Americana band Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors are no strangers to Knoxville. The band has played in the Scruffy City many times, and now Holcomb and his favorite neighbors hit Knoxville on a two-night stop at downtown’s Bijou Theatre.
The band released their latest album, “Medicine” Jan.27. Now coming off of his tour in the U.K., Holcomb sat down to talk to the Daily Beacon about the new album, life as a father and his recent tour which hits Knoxville with a double dosage Friday and Saturday night.
The Daily Beacon: What made you want to perform two shows here?
Drew Holcomb: We are thrilled to be coming back to town. We have sold out the Bijou three times now, so we thought it was time for a double header. Plus, when we only do one show, we are in and out of town too quickly. This way we get to actually enjoy the city.
DB: Your new album, “Medicine” was released last week. Congrats! Could you tell me a bit about where you wanted to go with this new album?
DH: I think my songwriting on this album is the best I have ever done. I was very clear headed from the start and really wanted to take a more traditional approach to recording. Most of my favorite albums over my life were albums recorded quickly, with great musicians and lots of room for humanity on them, meaning not letting the computers edit all the beautiful moments out of the recordings.
DB: Were you trying to go for any different/new elements for the new record?
DH: When we record, it is almost always driven by the song. I will play the song on the acoustic guitar for everyone, then we go in and start working out the arrangements. That approach is really what drove the record for us, very simple.
DB: There’s always a story or meaning behind an album title – What’s the reason behind “Medicine?”
DH: I was asked in an interview, “What is music for?” and I thought it was a great question. For me, music has been an important ingredient and soundtrack to my worst and best moments, whether that was in the death of my brother, or the many heartbreaks of youth, or the welcoming of a child into the world. In all those instances, music has played a vital role. So I think, “What is music for?” It is medicine for us all.
DB: It sounds like you can hear a hint of Ellie (Drew’s wife) on “Medicine” in several places. How involved was she with the creation of this latest album?
DH: On the last few records, Ellie was always there for the recording. On Medicine, she only came up to sing a few songs, so she was not very present for this process.
DB: What has Ellie been up to?
DH: She released her own album, “As Sure As The Sun,” and it has done really well. She is mostly enjoying being in Nashville and being a mom. She does a handful of shows and tours here and there with her own music now. But she will be at the two Bijou Shows.
DB: How has having a child changed your life musically and overall?
DH: Having a child takes the world from black and white to color. Everything with a child is new all the time. Discovering words and places and stories is a beautiful thing to watch. So I find myself continually inspired by fatherhood.
DB: You just got back from a tour in the U.K. How was that? Any differences between playing a show there and playing a show here?
DH: The U.K. audience is a very quiet, respectful crowd, and they love the storytelling part of what we do.
DB: You seem to have started out in such an organic way – from playing at YoungLife camps to now selling out the Ryman Auditorium. Could you tell us a little bit about your mindset going into your career and how it influenced your music?
DH: My mindset was just to work hard and let the chips fall. In the end, it was a good philosophy. On Conan’s last night on the “Tonight Show” he said something like, “I hate cynicism, don’t be cynical. If you work hard and treat people with kindness, amazing things will happen. Not necessarily how you expected them to, but great things will happen.” That has certainly been true of our journey.
DB: Relentless touring seems to be a big part of your journey as an artist. How has touring changed for you now as compared to how it has been in the past?
DH: Well it’s a bit easier. I used to tour manage myself, drive myself, sell my own merch. As it’s grown, we are able to staff the tour and make life on the road less chaotic. But it’s still the same idea, play your songs and try to connect with a different audience every night. That part will never change.
DB: Could you tell me a bit about your new single, “Shine Like Lightning?” What made you choose this one as a single?
DH: In some ways the ‘single’ chooses itself. You think about radio, and you think about what song speaks the best for your record. “Shine Like Lightning” is really a three minute biography of the band and what we have fought through, so it’s a great song for radio for us.
DB: What made you want to get into music? What keeps you going on this musical journey?
DH: Other artists making music that I loved made me want to give it a try. I was moved by music like nothing else in my life, so I thought I should give it a try. I do not regret that impulse.
DB: What’s next for Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors?
DH: We are touring with our friends Needtobreathe, Ben Rector and Colony House all over the country this summer, including headlining our own Moon River Music Festival in Memphis. Hopefully we will find some time for home in the middle of all the chaos.
