name out there does that? [00:22:32] Speaker B: Yeah, it is. And honestly, I fingers Tik Tok goes away. Cuz I'm just like salty about. I just like, I don't, I don't love doing it. Like we have to do it though. And it is, there's like, it's amazing. It really is. Like, when shit's going well for you on there, oh my gosh, it's a blast. It's like, look at all these people that I'm reaching and like getting my music out. How else, how else would I do that, you know? So it's, it is a really, really good tool and it's kind of sad that it's going, but I guess it's just one less platform that I got to worry about. [00:22:59] Speaker A: One platform is going to go away and then another. I remember people talking about like these goddamn YouTubers. Think about it. I mean, these people that got found because of one YouTube video and these original artists were going, you know, back in my day, I was, you know, getting found like this or however. I just look at it as, you know, I mean, it's hard not to use it when one video and you're off to the races. [00:23:24] Speaker C: There's been several that I've sat in that scene. [00:23:27] Speaker A: Yeah, several that say it. I just, as me, you know, I'm 36 and I watch some of these and I do get to a point where like with social media, I'm like, I'm just all these people and some of them are very cringy. You're like, you're all. You're just lip syncing these songs and doing a dance or whatever. And now I look and you get a million views and I'm like, what in the fuck is happening? [00:23:48] Speaker B: Yeah, it's pretty neat. It really is. I mean it's definitely. It's changed some people's lives and I think it's. I think it's necessary. [00:23:53] Speaker A: You can tell too with some of them that you're watching their socials and it's the same song over and over. [00:24:00] Speaker B: And over until it just gets lodged in. [00:24:02] Speaker A: But then it finally clicks one time. Yeah, the same with ads. [00:24:06] Speaker B: Yep. [00:24:06] Speaker A: I'm like, I've never even gone to this site, but I'm like, God, I kind of like those pants. All right, whatever. And that sponsored ad just keeps hammering you. And it's the same type of thing where you're just doing it organically, where it's like you've posted the same video over and over and all of a sudden it takes one time and to the moon or. It is crazy when I go through different people's with the festivals and the concerts. My gosh, I'm just trying to find a different song. And you're scrolling through some people's and it's just. They're just hammering that song. [00:24:35] Speaker B: Well, a good example of that for me, Red Faron. You know Redfern? Oh yeah, dude, he's awesome. He's a buddy of mine and like Jack and Diet Coke. He wore that thing out for like seven months. And I'm telling you. And it's a great song. I love it. I play it out sometimes. Like I just. Sick song. But I. By the time it was out, I knew every word of the chorus. I could literally sing it word for word. And I'd never even heard the song like on Spotify. [00:25:00] Speaker A: Look at when. Look at when Morgan Wallen doesn't even drop the song or doesn't even come out with his own TikTok. He just lets a little 30 second blooper and everybody and their brothers using it to the point where we almost all know the song. [00:25:12] Speaker B: Yes. [00:25:13] Speaker A: Before it was ever even out. [00:25:15] Speaker B: Like the Post Malone one thought you should know I think was one that he just like he sang it before it was out and then people were literally covering it all over the place. [00:25:23] Speaker A: The Post Morgan song, I can't remember which one it is. That one like played tick tocks. [00:25:28] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:28] Speaker A: Everywhere and to the point you almost knew the song. Before it is, we live in a society that's so numb to a lot of it that, I mean, the only way to get their attention is just short in their hands. [00:25:40] Speaker B: Short. Yeah, you got to keep hammering them. [00:25:42] Speaker A: Just hammer the fuck out of them. [00:25:43] Speaker B: Yeah. No shame. Can't have any shame about, like, as I did. I was like, oh, dude, I'm, like, driving my followers nuts right now. [00:25:50] Speaker A: Even clickbait type shit where people, like, show