About this Episode:
We are joined by our special guest, Darren Nicholson, an Award-winning Charter Member of the Legendary Contemporary Bluegrass Group, Balsam Range, and fronts his own Darren Nicholson Band on side projects, while also doing solo gigs and multiple collaborative efforts with other musicians– including duo concerts with his wife Jennifer.
We had him on the show last season and even repeated it once last year due to its popularity, so we invited him again this year, especially since he has a new project that has just been released-“Man on a Mission.”
Darren Nicholson is a gifted singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. You will learn from him some of his original American music from the mountains of Western North Carolina. He also discusses with us his newly released project ” Man on a Mission.”
Connect with Darren:
Connect with our host Joseph Franklyn McElroy:
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SHOW NOTES
SEGMENT 1
Joining us again on this second season of Gateway to the Smokies is Darren Nicholson. Before speaking with Nicholson, Joseph talks about his sponsor for today’s show which is his own Meadowlark Motel and Smokiesadventure.com, focusing on outdoor life in the Smoky Mountains. He also goes into special events happening at the motel such as activities like fly fishing. He then introduces Nicholson, who is a member of the legendary contemporary bluegrass group, Balsam Range, and fronts his own Darren Nicholson Band on side projects, while also doing solo gigs and multiple collaborative efforts with other musicians. Nicholson talks about dealing with the pandemic and getting back to songwriting going into 2021 when he wasn’t performing live. Joseph recalls when Nicholson helped out last year in Haywood County when there was a big flood. He along with Balsam Range did a concert to bring the community together during the relief efforts. Nicholson also talks about the Balsam Range Art of Music Festival.
SEGMENT 2
Joseph and Nicholson discussed their collaboration last year to create the Darren Nicholson All-Star Bluegrass Band Camp. Nicholson talks about wanting to do this to pass down and share the Mountain music and keep the culture strong with others who are passionate about music and want to play. He describes it as a communal experience inspiring and engaging with others. Nicholson also mentions some artists in his lineup for his music festival and how special it was to have them in. They talk about his recent past performances at the motel and Haywood County and more about bluegrass music. Nicholson also talks to Joseph about being more of a mentor now being almost a veteran in the bluegrass industry. He talks about one of his own mentors, Steve Sutton, and the invaluable time he spent with him and how he has helped him over time in maturing and becoming the man he is today.
SEGMENT 3
Joseph talks with Darren about his new album called “Man on a Mission.” Darren talks about some of the music on the album sounding edgy to even some having a bluegrass sound as well as rock n roll. This he says is his fourth solo project which is on the Mountain Home label. Darren mentions writing about himself and his experiences. He says he likes to write songs that tell stories, not paint pictures. He says that there’s something about bluegrass and country music that is so authentic and connects people together. Joseph says that his favorite song for the album is called “All Night Long.” he says that it relates to old Appalachian music. Darren talks about the feeling of loss and lonesome which was one of the emotions that he wanted to get out of this song.
SEGMENT 4
Joseph and Darren talk about Charles Humphrey who was a co-writer on his EP. You can go to darrennicholson.net to check out more of Darren’s music and merchandise. His new album can be downloaded on many streaming platforms like Itunes. Some Of his merchandise are stickers. Being someone who is an old-school wrestling fan, they joke about some of the humor like putting his face on Ric Flair’s body. He also talks about Balsam Range going into their 15th year together as well as making a Vinyl record. Darren also mentions that later this year he’ll be releasing a gospel album called “Songs of Hope and Inspiration.” Darren is also working with a bluegrass band called The No Joke Jimmys, from Nashville. There are a lot of fun shows he will be a part of this year. Darren also discusses always wanting to reinvent himself with his music. Joseph thanks Darren for coming on for today’s episode and Darren thanks him as well for a great conversation and for being a part of keeping the culture strong in North Carolina.
TRANSCRIPT
00:03:01.980 –> 00:03:06.630 Joseph McElroy: Today, thanks for joining us on this week’s episode of gateway to the smokies.
00:03:07.140 –> 00:03:08.820 Joseph McElroy: This is the second season.
00:03:09.120 –> 00:03:19.440 Joseph McElroy: Of this podcast focuses on the life, culture, and tourism of America’s most visited National Park, the great smoky mountains national park, and the surrounding towns.
00:03:19.920 –> 00:03:29.520 Joseph McElroy: these areas are filled with ancient natural beauty a deep storied history and stunning adventures, and rich mountain cultures that we explore with weekly events or
00:03:30.420 –> 00:03:43.560 Joseph McElroy: episodes I’m Joseph Franklyn McElroy a man of the world, but also a deep roots in these mountains my family’s lived in the great smoky for over 200 years my business is in travel, but my heart is in culture.
00:03:44.460 –> 00:03:50.040 Joseph McElroy: today’s podcast we’re talking about original Americana music coming from Western North Carolina.
00:03:51.090 –> 00:03:55.080 Joseph McElroy: First let’s talk about our sponsors, which happens to be me in this case.
00:03:57.780 –> 00:04:11.850 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place evocative of motor courts of the past, it modern and vibrant with a Chic Appalachian feel a country in amenities, a place for adventure and for relaxation.
00:04:12.360 –> 00:04:23.580 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place where you can fish in a mountain heritage trout stream grill the catch on fire and eat accompanied by a fine wine and craft beers.
00:04:24.030 –> 00:04:37.740 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place of old-time music and world cultural sound imagine a place with mountain heritage, food, and an underground speakeasy where music kind of source play and listen to really great tracks.
00:04:38.370 –> 00:04:45.690 Joseph McElroy: There is no other place like the Meadowlark Motel Maggie Valley North Carolina your smoky mountain adventure starts with where you stay.
00:04:47.760 –> 00:04:58.050 Joseph McElroy: Also, sponsoring us as smokies adventure.com smokies, smokies is plural, adventure is singular.com it’s got information and listings about the smokies it’s a.
00:04:58.410 –> 00:05:12.720 Joseph McElroy: Big directory and also has a lot of articles about the going and enjoying the smokies focuses on outdoor life like hiking camping and family adventures and outdoor recreation also gets into.
00:05:13.260 –> 00:05:24.780 Joseph McElroy: where you can have outdoor weddings and then find out information on lodging and cabins and conventions of honeymoons and more it’s it’s going to become the leading information portal just smoking out.
00:05:26.160 –> 00:05:33.300 Joseph McElroy: Now there’s a couple of events coming up at the Meadowlark I wanted to mention on February 26 at 4 pm we
00:05:33.900 –> 00:05:39.960 Joseph McElroy: were going to launch the Meadowlark smoky mountain heritage Center six-part heritage book series.
00:05:40.560 –> 00:05:50.910 Joseph McElroy: With award-winning author and general manager of the meadowlark smoky mountain heritage Center Bob Plott, the first book will be talked about what we strike and stay the story the Plot Hound
00:05:51.900 –> 00:06:00.210 Joseph McElroy: recognize now is one of the premier hunting dogs in America, the Plott bear, how does unique among honey dog breeds because it descends from Germanic stock.
00:06:00.720 –> 00:06:11.490 Joseph McElroy: Rather than the traditional English box, the breed story began when its original breeder Joe hands Plott and his brother Enoch left Germany in 1750 with their price, how many dogs.
00:06:11.910 –> 00:06:24.840 Joseph McElroy: And the trip across the Atlantic to give a 200-year journey that would culminate in the North Carolina mountains, with the development of what is now arguably the world’s finest breed of hunting dog.
00:06:25.500 –> 00:06:36.390 Joseph McElroy: And it’s now the state dog of North Carolina so the program well will be about that book and have wonderful stories that Bob is a great storyteller.
00:06:36.660 –> 00:06:42.720 Joseph McElroy: And it will be followed by a Barbecue dinner around six culminating in live acoustic music with Mike Ogletree
00:06:43.170 –> 00:06:55.170 Joseph McElroy: Former drummer with the super band simple minds and some of his friends, all this is free for Motel guests and $10 for visitors call eight to 8289261717 and reserve your spot.
