171: Rob Leines

On Episode 171, I'm joined by rock and roller Rob Leines. Back in March, Leines released the southern rock stomper and blue-collar roots album Blood Sweat and Beers. During this episode, we talk about the writing, recording, and experiences of Blood Sweat and Beers, growing up in the South, living in LA, working as a welder, the stress of quarantine life on art, and the parallels between blue-collar work and being a seasoned, touring musician.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery and The Blue Light Live.

Interview Transcript

Note: Transcripts aren’t always accurate since they are computer automated and haven’t been edited for spelling, grammar, etc.

Thomas Mooney 0:02

Hey y'all. Welcome back to New slang. I'm music journalist Thomas Mooney. This is Episode 171 with singer songwriter Rob Leines So yeah, it's been a minute, been a little bit busy. Also just needed a little bit of a break, which I'm sure none of y'all really want to hear me rambling on about that. All you really need to know is that we're back to our regularly scheduled programming here at New slang with a couple of episodes coming your way. Each week, the past couple of weeks, I've been able to do a little bit of a catch up on the whole new slang interview thing. So there's a few that are already in the can. And as you'd expect, there's some great ones in the work as well. I'm super excited about them all. So Rob Linus was one of these folks who I spoke with the other day, his new album, blood, sweat, and beers came out back in mid March. At its core, it's really a rock and roll record. We're gonna call it Americana and country and southern rock and all this other stuff. But at its core, it's a meat and potatoes rock and roll record, you can kind of say that it's informed by some of those great classic 70s and 80s. bands from the swampy south and the West Coast. That blue collar hauler in the southern swagger. This record ages feels really comfortable with itself, Rob captures a sense of down home folks who are working those nine to five jobs and are just looking to take the edge off on the weekend and on the evenings. It's something that we talked about during the conversation as well, but I'll make a point of it here again, in reality, 99% of the time being a musician is a blue collar job. It's long haul trucking and loading in and out truckstops fast food convenience stores, motel rooms, it's sleeping on floors and working with your hands. And at the end of the day, it's like just straight up hustling. We may glamorize it a little bit more than the auto mechanic or welding work. And I'm sure it's easier and a lot more fun than roofing in the summertime, or digging ditches or anything like that. But still, at the end of the day, it's a blue collar job. And that's something that Rob threads together on this record without just like blatantly saying it. You really get that sense of how these two worlds being a musician, being a blue collar worker, being a welder, anything like that. They're all one in the same. Today's presenting partner is our pals over at Desert door Texas Soto. If you're asking yourself, what exactly desert door or a SoTL is? Well, it's a premium high quality spirit that is similar to a tequila or Moscow but in my estimation, it's more refined, smooth and fragrant. It has a distinct and intriguing palette that picks up on hints of vanilla and citrus while maintaining a healthy earthiness that is quite enjoyable. One of my favorite features about desert door is just how versatile It really is. If you want to feel fancy and a little highbrow, it's perfect for a variety of cocktails that call for lime wedges and core salt, chopped ginger, a Gabi nectar sprigs of time and sticks of cinnamon, threw down a muddle some fresh fruit, all that kind of stuff. It's perfect. It's great for experimentation and fine tuning all of your mixologist skills. And then also if you're a little bit more downhome and casual, you got that denim jacket on. It's just perfect for those short and sweet simple go to favorites that hit the mark every time. I'm talking about ranch waters and Moscow mules and palomas and and Mexican Coca Cola with desert door. What I love so much about desert door is just how genuine and an authentically West Texan they are as well. They go out and harvest Soto plants out in the wild and are aware and knowledgeable conservationists at heart. So next time you're at your neighborhood liquor store, get yourself a bottle of desert door. I'll throw a link into the show notes for more information. We'll get to that here in like two seconds. But first, if this is your first time listening to new slang, go ahead and hit that subscribe button for on iTunes. Leave that five star review. Be sure to stop on over at the new slang merch store as well. We got plenty of T shirts, coffee mug shot glasses, stickers, koozies magnets, and so much more. So yeah, go stop by while you're at it, stop on over at the Patreon as well. It's a great way to support this podcast and journalism. Speaking of podcasts if you're into 90s country music, be sure to check out my other podcast the neon Eon I've had folks

like clay Walker, Pam Tillis and Tracy Lawrence on and the neon Eon merch store is up and running as well with brand new shirts koozies all kinds of stuff over there as well. I gotta say, I think they look pretty dang sharp. So yeah, go check all those out. Just like new slang. The neon Neon is available everywhere you listen to podcasts. And of course, all these links, they will be in the show notes for easy access. Speaking of which, let's get on into the interview here is Rob Linus.

Anyways, though, like, let's obviously you got this new record that's been out for a minute. And yeah, you know, you've talked about how, obviously, you're you're doing this night shift right now, welder this record very much ties into a lot of those blue collar themes, a lot of that hard living aspects. What was it? Like, I guess, like, take me back to collecting the songs as far as like, how long of a period of time was it? Were these come like in a, you know, short, rapid fire? Or has been over a couple of years?

