AZNightBuzz: Please tell the readers
something about your musical background
Pat James:
I didn't have any professional musicians in my family,
although my mom
sang and played a little guitar and piano as a hobby. My dad had
probably the best singing voice I ever heard, but rarely shared it with
anyone. I asked for a guitar when I was 9 so I could play rock
'n' roll
with my friends. By the time I was 14 I was strictly country, and
learning to sing and play Hank Williams and Marty Robbins songs.
AZNB:
Who are the
members of your band and how long have you been playing with them?
PJ:
Danny Sneed plays pedal steel and has been with me about 15 years. I
tell people the only compliment ever from him is that he's
been with me
that long. He's the best. I'll take it.
Larry Bailey has been my drummer for probably 12 years, and my favorite
one for sure. He has great feel, energy, and awesome vocals. Randy
Guinn is the new guy on bass. He rolled into town a couple of years ago
and found me at the perfect time. He's a great guy. Best bass
player/singer I ever had. This is the best group by far I've
ever had.
They all know country music, and make this job so easy.
AZNB:
I saw you last night at the Buffalo Chip Saloon. How long have you been
playing there and can you tell us something about the bar and its
history?
PJ: I've
been there for 13 years.
The building is very old. I hear it was a bait shop. It was later the
Maverick Saloon. About 16 years ago it became the Buffalo Chip and was
owned by Marla McGee (daughter of Green Bay Packer legend Max McGee).
For the last 6 or 7 years it has belonged to Larry Wendt, whose
catering company cooked steak and fish on the porch weekend nights
before he purchased the place.
AZNB: Is the place family-owned and
operated? Have you had the pancakes? They looked awesome.
PJ:
Yeah, I would say Larry's a hell of a good family guy - as far as
owner/operators go. The pancakes are awesome. The late night breakfast
is a new thing. Good home style cooking starting at midnight Fridays
and Saturdays and going all night. It's the only real food
you'll find
in the area at those hours. Just about anything you would want.
AZNB:
In your bio on your Web site you talk about the idea of "true
country".
What is it and why are you so drawn to it? Is there an era of classic
country you play most often?
PJ: Country to
me is just real music - real instruments, real singers, and
real
stories. It's not old or new. There was bad, pop-sounding old
stuff
just like there is horrible crap being called country these days. They
used to say Buck Owens was rock 'n' roll because he
had drums. I think
he's country as hell! I don't get in those silly
arguments. When you
hear a country song, you should know it before the intro's
done.
AZNB:
Name a few favorites (artists or songs) and why they are special to you.
PJ:
Marty Robbins - maybe the greatest overall talent - singer, songwriter
and performer. Gene Watson is another hero of mine. I always mention
him because I think he is the most under recognized country singer
ever. He can sing a country song like no one can.
I like so
many. I go on kicks. I'll listen to Buck Owens until I run
out. Then it
might be George Jones. Oh! I can listen to Bob Wills almost for
forever. Merle, various Mels, old Willie, Waylon, Hanks, Faron Young,
Ray Price, etc.
AZNB:
I know this is a broad and difficult topic, but why do you think radio
country is so terrible?
PJ:
I kind of touched on it earlier, but it has no identity. Nashville is
trying too hard to be the coolest kid on campus. The desire for mass
appeal will never result in quality country music. Find a new name for
it then let country producers produce country for a country audience.
Too many demographic studies or something. Maybe it's just
the videos.
When's the last time the Horizon Award (a type of "best new artist"
award from the Country Music Association) went to a skinny, ugly kid
that looked like a wing nut, but sang his ass off?!
AZNB: Do you write your own music? If
so, do you play them live or stick to covers?
PJ:
I do. Well, I used to. I quit writing a few months ago. It
wasn't as
hard as it sounds. But, I do mix in my originals. I really enjoy when
people request my songs by name - like, "number six
off the first CD." I get all proud and think to myself "Yeah, I wrote
that!"
AZNB:
On your site it mentions a couple of experiences in Nashville. What
made you go out there and what brought you back?
PJ:
I was taken there twice by different producers to record demos. Both
times I backed out of the deal. Maybe I was stubborn. Maybe I was
stupid or smart. Either way, I probably wasn't ready. I am so
much
better at this then I was then.
AZNB:
When we
spoke you mentioned Harlan Howard, writer of many notable songs
including "I Fall to Pieces," gave you a song. How
did that come about
and what did you do with the material?
PJ:
One of those producers introduced me to him, and we had lunch two or
three times. He listened to a couple of songs I did and liked my voice.
So, he gave me a song to add to the demo, but it went in the trash with
everything else from those sessions.
AZNB:
You also talked about Waylon, who came out to the saloon shortly before
he passed and checked out your set. Did you guys hang out?
PJ:
Yes. I was always afraid to approach him but he would send someone to
get me. He was very easy to talk to. He made me feel comfortable. I
told him my dad had known him years ago and said he was an asshole.
Waylon laughed and said "Yeah, I probably was." The
last time he was
in, he wanted to sing with us. He had had a couple of strokes, and they
told me I might have to help him with the words. I was nervous for
myself and him. It was almost spiritual. He was sharp as could be. He
told jokes and sang perfectly! It was Waylon's voice in his
prime
coming through my PA. It was the greatest four-song show ever. The word
got out quick. By the end of his first song, it was standing room only.
You wouldn't believe the energy. And he was smiling and
nodding at me
to take a guitar solo. The highlight of my life. I was later told that
ended up being his last show.
AZNB:
You are a
native of Arizona, as I am, and I think I gathered you grew up in the
area of Cave Creek. Why did you stay in the area and how has it changed
since you were a kid?
PJ: I grew up in
northwest Phoenix (now known as Phoenix). I moved to this area about
eight years ago. It's my favorite settled area in the world.
AZNB: Your music has
taken you all over the world. What was a fun/strange experience you had
in another country?
PJ:
A lot of it was fun and strange. We played some big stages and shows,
but somehow we got booked in a French bowling alley one night. Yes, we
bowled free afterwards.
AZNB:
You have a
couple of albums. Are the songs on the record covers or originals? Who
released them and how is the most recent one doing? If someone wants to
buy one how can they?
PJ: I do. The first
one is mostly all originals (Some Like It Country),
and the second has more covers (It's My Life).
You can get them at PatJames.net. They are also on
iTunes.
AZNB:
Besides loving and playing authentic country and donning boots and a
hat onstage, you also enjoy real cowboy stuff like calf roping and
occasionally compete. How did you get into this and have you ever
worked as a cowboy?
PJ: I
wasn't born into
it, but always wanted to be a cowboy. I was lucky enough to know a lot
of people who were kind enough to share their knowledge with me. I love
calf roping, but some of my favorite memories have been cowboying
outside. My favorite being catching wild cows with my old partner.
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