00:06:56.160 –> 00:07:02.250 Joseph McElroy: And then I want to mention far ahead and April on the 15th and 16th we’re gonna have a fly fishing camp.
00:07:02.790 –> 00:07:13.050 Joseph McElroy: it’s a there’s going to be high trout guides limited it’s and owned by world-class fishermen named Dan Sastre who’s a 15 year veteran of the fly fishing industry.
00:07:13.410 –> 00:07:21.630 Joseph McElroy: and staff, including Charles Humphrey III a Grammy award-winning songwriter and long-time fly fishing expert.
00:07:22.050 –> 00:07:27.150 Joseph McElroy: There will be an instructor for every two students with a maximum of 20 students.
00:07:27.630 –> 00:07:41.820 Joseph McElroy: The price is $875 per student and includes and it will be in the instruction, but two nights of lodging free breakfast Saturday and Sunday free Barbecue dinner Saturday night two free beverages of your choice at the speakeasy on Friday night.
00:07:42.330 –> 00:07:48.840 Joseph McElroy: one half of the day, on Saturday, will be instruction on in the morning on Saturday and then you’re going to go out with the instructors.
00:07:49.470 –> 00:08:01.680 Joseph McElroy: For four hours of intense fishing on various elite streams around Haywood County and then it will be able to come back to have some Barbecue and entertainment on the Motel on Saturday evening.
00:08:03.000 –> 00:08:19.110 Joseph McElroy: And then we have a mountain heritage for stream right in the backyard and mountain meadowlark where you, you can practice your trout stream experience fishing experience and learn a few things on your own call eight to 8289261717 to book your experience.
00:08:20.850 –> 00:08:34.770 Joseph McElroy: Now, as I mentioned, we will be talking about original new Americana music in Western North Carolina day, and in my research, I found a brief cold call poem called smoky mountain woman by Mary Lou Iweaka.
00:08:35.820 –> 00:08:49.860 Joseph McElroy: smoky mountain woman herself of Cherokee and Scotch Irish descent so often I think ballads and songs of Appalachia focus on a woman from a man’s point of view, so I thought I would just read this as an acknowledgment.
00:08:50.970 –> 00:08:59.010 Joseph McElroy: I rise in silence steadfast in the elements with thought a smoke movil drown drawn around me.
00:08:59.700 –> 00:09:11.130 Joseph McElroy: seasons clothed me and Laurel and bittersweet in ice, but my art part is constant fire scars and Torrance a road my shape.
00:09:11.700 –> 00:09:40.530 Joseph McElroy: But strength wells within me to bear new life and sustain what lives already four streams of wit relieve my heavy mind smoothing boulders cast up raw edge and the raven’s lonesome cry reminds me that the soul is is, as it has ever been time cannot support my stubborn thrust toward heaven.
00:09:42.720 –> 00:09:43.800 Joseph McElroy: I think that a man can.
00:09:45.510 –> 00:09:50.310 Joseph McElroy: Understand that who’s actually I think written some songs that talk about that.
00:09:50.700 –> 00:09:57.720 Joseph McElroy: Is Darren Nicholson he an award-winning charter member of the legendary contemporary bluegrass group balsam range.
00:09:58.080 –> 00:10:08.430 Joseph McElroy: And they also front his own Darren Nicholson band man on many side projects, I also did, while also doing solo gigs and multiple collaborative efforts with other musicians.
00:10:08.820 –> 00:10:29.280 Joseph McElroy: Including duo concerts with his wife Jennifer a gifted songwriter singer and instrumentalists Darren’s new solo project is a man on a mission which captures a wide range of his talents, as he focuses on the various variety of electric and acoustic American economy music. Hello Darren
00:10:29.790 –> 00:10:31.560 Darren N: I think, but glad to be here.
00:10:32.400 –> 00:10:39.540 Joseph McElroy: I’m glad you’re back it’s a really appreciate you coming back, we had you on our show last season.
00:10:40.590 –> 00:10:48.060 Joseph McElroy: Then we even repeated at once, because you were so popular you were by far the biggest listen to episode.
00:10:49.140 –> 00:10:49.800 Joseph McElroy: So.
00:10:50.850 –> 00:10:53.340 Darren N: I remember, they must have been desperate during the pandemic.
00:10:53.670 –> 00:10:53.970 Joseph McElroy: I know.
00:10:54.000 –> 00:10:57.720 Joseph McElroy: must have been desperate desperation maybe it’s just my stellar questioning.
00:11:00.750 –> 00:11:17.520 Joseph McElroy: But you have a new album which we’ll talk about a little bit, but tell me, we met, we talked in the middle of 2021 and you were just getting back to starting to do some live tour this 2020 was a pretty horrible year, what was the highlights of 2021 for you.
00:11:22.170 –> 00:11:24.570 Darren N: I tell you what there were a lot of great highlights for.
00:11:26.250 –> 00:11:32.010 Darren N: Well 2020 and 2021 you know I tried to keep a good attitude to the whole thing I think that’s important.
00:11:32.790 –> 00:11:38.760 Darren N: You know, when you can’t change the things around you you can’t change your attitude and so.
00:11:39.450 –> 00:11:51.540 Darren N: That helped me through the pandemic, but in 21 and even the year before I really dove into songwriting because I wasn’t touring I wasn’t playing live shows, I really.
00:11:52.230 –> 00:12:01.590 Darren N: dug my heels into the songwriting aspect and recording so I’ve got I’m sitting on a pile of recordings right now that that is going to be coming out in the next year and a half that.
00:12:02.280 –> 00:12:06.930 Darren N: That are just sitting on the shelf there’s going to be a bunch of new music released in the next year and.
00:12:08.250 –> 00:12:16.350 Darren N: Just lit a fire in me to create and now I get to go out and play live shows as well, so it’s an exciting time for my musical.
00:12:17.640 –> 00:12:18.450 Darren N: creativity.
00:12:18.990 –> 00:12:27.780 Joseph McElroy: yeah it looks like you guys that balsam range you launched a new album and September what was called moxie and metal and that was, I think, received pretty well right.
00:12:28.140 –> 00:12:34.320 Darren N: Oh yeah yeah we had four number one songs off of it, one was number one for six weeks.
00:12:35.400 –> 00:12:39.060 Darren N: And it’s been a good record for us.
00:12:39.420 –> 00:12:41.850 Joseph McElroy: Santa Barbara That was the one that was like four weeks.
00:12:42.240 –> 00:12:43.770 Darren N: I think it was richest man.
00:12:43.860 –> 00:12:44.730 Joseph McElroy: richest man.
00:12:47.190 –> 00:12:48.630 Darren N: Barbara was number one.
00:12:50.160 –> 00:12:53.070 Darren N: Rivers and rains runaway trains and.
00:12:55.620 –> 00:12:59.370 Darren N: Trends think there was maybe possibly grit and grace.
00:12:59.940 –> 00:13:02.910 Joseph McElroy: Alright cool well i’m.
00:13:03.060 –> 00:13:04.020 Darren N: dying time anyway.
00:13:04.320 –> 00:13:09.000 Joseph McElroy: So you didn’t get to start doing some touring there so I think like you said that was really good.
00:13:09.690 –> 00:13:22.620 Joseph McElroy: yeah but you know one thing that stuck out to me, and I remember reading about it and reminded about it when we’re here is you guys really stepped up when the Haywood county had a big flood last year and.
00:13:23.280 –> 00:13:29.580 Joseph McElroy: yeah and you, you guys jumped right in and did some relief work for the victims and you did a concert right.
00:13:30.330 –> 00:13:41.490 Darren N: But we did in August of last year, there was a major catastrophe here and haywood county major flooding several people lost their lives and.
