Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:23 What's up everybody? This is Sam with Rowdy Alternative. Uh, today we have Michael Otis Parish, otherwise known as Otis p uh, and we're gonna get into that a little later, his solo stuff. So, uh, how you doing, man?
Speaker 2 00:00:35 Pretty good, man. How are you doing?
Speaker 1 00:00:38 I'm doing all right. It is been a long time coming. I'm glad I could finally pin you down, <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:00:43 Yeah, man. It's been, what, when did we first meet? Like, 2020, I think.
Speaker 1 00:00:49 Yeah, whenever you put high and dry out.
Speaker 2 00:00:52 Okay. So, yeah. Uh, maybe, maybe early 2021, but yeah. Uh,
Speaker 1 00:00:57 Sounds right.
Speaker 2 00:00:59 Dang. Solo project's been like three years in the making so <laugh>.
Speaker 1 00:01:04 I know. I, I can't wait to get into that in a bit. But, uh, I guess the, I guess the best place to start is, uh, just where you've, when you first picked up your guitar, when, what got you going down this road, if you want to jump on into that.
Speaker 2 00:01:17 Yeah. Yeah. Um, so I started playing when I was like 14. I had an uncle that played guitar, and he showed me one summer, he showed me how to play smoke on water, and, uh, and a little guitar boogie, like a walking honky tonk thing. And he let me take his Telecaster home. And I just, I didn't even take lessons until a couple years later, but I just, I learned everything that I could. I would listen to all my favorite songs and just try and pick out the parts that I could do, which was not much at that time, <laugh>. Um, then I started playing with my church in, uh, I think I was like 16. Uh, played in the praise band. Um, luckily our <laugh>, our praise band director was one that kind of liked to rock the boat a little bit. So we did like a Metallica version of, uh, what Child is this?
Speaker 2 00:02:14 And then a Jimmy Hendrix version of Go Tell It On The Mountain. So he was always showing me how to do like these cool little blues slicks and stuff. And, uh, one of my greatest faults as a musician, and one of, I think my greatest, uh, strengths at the same time is that he would, he basically taught me, like, he would just set aside this little section of the song and be like, all right, I want you to make up a lead to go here. Uh, didn't want me to listen to the song, didn't want me to do any, like, uh, to play what was already there. He said, you do something here, do whatever you want. Um, so I got bit by the bug. Like, I, I can sit and noodle for hours and just play different stuff. Yeah. I feel like I would probably be a lot better if I learned a lot more songs, <laugh>, but man, it's just so much fun to just like, even kind of get out of the box, not even really stick in the, the
Speaker 1 00:03:13 Right
Speaker 2 00:03:14 The scale, like the structure of it, and hit wrong notes and end up finding a new way to slide into different guitar parts. So that's, man, I, I literally, every guitar part that I've come up with almost is like, just sitting around noodling for hours, and I'm like, oh, that's cool. Like, record, you know? So, um, yeah.
Speaker 2 00:03:37 But then, so me and Mason have been together, our bass player Mason have been together for like 10 years. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we met Sure. In Clint Levi Band. It was a little, little no name band in, uh, Stephenville, uh, Texas. And, uh, me and Clint and a couple of the other guys went to Tarleton State, and, uh, co actually came and opened up for us acoustic one night, and our band was kind of already on the outs. So Mason and I, once, once we heard Cosing, we were like, all right, if this goes south, we've gotta go see if this guy would let us jam. And, uh, like two weeks, maybe three weeks later, our band broke up. And, uh, so Mason and I both made the move. So, so yeah, we've been together with CO for almost, uh, actually next month it'll be nine years, so.
Speaker 1 00:04:29 Wow. Yeah. So I guess it's noise complaint then, right?
Speaker 2 00:04:33 Uh, before then, um, so there was, there was a EP that they did, like right before I joined. So Mason moved straight from our band, uh, our first band to co I kind of played with a few different bands around the scene for a little while. Uh, I think the first thing Mason was on was between two bottles, if I'm not mistaken. And then, uh, okay. Then out on parole was the first thing that we were both on, um mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I think, uh, when we jumped on, the only person that had changed in the lineup was they had got rid of their bass player and hired Mason. And then I basically joined that original lineup. Um, and then slowly members got married, you know? Uh mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 00:05:21 Yeah, I mean, just a bunch of reasons in that it ended up being me, Mason and Co have, have been the main ones for, yeah, no, almost nine years. There were quite a few lineup changes at this point. Wow. You know, uh, we went from our original drummer, tried out a few, and then Andreas jumped on, uh mm-hmm. <affirmative> for a few years. And, uh, and now we're at Jared Easterling, uh, had probably four or five other guitar players had his pedal steel player at one point. So it's been, uh, it's been a wild, wild ride for sure.
Speaker 1 00:06:02 Yeah, I know. Um, and this is just me being curious, uh, I was thinking about today, cuz I know you play with, uh, Shiloh, the other guitar player mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, yeah. So you guys like Trade Off leads, right?
