In the print product this week, we have a music feature on Hank Williams III. In the story, Hank III discusses carrying a musical legacy, battling his label Curb Records, and his newly found desire to "stick it out for the long haul."
What couldn't fit in that piece though, were some of Hank's thoughts on coming to Florida, dealing with life
It seemed like 10 years ago, a true alternative-country scene was ready to take over the world. You were a big part of that. What happened?
That's the corporate world doing it's thing, man.
It's the same reason jazz and bluegrass and that real music isn't more
popular. Most people don't get to hear the best music. The real music
lies in the underground, under the radar. Thank God for the college
radio stations and Internet radio. It's finally getting some of that
out there.
Do you think there's ever going to be an end to the corporate control?
At least there's a little bit of a revolution happening with the Internet. That's taking down a lot of the big labels. So you don't have to have their machine to get your music out there. So there's a little movement that's starting to happen. On the flip side to it, if you're finally starting to figure out how to outsmart the label, well then you're gonna have to deal with the club trying to take 25 percent of your merch.
You're always on the road, whether you have an album out or not. And you're going to places a lot of the Nashville folks don't go. Why is that?
Every interview I do, I say 'We're not touring for a record.' We tour to tour, simple as that. We don't need a record to go out and do our job.
A lot of country bands, if they're not getting 25 or 50 thousand dollars a show, they're not even gonna think about it. I've always kept it in the bars. Hopefully I won't ever be going outside of that. It keeps it personal and you're not setting yourself up for a big fall or nothing like that. If you keep it in the bar circuit, it's giving you good longevity and you're able to be there, intimate with your fans, and talk to them after the show and all that good stuff. At amphitheaters (pronounced ampi-thee-yators), you have 500 more security guards to deal with and a whole new set of rules. It just kinda takes the vibe away from it.
You have an plans for the Florida trip?
Usually I don't go out and do much. Whenever I'm on the road I'm just geared for the stage. But I know there's a lot of partying motherfuckers down there and a lot of crazy energy. A lot of good times.
As far as going out to the beach or going out on the boat or something like that, I get to for maybe 30 or 40 minutes, but then I'm thinking about the stage.
Life on the road takes a toll though, doesn't it?
I'm 37 and I don't plan on changing up the show for a long time. I've always said I want to be able to work the road like I am until I'm 50. If I make it that far, I'll think about where I'm at then.
When I see people like Willie Nelson or Lemmy or even the guys in Slayer or the Melvins or the Reverend [Horton Heat], they're still hitting it hard.
So no telling what I'll do in my older age, but I tell myself I kinda want to hang it up when I got a little bit of a soul or a spirit left in me. I don't want to be that old pitiful guy on stage who can barely move, but who knows what I'll be saying. I've had to see some of my heroes when they couldn't even hold a guitar pick or they were shaking so bad they could barely play.
Right now I ain't gonna worry about it 'til I'm 50, then I'll be scratching my head.
What should people expect when they come see you live?
We take
pride in doing the longest show for the cheapest ticket out there. If
you're a heavy drinker, you'll be blacking out by the end of our set. We don't have an opening band, so be on time. Try to get the bar filled as soon as possible so we can get on stage. Let's try to get there early so your hangover don't have to be too bad in the morning.