00:13:41.970 –> 00:13:57.960 Darren N: Hundreds of people were displaced lost their homes lost everything and it was a and you know balsam range was a part of that, but it was just a chance for the community to come together a lot of people in this Community worked really hard and that’s what you do.
00:13:59.190 –> 00:14:12.810 Darren N: You there there’s so much divisive missing and things in our country now where it’s there’s so many polarizing issues and when something like it, unfortunately, it takes something like.
00:14:13.260 –> 00:14:24.390 Darren N: 911 or a major catastrophe, whether it’s on a major you know, a national scale or in your community to realize hey we’re.
00:14:25.830 –> 00:14:33.810 Darren N: we’re kind of in this together we’re still human beings, and we have to help each other and love each other and we got to be there to support each other and.
00:14:34.680 –> 00:14:51.000 Darren N: And that’s what people did, and it got our mind off the riffraff and the fray for a few minutes, and we all dug in and really helped and then a couple of months later, we went right back to crapping on each other on Instagram Twitter as we did.
00:14:54.150 –> 00:14:55.350 Darren N: Like we did it that’s all we do.
00:14:57.840 –> 00:14:58.740 Joseph McElroy: More yeah.
00:14:59.610 –> 00:14:59.850 Darren N: But.
00:14:59.880 –> 00:15:03.870 Darren N: But it was good, it was good to see the Community pulled together and.
00:15:03.870 –> 00:15:06.420 Darren N: We have we were part of that same way so.
00:15:06.660 –> 00:15:13.920 Joseph McElroy: You guys actually do a number of concerts even though you’re like a big band number ones, all that stuff you do you actually do I think.
00:15:16.710 –> 00:15:23.190 Joseph McElroy: More than a surprising amount of concerts in Haywood County right you got your own balsam range festival right.
00:15:24.060 –> 00:15:40.860 Darren N: Here we usually do to concerts a year in Haywood County has balsam range both of those are like Junalaska the auditorium and that’s probably the biggest venue there and the art of music festival that’s in December, the first weekend of December.
00:15:41.910 –> 00:15:52.800 Darren N: And we did that, for a couple of reasons, one economically that was the slowest weekend on record every year in Haywood County so we wanted to do something to bring folks into the show.
00:15:53.910 –> 00:16:01.470 Darren N: All these people were we travel all over the country we tell them about Western North Carolina balsam range, which is the mountain range here and Haywood County.
00:16:02.010 –> 00:16:11.310 Darren N: And we invite them to our home and they get to come and December, and it does something to stimulate the economy here, and it also is a chance for us to
00:16:11.760 –> 00:16:24.540 Darren N: showcase mute bring music that we find out on the road and show off to our home folks that they wouldn’t ever get to see and Haywood county and we get to bring folks in and show off our home county and so.
00:16:25.860 –> 00:16:32.940 Darren N: it’s just it’s been growing we started it as we’re in the fourth or fifth year now doing it exciting.
00:16:33.720 –> 00:16:36.420 Joseph McElroy: exciting it’s a big it’s a pretty big thing and that’s.
00:16:37.290 –> 00:16:43.140 Joseph McElroy: You and the other one is your own is that the balsam range festival, is that the way to Junaluska art festival.
00:16:44.250 –> 00:16:50.910 Darren N: it’s the same thing it’s it’s like General it’s like Junalaska but it’s called the balsam range art of music festival.
00:16:50.970 –> 00:16:52.080 Joseph McElroy: I see okay.
00:16:52.620 –> 00:16:58.260 Darren N: Because we didn’t call it a bluegrass festival because it’s not just bluegrass.
00:16:58.590 –> 00:17:02.970 Darren N: We did an album with the Atlanta POPs orchestra, and so we do a set of music.
00:17:04.140 –> 00:17:16.740 Darren N: that’s balsam range with the orchestra, but you know we have everything from rock and roll to country to do it’s too old-time ragtime blues, and so it really is music, which is what we love.
00:17:17.070 –> 00:17:29.520 Joseph McElroy: You know Bob Plott loves that you know I mentioned him as a GM of the Meadowlark and he wanted to make sure that I put in a pitch to say hey you know you do some openings prior to that we can we come in the Meadowlark
00:17:31.890 –> 00:17:32.460 Joseph McElroy: I.
00:17:32.490 –> 00:17:37.470 Darren N: we’re open to anything we want to we’ve tried to get Haywood County involved and incorporate.
00:17:38.520 –> 00:17:43.410 Darren N: Different venues and places throughout the year so we’re always open for new ideas.
00:17:43.650 –> 00:17:46.170 Joseph McElroy: Alright sounds good, well, we got to take a break.
00:17:48.600 –> 00:17:55.470 Joseph McElroy: Now, and we’ll come back we’ll talk about a little bit more about some stuff we’ve done ago, like the bluegrass band camp and then we’ll get into how.
00:20:11.430 –> 00:20:20.970 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklyn McElroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcasts and my guest Darren Nicholson, so there last year last summer.
00:20:22.020 –> 00:20:29.670 Joseph McElroy: We collaborated actually on presenting a band camp, the Darren Nicholson all-star bluegrass band camp.
00:20:30.270 –> 00:20:43.740 Joseph McElroy: And it was holding them in Meadowlark and I thought you know, for the first year we were doing anything with the mountain the smoky mountain heritage Center I think it was the most successful event, I think it was successful for being the first one.
00:20:44.940 –> 00:20:53.250 Joseph McElroy: And you know, I was, I was pleased now I wasn’t very heavily involved in creating that or whatever Bob and you, I think, discussing how did that come about.
00:20:54.210 –> 00:21:08.640 Darren N: Well, I think it was Bob’s idea, he approached me about doing something like that, at the Meadowlark and I said yeah I think that’d be a great idea I’m always for bringing new artists to Haywood County and I’m all always.
00:21:09.960 –> 00:21:22.380 Darren N: Looking to anything to promote mountain music, especially if it’s a band camp where folks are coming who are interested in music and doing workshops and camps, who are interested in playing because that is.
00:21:23.370 –> 00:21:29.940 Darren N: A big part of the fabric of Western North Carolina and and and mountain music is passing it down passing it on.
00:21:30.420 –> 00:21:39.060 Darren N: Like in my family, it was a family thing from generation to generation, but it was also a Community thing and that music was shared and.
00:21:39.570 –> 00:21:50.850 Darren N: that’s how the music got around you know it left Kentucky East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and bluegrass is all over the world, now, you know there’s bluegrass.
00:21:51.270 –> 00:22:01.740 Darren N: association in Switzerland there’s a bluegrass association in Europe and Australia I’ve played bluegrass there’s a fest there are festivals in Australia and.
00:22:02.370 –> 00:22:09.120 Darren N: I know, in the 50s and 60s my dad left Western North Carolina and these.
00:22:09.870 –> 00:22:20.070 Darren N: mountain people they went a lot of them went out West to the Seattle area to be a part of the login boom and they were part of the logging industry, just like.
00:22:20.490 –> 00:22:27.780 Darren N: folks in Tennessee and Virginia went north to work in the auto industry near Detroit and Ohio.
00:22:28.560 –> 00:22:34.800 Darren N: They went out west to log and they took the music with them and now there are bluegrass festivals and old-time music.
00:22:35.220 –> 00:22:46.320 Darren N: all over the place in Barrington Washington and Seattle there’s winter grass winter hog there’s all this bluegrass out there, so much that years ago they used to have a festival and say I will call the tar heel picnic.
00:22:47.520 –> 00:23:02.730 Darren N: It all comes from that spirit of sharing this music and sharing this culture right so anytime somebody has an idea to do something like that which I know Bob’s a big fan of that stuff and when y’all offered I’m on board with anything like that.
00:23:03.120 –> 00:23:12.390 Joseph McElroy: I remember seeing a young guy young boy, there was this guitar sitting the audience and then you go for, but he was like ecstatic right.
00:23:13.020 –> 00:23:14.070 Darren N: And then he still.