Speaker 2 00:06:15 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Yeah, we straight off, um,
Speaker 2 00:06:21 Well, I mean, so I end up playing more leads just for the sole fact that I've been in the band about twice as long. So, um, but I, he's so easy to work with, um, easier to work with than, than a lot of people that I've tried to work with. So when he first joined and was just like, dude, I'll do whatever. I was like, like since he was so cool about it, I was like, well figure out the solos to this song and this song, and I'll let you play those, you know? Um, um, but now, now it's, it's pretty much half and half I would say. Um, but yeah, man, I, I love working with him Anytime that I'm like stuck on something, he knows exactly what to play and then vice versa. So, um, and his, his tone and mind kind of compliment each other. I, I'm a little bit more trebbly, he's a little bit more midy. So you can, you can tell live who's playing what, if you'll listen to Mine's just a little bit more, uh, has a little bit more high end on it. So, um, compliments very well
Speaker 1 00:07:27 My opinion. Okay, I gotcha.
Speaker 2 00:07:28 So, yeah.
Speaker 1 00:07:30 Yeah, cuz what I was, what I was just like wondering is like, sure, like you could, in the studio and whatnot, like you could say, Hey, you play leads on this, I'll play leads on that mm-hmm. <affirmative>, but I was wondering like live, if it's ever kind of just like a nod to 'em, like, you go ahead or Oh yeah. Anything like that ever kind of goes down.
Speaker 2 00:07:48 Absolutely. Um, you know what I mean? A lot of the songs that we've done, um, we've played for years now. Um, so we do a lot of stuff on the fly still. Um, I mean, sometimes we'll, we'll, we'll be expecting to play a 90 minute set, and then it's like, uh, you know, somebody's not feeling good, something's going wrong technically. So it's like, Hey, we're cutting these out real quick. And then, uh, um, there's been multiple times where I'll be like literally about to go into a solo and break a string, so I just run over the talk back, I'm like, Hey, Shiloh, you got this bud. And then he, he takes it, you know, it's, uh, moving on the Fly is one of the things that it actually still keeps it very, very fun for me. And that, that's one aspect. Yeah. Just kind of giving him a nod and be like, all right, come on, show me what you got. You know,
Speaker 1 00:08:46 It's funny you say it's fun, but like, if like someone like me, like it just sounds nerve-wracking is all hell <laugh>
Speaker 2 00:08:53 Man. Um, you know, I don't really, we don't really get nerves anymore. Um, so yeah, the, the flying by the seat of your pants is really the only part that like, gives you a good rush of adrenaline. I mean, any, any show you get a little bit of a rush, you know, but then it's like when something goes wrong and you're like, okay, I've gotta do something now, then it's, yeah, it just brings it up on a new level, you know. Um, what's funny is that actually one of the few times that I do still get butterflies is when I am supposed to play a solo that I've played 150 times. And then right when I push my Boost pedal, it just like leaves my head like, what am I gonna do <laugh>? Like, I don't know what I'm playing next. And, uh, I either, I have to make a choice to either try and like check out, because if I check out mentally my muscle memory like kicks in and I can play it flawlessly.
Speaker 2 00:09:57 But if I can't make myself check out like that, then I have to audible and just play something off the top of my head. Um, so actually, if you hear something that sounds like way different from, from, uh, at least on our big songs, like Love, love I Audible all the time. For some reason that stupid solo cannot stay in my head, so I'll just kind of rip, let's rip something different every once in a while, <laugh>. Uh, but yeah, cuz if I don't, then it's like all of a sudden my fingers have no idea what to do. It's just like wrong notes left or right. So <laugh>,
Speaker 1 00:10:36 I couldn't imagine <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:10:39 So yeah, that's, that's the only time that I really like get, get that rush still. I have to like, oh no, I've gotta, I've gotta change now or I'm gonna look like an idiot in front of 10,000 people. <laugh>
Speaker 1 00:10:53 <laugh>. Yeah. Speaking of that, like, wow, I, I saw you guys a few times now and the last two times I saw you were a few years apart and it's just insane seeing the blow up Yeah. That you guys have had. Um, so out in Texas, in Oklahoma, when I was living out there, like you guys were top of the heap already. Like, I came in late, like noise complainers already came out and everything. Right. And, um, and y'all were still like, I went to the Tumbleweed to see you guys play and like, compared to where I saw you in January at, uh, in Newport, Kentucky, in an arena, like, yeah, I couldn't believe it. Like, that was all it. Maybe a year, year and a half apart it, like, is there a moment for you to where you're like, oh my God, this is happening. Like, what was that moment like?
Speaker 2 00:11:45 What's funny is it was, there was, um, one of 'em was at the Tumbleweed the first time we played there, there, first time in Stillwater we opened up for Reed South Hall Band. Uh, and I remember looking up at Mason, we made eye contact and both just instantly teared up. We're like, oh my gosh, that I think <laugh>, I don't even remember how many people were there, but it was packed. I mean, Wal Towa, um, but it's still probably, I don't know, thir, I don't, I don't remember what the capacity is, like 3000 maybe, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, but the first time that I noticed that like, something was different, you know, everybody was like, Hey man, y'all got so big so fast. Like, well, we've made big jumps fast. Um, but there was, there was years where we played for five people, you know, um mm-hmm. <affirmative>,
Speaker 2 00:12:41 But I remember in, I think it was Cheatham Street, warehouse in San Marcus, um, it was the first time we were opening for somebody, and I can't remember who, but we, uh, when we hit the stage, people ran up to the front. It was right after we released Noise complaint, you know? So, um, I think that's what kind of started up. But people ran up to the front of the stage and I was like, well, this is, this is new. And then when we got done, people started leaving. I was like, well, that's really new. Like, something's up. And then the next show was like that, and the next show was like that. And then, um, it just kept, kept going. Um, so that was, I think Cheatham Street Warehouse was probably the first time that I, I noticed that there was something different about the people that were there. They were definitely more interested, you know? Um, right.