Rob Leines 5:57

No, um, you know, so released the first album, 2018. So none of these were written and that I know of, if I can remember correctly, but, you know, some of them were kind of half written or just an idea, you know, when I came out, the first album, them in blood, sweat and tears came about it was, um, and we were luckily torn so much at that time. And, you know, you'll, you'll get on the road and you'll come back, or you'll, you'll get inspired by something or just some sparks, you know, sparks in your brain, you come back with a new song, you know, so 2019 we recorded that, that record. Only kind of when we had time when we were back in LA. So it was cool. It was weird to piece it together. But every time we come back have a new song and she's like, Alright, let me hear it. Yeah, there's like, always some other No, no, I'm gonna add this one. Yeah. So it was so some of them were kind of pre written halfway, you know, just ideas. And then some of them are just spur the moment. So I could just vomited. You know, it's weird how it all comes, it comes to you like that, or doesn't, you know, and I think I think what travels and travels and doing things, and that's kind of why sign up for this job again, to obviously for the paycheck, but then to do something, but to doing something, you know, is always inspiring. This is how I write stuff. I can't sit in a room and sing about quarantine. Get the fuck out of here. You know, right? Yeah, I need life experience and, and in travel. So

Thomas Mooney 7:50

yeah, that's, that's something that's been interesting to talk to folks about has been the, because so many people, they need to see those characters in that bar that honkytonk or they need to see them at work. They need to see him in, you know, pumping gas, you know, whatever the case is, and going like, well, what the hell is that guy store? What's their story? Yeah, exactly. And there's just so much of that has been taken away this past year. So I mean, it's, it's very much one of those things where, you know, in probably an art in general is like the chicken or the egg, which came first as far as, like, did you go out on songs and get ideas? Or did you get the ideas from? Yeah, what were you know, you get them saying?

Rob Leines 8:30

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And yeah, I mean, health is just, you know, with this job, too, you know, I've traveled all over the place, and we live in Brooklyn, Milwaukee, and, you know, real grill COVID safe, for sure. But they, you know, they brought us all over the place. But man, I could tell you, I could write six albums about these motherfuckers I mean, out here, they are just characters. And it's hilarious, you know, because everyone's from different parts of the country, sometimes world stickers and on a job, you know, so this is the third album, there's gonna be some, some some more working man songs. But I'm more. There's just so many characters, it would be stupid to pass that that kind of material up.

Thomas Mooney 9:23

Right, what you know, you mentioned like, you know, you only have a couple hours to fit all this stuff in. I take it you know, like, there's not a lot of time to be actually like, you know, writing the songs out right now. Well, what are you doing as far as like, you good notetaker you? What do you do as far as like, trying to ensure that you're able to capture some of those details of stories without right having to write the song out then?

Rob Leines 9:48

Right? Well, I'll listen to music. And even if it's just in the background, it'll, it's not necessarily at all, you know, copying or doing My interpretation of someone's songs, I kind of use just the emotion of that. So I'll listen to music. And I'm not even really paying attention. It's just the way that makes me feel in that moment. And not even their melody or anything, but it inspires something with it in myself. So I'll write it down, like on a notepad, or I'll sing into it on my voice recorder on the phone, and that combination, and then I'll lay usually sometimes lay a guitar part down, and I'll play it over and over again on my phone, just without vocals. And that gives me a chance to kind of rhythmically place lyrics and stuff like that at all. If I'm, if I don't have a guitar, you know, or if I'm on the on doing something else or on the road. I'm not able to jam with the band or put my thoughts together that way. So I just can't piece it together like that.

Sometimes,

Thomas Mooney 10:57

yeah. Is that very much it's kind of the way it is on the road for you as well. Because, like, whenever you're on tour, right? Because like, I know that so many people have such a hard time capturing that moment on the on the road, just getting the chance to slow down for two seconds to even do anything.

Rob Leines 11:17

Yeah, for sure. I mean, mostly, like, a couple of songs. I was figuring out, you know, we'd I would just do it. Show the band soundcheck like, this is my idea. You know, that's kind of your your time and all right thing. Think about it while it's driving. But yeah, you're right. You don't really have much time sometimes. And then if you have a day off, you're like, last fucking thing I want to do right now is put everybody together and be like, Alright, we're gonna rehearsal for new music. Yeah. But it is what it is.

Thomas Mooney 12:00

Yeah, no, I mean, it's no one likes to practice on their day off. I mean, I always think about like sports, you know, as far as Yeah. The NBA goes, you know, it's the same kind of like, you know, schedule as far as being on the road or being at home. And then like, you know, the coaches like 1am practices or something, you know, yeah, exactly. Exactly. But, yeah, you know, what I find really interesting, too connected to all this is that, you know, a lot of your songs, they really much they reflect that blue collar aspect that we've been talking about. But, you know, in music music is really like, a blue collar job as well. We always think of it as like being kind of more glamorous, but you know, it's it's very much a blue collar thing as well.

