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10 Questions with ... Williams Riley
November 23, 2009
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Quotes from Steve Williams, lead singer, unless otherwise noted.
1. How did growing up in Bayou country shape you musically?
Steve Williams: It's more musically diverse than any other area, including the Southern Rock which you just couldn't run away from. It also made we want to play indoors because it's so hot!
2. What are your ties to Edwin McCain and how did you get hooked up with him?
SW: While attending an Edwin concert in New Orleans, I passed some of my work to him through a set-up with a mutual friend. He suggested I come to the star's hometown of Greenville, S.C., where McCain had just built his own studio. In Greenville, McCain introduced me to producer and engineer Noel Golden, who had worked on several of McCain's albums and who ended up producing my first album.
3. How did you get Slash to play guitar on "Road & Me"?
SW: So many country artists have collaborated with R&B or Rap artists. I thought about who was the biggest rock star right now, and partly because of Guitar Hero, it's Slash. My producer Noel actually worked with him before so all we did was ask! When he pulled up to the studio, he had his windows rolled down on his Aston-Martin, blasting my song. It was unreal!
4. Why did Huey Lewis' tour manager once "chew you out"?
SW: I was opening for Huey Lewis with one of the first bands I played with. We covered one of his songs and his tour manager let us know how much he didn't like that we did it!
5. What is your favorite thing about playing live (or why is it better for people to hear you live vs. hearing your album)?
Derek George: The girls
SW: Both of 'em [laughs]. I'm actually just starting to have fun with [playing live] so I'm not really sure yet.
6. If you weren't playing music now, what would you be doing?
SW: I'd probably be back working in the oil and gas industry.
7. What do you think makes "Country Livin'" stand out from all the other country songs about farm living, growing up in the country, etc.?
SW: The way this song was written, the truck and the tractors are just props. The song is really about a relationship between a man and a woman. The song may seem simple on the surface, but there's a lot more to it.
8. Is Williams Riley involved with any charities or with what charities do you hope to get involved?
SW: Habitat for Humanity - I'd love to be able to build houses for people, especially in the Biloxi, MS area.
9. If you could share the stage with any act, who would it be and why?
SW: The Eagles
Derek George: Brooks & Dunn final tour
10. What is the best part of being a band, rather than a solo act?
SW: The harmonies.
Bonus Questions
1. What's your favorite time of year in Louisiana?
SW: Fall
2. What was the first concert you ever attended?
Charlie Hutto: Lynyrd Skynyrd & Bad Company
SW: Beach Boys & Red Rider
Derek George: Glen Campbell
3. We heard you like to cook - what do you cook best?
Derek George: Ribs
Charlie Hutto: anything on a grill
SW: probably steak but I am also an excellent Cajun cook having grown up in the Louisiana bayou. I refer to our music as a "gumbo" because it's a mix of so many influences.
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