Speaker 1 00:13:32 Okay.
Speaker 2 00:13:33 Yeah. Um, as far as like the crowd, that, man, the first time we did, um, Panther Island Pavilion, we did the, the co West's Incredible Music Festival in Fort Worth. And seeing, I think it was like 11,000 people there. And that was a big, a big hit. Like, just the only time that we had played to that many people at that point was on a lineup with 10 other bands that were all bigger than us, you know? So to see that many people at our festival was, was big stuff. It was very, very humbling moment for sure. <laugh>, you know. Um, yeah.
Speaker 1 00:14:19 Um, were, were there any bands or like artists that like in the early years might've took you under your, like, their way and kind of showed you the way a bit?
Speaker 2 00:14:30 Um, yeah, man, the first one, um, was Colton Moore and the Clever Few, um, oh, if you've heard of, uh, uh, Ryan Wilcox in the Sunday Shakes, Ryan played, mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, played lead for Colton, um, right before he quit. But yeah, he was one of the only, they were one of of the only acts that gave us, uh, a very, very big chance. Like, we played with them quite a few times. Um, we would always get stuck with, uh, get paired up with like super honky tonk bands. And then, so we would, we would like end our set with fuss and fights so the crowd's like up here, and then they want to open up theirs with like Silver Wings, you know, <laugh>. So the crowd's just like, yes. So yeah, there was a lot of people that didn't like us very much for that reason. Um, not that they didn't like us, they didn't like playing with us, you know, just because okay, we had, we were bringing rock and roll energy to Texas country bars and, uh, yeah, I mean that, that kind of energy, when you're gonna play hon talk music is hard to, hard to follow up, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 00:15:42 So, yeah. And it's funny to say that because that whole, like, I hesitate nowadays to call it the Texas country music scene because honestly everything there now, especially, and I'd say like recently, maybe two years, at least from what I've seen, like that's what's hot out there. That's what's kicking right now, is the rock and roll. Absolutely. There's like no country in it. Not that it matters, it's just like that's the scene right now.
Speaker 2 00:16:08 Yeah. Yeah. You know, uh, I always kind of equate it back to like, I hear a bunch of people that are like, ah, don't get rock in my country and don't get country in my rock. I'm like, well, Elvis and Johnny Cash used to tour together. I mean, it, it both comes from exactly the same point. It's all blues, you know? I mean, yeah. Um, and shoot, even when we were doing Texas Country, my licks were still blues rock licks, you know, we just had it in a different chord progression and, um, more, I guess you, you really can't get the twang out of KO's voice, which is I guess how we still classify as country, just cuz <laugh> can't get the East Texas outta that guy. So. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:16:55 Um, I mean, if you think about it, you're, you're exactly right. Especially with like, first that comes to mind is fussing fight. Like that's a blues lick. Yeah. All the way.
Speaker 2 00:17:03 Yeah. Yeah. Um, I remember I was jamming, uh, with one of our old drummers, um, uh, actually I think he played in Clinton Levi Band with us too. But, um, but anyways, I was jamming with him. We, we were both Metalheads, so have you heard of Maline and The Sons of Disaster?
Speaker 1 00:17:24 Wow, that's a, that's a deep pool.
Speaker 2 00:17:26 <laugh>. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So, um, Dallas Taylor from Under Oath, uh, started, uh, Southern Metal Band. That's, that was one of my biggest influences. Um, and I was playing Step Up with, with our drummer and co walked in. He was like, dude, do that again. I've got some lyrics for it. I was like, well, hold on. We gotta, we gotta change this up. And I can't remember who, who was actually successful in, I think it was either CO or Mason that just flip-flopped the accent notes, uh, of that big Mm nah, nah, na um, mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But yeah, so that's, that's how Step Up. I mean, that's how Fussing Flight came out was we were jamming a mailing and The Sons of Disaster Song <laugh>, uh, yeah. Yeah. That's crazy
Speaker 1 00:18:14 How it comes together.
Speaker 2 00:18:16 Garage. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 00:18:19 Yeah, I was talking to, uh, Taylor Kimball not too long ago on here, and um, he, like, it's, he mentioned that, uh, co like the first time I could be getting this wrong, I hope not, but he mentioned that when he first hooked up with Co for the first like recordings, he said he wanted to sound like he's playing in an old barn or something like that. Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:18:44 Yeah. <laugh>, that's about right. Yeah. Yeah. I mean,
Speaker 1 00:18:47 It's rock and roll an old barn or a garage.
Speaker 2 00:18:51 Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I mean, um, I think that's where our, our energy came from. Like we, it, it started out super small, super organic, uh, just a bunch of dudes that like to jam in a garage, you know, nobody listening. But we were gonna make the music that we wanted to make, you know, so the Trashier, the better the slop, the better <laugh>.
