Tag: jack ingram

Brendon Anthony & Jon Randall on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

This is one of the more serious – and important – conversations I’ve had so far on Only Vans and I was lucky enough to get to have it with two good friends. Brendon Anthony is the newly named VP of Big Loud Texas and a brilliant fiddler. Jon Randall is a hit songwriter, producer, and co-founder of Big Loud Texas. We talk about things like the Texas music scene, the politics of live music, product versus legacy, and the impact of AI.

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Here is another Only Vans recording in front of a live audience at MusicFest at Steamboat in Colorado. Thank you so much to John Dickson and everyone at MusicFest for making this happen!

Today I am joined by two amazing human beings that I’ve known for over a decade (and a half…?), Brendon Anthony and Jon Randall. Brendon Anthony has recently been named the Vice President of Big Loud Texas, which is a record label that was founded by Randall and Miranda Lambert. It is a branch of the Big Loud record label that has artists such as Lambert, Hardy, and Hailey Whitters to name a few. Before that, Brendon was the director of the Texas Music Office and was instrumental in the creation of BMI Texas and the Texas Music Incubator rebate program, which supports music venues in Texas with over $20 million in tax rebates. We talk about a lot of other great things Brendon has done for Texas music and music-friendly communities, and even I was fascinated by it and learned something new. You can also find him playing fiddle on stages with people like Pat Green!

Jon Randall, co-founder of Big Loud Texas, has some hits you may know as a songwriter, including “Whiskey Lullaby,” “Tin Man,” and many of your favorite new Hold My Beer Volume II tracks by Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers. His producer credits are equally impressive: Dierks Bentley, Parker McCollum, Miranda, Jack Ingram, Pat Green – you get the picture.

These two guests are funny, down-to-earth, approachable, and they truly care about art in the midst of a time I’ve been referring to as “The Wild West” of music. When Jon also called it “the Wild West,” I almost fell off my chair with validation. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode!

Thank you so much again to Jon and Brendon and to Dirt Trail Entertainment for sponsoring these very special and very cold MusicFest episodes. Thanks to our show sponsors, Hand Drawn Pressing & CH Lonestar Promo, too!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

BGS 5+5: Isaac Hoskins

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Isaac Hoskins
Latest Album: Bender
Hometown: I spent the majority of my formative years in Wellington, Kansas. A small wheat-farming town between Wichita and the Oklahoma state line. I’ve lived in Denton, Texas, for 19 years and I definitely call it home now but Wellington still has a great deal to do with the way I see the world.

Personal nicknames: When I was a kid there was another boy who lived down the street who, for some reason, couldn’t pronounce my name instead called me Izeke (eye-zeek). My mother started calling me Zeke and it stuck. To this day, a lot of people in Kansas call me Zeke.

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

Oh, man! There are so many. I’d imagine that Steve Earle is probably the biggest influence that I’ve had as a songwriter and performer. Obviously, Steve’s music was and continues to be a massive influence but most any other artist that I became a fan of early on was because they were in and around his orbit. The internet was still a pretty new thing, so discovering music that wasn’t on the Top 40 chart was pretty difficult without some sort of road map. Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Jeff Walker, all of the usual suspects came to me after reading Steve’s biography (Hardcore Troubadour). Steve Earle was my gateway drug.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

When I was in junior college I was in a choir that was invited to sing a piece of music entitled The Testament of Freedom at Carnegie Hall. The piece was composed by a man named Randall Thompson and inspired by writings of Thomas Jefferson. It was the spring after the 9/11 attacks and the entire experience was incredibly moving. Both the subject matter and setting were something I’ll never forget. I’m told that Kevin Bacon was there so perhaps I’m one degree closer than most.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

I knew that I wanted to be a musician from a very early age, but given my surroundings I never felt like it was something that was attainable. I attended a music festival in Helotes, Texas, called Jack Ingram’s Real American Music Festival and that was the day that I knew for sure, that was the day that I felt like it was something that I could do. I was watching all of these incredible performers that, up to that point, I had never even heard of. The Bottle Rockets, James McMurtry, Hayes Carll and so many other people were proving to me that you don’t have to be Garth Brooks to make a life in music and I was immediately obsessed.

What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far?