Rob Leines 12:54

Man, I was thinking that last night, that's so funny, you brought that up. I was like, I was like, yeah, you know, this. It's kind of dirty, it's hot, and you're in, you're in weird positions and floud. But, you know, last night, things are slowing down on the job. So I was just pretty much in the break trailer and I was trying to get my music stuff done. I was like, Man, this is so much. It takes up so much more your damn time. I mean, in your scatterbrained, you got to organize everything. And it's just, it's it's just a different kind of work. But it's equally if not more difficult to do this, you know, and to keep motivated sometimes, especially after last year. So I mean, I totally agree with you people don't realize how much work goes into it. Like, oh, yeah, this is all just kind of like laid out for you. And especially doing this shit, and on top of that, you know, it's like it's, it's a lot. And not just not just glamorous, like you said. So

Thomas Mooney 14:10

yeah, there's this like, disconnect where like, a people think that musicians are, you know, they're living in the Hollywood Hills, like all of them have number one hits no matter what. And there's that thing that like, maybe like, you know, Oh, you guys are only working 90 minutes a night. And it's like, well, now, there's like,

Rob Leines 14:30

yeah, that's the that's the that's the fun part. That's the part that makes it all worth it. But if you knew the bullshit that was in between all that dealing with stuff, and it's a lot yeah,

Thomas Mooney 14:43

what's like the worst job drive you've had to do? Like out on tour.

Rob Leines 14:48

The worst one, I'm sorry, drive. Drive. I'm probably the one I'm about to do. No, I mean, there It just is what it is, you know, um, because you know we kind of we do everything ourselves still van tour. And I still manage everything and so I wear a lot of hats and that kind of can be exhausting but the longest drive i mean it's it's all relative you know like we did you know some days on your day off you might have a 12 hour drive or we'll split it up and see some friends somewhere you know it I don't really mind it. I guess to answer your question no storms are snow storms are a bitch. snow storms are you get caught in a snowstorm in the van. You know that long axle? Or long drive shaft and slipping inside can get hairy?

Thomas Mooney 16:00

Yeah, of course. Yeah. And I guess like, you know, your your South like me. Were not dealing with a whole lot of snow growing up. Yeah, yeah. Where are you? Where are you at? Are you based? here in Texas? Um, okay. So yeah, way out west where there's really no snow. Unless it's like April or some shit then for some reason, they'll have like once bad snow day flurries

Rob Leines 16:23

or Yeah, okay. Yeah. Yeah, I've never seen snow in Texas, but

Thomas Mooney 16:31

Well, I guess maybe we had that Blizzard thing that like,

Rob Leines 16:35

Yeah, I did. I did. Yeah. And, like out like, Eastern Texas.

Thomas Mooney 16:40

Yeah, it was like the it's one of those things where they they're talking about like, Oh, you know, it's like a once in 100. year storm. Right. Why did this happen? Like two years in a row?

Rob Leines 16:53

Yeah. And after such a shit year? Yes. Say just one more thing to lay on there. Yeah, lay on the pile of shit. Where are you at right now? I'm actually in Chattanooga, at the Hampton Inn, in Hickson. Phil wants to come visit. Just kidding. Go ahead. No, no, yeah, I've worked. I'm working. I can't really, I don't know if I could say, but I'm working. I'm working at a plant pretty close to here. I actually lived here for six years. So it's all like, all the random shitholes in the world that I can be sent to. I got sent to my van was even here. So I get to get my guitar, one of my guitars and pedal board actually worked out very, very convenient. There was very convenient.

Thomas Mooney 17:50

The reason I asked is because like you. You spoke with my buddies, hippies and cowboys. A little. Yeah, you're down in Florida, so I didn't know if you were

Rob Leines 17:59

still Yeah. Yeah, they're good today. We were gonna have a follow up just for fun. And just have beers and talk shit. Yeah, but but we'll see. We'll see what happened. I mean, they're busy. We're all busy. It's like, Fine Time in my schedule wasn't cohesive with anyone's lives. So that's probably mostly my fault.

Thomas Mooney 18:26

Now Yeah, I mean, I've not I've known those guys for a minute but we've we still haven't met up he's ever

Rob Leines 18:31

met. Yeah. I asked them I said, Did you have y'all even? And they're like, yeah, we met once in Kentucky. I was like, Okay. Yeah, that's just hilarious. That's kind of the world that we live in. Now. You know? Like you got friends on you know, Instagram or something that you've never even met? It's kind of bizarre.

Thomas Mooney 18:55

But you know, like the weirdest thing when you meet people like that in person really is like, you have been surprised by or caught off guard how tall they are, or how like short they are. Right? That's always the the thing and of course, like musicians, it feels like musicians are always like five seven or like six four. There's like no middle

Rob Leines 19:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah, well, I'm I'm the guy in the middle ground. I'm like 511 six foot my boots on. That's right. Given that, yeah. gave me that little little boost. But my legs are short. I think my legs are short. stubby I don't know what it is but that Eric doesn't matter. Don't think about that anymore. Yeah. I broke my pelvis two years ago and I think that kind of fucked me up

Thomas Mooney 19:45

though, man. Yeah, that seems like it would.