Speaker 1 00:19:17 So yeah. <laugh>. Um, so, and you mentioned your influence real quick there, and I was wondering, just cuz I just, anyone who follows you, whether it be on social media or anything, knows you're very faith based. And I was wondering if, um, was are there any like, like Christian bands or any of those kind of influences for you? Like, cuz I know some of them are go very under the radar. Big,
Speaker 2 00:19:43 Big time. Um, so I was, when I was a kid, my dad was a Baptist preacher, so I couldn't listen to anything, uh, you know, some classic rock, um, some country. But I didn't know any of the nineties music until like the two thousands. Uh, but so I, I listened to DC Talk was one of my biggest influences, um, that Jesus Freak album. If you, if you take the lyrics away from it, forget that it's Christian Rock, dude, it holds up. The music is so good. It sounds like you can definitely hear like the grunge influences from the nineties in that record. Um, and then, uh, every time I say this I always get, oh really? But you have to listen to the first three records by third day. Cause it is straight up southern rock and roll. Um, actually a ton of stuff that I've done on Mostly Noise Complaint and Harold Saw High in particular, um, were influences from third days.
Speaker 2 00:20:54 Uh, I think it was their third album. Um, one, yeah, one of those first three. But man, it's, it's another one like solid message. But take that, take that away from it. It's still a solid album, you know, very well done. Um, and I feel like you can, I've actually listened to a couple of podcasts about this lately, how like, Christian music, the art is sometimes secondary. It's like, well just do whatever and then throw Jesus on it. Like it'll, it'll sell. Like just get the message right. Like, but no, like, you're supposed to do whatever you do. Do it the best you can for the glory of God, you know? So don't just like, make something up really fast and throw the Jesus label on it and then send it out like, oh, you're supposed to make something good. You know? Yeah. So that's, that's a big, big thing for me. Um,
Speaker 1 00:21:56 Yeah. And I was gonna ask you like, cuz Yeah. Uh, so CO is like synonymous with partying. Like that's what people think of when they think of co mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And with that, for a lot of people, uh, comes demons. And I was wondering, uh mm-hmm <affirmative>, how do you balance your faith in keeping like, on that straight and narrow path with like, the road life for better or for worse? Like, how, how do you like Yeah, yeah, keep that, how do you navigate through that?
Speaker 2 00:22:28 Um, man, it's, it's hard. Um, but one of the biggest things, like right when we started out, I, uh, luckily none of none of the guys that we've got in our crew have ever tried to push me into a situation where I would have to compromise. Uh, there's actually been some times where I was hanging out and everybody's like, all right man, why don't you, why don't you get outta here? Uh, which is awesome. Like, I've, I've always told them like, look, I'm, I'm not your dad. You do what you want to do. You're a grown man. Uh, I just ask that you don't put me in a situation that's going to make me, uh, compromise my faith. Um, and they've all been fantastic about that. Um, you know, and I worried about it for a long time actually. Like, cuz um, wondered if being around all of it.
Speaker 2 00:23:23 I mean, I, you know, I, I party, I have a couple drinks, uh, I just sure don't really like to be drunk. Uh, it's not, not my thing. I'll have a glass of whiskey and a cigar and that's, that's my, that's my jam. You know what I mean? Um, but there was at one point I was like, man, is this like, is being here, am I going to be able to be a light? Um, I wonder if it was going to like, ruin my, my witness or whatever. Um, but I slowly got to see how the stage was set, where it was like the biggest, hardest partying band in the scene had a Jesus free guitar player, <laugh> that was on the outskirts of it. So it created this awesome contrast where, um, mm-hmm. <affirmative> where people get to see Jesus and, and have a blast. You know what I mean?
Speaker 2 00:24:23 Um, I've had some really cool conversations, and actually there's been most of the times where it's where I'm like, about to throw my guitar down, I'm so mad or whatever, and then I'll have somebody come tap me on the shoulder and they're like, Hey, man. Uh, like you said something that on, on Twitter a few weeks ago that really inspired me. Like, man, that's, that's what it's about for me. I just want people to, um, you know, a big part of it. Like, you want people to be able to go to a show and forget about their crappy job, forget about their, their loser girlfriend and just have fun. So it's cool to me to be able to see people doing that. And then they also get a little dose of Jesus too, you know, which is, which is what I think it's all about. Like, I, Jesus is the one consistent thing in my life that's given me joy through, through every, uh, trial and, uh, mistake on my part. Like, that's, so why wouldn't I want to share that with people? You know what I mean? So, um,
Speaker 1 00:25:32 Yeah. And yeah, that's awesome to hear. And I, I could only assume that like, out on the road or with people you come across, like, I'm sure like, like they see your attitude towards that stuff, no matter what they believe in. You know what I mean? Like just that positivity or hope that they see that you Yeah, for sure. Kind of communicate. Yeah. Like everyone needs that.
Speaker 2 00:25:54 Yeah, absolutely. For sure. Yeah, man, and I'm, um, so a little bit of background on that. Like I said, my, my dad used to be a Baptist preacher. Um, then he went to, uh, seminary and now he is, um, actually, I don't know what he is now at one, but the last time we talked about it, he was an agnostic. Um, we just graduated with more questions than answers. So from the time I was young, like 12 years old, he was always showing me like, okay, well there's this few, this few and this few that are all Christian, and then there's this one that you heard at church. Like, so figure out what you think. Um, so from a very early age, I've been able to kind of look at all of the facts without it like crumbling my faith. Like, you know, I've, I've got tons of questions, um, and it's not my place to tell you that I'm right, you're wrong.
