Rich Redmond

Hurry Up and Wait…

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:10:53 +0000

It’s not all wild parties and glamour out here folks. A great day is getting in a workout, catching up with my emails and maybe keeping my chops fresh on a practice pad. I have to also clean and maintain my drums, change heads, tune em’ up…then there’s soundchecks, lunches with radio folks, etc. Let’s not forget nibbling on a stale Subway sandwhich tray and waiting for some guy to tote us around in his minivan (believe it)… If we aren’t in the middle of noewhere, there may be time to do some sightseeing. I will say we are at the mercy of many outside sources. The only thing I truly have control over is that 45-90 minutes I have on stage. That’s the time I lift the band up and drive that truck down the f$%#in’ street baby!!!!!! I entertain the crowd and in the process, feel great about myself. You know those endorphins that get released after a hard workout???? That’s what I get to feel everyday!!! I play hard out there. There have been times that I have thrown up after a show and I love it! Bring it on. If you hire me to play drums, that’s what you are gonna get…every f#$%’n’ time! Believe it! Why would I want to let you down? Especially the guys in the band. Come see me sweat for ya…

Fun with Miranda Lambert!

admin — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 04:09:42 +0000

I am in the middle of a co-headlining tour with new country darling Miranda Lambert. I’m actually a fan of hers as an artist and entertainer and it’s been fun. She carries a great Texas-based band. Great guys…good times…I actually went to school for a bit in the 90’s (shut up) with her bass player ADEN BUBECK. I hadn’t seen him since those days, so it was awesome to run into him. We each do 60-75 minutes per night and the crowds have been great (and young). C ya out there!

We are having a blast!!!!

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 03:57:21 +0000

The Jason Aldean organization is totally coming together. For the first time in along time I am experiencing the perfect marriage of a record label, a management company and a booking agency working together in perfect harmony. It’s a great combination of personalities and work ethic. We have added Scotty Huber as our fulltime road manager, Chris Torri as our production coordinator, David Streater as our fulltime driver and Ryan Juzwiak as our merchandise guy. Everyone gets along fabulously. To top it all off, I am traveling with my best friends in the world-Jason Aldean, Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison and Danny Rader (our latest addition on second guitar)!!! Each day is a new adventure. We are playing theatres, clubs, honky tonks and oudoor events. I’m in Vegas tonight with a night off. I’ll probably catch the Sawyer Brown show and then head out to Phoenix, Tuscon, 6 dates in California and then to the upper Midwest. I hope to see some friends from REMO and SABIAN and then my brother Jason in Montana.

We are GOLD baby!!!

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 03:58:40 +0000

I was awakened from my bunk on the bus by our manager Lawrence Mathis on October 19th. He had some great news. Jason’s record went GOLD (that’s 500,000 copies moved)! It all happened in less than 12 weeks!!! Jason has a top 5 video, a GOLD record, and a top ten single. We shot the video for Jason’s second single entitled “Why” just 2 days earlier in Nashville. Wes Edwards from Ruckus Films shot the video (Wes was the director of “Hicktown”). It was tons of fun!!!! I totally dig Wes as a person and as a creative force. It’s always great to be around people with that kind of energy. Needless to say, we have been celebrating quite a bit!!!! I am very proud of the fact that Jason’s record was recorded very quickly, almost at demo speed. It was recorded to a RADAR system and very few things were touched. What you hear on the radio is exactly what was played. Most of the tracks are first or second takes. That makes me happy…See ya soon…

It’s been awhile…

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 03:58:15 +0000

One of the first rules of show biz: “The show must go on!” Picture this: Sold out show with Jason Aldean opening for Josh Gracin and I have the worst 48 hour flu I have ever had in my life. I have the worst things coming out both ends of my body…horribly green….lifeless…low energy…stomach pains…no energy…and I HAVE to play a 70 minute high energy show. It was tough, but I couldn’t let the boys in the band down. i was sweating like a madman and I had an open snare drum case by my hi-hat to puke in. It was not fun! Luckily, Josh Gracin’s drummer Al Wilson let me play his kit so I wouldn’t have to expend the extra energy to set up and teardown. Thanks Al!!!!! Big karma coming your way!!!

It’s been awhile…

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 03:59:12 +0000

I should be updating this section of the site much more often. I bit the bullet and purchased a killer Apple IBOOK. This will make things much easier!!! It has been an amazing year with Jason Aldean. I have seen lots of airports and backstage areas. I have also missed out on tons of sleep. (Sleeping on airport floors is not a problem for me now)!!! I am also thrilled to be working with a great bunch of musicians on a regular basis. No matter what…(if the accomodations are awful or if the local crew is a bunch of hapless goons, or there is a bad crowd)…the band ALWAYS steps up and plays their asses off!!!!!!!!! That seperates the men from the boys…Danny Rader is the latest addition to our outfit and he is energetic and talented. Watch for him. I know I’ll see ya out there!!!! Rich

Summer is almost over!!!!!!