Rob Leines 19:49

Yeah, I kind of like my right leg for sure. I wouldn't chiropractor like yeah, your right legs. At least a quarter inch shorter school.

Thomas Mooney 20:00

I know that like, of course, like if you you bust your back or like your neck or something of course you can like lose an answer to. Yeah, so

Rob Leines 20:09

Exactly. Yeah, those that whole thing. That thing called your spine yeah postures everything to say they tell me,

Thomas Mooney 20:21

but I don't know it's uh, I don't even know we got on to this. But this episode of new slang is brought to you by the blue light live here in Lubbock, Texas. Blue Light has undoubtedly been my home away from home over the years, and has played such a vital role not only for my development as a journalist, but obviously it's been one of the foundational pieces for a lot of your favorite songwriters and bands who have made it out of the Lubbock area over the years. And of course, as a music venue, they've played such a pivotal role for a lot of your favorite bands just in general. One of my favorite parts about blue light is just how versatile the place can truly be. I've seen it crowded and rowdy on a Saturday night for a rock and roll band. And I've seen it dead still on a Wednesday when a legendary singer songwriter rolls through town. What you should do is go over to blue light, Lubbock calm and check out all the new merge. They've added hats, t shirts, both short and long sleeve. They also have hoodies and koozies and just added some sweatshirts that are very much an homage to the college sweatshirt that john Belushi wore an Animal House. And then of course, maybe the crown jewel of their new merge is the varsity club style jacket and blue satin. I got one the other day and yeah, it's just one of my favorite things I own now. And yeah, I don't know I just love it anyway, you can check out all their new merge over at blue light, loving, calm, as always, I'll throw a link into the show notes for easy access. Okay, let's get back to the show. The thing I want to go back to though was I've really enjoyed the the music video aspect of, of this record. What has been like, I guess like the where'd all those come from? As far as like, are you? Are you the the main person as far as coming up with the the ideas for these music videos and everything? Um, let's like

Rob Leines 22:15

think we did three. Right? Oh, I need

Rocco honkytonk life and good time. I believe. You remember we did we did the q&a? The promo one? I don't know if you saw that one. That one was fun to make. Yeah, I did. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you know, living in LA that that is one of the pros. is having people that are super talented in film, and become friends and just work together on stuff, you know. And so I actually came up with the idea for all I need, I was like, I'm thinking speed dating meets Napoleon Dynamite. And, and nobody loves me. And you know, Philippe, my drummer, he actually is the ladies man. And he's the one suit you know, and I'm just like, all jealous of him. Oh, hold on.

Yeah, that was so I kind of wrote that and then worked with the guy, Andrew. Andrew Marx. I work with often. Film guy and videographer. He's actually musician himself. And then Samantha Miller, a gala. Now she kind of helped direct it. It's just a tight little crew. And we did it at a bar across the street from my apartment. Then Rocco honkytonk. Life Andrew film that at a live show, and the blast goes actually showed whiskey Myers, so that was super fun. And then, good time, he also filmed that, and we actually got because we're trying to come up with something, you know, quick, and we're like, well, we don't want to rush anything. And make it shit. Because no one wants to watch a ship video. And for the minimal amount of shit that we did, he actually did a really good job. And I was happy with it. Just an honest kind of like live video in the studio. And we actually that same day, I actually filmed the q&a in the morning, and then we filmed the music video that night. I was like, man, I got a lot of spec for these actors, because I'm exhausted. Yeah. But the q&a with I was like, man, let's do some funny because usually on the road, I'm doing stupid little Instagram videos and shit. But I was like, let's go with some funny so I came up with these questions. You know, and a lot of it's a lot of improv and, and some of my previous ideas of what was gonna happen, but it always kind of changed. And I came up with random ass like No One No One twittered me asking me questions about how am I totally made that shit up? I

Thomas Mooney 25:18

don't know if you caught that but I can't figure those are all like your Hotmail addresses at one time.

Rob Leines 25:23

Yeah exactly where they're all friends like my buddy my buddy dirt. We call them Derby fro you know and then I got a buddy named freaky Phil. And as this guy used to know, called, we call them bata Foucault because he's this giant, my guy from Miami but he caught he could spin kick a can off your head so I just bought a Foucault spin kick it was all fun and in like that q&a I edited Honky Tonk life I did I just enjoy kind of creating and creating stuff just in general so yeah,

Thomas Mooney 26:09

that's the I don't know if it's been maybe it's just a coincidence because it has been the quarantine thing but you know, like Ottoman Turks like they've had a couple of really good music videos too. And it's all because of just kind of having downtime and deciding like well we need to do something fun for this record and they've got some videos that are a creative that also like, where they were, they were able to like utilize and be smart with like their budget and everything and I feel like there's a lot of you guys probably did a lot of the same kind of things with with these music videos that are you know, just utilizing like what you have your resources that have been able to Yeah, absolutely awesome stuff so I've really dug him

