Payne County Line's Featured Artists - Red Dirt Rangers, to book, email piccolo@brightok.net

Interview with: Brad Piccolo, The Red Dirt Rangers

Let’s start off with the basics. Tell us who you are, where you are from, old friends, favorite drinks, entertainer, who inspires you to greatness, family, hometown, song, book, we will find you in your spare time doing… what?
A: Brad Piccolo born in Stillwater, OK. My best friends are Ben Han and John Cooper. The Red Dirt Rangers have been together for nearly two decades, so I know these guys pretty well. I like cold beer and red wine(depending on the occasion). My wife Lisa and my two girls (Isabel age two and Ruby Starr age 8 months) inspire me to greatness. If I fail they would all team up and kick my ass, so that in itself is a reason to succeed. In my spare time you would find me building our house which sits on 40 acres in NE Payne County, Okla.

How did you get started? When? Why?
A: I got started when I was 12 or 13 by listening to Beatles records. After hearing those guys, I knew that I had found my calling. For my 15th birthday, my parents got me a Fender Mustang guitar (which I still have) and the rest is history. That was more than 30 years ago and I haven’t looked back since. Although I received a mechanical engineering degree from OSU, music was my true love so that’s the path I followed.

What are some of the toughest challenges you’ve faced to this point?
A: In June of 2004, Ben, John and I were in a helicopter that crashed into the Cimarron River. The pilot and front passenger were killed and we were severely injured. For a time, we didn’t know if we’d ever be able to play again. I guess my toughest challenge was healing up physically and emotionally and getting back out on stage and playing again.

Songwriting, do you write most of the songs, or do you write with others? If so, who? What inspires you to write? What was your first original song preformed by you? What qualities/abilities do you feel make a good songwriter? Is there a magic combination of things that make a song “good” versus just “taking up air”?
A: The songs I write are a combination of solo and teamwork. I guess most of them are co-writes with my bandmates and guys like Bob Childers. I’ve probably written with Bob more than anyone else. From a box of kitchen matches to a garage sale, song inspiration can come from anywhere. One of the first songs I ever wrote was with John Cooper. It was titled “Neighbors” and we still do that song nearly every night. That was over 25 years ago. Wow. A good songwriter must be able to relate to an audience with topics that are deep and universal. It might be love, it might be from personal insight or observation, but people have to be able to relate to it. Usually for me, the best songs happen in about 15 minutes or less and require very little editing. I don’t have a magic formula for “good” songs, but I know it right away when it happens. As far as songs that just take up air, that often happens to me too.

In playing cover songs, do you find there is a magic mix for the fans, or the venue?
A: There’s no magic mix. You just have to get a feel for the audience on that particular night. We hardly ever make a set list for that reason. Cover songs can be a useful tool to get people on your side if they’ve never heard you. After that you can launch into your own material. I remember one instance when someone kept yelling for a Garth Brooks song. Finally, we said “Here’s a song by Garth Brooks from his new album”. Instead, we played one of our own tunes and the guy loved it. That actually worked to shut him up.

How should cover songs be used by a new band starting out?
A: Sparingly. When you do use them, however, make them your own and don’t get caught up trying to sound exactly like the original.

How would you define the music you create?
A: Heartfelt, funny, sad, happy, serious, scary, dark, light, uplifting, memorable, blue.

Do you play both acoustic band gigs? Which do you prefer, and why?
A: We play both and each is fun in its own way. When we play stripped down acoustic its usually 3 or 4 piece (with Randy Crouch). These gigs make you play and sing better because there’s not as much room to hide. The full band gigs (6 piece) are great as well. That’s when you can relax and experiment more. Besides, Jim Karstein on drums and Don Morris on bass are one helluva rhythm section.

Would you take a couple of songs and tell us how, why, when, etc you wrote them? How about some you co wrote… just a couple, do you mind sharing with us the songs and how, why, when, etc... that they were co wrote and who with… what else was going on at the time?
A: The song “Stillwater” was written while we were at the end of a long tour of the South. I was ready to get home and it was raining. “Damn the rain, to hell with the thunder, I’m goin’ back to Stillwater.” I wrote Blue Diamond with Bob Childers. We were sitting around the house and on the table was a box of Blue Diamond matches. On the cover it says “Strike anywhere”. So out came the line “She’s a blue diamond, she can strike anywhere”.