Speaker 2 00:26:50 It's my place to say that. Like, like, yeah, th this is what I think this makes sense to me. And regardless of all of doctrine and arguments and stuff, Jesus has been the source, the biggest source of joy and purpose in my life. So I want people to experience that. You know, that's, that's kind of where I draw the line. Um, you know, instead of me getting up in the microphone or be like, repent, that's not, it's not gonna work. It's not gonna work. Everybody's gonna turn around and walk off Yeah. And I'm gonna get fired. So <laugh>, they're voted out. So <laugh>, right? Uh, yes. That's, that's kind of where I, where I come at it. Um, but yeah, anyways,
Speaker 1 00:27:38 Yeah. So there's that. And also, I was wondering, uh, like how do, um, and everyone has different answers for this, but how do, like you balance the family aspect while you're out on the road as well?
Speaker 2 00:27:52 Um, man, I <laugh> it's, it's been amazing this year actually. Um, when we first started really making, like, getting some traction, we were playing 180, 180 plus shows a year, and that was like the year that I got married. So at that point, it was freaking rough. I barely got to see my, my new wife. Um, so from the get-go, we kind of set, or she set some boundaries pretty, pretty quick. It was like, Hey, we need, we need to talk every day. Call me every day. Um, you know, so we still try really hard to be involved in each other's lives. Um, and then this past year we were, we were able to, to get a flight budget. Um, so man, once, I think once Mason and I both announced that we were pregnant, uh, management was like, all right, well, we gotta do something.
Speaker 2 00:28:59 You know what I mean? Uh, but thankfully, yeah, they hit right at the right time. Um, and then, uh, so once I, I've, you know, with it being the year that my baby was born, I blew through that super early. Um, and then I've been doing the, the side project and some, some extra jobs on the side to kind of fund being able to go home. Uh, so this year's been great. I'm actually, uh, flying in and out for the rest of the year, so get to be, get to be home with my baby for three days, and then I'll come out and play shows for four days. Uh, but yeah, when we're, when we're out for a long time, you just, you gotta try and keep communication open as as much as possible. So,
Speaker 1 00:29:45 Yeah, it can never be easy, I'm sure. But
Speaker 2 00:29:50 No, man, I thought it would get easier, <laugh>, but it is definitely not, I still, I still tear up just about every time I gotta head out. Um, but I told, I told Mia that, uh, I was gonna have to start flying out at night because, uh, because the baby was so smiley and happy in the mornings <laugh>. So I like, man, I'm gonna have to, I'm gonna have to leave in the evening when she's a little fussy. Uh, makes it a little easier to hop on a plane, <laugh>. But, uh, but yeah, man, it's, it's been challenging, but it's been, it's been awesome. It's been great. Right.
Speaker 1 00:30:32 And you mentioned you did some side work and everything, and I figured we might as well promote it. Is timber light mantles, is that your side deal you're
Speaker 2 00:30:41 Doing? Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. So I, I did, uh, trim and remodeling for my dad for, for years. That's how, when this was my, my hobby still, that's how I funded it, you know? Um, and then once we took off, quit, my dad, I swear I would never pick up a hammer ever again. <laugh>. And then like a, a year later, I woke up one day and I missed the smell of saw dust. So I, um, so every home in my neighborhood has the exact same fireplace. And I was looking at him, I'm like, man, I could make a hollow beam that just slides over the top of this. No, uh, or actually, I was going to cut the top part off and put my fo beam on top, and one of my neighbors was like, it's hollow, right? I was like, yeah, like, well just cut a notch in the bottom and slide the, slide the thing over it.
Speaker 2 00:31:34 Like, oh, you're genius. So now I just drill two holes and put some concrete acres in through the top. But, um, so yeah, I mostly do the mantles now. Um, she floating shelves. Um, mostly stuff that I can do in my garage just because, uh, I'm trying to do it like in, in, uh, in between tours and trying to be a dad. Um, but yeah, so it's, it's, it's a lot of fun. It's fun doing it, doing it here, like in my garage, uh, listening to some good music than, than working for my old man, you know, <laugh>. So, uh, but yeah, so, right, I do that and then, uh, do the timber light mantles and, uh, you know, doing the, the songwriting on the side. And then I actually do, uh, a little bit of social media marketing for a accounting firm called Omness, uh, Omnis Business, uh, that's right. Bookkeeping and Business Solutions. So they're outta Sarasota, Florida. Um, but yeah, man, trying to, my wife wanted to stay home with the baby. Um, so she's, she's doing a remote, uh, part-time job, but, you know, gotta make that up somewhere, so. Yep.
Speaker 1 00:32:57 Yeah. Yeah, man. Gotta stay on the grind, I guess.
Speaker 2 00:33:00 Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 00:33:04 So, uh, let's get back to music, uh, real quick. Um, recently, or I guess relatively recently, um, you guys signed with the label, correct?
Speaker 2 00:33:13 Yeah, yeah. We, uh, in 2020 we signed with Columbia Records. Um,
Speaker 1 00:33:21 So was that like a, what was the biggest, I guess, difference between being like, independent in the label, like right away? Did something hit you at all? Like, oh, wow, this is completely different, whether it's good or bad or hard adjustment or anything?