Rob Leines 26:57

Thanks, man. I really appreciate that. No one just like you know, like I said, you just kind of put it out and you're like Alright, well let's see how this goes. I you know I don't get nervous anymore and I really quick here but I care about the work that goes into making it but you know, you just throw caution to learning like fuck it you know? Okay, let's just see what people think about it that's better to be unapologetically are unapologetic in a way just go for it but the downtime we did have was nice and I should have done more really should have done more videos but you know now they got you know, feature in Rolling Stone record you know, Rob and all that stuff so I think you're a little more motivated to work with me you know for more me for more videos that's all I could help but in reality it's like well yeah, that won't happen again until or maybe happen again until the next album but but to have a good little video crew in your corner is is especially nowadays is clutch

Thomas Mooney 28:21

Yeah, I I can very much see that being the case. You know, just having you in that little bit of that Rolling Stone notoriety. I mean, it goes a long way with everyone boost the the, the the street cred with everyone, you know, so

Rob Leines 28:36

yeah, that's the quality of them, call you the videos for sure.

Thomas Mooney 28:41

This episode is brought to you by wild gallery. Based in Austin, Texas wild gallery is Austin's only Art Gallery featuring Native American art, head on over to WYLD dot gallery to see their vast array of traditional and contemporary art by Native American artists. Currently, they are a virtual gallery. You can still make appointments on their website if you're wanting to purchase a specific painting in person. But of course, the beauty of them being virtual is that you're able to see and buy from your home without tracking all the way to Austin. While Newsline definitely focuses on music. I always love speaking with songwriters about those other mediums that they explore. Often that's through painting and drawing the visual arts. And since I'm a West Texas native, I've long been drawn to the history, the stories, traditions and heritage of Native Americans, especially those that were out here in the western frontier. And that is what's so great about Wilde gallery. All the artists featured are Native American and they are telling stories about Native Americans. If you scroll through their collection, you'll see a wide range of styles as well. There's definitely some American west and some bold pop art is more of that traditional Fine Art like oil on canvas as well. As those that are influenced by Native American traditions, my parents, they always had paintings hanging around the house or their offices that were inspired by West Texas and Native Americans. And now I do as well, especially here in my office, which I'll let you guess where the latest print is from. As a journalist, I do feel like the most intimidating part is staring at a blank white page. And of course, you don't have to be a journalist to be staring at a white blank page. I know a lot of y'all do that. What I'm saying though, is Don't let your walls suffer from that same white blandness go visit wild gallery, I guarantee you, you will find something that moves you and that you'll want hanging in your home. Again, that's wild with a Why go visit WYLD dot gallery. links will be in the show notes as well. Okay, let's get back to the episode. Yeah, you mentioned whiskey Myers a moment ago. I know you've done a bunch of opening for them over the years. I guess like you were on you were one of those artists on that festival that they're starting up aren't Right.

Rob Leines 31:15

Yeah. Yeah, we're doing that on October 2. Okay. Yeah, I

Thomas Mooney 31:21

didn't I didn't know if that had been like re, like, announced again. Or Didn't they hadn't like cancel it. Right. Or, like postpone it right. I'm not making this up in my head, right?

Rob Leines 31:30

No, no. Yeah, it was it was last year. Yeah. Last year. A lot of stuff. A lot of stuff we were doing last year this year, so it seems to be sticking. So October 2, we play Saturday. And it's with a lot of bands that I like to. So I think that's what they were trying to do. And, and congrats on them for, for making it happen, even though despite all the bullshit last year. Because they almost did it too. And I commend you if this wasn't worth it, like, we don't want people to come, you know, we don't want people to be scared. And it just seems pointless. But they held out for a while. And then it's like, Yeah, not worth it. So that's probably a good call to get a lot more folks in this year.

Thomas Mooney 32:27

Yeah, I think so too. I mean, like, there was obviously so many of these festivals that were canceled, postponed, all that kind of stuff. And it's, you know, these long tour dates. I mean, you understand why? Why, like, why you would? It's like such a hard decision, you know, on both sides, for sure. You know, a lot of people don't understand, like, there's so many people behind the band. That's more than just like the the five or six members of whatever. Yeah, for whatever the case is. Yeah. Whiskey Myers, man, I it's crazy, in my opinion, now. They always kind of just get lumped into the Texas country thing. And they're probably like, the, like, the best rock'n'roll band right now. Like, at least going,

Rob Leines 33:11

for sure. Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, just being from Texas. And that's kind of, you know, I was scared to play Texas the first time being a guy from Georgia. I was like, the hackle I guess? Because we ain't from Texas. You know, so for a big Texas ban, or for a Texas ban, when you expand and travel the world and get, you know, worldwide recognition. I would imagine there would be some recoil from that from your fellow Texans, but you know, let's be real. Fuck, I'm not hear you, man. You know, but I love you know, we're playing Texas. In a few weeks, I'm stoked. But my point. My point is not not retracting my statement, but I'm saying if you know, your your fans, or the place where you're from shouldn't want you to be limited to just one spot. I don't know if that was the case or not. But if that was the case, or if that's the case, anywhere, you know, you would want someone that you're that you're a fan of to grow and B is big and best as I can, you know?