I had the opportunity to talk to Don Schlitz once. He told me, “Write the song you want to hear and you’ll be surprised who wants to hear it too.” I think of that often, so concise, so true. Thanks, Don.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I’m a duck hunter, and more often than not, I hunt alone on public land. Hunting on public land means that you’ve got to get there earlier than anyone else if you want to be sure that you have your spot. Most days I’ll begin my walk to the lake at four o’clock which means I’ve got somewhere in the neighborhood of three hours to hike in, find my spot, put my decoys out and get a decent hide before shooting time (30 minutes before sunrise). That time before and during sunrise is my favorite. I use it to think about the people, places and things that matter to me and might also matter to someone else. Watching the day come alive is a spiritual moment for me, every time. Living in the business of making noise, it’s nice to soak up a little silence.

Photo Credit: Peter Salisbury

On ‘The Marfa Tapes,’ Miranda Lambert Finds “Tin Man” in West Texas

Posted on by Editor

Country fans already knew that “Tin Man” is a powerful song; it earned the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year award in 2017. In this new live video, Miranda Lambert reminds us how moving a simple performance can be. The solo acoustic version of “Tin Man” comes from a new album and film that Lambert and fellow songwriters (and proud Texas natives) Jack Ingram and Jon Randall have crafted. Titled The Marfa Tapes, the album features the recordings that are shown in The Marfa Tapes Film. Watch the trailer.

In November 2020, the three accomplished songwriters gathered in the desert of Marfa, Texas, as they have done together for years, and captured some incredibly beautiful, raw material over a five-day stretch. Some songs on the new record are familiar, but most of the music is new, only heard in Marfa until now. The trio took pains to not overdo the music; all of the tracks were captured in the Texas wilderness with only a couple of microphones.

On a Facebook Live video, Lambert explained, “The idea for the Marfa film came about because we wanted to do this organic record, where we go into the desert of Marfa, Texas, and record these songs we’ve written over the last six years. Jack Ingram, Jon Randall, and myself sort of found this little haven in Marfa in 2015 and have gone back several times over the years to write songs. We just thought, ‘Why don’t we put these out for the fans just how they are in their raw state?’ To go along with the sound of the cows and the wind, and everything that that tumbleweed country has to offer. We wanted to show the vastness and the beauty of something that we’re so proud of, that’s part of our state.”

Enjoy the new video for “Tin Man” below.

Photo credit: Jim and Ilde Cook of CookHouseMedia

Jack Ingram Blacks Out in Classic Outlaw Style

Posted on by Editor

“I think what would Steve McQueen or Kris Kristofferson wear.” — Jack Ingram

We begin our days with a simple task of getting dressed. Within this daily task, we are faced with the decision to either be reactive or proactive, setting the tone for the rest of the day. I know I am definitely guilty of waking up and putting on comfort clothes after a few nights of comfort food or even just being in a bad mood. At what point during that day will I turn my reactive morning into a proactive day? Who knows? Growing up with a mother in the beauty industry, I was often reminded of the importance of being proactive and getting dressed/fixing my hair for the day I want to have.

One thing Jack Ingram and I have in common is our shared belief that what you wear can affect how you feel throughout the day. Looking back on his style throughout the years, Jack has remained consistent in choosing looks that combine classic yet comfortable pieces, topped with confidence. He takes a proactive approach to daily style. When in doubt, he falls back on one of two looks inspired by the classic styles of Steve McQueen and Kris Kristofferson.

Double Denim

If you’ve lived in Tennessee or Texas, you are no stranger to the double-denim game. Ingram steals a page from the McQueen handbook, making the double denim his by adding a Texas kick with boots, a hat, and bandana.

Tips for Pulling Off Double Denim
– Vary either the weight or the wash of the denim. Keep in mind that lighter washes draw attention and darker washes have a sliming effect.

Black Out

I know, I know: It’s not shocking to see a musician in all black. If you have spent any time on the road cozied up to your bench buddy in a Ford Econoline, chances are at least half of your closet is an array of black. It takes the pressure off packing when everything goes together because it’s the same color. What I do find surprising — and even impressive — is how members of the black-out uniform community each manage to make their monochromatic ensemble uniquely their own. Jack tops off his black-out look with his silver belly Stetson and sleek leather jacket.

Tips for Wearing All Black
– Similar rule to double denim: You’ll want to vary the weights, shades, and textures of the black pieces.
– Make sure the fit is right. Since there isn’t color or pattern to distract the eye, the cut of the item becomes very important.
– Add bold jewelry or a hat to break up the outfit and avoid being dull.

Instead of having reactive style days, have one or two go-to looks in your closet that you know you can rely on any day of the week and feel good about the way you look. Especially for those days that you really just don’t feel good or care about appearances. Can’t go wrong with a classic, comfortable look. When you are comfortable, the confidence shows, giving you the ultimate nonchalant style vibes. Better believe I’ll be taking my own advice post-holiday binge!