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 03:59:49 +0000

This summer has flown by!!!!! It has been a sea of sessions, gigs, rehearsals and all of the crazy travel that goes along with those things. People think that musicians sleep all day and party all night…(well there is some partying going on)…but I act as my own manager, publicist, secretary and trainer. I’m running a business here people!!!!! Scheduling is usually my biggest headache. Bookings come in last minute and things have to be shuffled. I have to make sure that I am where I say I will be and that there is a set of drums waiting on me. It’s terribly exciting…You should try it some time…come on, live on the edge! I have seen some beautiful places recently. I am trying to smell the roses a lot more and enjoy the little things-friends, health, doing what you love for a living, a great cup of coffee, water when you are thirsty, a fine meal, sunsets, treadmills (that actually work) at the hotel…It’s been a great year so far…The George Strait Tour with Amber Dotson, the growing success of Jason Aldean’s career and my involvement in that…working with great producers like my friend Justin Niebank…working and playing constantly… cocktails at the Red Door with my close friends after cool gigs in Nashville, etc…I am looking forward to seeing my family for the holidays and I know that will be here quickly…See ya soon!

Rich

May fun!!!!!

admin — Sat, 28 May 2005 04:00:13 +0000

It is so funny to learn of people’s perceptions of the touring musician. Most think that we are nomads that never make it home. I actually have my cake and eat it too because I am in Nashville recording and doing local gigs and showcases Sun-Wed (sometimes Thursday) and out playing live on Friday and Saturday. This is how country acts tour and it works out perfectly for me!!!!! I have ben playing lots of unplugged “radio shows” with Jason Aldean and my ‘DT’ rhythm section as well as full-blown rocking shows. The fourth position in the band has been filled recently by Jason Faucett (Aaron Lines), Roger Nichols(Dreaming in English) and Scotty Huff (Keith Urban). These guys are all totally cool and fit it with the band perfectly. The best thing about being trapped on a 40 foot tube with a bunch of dudes is the bonding and comraderie. Musicians are unique individuals and these guys all have their quirks and sick sense of humors. Fun stuff!!!! I have been really counting my blessings recently because I am always working with killer musicians and down to earth people who have a mutual respect for each other. It gets no better! Big thanks to all of the players, producers and writers that have been embracing my talent. I appreciate it and I will never let you down!!!!!!!!!!! When you are traveling, always request a stay at the Hampton Inn. What a great chain-hot breakfast, wireless net all over the hotel, gym, USA today, etc…..Very cool chain…Wake up smiling and have fun…See ya soon,

Rich

April Allergies…

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 04:00:47 +0000

Claritin Anyone??? Nashville is the allergy hole of the world…Wow!!! What can I say??? I have been lazy on the ‘road notes’…I am having so much fun traveling with all of my pals!!!! I am never on a bus with a stranger anymore. I am tearing it up with Jason Aldean, Amy Dalley, BrittonJack, Amber Dotson, and now Deana Carter. Everyone of those organizations is top notch and fun filled to the core. I go through each day with a huge smile on my face and try to light up every crowd with over the top energy and enthusiasm! Check out my “Current News” section and I’ll try to be better about relating some specific stories from the road…

Rich

Non Stop Action!!!!!!!

admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 04:01:16 +0000

After the Vegas run, it was time to get some stuff done in town…ya know…oil changes, banking, doctors, dentists, gym visits…I rocked out for 2 days for Keith Follese’s Midas Music Company. We knocked out 15 new tunes for folks like Keith, Chris Cavanaugh, Victoria Shaw, Adrienne Follese and many others…The band is always top notch-Spady B., Jimmy Nichols, Gary Barnette, Scotty Sanders, Kerry Marx, Mike Durham and myself. I also played on some cool demos for Lizzy McGuire’s Nickelodeon sidekicks new project that is being produced by Rob Cavallo. Cavallo just produced GreenDay’s Grammy winner ‘American Idiot’…Roger Nichols played guitar and Allison Prestwood played bass…killer rhythm section…Back on the bus to visit Greenville,SC, Orlando, and Fort Myers, Fla. I will say this: “All arenas look and feel alike. It’s like you are in a time and space warp”. Awesome show in Greenville. My folks came to see me play at the Orlando show and we did some catching up. They got to meet all of the tour personnel and had some great seats. The Amber Dotson bus dropped off my ‘Dream Team’ rhythm section at the Raddison in Orlando and the Jason Aldean bus picked us up at 4:30 in the morning! Jason rocked as the opener for Pat Green to a packed house at Ricochet’s in Ft. Myers. The all-star band was on fire. Jason Mowery of Keith Urban fame and Jack Sizemore of Lonestar/BrittonJack fame rounded out the band. My parents also came to this show and had a few cocktails…The next day was Jason’s video shoot for his first single- “Hicktown”. I was surrounded by drunk rednecks, monster trucks and hot models for hours at a time. I played for hours! It was quite the workout! The end result should be fabulous…music, trucks, girls and a giant party…I now have 24 hours in Nashville. I knocked out a session for my friend Chip at Chip Martin Productions…I am leaving at 8 pm tommorrow after I see youth rocker Ryan Follese rock out at his first show at THE END in Nashville…Two more weeks left on the 2005 George Strait Tour and it will be freelance city after that…