Darius Rucker’s reinvention as a country artist is complete, with headlining tours and hits
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the reinvention of Darius Rucker.
On Sept. 16, 2008, it had been exactly a decade since the rock band he fronted, ‘90s superstars Hootie & the Blowfish, had released the platinum album, “Musical Chairs.” That album — released on Sept. 15, 1998 — featured a lead single in “I Will Wait” that failed to crack the top 25 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary singles chart. That was as good a sign as any that the group’s hey day of “Cracked Rear View” — the 1994 debut album that went 21 times platinum on the strength of hits like “Only Wanna Be With You” — was behind them.
After releasing two more albums that failed to register on Billboard’s Top 40 album releases, with 2003’s self-titled “Hootie & the Blowfish” and 2005’s “Looking for Lucky,” Rucker knew it was time for a change.
The South Carolina native looked westward for inspiration, moving to Nashville to reinvigorate himself musically. It was risky on a number of levels. He would be the first black artist of note to make a crossover run at country music stardom since Aaron Neville’s cover of the old George Jones weeper “The Grand Tour” was a mainstream country hit in 1993.
To say the move worked would be a bit of an understatement. In the 10 years since packing up for Music City, Rucker has celebrated four chart-topping albums, as well as earned a whole new legion of fans. In terms of sheer numbers, the singer’s current summer tour may be the most popular on the road today, as he co-headlines the Summer Plays On Tour with Lady Antebellum.
The tour comes to Raleigh’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Thursday, Oct. 4 and Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion Oct. 5.
We spoke to Rucker during a break in the tour’s schedule, while he was enjoying a day off in Nashville. Among the topics broached were great “should have been bigger” Carolina bands, and rowdy pedal tavern serenades.
Q: So, what was it like to be invited to perform at the Apollo Theater in Harlem as a country artist (in October 2017)?
A: Oh my goodness, I was just talking to a friend about that. It was surreal, out of body ... I looked out from the stage at the crowd and just thought, “I’m at the Apollo freakin’ Theatre playing country music.” It was just the most unbelievable night that I’ll never forget. One of the greatest musical experiences of my life.
Q: That’s great, but honestly, was it a surprise to find that a white country artist (Kacey Musgraves) had played the Apollo before you?
A: It did. I was a little surprised. That seems a little crazy.
Q: How did the new co-headlining tour with Lady Antebellum come about?
A: I got a text message from Charles (Kelley, Lady Antebellum member), asking if I’d be interested in doing it, and I loved the idea immediately. I’ve toured with them before, and it’s not like either of us are worried about selling tickets because we both had tours just last year and both sold great, so it was more about making life on the road a little more fun and easy. It’s all about just taking great music and playing it in front of people, and doing it with my best friend in the business, and playing golf all over the country while we’re on tour. It’s about taking our families out with us, and doing all of this a good three or four nights a week. That’s all I want to do at this point in my career.
Q: Something that I’ve noticed is how you tend to see musicians being close friends — like you and Charles — with one another much more now than back during the time period that you first found success with Hootie & the Blowfish, back in the 1990s. Did it feel more like musicians were just on their own islands back then?
A: Absolutely. I agree with you 100 percent. It amazes me to be in this town and see the big, huge stars who are just hanging out with their friends, who just happen to also headline venues as well. I’m not saying I’m a huge star, because I’m just out here trying to make it playing music like everyone else — even if they look at me offstage like I’m the (established) guy — but I look at my relationship with Charles and Luke (Bryan) and Jason (Aldean), and these are my boys. I could call them right now to tell them I was in town, and they’d be pissed, asking, “Why didn’t you come by the house?”
Brad Paisley’s one of those guys I call whenever I need to talk to someone about almost anything. You’ll see that with the guys coming up (in country music) now, with guys from Brothers Osborne to Brett Young; they’re all buddies, and they are all my buddies. That’s why I love doing the award shows so much: these guys all love each other, but we don’t get to see each other all that much. If you are playing Minnesota this Friday, chances are I’m a week behind you, and will be playing Minnesota next Friday.
That’s why I love playing country music. The friendships are real, and the people really care about each other. Sure, everybody wants to do their thing, but they want to do it on their own accord. I truly believe most people here think that there is room for all of us, as long as you’re great. I don’t have to hate you just because I’m putting a new single out while you are putting a new one out, too. I don’t have to hate you.
Q: Was there any hesitation when the co-headlining gig presented itself? I can’t help but think that there’s always a chance that next year, when someone is weighing the option of what tickets they will buy during the summer concert season, they may skip your show if they feel that they aren’t getting the same value from two supporting acts’ performances instead of Lady Antebellum being on the bill.
A: Nah man, I’m too old to worry about that crap. If the show they saw last year wasn’t good enough to make them think they’re going to catch me the next time I come to town, that’s a me problem. I know shows are expensive, and people may weigh their options, but I never think of it like that. Whenever you see me onstage, I’m just trying to give you the best time you’re going to have, so that you want to see me again the next time a show comes around.
Q: Would traveling all summer with a buddy had made it an even trade, at any rate?
A: Absolutely. I don’t worry about it, but being out with (Lady Antebellum) is just worth it. We’re having a blast, just being able to watch their show every night, and getting the chance to perform our own show the same night.
Q: You covered the Drivin’ N Cryin’ song “Straight To Hell” on your latest album, 2017’s “When Was the Last Time.” Do you think if today’s streaming technology was around at that time, where an artist can just upload their music online without worrying about a major record label’s support behind them, more of this area’s musicians would have found success?
A: Oh yeah, I think so, because there were just so many great bands around there. Like (Chapel Hill rock band) Dillon Fence; I still can’t believe that Dillon Fence wasn’t the biggest band from that scene. I’ll never forget the first time that I ever saw them play, and remember thinking, “These guys are going to be friggin’ huge.”
Q: Lastly, how many times have you gotten stuck behind a pedal tavern that featured a bachelorette party sing-sluring along with your “Wagon Wheel” cover?
A: It’s happened to me twice! I got stuck beside one at a stoplight in Nashville once, and the other time happened not long ago, as I was walking out of Tootsie’s Bar with a buddy. We both were finishing our beers, a group just pedaled by us singing it, and all we could do was laugh.
Details
Who: Darius Rucker with Lady Antebellum and Russell Dickerson
When: 7 p.m., Thursday Oct. 4
Where: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road
Cost: $34.25, $39, $54.25, $99, $183.25, $333.25
Info: LiveNation.com or 919-831-6400