you something fucking wild and then you're just, like, off to something different. Yeah, God damn it. I got baited into this damn video for no goddamn reason. [00:26:00] Speaker B: It's even better when you are like me and you hate the shit, but you know you have to do it, and then people hate on your shit, and they talk shit in your house, and you're like, you don't understand, dude. Like, I don't like it. I know. I know it looks stupid. I get it. [00:26:16] Speaker C: So. So. Most important question of the podcast, right? [00:26:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:19] Speaker C: Let's talk about the flow. The locks. How long have you had the locks? [00:26:23] Speaker B: Six years in May. [00:26:24] Speaker C: Six years. So you have. You have. And I've seen this. And Austin's gonna make fun of me again, but. So you have some, like, hairstylists, barbers, and family she takes care of. [00:26:35] Speaker B: How do you know about that? [00:26:36] Speaker C: It's all. It's all on social media. [00:26:37] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So my whole life is out there, dude. [00:26:40] Speaker A: She does all the trimming and everything. [00:26:42] Speaker B: All of it. Ever since I was a little boy. That's up. [00:26:47] Speaker A: I was talking about your beard. I don't know. [00:26:49] Speaker B: Yeah, no, she doesn't do the beard. Oh, I do the beard. I got it. I got a gal in Nashville that I like to go see, but it's not ma. It's not my not ma, dude. She's been. She's been cutting my hair for. And. And she started cutting hair in the late 80s. So, like, the mullet. That's just. My dad had one, you know, when I was a baby. I think I had a rat tail until I was, like, 2 years old. And I was like, yeah, we got to bring it back. So it started just. I did like, a. Like, short, little. Hey, pipe down. Quiet on the set. Can't even hear myself think. Dude, we're talking about my mullet. [00:27:26] Speaker A: How can I talk about my mullet with all this going on? [00:27:30] Speaker B: Yeah. What the hell, dude? So, yeah, dude, I just. I. I did it as a joke for the Indy 500 one year. You guys ever been in the Indy 500? [00:27:36] Speaker C: I've not. [00:27:39] Speaker B: Do it sometime in your life. It is phenomenal. [00:27:41] Speaker A: I've been invited. I just, I used to go to a bunch of NASCAR races back in the day. Like, we used to go far away either Talladega, probably not for you guys, right? [00:27:48] Speaker C: I. That's why what, three hours? [00:27:50] Speaker B: But yeah, I did it for that. I was just like, yeah, I think I was freshly single after like six years. And I was like, I'm just going crazy. I bought a boat, started wearing speedos, lost a bunch of weight. [00:28:01] Speaker A: I gotta go into that. So I heard the story that you play on the back of a boat in the speedo. American flag. [00:28:08] Speaker B: Yeah, dude. We actually just had our last year. We did our fifth and final year of that, the Wolf Lake bash. It was. They used to have like the best fireworks show for the fourth of July in the county. And my, my ex and her family used to go out there all the time. So that's how I knew about it. And then my dad ended up buying. My mom and dad bought a house on there. And that's where they live now. [00:28:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:28:29] Speaker B: So I was like, oh yeah, this is great. I know everybody out here, we're having a ball. And they stopped doing the fireworks show. It was 2020, summer 2020. And so my dad had night, he had the idea, he's like, hey, why don't you just get like a Honda quiet generator, we'll take your PA out and just like play on the pontoon. And I was like, holy, this might work. And we went out there like the day of. And I don't know, probably like 2, 300 people like gathered around and, and it was a riot, dude. Like, we were just throwing down for like two hours I played. And then the next year it was like 5, 600. And the next year was like 800. And then last year was like over a thousand people, like 300 plus boats. It was insane. And that's why it had to be our last one because kind of got out of hand. And it's like I'm the one putting it on. There's no like insurance. Like, it's all the liability. Like if anything happened, it's like it'd probably fall your name