00:23:14.070 –> 00:23:16.740 Joseph McElroy: playing a really you know in.
00:23:16.770 –> 00:23:26.550 Darren N: Those kind of thing I remember as a player when players that I looked up to or older players encouraged me and said hey come on people with us and.
00:23:27.090 –> 00:23:34.260 Darren N: And and it’s such a Community thing music is one of the things that really brings people together and.
00:23:35.070 –> 00:23:44.010 Darren N: It is a communal experience and that young man is now I’ll let him borrow mandolin that I’ve got and he’s playing the mandolin he’s playing the.
00:23:44.910 –> 00:23:54.330 Darren N: guitar he’s doing less than several times a week and he’s becoming quite a musician and I’m really he’s named Henry and I’m really proud of him and.
00:23:55.110 –> 00:23:55.830 Darren N: But that’s.
00:23:56.370 –> 00:23:58.710 Darren N: that’s the lifeblood of this music.
00:23:59.610 –> 00:24:09.420 Joseph McElroy: wow that’s amazing you know that’s that is you’re getting younger generations to become totally enthralled with it and embrace it as a way it lives on.
00:24:09.990 –> 00:24:21.360 Joseph McElroy: forever I’m really glad of that and what small part I might have helped you know it makes me feel good that we did that now, you had an incredible all-star lineup including ADI Blaylock all right.
00:24:22.290 –> 00:24:27.660 Joseph McElroy: Can you tell me I can’t tell us about the people you lined up for that, and what they’re known for.
00:24:28.410 –> 00:24:35.670 Darren N: yeah already blade lock is a professional touring bluegrass musician he makes his home in Indiana but.
00:24:36.780 –> 00:24:44.040 Darren N: He started as a teenager with one of the legends of bluegrass Mr. Jimmy Martin Mr good and country.
00:24:52.110 –> 00:25:01.140 Darren N: And so, he went to school with and learned traditional bluegrass from probably the best teacher there was and.
00:25:02.220 –> 00:25:05.790 Darren N: And so already I’ve always loved his singing and he’s got this amazing.
00:25:06.840 –> 00:25:16.080 Darren N: voice, he can switch from lead to tanner just flawlessly he was born to sing bluegrass and country music and and and so.
00:25:16.920 –> 00:25:25.560 Darren N: far he doesn’t get to play in western North Carolina whole lot and for us to be able to bring him down here was a with a great big tree because he’s got a lot of fans, but he.
00:25:27.060 –> 00:25:38.520 Darren N: He was on the list of bass players was read Jones he tours with Ali and I knew they would they’re so used to playing in together the rhythm section very important in bluegrass so the.
00:25:38.520 –> 00:25:39.690 Darren N: bass guitar where.
00:25:40.140 –> 00:25:49.470 Darren N: I wanted that to be locked in and the fellow who played banjo is an award-winning banjo player from up in Wilkes Barre North Carolina name Eric Ellis.
00:25:49.890 –> 00:26:02.280 Darren N: And Eric’s a legendary banjo player he never traveled much he’s gone out and he did professional recordings and travel some but Eric was one of those guys that.
00:26:03.030 –> 00:26:21.900 Darren N: He was smart enough to get a job with the state of North Carolina and play bluegrass on the weekends and we live in an area it blows people’s minds that they’re guys that that work at the post office that play bluegrass at a higher level than most people in Ashville.
00:26:22.020 –> 00:26:23.040 Darren N: Right, no, I mean.
00:26:23.610 –> 00:26:33.690 Joseph McElroy: Oh yeah I mean I think bluegrass is like you know they say poets usually can’t make a living and they have big jobs, I think it was the same thing for bluegrass right.
00:26:34.650 –> 00:26:38.700 Joseph McElroy: It can make poetry with the music, but a lot of times they have big jobs.
00:26:39.570 –> 00:26:40.530 Darren N: Exactly but.
00:26:40.860 –> 00:26:54.210 Darren N: It was fun, it was a fun time and On another note, audio is coming back in at the end of March 1 of April to do a couple of shows in Asheville and Haywood county with me so that’s all.
00:26:54.990 –> 00:26:56.700 Joseph McElroy: The haters your wife.
00:26:57.870 –> 00:26:59.700 Darren N: yeah well it’s his first cousin.
00:27:00.120 –> 00:27:10.080 Darren N: Oh really years ago I’d filled in with him at IBMA, he was in Nashville at the time, the international bluegrass music awards association and.
00:27:11.550 –> 00:27:24.720 Darren N: And he called me and I went and did a road date with him a couple of months later in Michigan and he said we’re playing it his cousin school and we went up there and, in my mind, I thought his cousin.
00:27:25.890 –> 00:27:30.390 Darren N: I don’t know why I had this in my head, because he didn’t say either way, but I thought his cousin was a guy.
00:27:31.110 –> 00:27:41.700 Darren N: And we went he’s we’re walking up to her apartment he said we’re going to go see my cousin was the night before we played the show the next day we’re walking up there, and he said hey my cousin’s pretty good looking.
00:27:44.130 –> 00:27:48.750 Darren N: And I realized what was going on and We walked through the door and man, she was.
00:27:50.520 –> 00:27:52.590 Darren N: And that’s how we met and.
00:27:54.150 –> 00:27:55.080 Darren N: next thing you know.
00:27:55.440 –> 00:27:56.520 Joseph McElroy: You play music together.
00:27:57.750 –> 00:27:58.170 Darren N: together.
00:27:59.040 –> 00:28:10.440 Joseph McElroy: that’s fabulous well I, you know that was, I want to say that that you that bluegrass man, which you sort of put together for this was a fabulous I mean that was the hard drive and.
00:28:11.970 –> 00:28:20.760 Joseph McElroy: That was real you guys play for hours, I mean it wasn’t just an hour concert you play for a long time you just seem like you’re having a blast right.
00:28:21.240 –> 00:28:35.310 Darren N: That was like getting the that was like getting a full dose of medicine, it was the straight shot to the arm of full unadulterated in your face.
00:28:36.960 –> 00:28:49.920 Darren N: adrenaline bluegrass like high octane bluegrass not just there’s within bluegrass there are 50 different styles, but that is like intense.
00:28:50.400 –> 00:29:03.210 Darren N: You got to bring your a game it’s not for the faint of heart bluegrass and in it, it puts it keeps me on my toes it’s at the top of what I can do musically and it challenges me and that’s why I like playing with him.
00:29:03.750 –> 00:29:07.890 Joseph McElroy: And the audience is there because it’s bluegrass they were just they were really into.
00:29:08.370 –> 00:29:12.300 Darren N: They don’t get to hear music like that it’s like a punk rock it’s that intensity.
00:29:12.450 –> 00:29:12.900 Joseph McElroy: And like.
00:29:13.830 –> 00:29:19.830 Darren N: A lot of bluegrass doesn’t sound like that and it’s as mark says it’s like getting hit in the face with a wet squirrel.
00:29:22.230 –> 00:29:25.050 Joseph McElroy: Well I’m hoping that we can do another one you think we can.
00:29:25.620 –> 00:29:29.340 Darren N: we’d love to yeah the guys, they said they’d love to come back anytime so.
00:29:29.490 –> 00:29:33.570 Joseph McElroy: Well, I think it’s Bob’s putting it on the schedule and working it out because I think it’d be.
00:29:33.570 –> 00:29:47.490 Joseph McElroy: Great of the fact you know, we want to do things where there are more camp things for not only adults or kids too and yeah now it’s where we’re you know we’re looking at some others as well.
00:29:48.840 –> 00:29:53.280 Joseph McElroy: Well, you know you have you’ve been having you actually had an opportunity.
00:29:54.480 –> 00:30:04.590 Joseph McElroy: To mentor and teach those guests about the music and songwriting on an afternoon is that something you enjoy doing is mentoring, the mentor quite often.