Thomas Mooney 34:34

Yeah, no, I think there's it's that it's the I think if you love them set them free text. Exactly. Yeah. That's that. I think it's the sometimes I think like Texans have like a limited vocabulary on describing music, even though like rock and roll is like one of these core labels, I mean, like, you know, it's like the groundwork, the basis of One of the genre labels, whatever you want to say. But yeah, I think there is something to like, the the attachment of any band of like, you know, I want them for, for me, and I would rather them. Show Yeah, that whole thing. Right? It's like, man, okay, just, you can let them let them be, as you said, If you love something, you know, you gotta let them be free. So, uh, yeah, they're, it's, it's also one of those things with him too, is, you know, a band like that they've been, I don't know, like to have like, probably a lot of people's favorite records they did with Dave Cobb in Nashville. And there's a lot of like non Texans on that record. As far as like the CO writing and whatnot goes, so they're already I got to Texas. Are you there?

Rob Leines 36:02

Sorry, I muted you with my face. on accident. Oh, no. Yeah, for sure. That whole it was it was probably good. I muted it for what I said. No, I'm just kidding. No, that, absolutely. You know, and I think branching out and, and playing with different, you know, recording to different people. And all that was, was a good move. You know, it's kind of weird. Being in LA and starting there when, you know, and, and kind of navigating that whole situation. But, um, someday I'd like to record other places, you know, and mostly, it's just, well, I can't say that. But yes, I would like to record other places as well. And just there. But I dig Texas to shit. So hopefully, if any Texans listen to this, they realize that I'm just talking shit. Talking out my ass,

Rob. Hello, everyone, a lone star. Everyone's gonna love. That's right. I'll give you a koozie to put it in. Yeah, we're making peace treaties already on here.

Yeah, that's right. No, like I said, I was nervous. And this guy. first show we played in Fort Worth. No, Dallas, and this guy comes up to me, you know, real, real, super Texas looking dude. And he's got his real crisp cowboy hat. You know, start shirt and belt buckle and jeans looking real fresh, and kind of a little gun. He comes over and he's tall. He's like, there's only two people that there's only two bands that I that I liked and are from Texas. And I was like, Oh, yeah, I was like, Oh, boy, here we come. You know, this is what I was worried about. It's like, and they're both from Georgia, once you and want to such and such. And I was like, okay, hell yeah. All right. We'll be right. And then he could just he just kind of stood there in front of me. He walked up to me, I was talking to somebody. And he stood there is like, okay, like, gave me that. Like, all right, you can leave now. Oh, my God. Oh, hey, I have a good night. It's a weird interaction. But it was good. He was like the gatekeeper in Texas is what it seemed like.

Thomas Mooney 38:37

You have the key to the state now.

Rob Leines 38:40

That's right. You can play music in my state. You're welcome. Goodbye.

Thomas Mooney 38:44

Yeah. I love how he just kind of was like, you know, okay, move on now.

Rob Leines 38:50

Yeah, it's like, Alright, go and get now get. I can give you a hug.

Thomas Mooney 38:57

Okay, so one of my favorite songs on this record, is that Southern breeze song I really love. One of my things I really love about songwriting in general is is like the idioms that people use or like the phrases vernacular in general. And that one right there has a bunch of really cool little, you know, pockets of wordplay and stuff. Yeah, take me back to like writing that song.

Rob Leines 39:31

You know? I don't even really remember. Um, you know,

what I was thinking of, is I thought of a friend. And I had heard that he wouldn't do it. I'm from Cherokee County, Georgia. It's not, you know, it's not a big town, not a small town. It's just kind of a town in Canton, Georgia, and I and I heard that What about such and such? You know, what about, you know, how are they doing? They're not good. They're, you know, there are no of them and they have five kids and I'm, and I'm barely holding down a girlfriend, you know what I mean? So it's like that, that Southern way of people growing up in a smaller town, and, you know, settling down right away and get the job and doing the whole the whole thing, you know, and and what I, you know, what I did, and what some people do is, is go out and see shit and do shit and have bigger dreams or, or, or desires or want to do something. So basically, it's just a conversation with an old friend. You know, we both did separate things. I'm sure you wonder what, what this life is like. But to be honest with you, what brings us back together is the area that we're from no matter what. So it's basically just a conversation and that and that's kind of how I wrote it was hearing about friend and, and that's just the case for a lot of people that I went to school with, you know, they all just kind of settled down. never really left. So that's the idea behind that one.

Thomas Mooney 41:24

Yeah, no, I get that sentiment right there. A lot of people, I think, like a lot of I don't know, but probably a lot of people in general. You know, they they may go off to school for a minute and mace maybe schools like, okay with them, maybe sometimes, like, I know, like one of my dad's guys who went to school with they went to a school in San Angelo called Angelo State. He walked into the classroom first day, sat down for five minutes got up, when in fact all of his stuff and went back home to work for his dad. And it was, you know, it was like now he left before like the professor even got in the room. That kind of thing. So, Damn, that's sometimes that's how people yeah, there's some comfort in there. I mean,

Rob Leines 42:13

absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. No, yeah, totally. That's that's freaked him out. Well, man, big world. You know, and it's okay, if you breastfeed until you're 15. You know, that's what some people do. It's not a big deal. You know, if there's a comfort in that, so you go home. I gotta watch what I say I do manager Just tell me to shut the fuck up sometimes.