Speaker 2 00:33:39 Um, man, you know, we, one of the good things about staying independent for so long is that we were able to basically co co was like, look, I'm going to, we want to do what we want to do. Um, we've got a good thing going, y'all are obviously on board. Um, so that was one of the things was like, we, um, we get to work with Kimball still. We get to go to the studio that we want to do, write the music that we wanna write. Um, and they just kind of, they just were just wanted to be on board, you know? So, um, they're pretty hands off when it comes to like, um, creative control, which is, I think one of the biggest, um, I mean, they've of course have suggestions, uh, but I, I think the biggest change that happened is, I mean, obviously the, the budget.
Speaker 2 00:34:34 I mean, we went from, uh, working in a small studio, like, actually, I think at first we were doing it in, in the house, in a house studio. Like Kimble brought all of his stuff to the house that the band lived in, uh, for the first stuff that we did with Noise complaint to now we're working with, um, for El Paso, went to, uh, Sonic Ranch. Um, you know, so the budget just got so much bigger, um, get to use the producers that we want to use, uh, bring in, uh, more musicians and songwriters. And it just, the system just got bigger, you know what I mean? Uh, but it still, it still feels pretty diy, honestly. Um,
Speaker 1 00:35:25 Okay.
Speaker 2 00:35:26 It's still just co-write songs, says, Hey, write something to this. Like, put, put guitar over this. I'm like, all right, cool. It's, it's pretty much been that way since, since the beginning, so.
Speaker 1 00:35:40 Well, that's good. I mean, I hear different sides of that coin all the time. Oh, it's better. Oh, it's worse. Never sign, always sign. Like, so I'm glad it's working for y'all. Definitely.
Speaker 2 00:35:51 Yeah. I think, I think it depends. I mean, I know a bunch of guys that, that signed with labels and then instantly had to change their sound, um, instantly had to change up everything. Um, luckily, like I said, I think that was one of the good things about turning down contracts for so long and staying independent, is that we had a track record, you know, like, like, Hey, this, this is what we're doing. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and here's how we know it's working. So they were like, all right, sweet. Yeah, keep doing what you're doing. Like, we'll have suggestions along the way. And yeah. So it's been, it's been awesome. It's been every step up. It's been super easy. Everybody's super easy to work with. Um, yeah, it's been, it's been great.
Speaker 1 00:36:42 Good. Um, so a lot of artists, when they do sign to these labels, they get the, it's like clockwork. You get those fans who have been there since day one, like, oh, you're selling out the whole, the whole spiel. Did you guys get any of that flack? Uh, I'm, I'm sure you got something <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:37:01 Yeah. You know, so the, uh, I think it was with Sellout, uh, I saw, I saw some
Speaker 1 00:37:08 Yacht Oh, absolutely. Titled
Speaker 2 00:37:09 <laugh>. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Um, and it was like, I can't remember where I saw it, but this guy was just tearing us a new one, like, ah, they need to go back to the, the old studio and use the old musicians and use the, the stuff that they were using before. And it was like, okay, so two or three of those songs were put together before Harold Saha. We used all of the same band members, the same studio, and the same producer, <laugh>, like, literally nothing changed from, from, uh, Harold Sahi to sell out. Uh, but they're like, ah, they've gotta go back to doing what they were doing. We're like, we're still doing that exact same thing. Yeah. So that was, that was kind of funny. Uh, I think everybody expects it to be a sellout. So once, uh, once you want to do anything different on the next record, which is inevitable, I mean, of course you're gonna want to push the boundaries a little bit. So, but once you do that with your first major label, they're like, oh, they, they sold out. Or like, oh, we just wanted to do some different stuff. <laugh> <laugh>,
Speaker 1 00:38:29 That's what music is. It's changing. That's what it's supposed to do.
Speaker 2 00:38:33 Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 00:38:37 So speaking of that, um, from sellout to El Paso, yeah. Was there any, especially with the addition to Jared, uh, was there any type of creative steps you guys wanted to take specifically? Like, Hey, let's try this, or like, let's go this route. Like, anything like off the top of your head that you guys wanted to make happen for that, this new record?
Speaker 2 00:39:01 Um, well, I mean, luckily Jared has actually been, uh, been in the studio. So we met him through Kimball. They were, they were roommates. Um, so Jared has actually been a fairly large pro, uh, part of, um, of, ah, man, I can't remember. I think it was from noise complaint on basically that he's at least been present in the studio. Uh, played, played on some songs.
Speaker 1 00:39:30 Uh oh, okay.
Speaker 2 00:39:32 But for this, for this next, for El Paso, actually, uh, they, they brought in, one of the biggest changes, like I said, was with Columbia. We were, uh, they brought in some, some bigger names. Um, um, like with the, with the producer that we worked with, was worked with, uh, the Foo Fighters. Um hmm. Man, actually, I didn't get to have as much of a part in this one as I wanted to, because when they were in the studio, uh, Mia was pregnant and super sick. Okay. Um, had preeclampsia. Um, so I basically, they, they went to Sonic Ranch and like busted out as much as they could when they had the producers in the studio. And then it was like, okay, here's what we got. Uh, basically like, do your thing and sprinkle, sprinkle your, your style over the top of it. So I just listened to what they had and, uh, changed up a few things.