00:30:05.850 –> 00:30:18.630 Darren N: We get when people ask you know you know I, I would like to say that you know I’ve had some influence on you know some folks but.
00:30:19.110 –> 00:30:27.450 Darren N: I’ve always you know I’m the youngest one in the band I’ve always kind of been the one that’s been mentors but I’m starting to get to that point in my career where.
00:30:29.070 –> 00:30:33.450 Darren N: I’m getting some age on me, you know my hair’s falling out my beards turning Gray and.
00:30:34.890 –> 00:30:36.120 Darren N: I actually did a gig.
00:30:37.980 –> 00:30:47.010 Darren N: a few weeks ago over in Tennessee and I got there and I played with a young guy i’d never met before his name was John and he’s like what.
00:30:47.730 –> 00:30:59.100 Darren N: I was like hey I’m there and Nice to meet you and he goes what’s your last name and I said Nicholson and he said oh my God I love your me he goes I’ve listened to you since I was a little kid.
00:31:00.870 –> 00:31:01.290 Darren N: honor.
00:31:02.280 –> 00:31:02.580 And that’s.
00:31:05.850 –> 00:31:08.100 Darren N: talk to me the rest of that but.
00:31:09.720 –> 00:31:11.910 Joseph McElroy: Your third year 38 right now you’re still.
00:31:13.470 –> 00:31:15.090 Darren N: he’s 20 you know he’s 20.
00:31:15.780 –> 00:31:16.080 well.
00:31:17.220 –> 00:31:18.090 Joseph McElroy: Your toddler.
00:31:19.710 –> 00:31:22.800 Darren N: yeah he was he was super nice but.
00:31:23.970 –> 00:31:29.010 Darren N: yeah I’m starting to become the older generation of bluegrass and maybe.
00:31:30.060 –> 00:31:34.020 Darren N: Maybe I can mentor some folks I’ve been more of the tour mentor.
00:31:35.370 –> 00:31:35.610 Darren N: and
00:31:38.850 –> 00:31:44.070 Joseph McElroy: Well you’ve had you said, your boss ranger been mentor you had a great mentor and Steve Sutton did you.
00:31:45.600 –> 00:31:54.630 Darren N: yeah yeah he was one of the guys who played with Jimmy Martin and he knew more about music than anybody ever met.
00:31:55.020 –> 00:32:02.970 Darren N: And not only did I learn everything I know about music, but everything I know about people and how to treat people in the music business.
00:32:03.360 –> 00:32:15.420 Darren N: We would travel to Nashville almost every week and so it’d be a four-hour drive down a four-hour drive back in the whole time we were talking about music or people or relationships or.
00:32:17.040 –> 00:32:19.590 Darren N: And you know, he was.
00:32:20.670 –> 00:32:39.090 Darren N: My number one influence and now that I’m getting older and getting some clarity and maturity, there are a lot of things that he said to me, you know 15 16 years ago that are just now I’m like oh now nobody man and my time with him are invaluable I owe him everything.
00:32:39.960 –> 00:32:43.440 Joseph McElroy: You have in a benefit concert an auction coming up for his family right.
00:32:43.740 –> 00:32:52.560 Darren N: yeah it’s actually not for his family we’ve we’ve set up a trust fund and we give a scholarship we give half the money to the IBMA trust fund.
00:32:53.340 –> 00:33:03.630 Darren N: To help musicians in need and then the other half goes to a scholarship for a test cola hospital student for music scholarship he was a trumpet major at Tesco.
00:33:05.010 –> 00:33:16.590 Darren N: We just it’s something to help the Community and keep his name out there and that’s going to be Friday march 18 at holt move Center in Waynesville okay cool.
00:33:17.850 –> 00:33:18.060 Joseph McElroy: thing.
00:33:19.230 –> 00:33:20.160 Joseph McElroy: To find out about it.
00:33:20.670 –> 00:33:22.500 Darren N: and get tickets at fault move to work.
00:33:23.400 –> 00:33:28.440 Joseph McElroy: OK cool Oh, we got to take a break now and then we’ll come back and finally talk about this new album you got.
00:35:35.250 –> 00:35:48.180 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklyn McIlroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcasts and my guest Darren Nicholson, So Darren, you have a new musical project out an album called the man and the mission.
00:35:49.770 –> 00:35:54.750 Joseph McElroy: And the I guess is devoted to Americana music, correct?
00:35:55.860 –> 00:36:01.770 Darren N: I guess when they can’t figure out what label, to put it under.
00:36:03.300 –> 00:36:07.920 Darren N: But it’s not really a genre clearly that they just call it America.
00:36:09.060 –> 00:36:12.300 Joseph McElroy: Like from like show tunes to country music right.
00:36:13.230 –> 00:36:15.180 Darren N: Exactly yeah exactly.
00:36:16.320 –> 00:36:16.800 Darren N: reggae.
00:36:17.280 –> 00:36:29.730 Joseph McElroy: But you that you use a lot of electric and acoustic instruments and wide variety songs I mean I listened to it and it’s like goes from blues to bluegrass to old-time country all sorts of stuff.
00:36:30.240 –> 00:36:42.330 Darren N: yeah well that’s what I want to sound like some of these tunes are a little more edgy rock and roll edgy and then there’s a song on there, that is straight-up country music and then there’s one song that.
00:36:43.200 –> 00:36:51.210 Darren N: sounds like something maybe Glen Campbell would have done back in the day, like you know it’s almost like a pop.
00:36:52.320 –> 00:36:52.590 Darren N: But.
00:36:53.010 –> 00:37:08.460 Darren N: it’s almost a bluegrass song and then, then there are a blues seven-bar blues and then there’s one slow pretty ballot on there and then it ends up with more rock and roll in your face with Lita Jones lyric Jones.
00:37:09.360 –> 00:37:11.850 Joseph McElroy: singing on there so whatever goes.
00:37:13.080 –> 00:37:17.100 Joseph McElroy: It started out with a bluegrass thing, and all of a sudden, it goes into southern rock and rolls it’s like.
00:37:17.130 –> 00:37:22.980 Joseph McElroy: yeah it was crazy that was that the drop there was like wow.
00:37:24.810 –> 00:37:26.490 Joseph McElroy: I totally took me by surprise.
00:37:26.520 –> 00:37:32.970 Darren N: that’s what I was wanting I wanted this album to be a curveball if I would have done this record on an electric record four or five years ago.
00:37:33.570 –> 00:37:47.430 Darren N: I think people would I would have done a classic country-sounding record and I think that’s what people were expecting out of me and so I’ve just got that rebellious thing in me where I can’t do what people are expecting.
00:37:47.940 –> 00:37:57.720 Joseph McElroy: yeah wow so you’ve had you this is on the mountain home label right me, but you have experienced with them it’s balsam range, but this is what your first solo project with that right.
00:37:58.710 –> 00:38:03.630 Darren N: yeah, this is my fourth solo record, but my first one on that label.
00:38:04.080 –> 00:38:07.260 Joseph McElroy: And what does that mean for you know that’s a pretty prestigious label so it’s.
00:38:07.290 –> 00:38:10.080 Darren N: it’s pretty yeah for sure, and just to have it.
00:38:11.160 –> 00:38:21.300 Darren N: That quality and I brought in a co-producer because I’ve done three records on my own, I know what a record sounds like when I produce it and I’ve had success doing that.
00:38:22.290 –> 00:38:28.980 Darren N: I locked away my record sound when I produce them I know exactly what I will, but I also I don’t want to get in a rut.
00:38:29.640 –> 00:38:39.120 Darren N: This sounds the same every this guy’s records they sound the same every time and so Jeff Collins came in and produce to help produce this thing.
00:38:39.570 –> 00:38:45.030 Darren N: And he got me out of my comfort zone, a little bit there were, I gave him the songs.
00:38:45.390 –> 00:38:57.450 Darren N: I had some very specific ideas on some songs we had some knock down drag out fights over some things, and then there were some things that I let go up that’s why you have a guy there and then there are some things that you.