Thomas Mooney 42:42

Yeah, do you just like having a mic in front of you the whole time? And the guy just kind of muting you every once.

Rob Leines 42:47

Exactly. Since since we should be. Late lady say no, let's just beat sometimes it's not a big deal. Yeah, no, I mean, it's,

Thomas Mooney 43:00

I don't know, like, when did you? I know you like, you know, you travel, moved around a bunch as a kid. But like, you know, was it always one of those things that you wanted to get out? Like, that was just kind of like, there's never kind of staying home? I'm sorry, I say that one more time. Oh, is saying like, I know that you moved around a bunch as a kid. But like, was there always that sense of like, getting away from whatever that place of home was that you just, you always knew that you wanted?

Rob Leines 43:31

Yeah, I mean, so my father was in the army, and at the time, and we saw I live in Georgia, you know, until I was four. And then he went to college and guy's engineering degree in Utah. So we were there for four years and got back in the military. So we lived in California for a little while. So I didn't move back to Georgia until I was in ninth. ninth grade, I think. So I saw a little bit everywhere. And you know, it's funny, I've maintained these friends I had in Southern California. For a long time, I mean, still friends. Today, see him when I'm there. So I think that rambling aspect and I don't like the term military brat, because, you know, I understand that but yeah, I mean, I think it was instilled in me at a young age system move around, you know, but then finally, when they decided to go back to Georgia, you know, that I was like, yeah, this feels more like home, or, or the South in general. But, uh, yeah, last year was tough man. It was one of those things, you know, moving around, so much And my apartment is like the size of a shoe box. I was like, I, I'm not staying here. You know, I don't care, I tell me locked down. So I packed up and I went to a ranch in Texas friends ranch just for like a few weeks. And then a couple. I don't know how long it was. But my goal was to go back to the mountains of Tennessee where I was a raft guide. because no one's no one's there, you know, so I kind of hid out there. And I lived in my van for a while. Last year, and whitewater was a whitewater raft guide again, which was something I did from 18 to 23. I did like five summers. And to spend time on the river in the mountains that that that I had left when I moved out west. So I wasn't not saying that I wasn't careful. But there's just less people it didn't really seem to exist. That makes sense, right? And you got to watch what you say, you know, and that brings me back to the festival of last year, you know, when I'm not a public figure, but you know, they are, right. So you can get a lot of criticism from different sides if you forget some of your actions. You know, so you got to kind of watch what you say, because you will be judged. They're very, very two sided. So I'm in the middle. So, you know, I just wanted to kind of disappear. And I was bitter. Like, you know, we worked I worked my ass off, and we were rolling, you know, like a freight train. And then someone just called me and said, it's all over. Now, I was like, oh, Fuck you. Fuck this. I didn't play guitar for you know, a little while. I mean, I played but I wasn't inspired whatsoever, which is kind of sad. So that was a long answer. I

Thomas Mooney 47:09

want to break one more time to talk about our pals over at Desert door and offer a handful of my favorite go twos. By no means am I an experienced mixologist or bartender or anything like that. But these have been super easy to make and great ways to unwind in the evening. Let's start off by upping your ranch water game a little bit by subbing desert Dorian, I'm a simple man, I just kind of take a topo Chico, take a couple of drinks out at some desert door and top it off with a few lime wedges. I'm actually pretty big on the palomas now to what I'll do is take some desert door, some grapefruit juice, a dash of a GAVI nectar and some fresh lime juice. And I'm kind of big on lime. So I'll throw in another wedge or two when I pour it over some ice. And actually, I'll do the exact same thing, but I'll substitute some pineapple for the grapefruit for a changeup, anyway, desert door, it's as versatile as vodka and more refined, smooth and complex than tequila. It's rich and balanced. So whatever your go to, is, it'll do the trick for more info on dessert or check the show notes. All right, back to the episode.

You know, I think a lot of artists were like, obviously, at a place they like you're just trying to everyone kind of just tells you to be put on pause, a pause everything that you're doing as far as, you know, releasing a record or touring or just trying to make a lot of living. Right. Right. I think there's like this other thing, too, where, you know, the, the idea, the premise of you'd like you have in like, some free time to write songs in like, that sounds like a good idea. Like, you'd probably take that offer if you just had that offer. But it's not like, like on paper that sounds really great. In practice, like, it's very much like, you know, all of a sudden, there's all this weight and pressure on every day, as far as like even trying to do something and like, if you don't have anything to write about, you know, it just gets more and more tough and absolutely, trying to figure out how to break out of that.