Speaker 2 00:40:33 There was a couple spots that I could write over the top of, you know, so, um, as far as collectively, man, I, I unfortunately didn't get to be there, like, in the studio. So I, it was, it was a little difficult for me to write to this one, um, to try and get in the mindset that, that, that it, it was in originally, uh, in that studio, and then write those parts at my house, and then I just went to Kimball's studio in Denton and recorded him there. Um, but I mean, it's still, still basically the same creative process. Um, as far as the, the whole thing, like still just wanting to, um, to write stuff that people, people relate to. Like, KO's always super transparent in his lyrics, and, um, you either like him or you don't, he doesn't care. Um, so, you know, you try and write, right? You try and write the music and arrange the songs in that same honesty as well, you know? Um, like it's still us, it's still co wezel, you know, that's, that's kind of, I would, I would say that's, that's number one, like trying to stay, stay true to what we've al what we've always wanted to do, and we want, we want to keep doing that, you know? Um Right. Hopefully with the next one, we, Mia won't be pregnant, and I can actually be in the studio <laugh>. That would be awesome.
Speaker 1 00:42:09 Yep. But no problem. You never know. You never know what's gonna happen. <laugh>, <laugh>. But, um, let's move on to your solo stuff, man. So, um, cool. Those of you who don't know, uh, Otis is, goes under Otis p you could find him on Spotify, and I assume iTunes every, everywhere you could find music. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 00:42:28 <affirmative>. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:42:29 And, um, and he's put, he put out two, uh, songs. Right? Uh, two singles Take me home and High and Dry.
Speaker 2 00:42:36 Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:42:38 Okay. So I guess let's start with like, when did the, uh, solo project start? Uh, what made you want to take that step?
Speaker 2 00:42:46 Yeah. Um, so I've, I've written songs since I picked up a guitar. Like I said, like, my favorite thing to do is just sit, sit in Noodle. Uh, and I kind of do the same thing. Like anytime I hit a get a rhyme in my head, I'll just, I'll write it down. Um, so I've, I've written songs for a long time and just had a bunch of stuff that I knew that we would never do as Kozel. Um, and then when 2020 hit, we didn't have shows, uh, I was like, well, man, if I, this, this is the time. If I'm gonna do it, now's the time. Uh, so I put out the two singles one in 2020. Uh, man, uh, actually, I think maybe High and Dry was the tail end of 2020, or, or either early, early 2021.
Speaker 1 00:43:36 Um, might 2021.
Speaker 2 00:43:38 Yeah, I think that's right. I think that's right. But, um, I set out trying to do a full length record, um, just of songs that were a little bit more personal to me. Um, and man, it's been a long road trying to get it all. Um, this actually should have been released last summer. Uh, but I got Covid, we had two weeks off, and I got Covid for the first four days that we were off, and then I gave Covid to our baby. So got no studio time in April, and it just seems like one after the other, like one of us sick, or we get a show and I have to cancel. Um, actually I had one more song that I was going to to do on the record, but we literally just canceled three sessions. I'm like, forget it, man. Let's, let's just do the nine songs and, uh, we'll do one more session and do the final vocals and wrap everything up and just let's, let's be done. Um, yeah. So trying to, trying to do a full length record, uh, in the middle of COSO Records and having a baby and having a construction business, you know, it's just taken so long. So I'm ready for it to be
Speaker 1 00:45:06 And Covid.
Speaker 2 00:45:08 Yeah. And Covid. Um, but I actually, man, what's funny is I, I, I'm so ready to have this one out there, um, but I was adding it up. I've, I've got an another full length record of songs like Already Ready. I'm like, well, Mia's not gonna be happy, like, <laugh>, like, we're gonna have to do this again. Um, but yeah, so I, it it's gonna be, um, like I said, nine songs. Um, I'll, I'm gonna do Take Me Home is going to be on there, but it's going to be the original version, just, just me and an acoustic guitar. Um, and I kind of wanted it to be a concept album. Um, you know, kind of like the Prodigal Son type thing. Like starts out, everything's good, everything's happy, I'm in love. And then, uh, you make some bad choices or you start to question things change, uh, then you hit rock bottom and, uh, in that dark place you end up finding hope, finding redemption, uh, so that, that the, the layout of all of the songs kind of correlates in that, that journey, so to speak. So
Speaker 1 00:46:29 That's really cool to hear. It's a concept album, cuz I think that, um, yeah. Idea isn't very, isn't used very much anymore, so that's gonna be super unique.
Speaker 2 00:46:39 Right. Yeah, it's definitely a lost, a lost art for sure. Um, you know, and that was one of the things, like, there was a couple songs that I really, really liked that I had that actually that had the demos done for, um, but it just didn't fit, you know, so I've, I've cut out a few songs that me and the producer were, were really fond of, uh, just, just because I, I really wanted that, that whole concept to kind of line up. Um, which by the way, I forgot to mention, I, I'm recording with, uh, it's Tyler Thompson. Um, so we met on the road with, he was drumming for Chris Colson. Um, and we got, got pretty close. They went on the first run that we went up through Ohio and, uh, New York City and DC um, actually our bus broke down in New York and we had to ride with them on their freight liner that they had decked out.