00:38:59.130 –> 00:39:13.260 Darren N: That he took and made totally different and I’m like man that’s awesome I never would have thought of that and, and so it was just we think we both had a great time hey we would do another one together in a heartbeat I think is a great experience.
00:39:13.830 –> 00:39:19.800 Joseph McElroy: Well, I saw I saw a quote, that you the paper of you’re describing this album right.
00:39:20.280 –> 00:39:30.450 Joseph McElroy: And it was almost poetry, and it was you said it was a journey into the human condition with relationships and feelings turned into Appalachian Americana roots tapestry.
00:39:30.990 –> 00:39:38.850 Joseph McElroy: And then you were saying it’s saying goodbye to an old friend and a hello to a new one it’s like a rocket Saturday night house party and lonely Sunday morning.
00:39:39.150 –> 00:39:51.660 Joseph McElroy: its tongue in cheek it’s from the heart and songs written about the life and human condition now that’s a pretty amazing scope right there that’s a huge but ambition right, how do you feel about that how far you went towards that.
00:39:52.410 –> 00:39:55.140 Darren N: I think I nailed all those things in this record.
00:39:55.560 –> 00:40:02.460 Darren N: yeah that that that’s what I was going for because and that’s what I write about you know I write about.
00:40:04.170 –> 00:40:15.900 Darren N: My life, the only thing I’m qualified to write about is myself, you know and I’ve you know I’ve had relationships that didn’t work out I’ve had really hard difficult things I’ve been through I’ve had.
00:40:16.980 –> 00:40:23.730 Darren N: You know funny experiences in life, you know I don’t write about living in a cabin 200 years ago.
00:40:24.000 –> 00:40:30.180 Darren N: Now I never have you know, but I can write about things that I’ve experienced and.
00:40:31.650 –> 00:40:39.900 Darren N: You know, sometimes I’ll write a song I don’t like I would rather write songs it tells stories than songs that paint pictures.
00:40:40.320 –> 00:40:49.320 Darren N: I know to me anybody can write a song that paints a picture, but to tell your story and open up and talk about what you’re really feeling.
00:40:50.460 –> 00:40:56.340 Darren N: It just goes a little deeper, and I think people can connect with it that’s what I always loved about country music.
00:40:56.820 –> 00:41:03.960 Darren N: Is it was heartache it was trying, it was a Gospel song, it was hope and inspiration, it was.
00:41:04.770 –> 00:41:20.250 Darren N: It was sadness, it was the joy it was all those things in the music, you know it was a journey through real-life and authenticity there’s something about country music and when I say country music, I mean bluegrass.
00:41:22.410 –> 00:41:25.980 Darren N: I mean a lot of these different things you know it’s.
00:41:28.170 –> 00:41:31.620 Darren N: it’s authentic it’s the real deal.
00:41:33.900 –> 00:41:47.430 Joseph McElroy: You know this is, I mean for surprisingly how much it affected me, I mean, and then you know I heard you were describing the song called love is war, you described in all relationships, not just romantic has been a battle.
00:41:48.960 –> 00:41:52.740 Joseph McElroy: And then you said in there you don’t have to agree with somebody to love them.
00:41:53.760 –> 00:41:54.210 Darren N: and
00:41:54.300 –> 00:42:06.390 Joseph McElroy: I can’t help but think you know that that it was not just personal I felt like there you are also speaking to this polarized age this age of where we’re battling each other as citizens.
00:42:06.810 –> 00:42:10.710 Joseph McElroy: And I felt like there were some element of that and, in this in this song.
00:42:11.100 –> 00:42:21.960 Joseph McElroy: Are you saying we can as citizens love each other that agree on each other, I don’t know if that’s true, but I just felt there was a sense of that the two were channeling something in the Zeitgeist of where we’re living now.
00:42:22.470 –> 00:42:25.650 Darren N: What we do where the society that likes to scold each other.
00:42:26.040 –> 00:42:28.680 Darren N: Right, you know and that’s.
00:42:30.210 –> 00:42:42.180 Darren N: that’s and don’t realize that the hypocrisy and that is hey none of us are perfect mm-hmm, but I think what we don’t realize is is that where we get.
00:42:43.230 –> 00:42:46.920 Darren N: Where we get value in that is it makes us feel better.
00:42:47.490 –> 00:42:57.660 Darren N: When we cut someone else’s head off it makes us feel taller and we don’t have to look at our sales, as long as somebody else is screwing up worse than me that I don’t have to look in the mirror at myself.
00:42:58.410 –> 00:43:03.000 Darren N: And so you know, and I think that’s where a lot of that comes from is nobody.
00:43:03.690 –> 00:43:16.350 Darren N: You know it’s kinda it’s really hypocritical, but you know and I’ve been guilty of it, you know, but as I get older I realized that you know if I want to be forgiven and I have to learn to forgive.
00:43:18.510 –> 00:43:19.140 Joseph McElroy: We lost you.
00:43:22.380 –> 00:43:30.630 Joseph McElroy: Well, he jumped off folks will be back in just a second I’m pretty sure, but he had some I’m going to tell you this was a great album.
00:43:31.890 –> 00:43:37.860 Joseph McElroy: There was an I really enjoyed this song called all night long on that album.
00:43:39.390 –> 00:43:45.000 Joseph McElroy: And it was and I felt that a song that really resonated with old Appalachian music.
00:43:46.830 –> 00:43:47.250 Joseph McElroy: It was.
00:43:48.300 –> 00:43:53.250 Joseph McElroy: You know, like the old ballads from Scotland and Ireland, and also like.
00:43:54.270 –> 00:44:05.790 Joseph McElroy: Like classic American American song, so I guess you’d call Americana like nat King Cole seeing stardust or George Jones seeing he stopped loving her today.
00:44:07.230 –> 00:44:24.210 Joseph McElroy: I’m sure that he was he if he gets back here, he would talk about how that really had a real sort of reached back in time to that old kind of balance and then made him current because it was really about.
00:44:25.440 –> 00:44:25.890 Joseph McElroy: You know.
00:44:26.970 –> 00:44:35.760 Joseph McElroy: sort of a loss, and you know that the trigger but that the protagonists were going to be there all night long there is hey.
00:44:38.820 –> 00:44:39.840 Joseph McElroy: I can’t hear you.
00:44:42.900 –> 00:44:44.070 Joseph McElroy: I can hear you now okay.
00:44:44.130 –> 00:44:46.710 iPhone: More than I like I’m so sorry I lost you there.
00:44:47.340 –> 00:44:51.510 Joseph McElroy: that’s all right, well, I was telling everybody about your song all night long right.
00:44:51.570 –> 00:44:52.080 iPhone: Oh yeah.
00:44:52.530 –> 00:45:00.360 Joseph McElroy: And I was saying that I thought it resonated with that belief old Appalachian music, because it was you know, like the old balance from Scotland and.
00:45:01.650 –> 00:45:13.680 Joseph McElroy: It talked about last right, it was like that hi hi lumps of sound, but I also thought it resonated they brought me back to classic old American songs like even like nat King Cole singing stardust.
00:45:14.130 –> 00:45:19.860 Joseph McElroy: or floors don’t sing he stopped loving her today what was your inspiration for that song.
00:45:20.730 –> 00:45:26.250 iPhone: yeah well that’s I mean that’s what we were going for I was like that song needs to be.
00:45:27.270 –> 00:45:41.070 iPhone: pitifully lonesome because that’s the feeling, you know that’s the feeling you’re trying to convey and then it’s someone who’s lost, you know the person who means everything to them, you know, or you know.
00:45:42.900 –> 00:45:43.380 iPhone: That.
00:45:45.180 –> 00:45:52.410 iPhone: And there’s no I want the music to match the lyrics I’ve heard sad songs that have really happy music.
00:45:52.980 –> 00:45:57.300 iPhone: And I know we’ve got a drag to the long term, out of this.
