The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band have announced their new album Poor Until Payday, out October 5th on the band’s own Family Owned Records label through Nashville indie Thirty Tigers.
Listen to “Poor Until Payday” via Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/
Jamband News: Tell me about the new album, Poor Until Payday. Did you do anything different with this album compared to your previous ones?
Reverend Peyton: I’ve been super obsessed with the 45RPM era of American music over the last year. I wanted this record to explode with excitement like the music does on those 45’s. We are still playing our brand of front porch blues. But I wanted to record this record and end up with a vibe like those 45’s. So, we recorded it live to tape with vintage gear using techniques that Chess records, Stax records, and Sun Records would have used to help capture that. Not much of the gear used on this record was newer than 1959.
Jamband News: The Big Damn Band is so alive with energy on stage. How do you take that some energy in to the studio where maybe only a few people are watching?
Reverend Peyton: Well first thing is you have to bring the same passion and love into the studio, but for this one we went one step further, and we recorded it live! I’m singing and playing it at the same time. No overdubs on the guitars, or anything like that. Our hope is that this record really feels immediate and alive when you listen to it. Also, since we recorded it all live, it’s going to be this good when we perform it too.
Jamband News: With being on the road so much, do you get much songwriting done on the road or do you wait until you get back home?
Reverend Peyton: I very rarely finish songs on the road. I start many of them, but I always finish them at home. It takes concentration to time it the finishing touches on them.
Jamband News: I see you just got back from Europe. What were some of the highlights of the trip for the band?
Reverend Peyton: This trip, the highlights were basically just a lot of sold out shows and awesome crowds. We try really hard to take in the sights, sounds, and culture of the places we visit, but this trip was jam packed with shows. It really does feel so good to feel like word is spreading though.
Jamband News: Do you think there is a difference between the crowds in Europe compared to the United States?
Reverend Peyton: Oh yes, big difference. Americans tend to lose themselves in the moment and the music. They respond almost like a church revival. Europeans have a tendency to be more reserved and listen intently. It takes some getting used to!
Jamband News: Do you think your music is interpreted or appreciated in a different way in Europe?
Reverend Peyton: I think sometimes it is Interpreted differently, because sometimes culturally things are often misunderstood. I don’t know that it is appreciated much differently. Real from the heart music just doesn’t have a border or an expiration date.
Jamband News: When you weren’t playing music in Europe, what things did you get to do and see?
Reverend Peyton: We always try to take advantage of being in an area, but this tour was pretty fast paced. We didn’t have as much time to be tourists, so we used most of our free time to relax. We got a little fishing in, and we spent a couple of fun nights in Hamburg, Germany taking in the town.
Jamband News: The video for your new album, “Poor Until Payday” looked like a lot of fun to make, tell me about the people in the video. I see it was filmed in Bloomington, was the city supportive?
Reverend Peyton: It was filmed in both Nashville, Indiana and Bloomington, Indiana. The town council actually has to vote on it in Nashville. We had to close five blocks in two different counties, we wrecked cars, we had livestock, and about 300 volunteers. We have the best fans and the best support. It was an incredible day. It looks like a big party, because it was!
Jamband News:I read that you have performed in about 37 countries. Is there anywhere you would like to go that you haven’t performed yet?
Reverend Peyton: How many countries are there total? I’d say all the rest of them! Seriously though, I want to go to Japan really bad. I want to spend more time in South America. I want to go to all the places where people want to hear our music.
Jamband News: Tell me about the guitar made from a shotgun. who made it? It looks like you had a lot of fun with it
Reverend Peyton: I called my friend Bryan Fleming, and I asked him to build it for me. He did an awesome job. He’s built me a lot of cool things. Pickups, axe guitars! All kinds of cool things. The whole thing was just for fun. Sometimes music is just supposed to be fun.
Jamband News: A question I’m sure people think about, how many washboards does Breezy go through in one year?
Reverend Peyton: She goes through over 100 a year!
Poor Until Payday Tracklist:
1) You Can’t Steal My Shine
2) Dirty Swerve
3) Poor Until Payday
4) So Good
5) Church Clothes
6) Get The Family Together
7) Me And The Devil
8) Frenchmen Street
9) I Suffer I Get Tougher
10) It Is Or It Ain’t
Tour Dates:
Sep 26 – McGarvey’s – Altoona, PA
Sep 27 – The Soundry – Columbia, MD
Sep 28 – The Hamilton Live – Washington, DC
Sep 29 – OktoberWest Festival – Charleston, WV
Oct 05 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
Oct 06 – Blues, Brews & BBQ – Newton,KS
Oct 10 – Fort Worth Live – Fort Worth, TX
Oct 12 – HOB – New Orleans, LA
Oct 13 – The Mucky Duck – Houston,TX
Oct 14 – Gas Monkey Grill – Dallas, TX
Oct 15 – Antone’s – Austin, TX
Oct 18 – Launch Pad – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Oct 19 – Orpheum Theatre – Flagstaff, AZ
Oct 20 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
Oct 21 – The Hotel Congress – Tucson, AZ
Oct 24 – The Siren – Morro Bay, CA
Oct 25 – Alex’s Bar – Long Beach, CA
Oct 26 – World Records – Bakersfield, CA
Oct 27 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
Oct 28 – Nov 4 Legendary Rhythm Cruise – San Diego, CA
Nov 06 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
Nov 08 – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
Nov 10 – Reverb Room – Omaha, NE
Nov 13 – Cosmic Charlies – Lexington, KY
Nov 14 – Zanzabar – Louisville, KY
Nov 15 – Exit-In – Nashville, TN
Nov 16 – The Ramkat – Winston-Salem, NC
Nov 17 – Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
Nov 18 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Nov 23 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN
Nov 24 – Southgate House – Newport, KY
Nov 29 – Kent Stage – Kent, OH
Dec 04 – Stanhope House – Stanhope, NJ
Dec 06 – Thunder Road – Somerville, MA
Dec 07 – Bijou Theatre – Bridgeport, CT
Dec 08 – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
Dec 09 – Mercury Lounge – New York City, NY
Dec 28 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
Dec 29 – Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO
Dec 31 – The Bluebird – Bloomington, IN