behind it for sure. [00:29:20] Speaker A: I used to go to. [00:29:21] Speaker B: I was like, well, it's been real. [00:29:22] Speaker A: Yeah, I used to go to Aquapalooza in the Ozarks. Oh yeah, this is pre Ozarks turning into like the Midwest Vegas. I mean this is crazy. But that Aquapalooza was. I mean, a houseboat gets ship faced. They're the Furthest back boat in and they're trying to get out. They like hit like 10 boats. People are in the water, dude. It's boating, drinking and partying and concerts is a weird combination. [00:29:50] Speaker B: It was the first year that, that I saw some people I've never seen before, like a little bit of like, outsider riff raff kind of that, like that they, they were just there because they had heard that it was like the part, the place to be for the fourth of July. Like, they weren't there to like, see me play, you know, it was like unfriendly and, and it just, I saw it and like, people were starting fights and it was just like, all right, that's it, dude. Like, yeah, ruined it for everybody. But the fourth of July is probably my favorite holiday, so it's gonna be tough. I say that we're not gonna do it again, but it's gonna be really. [00:30:24] Speaker C: Until the 4th of July comes, right? [00:30:25] Speaker B: Yeah, we'll see. [00:30:26] Speaker A: Then that speedo staring you in the. [00:30:28] Speaker B: Face and you're like, I'm just staring me down. Yeah, put me on. [00:30:34] Speaker C: So I, I know Austin's got at least one more question. He want that. [00:30:38] Speaker A: Do we want to ask it or. I mean, we still got to figure out our other questions. [00:30:41] Speaker C: We got to continue. I mean, we, we're 20 some episodes into it. But I, I, I want to know, like, your on stage presence. We're, we're already hearing, you know, today that you have an amazing onstage presence and I'm looking forward to are full band. What do you feel is like the, the backing behind that? [00:30:59] Speaker B: You know, even acoustic too. I was going to say, like, playing with full band, it's kind of just like comes natural. But even like playing acoustic shows and it's, and it's a good crowd, you know? I don't know, man. It's just the music, it just gets, it gets me. I get fired up. I used to go to metal shows all the time and like getting mosh pits and, and headbang and like, I just love it. Like, I can't help but like when the drums kick in and the guitars are going, like, it just takes over me and it, I don't even think about it really. I just, I kind of, I guess it's kind of a natural thing. I have realized that if you give the energy to the crowd, they're gonna give it back most of the time. I've played for some crowds sometimes and like, you'll have that, but most especially people that paid to be there, that's the Crowd that you want to, like, give it to because you know you're gonna get it back. And, like, that. That transfer of energy from you to them and then back to you is like. It's a drug. I think after you, like, start it and you're like, hype, and you're, like, throwing it out there, and then they're, like, giving it back to you, then you're just on coast. Then you're just like, it's all. It's all there. It's just like. You don't even have to try as. [00:32:04] Speaker A: A concert goer and stuff. I do feel like you, as an opener, have everything to gain or you can just completely dive. I have gone to so many concerts for. And I can tell you every one of them where I went to the concert to only see so and so. Yes, but I'm there. Come on. Come on, open. I'm like, oh, my God, dude, these guys are amazing. I went and saw Run the Jewels open for Queens of the Stone Age. I mean, one, we've all listened to Queens of the Stone Age to a point. [00:32:34] Speaker B: Sure. [00:32:34] Speaker A: Did I ever burn a CD down. No. I left going, God damn, Queens of the Stone Age fucks. [00:32:39] Speaker B: Hell, yeah. [00:32:40] Speaker A: Okay. But two, there's this band called Bliffy Biffy Clearo out of Scotland. If you've never heard of them, I'm like, these guys fucking kill it. And that's ones where it's like, you have a chance that you have all these people's attention tonight. And they're all. They all could leave here. Like, man, dude, Jason just absolutely killed it for sure. I don't know. I just think that if you leave it out