00:45:57.690 –> 00:45:59.790 Joseph McElroy: But I was a classic.
00:45:59.790 –> 00:46:03.990 Joseph McElroy: High lonesome sound man I just I cried I really literally cry.
00:46:04.260 –> 00:46:08.460 iPhone: Well, thank you man that’s that’s probably my favorite song on the record.
00:46:09.660 –> 00:46:16.500 iPhone: And I started writing down these words when I had the first verse and.
00:46:18.840 –> 00:46:28.920 iPhone: and part of the chorus and I sent it to send it in a text to Charles Humphrey and I just I wrote it down, just like poetry and send it to him.
00:46:29.670 –> 00:46:44.010 iPhone: And then he started he sent back the third verse and we tweaked a few things we got together the next day and tweaked a few things and I picked a key on the guitar and I started arranging the music and then.
00:46:45.090 –> 00:46:47.310 iPhone: When we got in there, it was just an idea to put.
00:46:48.420 –> 00:46:52.860 iPhone: A stack of who’s on it, just like the eagles would.
00:46:54.240 –> 00:47:08.730 iPhone: You know, and so it’s got this vocal chorus in there that’s reminiscent of something in the eagles where there’s an in the bridge and it just turned out beautifully it’s losing the living life and.
00:47:09.060 –> 00:47:13.290 Joseph McElroy: it’s a classic song man I’m just telling it to class I hope it gets.
00:47:13.320 –> 00:47:14.190 iPhone: It gets me the.
00:47:14.280 –> 00:47:14.760 Joseph McElroy: way.
00:47:15.150 –> 00:47:16.680 iPhone: I will go ahead.
00:47:17.400 –> 00:47:18.180 Joseph McElroy: yeah I know.
00:47:21.630 –> 00:47:24.990 Joseph McElroy: Because I felt like that actually spoke to smoky mountains history because.
00:47:25.410 –> 00:47:34.380 Joseph McElroy: You know, if you read about history and some of the women scholars right today, you know smoky mountain women Appalachian women really had to deal with a lot of hardship and everything else, and they.
00:47:34.920 –> 00:47:41.040 Joseph McElroy: They could come across as being hard a little bit hateful, but they were really loved by their husbands right.
00:47:41.130 –> 00:47:41.910 iPhone: Oh yeah that.
00:47:42.540 –> 00:47:45.300 Joseph McElroy: That that I think that that really brought a.
00:47:46.800 –> 00:47:55.380 Joseph McElroy: a sense of that Appalachian woman like that original poet, but who found you found relief in her wit and you know.
00:47:55.500 –> 00:47:57.930 Joseph McElroy: around you know found loving her husband.
00:47:58.110 –> 00:48:05.910 iPhone: Right oh yeah yeah tongue in cheek very, very fun, you know it meant to be fun yeah yeah.
00:48:06.810 –> 00:48:12.270 Joseph McElroy: Well cool we’re going to take another break and come back and finish up with a little bit of what’s going on in the future here.
00:50:13.950 –> 00:50:22.560 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklyn McElroy back with the gateway to the smokies podcast my guest Darren Nicholson, so there, and you mentioned Charles Humphrey.
00:50:23.340 –> 00:50:28.020 Joseph McElroy: he’s a Co-writer on that on that EP and a fellow songwriter and.
00:50:28.740 –> 00:50:34.110 Joseph McElroy: And he’s also been a guest on this show, and he said he’s gonna be doing a fly fisherman camp and April with us, but.
00:50:36.930 –> 00:50:42.180 Joseph McElroy: he’s talking, I think, working with you to do a songwriting camp later this year is think that might happen.
00:50:43.140 –> 00:50:44.430 Darren N: There and be a lot of fun.
00:50:46.710 –> 00:50:53.220 Darren N: Or are the six songs on the EP, I wrote, with him, I wrote a song with him last week I’m going to go record tomorrow the DEMO for it we’ve written.
00:50:53.910 –> 00:51:04.650 Darren N: A 90% of the songs I’ve written I wrote with I’ve written with him and he’s an amazing talent and he is an incredible Fly fisher, Fisherman, I mean he’s the man.
00:51:06.210 –> 00:51:07.740 Joseph McElroy: He knows his stuff I.
00:51:08.850 –> 00:51:19.500 Joseph McElroy: mean we talk fishing quite a bit so where can people find get a copy of this this this album and your other music as well.
00:51:19.950 –> 00:51:28.200 Darren N: yeah well, you can, if you want to support the artists directly there and nicholson.net is the best place to do it my website darrennicholson.net
00:51:30.870 –> 00:51:43.440 Darren N: darrennicholson.net and I’ve got T-shirts and my other albums are on there I’ve got a new Gospel album instrumental mandolin record my other solo projects are on there all kinds of stuff hats things.
00:51:44.700 –> 00:51:51.480 Darren N: And then, if you want to find man on a mission it’s on all the streaming services, you can download it on iTunes.
00:51:52.650 –> 00:51:55.950 Darren N: Is a great way to get it, but the streaming services as well.
00:51:56.700 –> 00:51:57.630 Joseph McElroy: anywhere you.
00:51:58.800 –> 00:51:59.640 Joseph McElroy: Go sorry.
00:52:00.300 –> 00:52:00.660 Darren N: Go ahead.
00:52:01.350 –> 00:52:05.490 Joseph McElroy: I was gonna say you know the stickers and T-shirts are hilarious how.
00:52:06.000 –> 00:52:07.170 Joseph McElroy: Did you come up with those ideas.
00:52:08.100 –> 00:52:16.770 Darren N: yeah I’ve got well I’ve got a friend up in Kentucky who who who actually designed a couple of those I can’t take credit for that, but.
00:52:17.550 –> 00:52:36.420 Darren N: I have taken credit for ordering them and selling them but he’s in graphic designer he just sent me a new one, the other day because I’m always joking about wrestling old school wrestling and he did, one of my faces on rick flares body and it’s pretty cool.
00:52:37.290 –> 00:52:37.890 Joseph McElroy: I mean a.
00:52:38.730 –> 00:52:41.880 Darren N: Great the two great North Carolinians Earl Scruggs and Rick Flair
00:52:45.330 –> 00:52:56.970 Joseph McElroy: Wait to tell you I don’t know how do you have fulfill those orders, but what we discovered a new service service recently it’s pretty good it’s called principle right and they actually will manufacture on-demand T-shirts and.
00:52:57.000 –> 00:53:01.470 Joseph McElroy: mugs and all that, so you don’t have to keep any inventory it’s like.
00:53:01.470 –> 00:53:03.150 Joseph McElroy: it’s crazy it’s good yeah.
00:53:03.330 –> 00:53:04.560 Darren N: that’s really good yeah.
00:53:05.130 –> 00:53:07.320 Darren N: Because one one T shirt.
00:53:07.410 –> 00:53:08.100 Darren N: A year so.
00:53:08.220 –> 00:53:09.210 that’s really good.
00:53:10.920 –> 00:53:13.440 Joseph McElroy: yeah you buy 100 T shirts to keep them for 10 years.
00:53:16.770 –> 00:53:22.020 Joseph McElroy: yeah it’s like buying by the library books and sold a couple everyone so i’m still.
00:53:22.020 –> 00:53:25.920 Darren N: Trying to sell some cassette tapes I’m going to feel those are you guys looking for.
00:53:26.940 –> 00:53:30.270 Joseph McElroy: I met a guy wants to put out an album and he.
00:53:31.920 –> 00:53:35.070 Joseph McElroy: hadn’t sold me had like 2000 copies under his bed.
00:53:36.660 –> 00:53:40.830 Joseph McElroy: Well that’s All I will say this bottle is making a comeback.
00:53:40.890 –> 00:53:51.780 Darren N: In the plan is, you know i’m not trying to let the cat out of the bag, but the plan is for balsam range to do some kind of vinyl at some point because this is 15 this year is 15 years of balsam range.
