Originally released in the December issue, Buddy Magazine
Wade Bowen, at Southern Junction 2013
By Mary Jane Farmer
It hasn’t been an overnight leap from Wade Bowen’s first gig in Waco 14 years ago to having been featured in the New York Times and Billboard Magazine. Instead, it’s been one steady, uphill climb — a combination of songwriting, singing, determination, tenacity, and altogether these have made Bowen a leader in Texas music.
Wade is forever adding one factor into it all, and that is his fan bass, loyal and always eager for a return show or new CD project, he said.
The combination is likely to plummet him into the national spotlight.
Wade’s music is unique in that, while he is a Texas artist, he’s not following the red-dirt route. Instead, if one needs a qualification of his music, that could be that it’s another combination — bluesy ballads and two-stepping, non-Nashville country songs.
Bowen, a man of few words outside his songs, said, about the New York Times feature, “We played a show up there, and they just wrote about it.” And when asked about what makes him such an amazing writer, he answered, simply “Just getting into the room with other songwriters. I’ve been lucky about that.”
He talks more about the people who surround him and who make each show possible, than he does himself. Those people, those crew members, he said, are just as important to any show as he and his band are. “We (the band) have a crew, and we hire out people to do the sound, usually companies we work with on a regular basis that are great and critical to the overall success of the show. And there are those who get there (to the venue) way before we do and stay way after we are gone. These are the hardest-working people in the business. Any one of these crew members, if having a bad day, can make or break a show. It’s all a mixture of stage crews, sound, lighting, and the fans.”
Bowen relies on those crew members, as much if not more than other musicians. Helps him cope with the taxing travel schedule that goes with the life of successful musician. He also golfs, whether it is to cope or just have a good time, and has worked with a charity golf tournament in his native Waco.
His music career also includes working with his Nashville connections. “I go to Nashville all the time to work, to write, record, and for the business end of it.” His last CD, “The Given”, was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, and he is working on his next one as time and trips allow. “We’re taking our time with it,” he said, adding that there is not yet a completion date set, much less a release date on it.
Wade Bowen, photo
“You live and learn in the studio and you learn how to create your own sound. I’m glad the Wade Bowen sound is not a copy of anyone else’s” The studio teaches maturity in music as well.”Life takes over. When I first started, I was in college, and now I’m married with two kids and life has a whole different look. That affects how we make records,” Bowen said. “I’m always trying to make the best records possible. I have a better vision now of what to expect and what to do to get it created.
“My whole goal is to just make the best records possible. You realize the records just come to life and create their own stories within it. Sometimes you can manipulate and control that story and sometimes they speak for themselves — and that is great.”
In December, Wade and the band are taking two weeks off, and that’s about their Christmas and their coping, and balancing the critical aspects of their lives — family — with the music portion. “The most thing (in balancing the two worlds) is my wife. It wouldn’t happen with her. She is the balance. As long as you are dodng all you can to hurry back home as quickly as possible, that’s all she can ask. It’s a rough life (for a spouse) to put up with the music business. It takes patience and trust. Without Shelby, none of this would happen.”
One of Wade’s newer songs, already with its own video, is “Songs About Trucks.” He didn’t say this, but one has to wonder if it isn’t a cleverly-crafted rebellion ditty about all those trucks, tailgate, and dirt road songs coming out of Music City these days. When asked what kind of truck he drives, Wade, answered, hesitantly, that he drives a 4-door Chevrolet Silverado. The lyric video is a smart and skillfully-produced piece of work and is available on YouTube.
“The Given” has 10 songs on it, nine of which were co-written by Bowen and several other of his ilk. The 10th is a cover song by Townes Van Zandt, the breezy, beautiful “To Live Is To Fly,” which just hovers over the listener with perfect grace. That’s now the late Van Zandt sang it, how another icon, Guy Clark, covered it, and how Bowen has kept it. Plus, on this song, the great Guy Clark joined Wade for a duo on “To Live Is To Fly,” and the song remains true the concept its songwriter meant it to carry.
Wade answered in his typical, simple style when asked, “How did you get from idealizing Guy Clark to cutting a duo with him?” by answering, “All you have to is just ask. I’d written with him before. He’s a good person, so I just said something like, ‘Hey, you. I’d be honored if you’d come sing with me.’ He’s a great person and so easy to work with.”
Catch Wade Bowen in the first two weeks of December (his tour schedule is shown on his Website) and/or wait until his New Year’s Eve gig at Southern Junction. He’s no stranger there, having made it a regular stop several times over the years. He said of the Rockwall venue, “It’s going to be great. I love the owners and the people who come out. It all just fits so well, being in that place. We’ll ring in the New Year with them, for sure.” Oh, and he’s bringing friend and co-writer Adam Hood with him.
In the meantime, Wade will be spending the holidays with family, regrouping, relaxing, rejuvenating.
“Everybody knows the hustle and bustle of the holidays. My family and I run all over the place. All of our families live in Waco, still, while we live in New Braunfels now.”
WadeBowen.com
Photos by Mary Jane Farmer — click on links at the end for photos of both Merle Haggard & The Strangers, and of Big Gus & Swampadelic, the opening band for the night.
The Merle Haggard band, The Strangers, played a couple of songs before he got on stage, and then when he did, more magic lighted up the room. The man sang many of his numerous hits — there wasn’t time to sing them all — and gave accolades to all his band members. The only thing missed were a couple of fiddle tunes from the master himself, although his fiddler did a bang-up good job on the side.
gentlemen, gracious to the nth degree, and fun to be around. They seemed to be having as much fun as anyone during the Meet & Greet session backstage, pausing as long to visit, with rapt attention, with their fans as they could.