How hard was putting your first album together? What was the biggest challenge? What do you see as the challenges of today? What studio do you use? Who does the mastering? What do you feel is adequate charge for recording a CD, for the new bands starting up…? Are videos necessary? Could an artist sell tunes on internet and never record a CD? Is the internet handling of music the new way to get music out? How do you feel about the trading of tunes that goes on behind closed doors?
A: Our first album was called “Cimarron Soul”. We recorded it at Lamb Studio in Stillwater. That was in 1989. We stayed up all night long recording and mixing the entire record. We ended up drinking 3 or 4 cases of beer that night. It’s out of print, but some people say that’s their favorite record. Go figure.

Who would you cite as your biggest musical influence? Who has influenced your life more than anyone else would? Do you have a mentor in the business? Who is the one you most wish to emulate in the business since of this profession?
A: My biggest influences are probably Bob Childers,Tom Skinner and Steve Ripley.

How important is creative freedom to you, both as a writer as an artist?
A: It’s everything. Without it, I’d rather drive a truck or build houses.

What do you feel your greatest reward has been as an artist thus far?
A: Hearing someone else perform a song that I wrote. It’s a huge rush.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
A:If you’re not willing to give it all you’ve got, get a real job and just play for the fun of it.

What were some of the toughest challenges that you faced when you first started out?
A: Finding gigs and paying the bills.

How do you feel that the music market in Texas or Kansas or Arkansas differs from Oklahoma; or Nashville?
A: The music market is different in Oklahoma than Texas for one simple reason. There are more people in Dallas than the whole state of Oklahoma. It’s all about a larger fan base.

Do you/have you ever found it trying at times to try and balance both your personal life, and career? Wish to share a thing or two?
A:It’s always hard to be an artist and have a decent personal life. It can work only if you have an understanding partner. Being gone for days, weeks or even months at a time can be hell on relationships. There comes a time when every artist has to choose between two different paths.

A lot of artists/bands starting out say…”Nashville, or East/West Coast Music sucks”…. What is the difference between Nashville and Oklahoma music? Or is it the level of maturity, and understanding that sort of hits when one realizes “it is about money, because I need to pay bills??”. Your opinion please???
A: I have a hard time hearing people say “Nashville sucks”. Some great music comes out of Nashville. Guys like Kevin Welch for example. Not everyone from there is as awful as Faith Hill or Tim McGraw.Some musicians from Nashville actually have heart and soul.

Living in Oklahoma, is there something special about Oklahoma and being from it that has helped or hurt your career? Is Oklahoma music and its perspective different, if so, how?
A: Being from Oklahoma where there are lots of open spaces and not much to do forces you to be creative. Oklahoma music seems to be more real and heartfelt than other places.

Who are some of the best instrumentalist, and vocalist, you have ever performed with, and why? In these areas, who would you like to perform with and have not to date?
A:Of course the best musicians are my bandmates. Other than that, I’d love to play with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan’s band.

What makes your music stand out? What is your "edge"?
A:Honesty and simplicity. Why use 100 words and 20 chords when 5 words and one chord will do?

Who are some folks who helped you get started that you would like to recognize... say thanks too, etc? family, friends, venues, etc?
A: Everyone who has ever bought a CD or concert ticket.

What were some of the places you played around Oklahoma starting out?
A: I June of 1994 we did a thing we called the Oklahoma World Tour. We played 30 shows in 30 days all over the state. It was a ball-buster, but it really got our name out there.

Are you self managed, or is there someone helping with that? Do you do your own booking?
A: We are self-managed. We also do our own accounting, merchandise, press kits, driving, etc.

How do you perceive a band to be? Is it family, business, friends, etc??? How does one work through problems that come up?
A: Family. When you have a problem, you fight, yell, scream and work it out.

Where have you all played? What was your best show to date?
A: All over the U.S. and even Europe. The best show is always the last one we did.

Has the make up of the content of your music changed much over the years? If so, how?
A: I think the songwriting has improved.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years?
A: 5 or 10 years older.

What do you think has contributed the most to your success and longevity over the past years?
A: Sticking with it and never quitting. Just keep on plowing.

This is your call, anything you would like to add, this is your chance. Anything you wish to say to the hometown fans, the newer fans, the golden oldie fans… to the venues.. etc.
A: Thanks….Without you guys, we would be living under a bridge.