there, man, it's just, you. [00:33:02] Speaker B: Know, I think going back to your question, like, where it kind of comes from. My first concert was Kid Rock, naturally, as a Michigander, that is supposed to. I think it's like. It's like the only way you get your license, right? Yes. I was, like, 15, I think, and it was. It was at Pine Knob, and it was just like, I was blown away. Like, it was such a good first concert to go to because he's an entertainer. And, like, I saw that and all. And, like, how the crowd reacted to, like, his entertainment was, like, freaking awesome, dude. I felt the energy, and I was like, I want to do that. Like, that's what if. Like, if I do it, I want to do it like that. [00:33:38] Speaker A: Your driver's ed class is at 15. You have to make it to a concert and back. Like, yeah, drink a six pack make it home. Drive your parents home. [00:33:46] Speaker B: That was it. Yeah. By the way, I drove. [00:33:48] Speaker A: You got your license? [00:33:50] Speaker C: You see him in Nashville? [00:33:51] Speaker A: Certified very much. [00:33:52] Speaker B: My first pair of tits. [00:33:53] Speaker A: Oh yeah. [00:33:54] Speaker C: You see him in that? [00:33:55] Speaker B: I never. [00:33:56] Speaker C: So we're down in Nashville, October time frame this past year and. [00:34:00] Speaker A: And just happened in Nashville. [00:34:01] Speaker C: My very first time in Nashville. Happened to be in his bar. And we're just having a few drinks, you know, just chilling and. And it was probably 10, 11 o'clock at night, probably maybe a little later and. And all of a sudden we look up on stage and there he was. [00:34:15] Speaker A: And dude, he is at the bar. [00:34:17] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was singing on stage. [00:34:22] Speaker A: I mean, just. [00:34:23] Speaker C: I mean, he was. [00:34:24] Speaker A: Dude. Full and then limo parked right outside just waiting for him. The classic limo. [00:34:29] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:34:30] Speaker A: Just waiting for him to get out. [00:34:31] Speaker B: Him and Uncle Cracker both. Dude, it was good though. [00:34:34] Speaker C: I mean, it was like. [00:34:35] Speaker A: It was legendary. [00:34:36] Speaker B: He might be the only artist in Nashville that like built a bar so he could actually go there and like around and have fun. Yeah. I don't know of anybody else like Blake. I know Blake Shelton plays it all red every once in a great while, but yeah, he embraces it for sure. Which I would do the same shit. [00:34:51] Speaker C: Oh, absolutely. [00:34:52] Speaker B: What a blast. [00:34:53] Speaker A: I immediately left that. That night and I looked up Kid Rock at Woods. I think it was also Woodstock there too, where Kid Rock, when Kid Rock came out, dude, that's a legendary year where I'm like, I have to watch this. And I think on the way home or one of those times, I immediately looked up Kid Rock. Then I'm like, that's the Kid Rock I remember of like. [00:35:12] Speaker B: Yeah, no doubt. [00:35:13] Speaker A: Legendary. With his whole crew and like the little dwarf guy or whatever coming out there. Oh yeah, his name is. [00:35:20] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. I mean, he's passed away now, but yeah. [00:35:23] Speaker A: Oh yeah. Jesse couldn't even answer the question, to be honest with you. But he had. He had a. Jesse did have a pretty legendary response to it that we. [00:35:33] Speaker C: Had to cut it out. [00:35:33] Speaker A: Had to get cut out of it. But he usually does. [00:35:36] Speaker B: Yeah, that sounds right. [00:35:37] Speaker A: But no. [00:35:39] Speaker C: So you're at the edit room floor. [00:35:41] Speaker A: And the only reason is it's to build suspense of, you know, you got to answer the question pretty quickly. So we have a nice sponsor, Surfside here. [00:35:48] Speaker B: Yeah, they're. [00:35:49] Speaker A: They're now going to be the sponsor for us. They are the presenting sponsor for all the cruising shows. The stage is going to be decked out with Surfside. They're gonna be at tailgate and tall boys so, yeah, they're a good company raise. Rowdy was generous to hook them up, you know, introduce us together, and I think we. We become family with them as well. [00:36:10] Speaker B: So this is the Surfside