Speaker 2 00:47:38 Uh, they'd like taken out the seats and made some bunks in the back of it, <laugh>, uh, and had a little storage space. They didn't even carry a trailer, pull a trailer, they just had everything on that Freightliner. Um, wow. But yeah, it was, it was fun. So we rode all the way from New York City and did I, I believe two more shows after that. So we got pretty close and then, uh, I think he kind of felt like doing his own thing. So he opened up a studio. Um, right now it's Kings Creek Productions. I don't know if he's, I think he's in the middle of rebranding a little bit, but, um, he's got a little studio in Commerce, Texas, so it's, um, east Texas, small town. Um, so it's, it's nice to kind of get out into the pine trees and, uh, and work a little bit.
Speaker 2 00:48:26 But he's been, he's been phenomenal. Um, really easy to work with. He's got great ideas. Um, but he was at one point going to open up a studio in like Minola or something like that. But now I think he's, he's staying where he is at and uh, and working with, I know he is worked with, uh, joint custody and, uh, Gracie York and a few other, few other names. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like that. So, but, um, yeah man, he's, he's been phenomenal. Like he does the, uh, the drums on the whole record. Uh, we tag teamed the base and then, uh, all of the, the guitar work and, uh, the vocals is, is me. So,
Speaker 1 00:49:17 So just two of
Speaker 2 00:49:18 You? Yeah, just the two of us. Yeah. Um, wow. If we can actually get one more, uh, one more good session in. I would like to bring in, uh, whiskey who's our, uh, our harmonica player, uh, from like, he was one of the OG cos on the Convicts guys. I want him to come play on, uh, on one of the songs called Brass Knuckles. Um, cuz man, it slams so he would, he would be great, but it's been such a, such a hectic time with, with touring and everything. So I honestly, if we can't schedule it soon, then I'm just gonna deal without it and write some more guitar parts over the top of it. But, uh, we'll see. Hopefully I can work it out to get him on it. So,
Speaker 1 00:50:07 Yeah. That's exciting. So, but yeah. Um, do you have like a, so do you have like a date yet for release or is that still being worked on or just don't wanna announce it yet?
Speaker 2 00:50:18 Yeah, um, looking at mid-January, um, you know, don't, don't wanna release anything in December. Okay. Cuz everybody's listening to Christmas music and, and buying Christmas presents, you know, it's just a rough time to release an independent record. Um, so wait until the first of the year. Um, yeah. And man, God willing, I mean, I think we literally only need two more sessions. Um, I've got one this next Tuesday actually, so hopefully we can wrap it up in, uh, may release a single in December. Um, but definitely if, if not, if we can't for some reason get it worked out, then definitely still just doing the full record, uh, in January. So, um, but yeah. Oh yeah. Should probably say the name of it. It's called, um, hopeless and Reckless <laugh> is the name of the name of the record. Okay. It's pretty fitting for the entire journey.
Speaker 1 00:51:17 Yeah, I was about to journey Yeah, you that,
Speaker 2 00:51:18 That we've been on <laugh>. Yeah. Um, but yeah, that's the title, uh, title track of, uh, is a, is another acoustic song, um, pretty like, um, Sean McConnell e kind of folky. Um, but the most of the record is still just, it's rock and roll. Um, um, one, one song Brass Knuckles is definitely the heaviest and it gets like, um, definitely dirty blues rock. Um, but everything else is pretty consistent with Take Me Home and High and Dry, uh, except for the, like I said, brass knuckles and the two acoustic songs, so.
Speaker 1 00:52:04 Right on, man. That's exciting. So, um, but yeah, uh, thanks for hopping on tonight, man. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 00:52:13 No problem, man. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 00:52:17 It's no problem. Uh, if you want to throw out any plugs, socials, anything, you could go ahead just so people know where to find you.
Speaker 2 00:52:24 Okay, yeah. Um, my website is, uh, otis p music.com. Uh, it's o d i s. Um, pretty much all of my, uh, Twitter, Instagram, everything like that is o d i s underscore k w k. Um, uh, my wife will be happy if I throw out, check out the parish dudes <laugh>. Uh, that's kind of been her, her plan to be able the dog quit teaching and yeah. Yeah, she, she breeds doodles. Um, and that's the plan for her to be able to not teach and stay at home with, with the baby. So, um, we got sheep a doodles, Labradoodles and poodles. Uh, so yeah, a lot of, lot of irons in the fire. Um, yeah, yeah, lot going on. But yeah, the Paris dudes Otis underscore tab, KW K and then the timber light mantles. So all of that's on Instagram and Facebook and all that good stuff. So, um, and then, then Righto totus co wetzel co wetzel music, of course. Uh, and i, I believe co wetzel music.com is the, is the website still, if I'm not mistaken? So, uh, we're actually on our last little run of the year, uh, and then I think we picked back up in March. So everybody stay tuned for that. I think we're gonna work on a, a little bit of, uh, some more tunes in between now and then. So yeah, keep an ear out.
Speaker 1 00:53:54 All right, man. I appreciate it. Once again, everyone keep an eye out for helpless and reckless, uh, beginning of the year, I believe you said. Um, yep. And yeah, uh, follow Otis p his solo stuff, the coast stuff. Of course. Uh, thanks everyone for listening. Y'all have a good one.
Speaker 2 00:54:14 Yeah. See y'all later.