00:53:52.200 –> 00:53:59.370 Darren N: And so I don’t have any details or any specifics on that, but you know that’s that’s.
00:54:00.300 –> 00:54:07.350 Joseph McElroy: We put a fabulous record player in the speakeasy with a actually a wall mounted album.
00:54:09.000 –> 00:54:16.050 Joseph McElroy: You know, storage and when we play albums there, so you definitely have to get us one of those man.
00:54:16.560 –> 00:54:31.890 Darren N: was a warm sound there they go that plan is to only print like 200 and do you know, and if people who love balsam range and the real diehard fans that have been there for 15 years of people won’t want it’s kind of a novelty, you know.
00:54:32.490 –> 00:54:34.530 Joseph McElroy: i’m i’m buying.
00:54:36.660 –> 00:54:39.990 Joseph McElroy: I’m buying it, no matter what it costs all right well yeah.
00:54:40.110 –> 00:54:41.640 Darren N: i’m not gonna spend a million oh that’s.
00:54:42.720 –> 00:54:43.830 Darren N: $8,000 apiece.
00:54:47.070 –> 00:54:47.250 Joseph McElroy: what’s.
00:54:47.910 –> 00:54:49.770 Darren N: what’s the most you give and not back out.
00:54:50.880 –> 00:54:52.230 Joseph McElroy: The most out give.
00:54:52.440 –> 00:54:53.490 Darren N: For now back out.
00:54:54.000 –> 00:54:54.360 Darren N: And not.
00:54:55.860 –> 00:54:56.100 Darren N: yeah.
00:54:56.940 –> 00:54:58.080 Darren N: that’s my feet.
00:54:58.170 –> 00:54:58.650 Joseph McElroy: My buddy.
00:55:01.860 –> 00:55:06.720 Darren N: I was trying to buy this instrument off my buddy Danny one time, and I said how much do you want for it, and he said.
00:55:07.980 –> 00:55:09.330 Darren N: what’s give and not back out.
00:55:13.170 –> 00:55:17.010 Joseph McElroy: So any other big projects, you have coming up this year.
00:55:17.610 –> 00:55:20.040 Darren N: yeah several things actually.
00:55:21.510 –> 00:55:29.880 Darren N: i’m going to officially be releasing this you can get a copy of my Gospel album through the website it’s kind of a pre order thing.
00:55:30.840 –> 00:55:37.680 Darren N: But i’m later on in the year i’m going to be releasing a Gospel record called songs of hope and inspiration and.
00:55:38.400 –> 00:55:49.080 Darren N: One of the songs I wrote with my buddy Eric Gibson and it’s being played on satellite radio right now and it’s been a few stations if bluegrass DJ is out there woman, they can contact me and get it, but.
00:55:51.060 –> 00:55:56.220 Darren N: balsam range I talked about the the 15 years we’re going to do some special for that.
00:55:58.230 –> 00:56:05.550 Darren N: I’m also recording and doing a handful of shows, with a blue all star bluegrass band called the no joke jimmies.
00:56:07.260 –> 00:56:16.320 Darren N: bunch of guys from Nashville and a bunch of around the country that are in national touring bands ones in the seldom-seen two is from the grass goals.
00:56:16.740 –> 00:56:24.270 Darren N: One you know plays with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and it’s a bunch of buddies of got together and we’re in the process of.
00:56:24.660 –> 00:56:41.010 Darren N: We just released a single we’re making a full album i’ve been in Nashville last weekend recording on that and we’re going to be doing some of the major festivals around the country obviously when i’m not with balsam range and they’re not with their respective bands, but.
00:56:42.480 –> 00:57:01.770 Darren N: And also end of March 1 of April, going to be doing some shows in western North Carolina with all the block and just writing songs cranking out music got a bunch of bands and bluegrass who have a bunch of my songs i’ve written on hold it’s just an exciting time a.
00:57:01.800 –> 00:57:02.220 Darren N: lot of.
00:57:02.250 –> 00:57:10.530 Darren N: Really fun shows coming up this year things that I’m really excited about and life is good, you know.
00:57:11.070 –> 00:57:18.600 Joseph McElroy: Well, you know, a Gospel thing sounds great I mean you know i’ve been in a couple places like Barbados and plays and other places, never.
00:57:18.990 –> 00:57:30.810 Joseph McElroy: A Gospel brunch on Sunday is everybody, leaving the tourism area and they’re huge they’re really huge you know people really love that especially a Gospel on a Sunday morning.
00:57:31.200 –> 00:57:42.720 Joseph McElroy: right they not gonna be able to stay until 12 and go to you know go-to service that they go through 10 or 11 or whatever, and then get on the road, but they love that that the things I’ve been thinking about that, yeah but.
00:57:45.840 –> 00:57:48.120 Darren N: Gospel thing is something i’ve wanted to do for a while.
00:57:49.200 –> 00:57:56.760 Darren N: This man on the mission, I want to keep I want to keep reinventing myself there’s guys like Marty Stuart and Darrell Scott, who.
00:57:57.450 –> 00:58:06.540 Darren N: Who when they do records they might do a California country record they might do a blues record they might do a black Gospel record they might do a bluegrass record.
00:58:07.020 –> 00:58:17.100 Darren N: But they’re always changing it up, but it’s always a quality record I don’t know what Marty Stewart’s going to do next, but I will go by his record, because I know.
00:58:17.610 –> 00:58:28.620 Darren N: he’s a steward of American music and and he wants to carry American music forward whether it’s bluegrass country old time Gospel roots music.
00:58:29.880 –> 00:58:38.160 Darren N: But his records are always good and he kind of keeps reinventing himself and keeps pushing boundaries and that’s what I want to do with my music.
00:58:38.730 –> 00:58:39.060 and
00:58:40.200 –> 00:58:47.970 Joseph McElroy: Random you’re doing an Americana is actually a brilliant move on your part, because you can really go wide range with that.
00:58:48.420 –> 00:58:50.550 Darren N: Open canvas yeah.
00:58:50.760 –> 00:59:04.620 Joseph McElroy: It really is it’s a brilliant idea, well, I am I got a call to close it’s been a wonderful thing I wanted a whole time talking to you I didn’t get a chance to ask about your feud with the cleverly bland band but i’m sure other.
00:59:04.710 –> 00:59:07.080 Joseph McElroy: Well, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t talk about them anyway.
00:59:07.350 –> 00:59:07.920 Okay.
00:59:10.350 –> 00:59:10.800 Joseph McElroy: So.
00:59:12.210 –> 00:59:23.520 Joseph McElroy: so next time we will we will hopefully have another time but anyway we’ll see a few things in the future, I thank you for showing up.
00:59:23.670 –> 00:59:29.310 Darren N: Alright, so much for having me appreciate what you do for our culture here in Western North Carolina oh.
00:59:29.820 –> 00:59:38.640 Joseph McElroy: This this you can find more about this podcast on facebook.com slash gateway to the smokies podcast.
00:59:39.630 –> 00:59:45.210 Joseph McElroy: we’re streamed live, we also have on smokies adventures.COM, there is a.
00:59:45.870 –> 00:59:52.650 Joseph McElroy: there’s a link at the top, taking you to the smokies to the gateway to the smokies podcasts and all the episodes and transcripts.
00:59:53.070 –> 01:00:10.620 Joseph McElroy: and other information mailing list touching it on to find out more about what’s coming up this podcast is on the talk radio talkradio.nyc network where there are lots of great podcasts about travel business self-help and various other things are all live podcasts.
01:00:11.700 –> 01:00:16.830 Joseph McElroy: scheduled weekly this podcast appears every Tuesday from six to seven.
01:00:17.970 –> 01:00:27.120 Joseph McElroy: And we’ll have another great show next week for you and I look forward to seeing all of you again or well here, and all of you, or something like that.
01:00:28.500 –> 01:00:29.520 Joseph McElroy: Thank you very much.