question of the night. [00:36:12] Speaker A: Yes, this is. This. This segment is brought to you by Surfside. You're on a plane. You just so happen to have a parachute. There are no pilots, no one else to get hurt on the plane, but it's going down. You just so happen to bring every album known to man on the plane, and you have to grab five of them to listen to for the rest of your life on a deserted island. You're never gonna listen to another album? [00:36:34] Speaker B: I'm parachute on the island with these five CDs. With five CDs, that's what you're saying? [00:36:39] Speaker A: What five albums are you gonna listen to for the rest of your life? And if this question doesn't eat at you for a little bit, it eats at meat all the time. But I. I'll let you go. [00:36:48] Speaker C: I can rock them. [00:36:48] Speaker B: You know what? Here's the deal. I think I can rattle off five, okay. And feel good about it. And then, like, tomorrow, I could rattle off five others and feel good about it. You know what I'm saying? [00:36:56] Speaker A: I think it's a. [00:36:58] Speaker B: It's tough. We're quickly approaching, like, definitely be in there. He hit probably the first out. Probably Traveler. That would be in there. Front to back. That thing's a slap fest. Probably Nickelback. So. No. Yeah. Silver side up, price over side up. That'd be a good one. We gotta throw a metal in there, too, because you gotta have, like, one you gotta like, so you can switch it up, right? So, like, maybe like, whatever you want. Post Malone's first album, maybe I'd like, throw that in the mix. Yep. [00:37:28] Speaker C: It's probably a first. We've heard that. [00:37:29] Speaker B: And then there's got to be, like, an oldie in there. Like, maybe like a. The Doobie Brothers. I can't remember what album. Whatever. China. Whatever. Is it China Boat, Whatever. That. Okay. Yeah, That's a good one. That's just some feel good. [00:37:42] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:43] Speaker B: And then, like, damn. I'm just trying to think if I was on an island, like, I love Kubla Khan, Texas, but if I was by myself on an island, I don't know if I'd want to, like, get down to some Kubla Khan. I think I'd want some to, like, help me feel better about what's happening, what's going on in my life. [00:37:57] Speaker A: It's an emotional state. [00:37:58] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:59] Speaker A: You're gonna have some ups and downs on this island. [00:38:01] Speaker B: Do I got four? [00:38:02] Speaker A: Yeah, you got one more. [00:38:02] Speaker B: Give me, Give me some Puddle of mu. Dude. [00:38:04] Speaker C: Oh, there you go. [00:38:05] Speaker B: Okay. [00:38:06] Speaker A: I love it. [00:38:07] Speaker B: Yeah. Puddle of Mud. If I had to. If I had to pick a six just to swap one out. Crossfades self title album. [00:38:13] Speaker A: That's a great one, too. [00:38:14] Speaker B: There you go. That's. [00:38:15] Speaker C: Man, that's a mix right there. [00:38:17] Speaker A: That is a mix I got. [00:38:18] Speaker B: I got to know what Jesse's answer was. [00:38:20] Speaker A: We'll tell you as soon as we get off of this. I, I'll, I, I'll even send you or show you the clip. It's pretty funny. It had me just baffled. [00:38:26] Speaker C: But, yeah, Tailgate beers here. We just want to thank Jason Cross for, For joining us. Can't wait to see on stage tonight. Heard such great things about you. [00:38:37] Speaker B: Thanks, man. [00:38:38] Speaker C: Heard things, great things about your music. Got some new music coming out in 2025, I hear. I'm hearing. Yeah, looking forward to that. So go check that out as soon as. As soon as that drops. So. [00:38:48] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:38:48] Speaker C: Austin, I appreciate you sitting down with us tonight. [00:38:51] Speaker B: Yeah, dude, thank you so much. Seriously, this is great. [00:38:53] Speaker C: Cheers. [00:38:53] Speaker A: Cheers, yeah. Oh, gosh. [00:38:55] Speaker C: We haven't done our cheers. Yeah, there you go. [00:38:57] Speaker B: Oh. Oh, no. Is it. Are they, Are they. No, they're not carbonated. [00:39:01] Speaker A: Yeah, they're not carbs. [00:39:04] Speaker B: Go. [00:39:05] Speaker A: Cheers. [00:39:05] Speaker B: Appreciate it, y'all. [00:39:06] Speaker A: Dry January.