Rob Leines 49:21

No, absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, there used to be a sense of pride I had, I was like, you know, I'm going to be a full time musician, and I'm not going to have a side job. I'm not going, Oh, this is just what I'm going to do. And, you know, we're just kind of moving so fast for like a small, smaller operation. You know, in last year, I took a step back, you know, I saw a family I did things that I wouldn't have been able to do. I saw old friends and things that I once valued. And enjoy doing. But it was, you know, now I'm like, Yeah, I can weld. And I can, you know, that's, that's what made and that's what I write about. And that's something that, you know, isn't is important to me. But you know, I was, I think a lot of people don't share their other side. And because a lot of people at my level, you know, do have jobs and a lot of them, a lot of them may not, you know, they dedicate their all their time to it, you know, I think it's good to have a balance of stuff. You know, until you can make a really good living doing it, which we wish we were making a decent living, but I think being well rounded is important. You know, and, yeah, I'll take a few jobs wants, you know, this year is kind of slow rolling again. Because I think it was so much uncertainty still, even into the spring. So, you know, we weren't like booking the summer in January, you know, because nobody knew it was still full, full. So, you know, I like welding, I like that shit, you know, I like you know, get my hands dirty. And I think there's nothing wrong with having a balance between between all that. So, you know, I'm going to keep this job. And luckily, I'm in a position where I can work a job or two a year. And I'm stoked on that. You know, I like doing different things. So,

Thomas Mooney 51:45

yeah, yeah, no, I think there's, so my comparison here is like, gonna be with athletes who become Pro. And like, their entire lives have been dedicated to become whatever, professional profession that is, like, if you're a football player, you're a football player, since you're a kid, right, and then all of a sudden, like, absolutely tire at like, an early age, in comparison to the rest of the world. And right, the transition from, like, pro ballplayer to x pro ball player that, like, let's just say, 33, that can be really, really hard, because like, your entire life has been dedicated to this one thing. Sure, if you, if we're going back to the the artistry thing, if like you consider yourself as a musician, and that's all and then that's taken away, that's stripped away. Like, you know, there's a lot of, you know, mind games that can as far as like, how you Oh, for sure yourself, and like, how other people value your worth, in general, all that kind of stuff. So,

Rob Leines 52:50

absolutely, that was a struggle, you know, because a lot of people knew me is that you know, and we're all we're all a lot more than just one thing. So, you know, embracing that. And, and, you know, it's, it's, I don't think it's good to be defined as one thing, you know, right. Because then you're only you're only worth to the world is that one thing, which music is a really important thing, but, you know, I want to be be the best human I can be, you know, diversify the portfolio. Absolutely. That's it. And, you know, it's, and I admire, like, I got buddies that are really, you know, successful and coming up. But hobbies are important, too. And then doing other things. But, uh, you lose your mind if you that's all you think about. Yeah, sure. It'll come to you if if you just have other things going on. I like to pull inspiration from a whole whole bunch of stuff.

Thomas Mooney 54:13

Yeah, no, I hear you, man. It's, uh, that's no, I'll get you out on this one last point here. It's that whole quarantine record thing too. because like you said, No one wants to hear that record as far as the quarantine blues. Listen to Right. Right. I want to hear like everyone's like, record that. Is that from this time, but not about this time. That makes sense. And I think like those records are going to be there. The records that we kind of go back to the record about, oh, you know, being stuck inside for 12 months was not fun.

Rob Leines 54:50

Yeah, I don't want to hear that shit. No offense to anybody. But yeah, I don't I don't you know, that and I kind of wrote a song recently. That is talks about it a little bit. But not, you know, and some people did it really well, you know, but if I hear the word quarantine in a song, and I'm not, I'm not into it. Yeah. There's nothing wrong with that either. I mean, that's just the way they felt in that time. And that's what musics all about, you know, that's, but I tried it, I tried to avoid that. So I wrote a song. And it's a kind of mentioned it. But really, what it's about is, you know, prevailing over dark time, and, and whatever, you know, depression is real. And, and, you know, I kind of experienced that, or just, like you said, wondering what your worth is, and, and what, what you have to contribute. And I know, you know, tons and tons of people experienced that. And some people didn't really change their lives are just like, well, I got to work from home, which was cool. I didn't have to go in the office, I could do my job and my sweat pants, which is awesome, you know. But for musicians and, you know, athletes, for brief time in the film industry, we're all really, you know, and service industry, while really affected by it. And kind of just wondering, what the hell we're gonna do. So, you know, the song is just kind of about pushing through, and, and, you know, adapt and react, you know? Yeah. It's a survival instinct, you know, still make it happen. We all there's hurdles everywhere. So, this was a, this was just one that was it was one hurdle in your life. So?

Thomas Mooney 57:06

Yeah, it's been, it's been one of those hurdles that I feel like, I don't know, I usually I'm like a pessimist about shit. But I've actually been kind of optimistic about things lately. And I feel like this is just gonna, I feel like we're gonna come out of this a little bit more perceptive. In a lot of ways, maybe not just our own well being, but maybe our friends well being too. And I think like, that's, I hope so at least I hope that like we're all kind of a little bit more aware of everyone in our lives and how they're, how they're doing, how you're doing all that kind of stuff.

Rob Leines 57:43

Right. Communication is. Communication is a lot stronger, it seems these days, you know, so that'd be great. Yeah, for sure. So about other things that you value. And now you know, everything's coming back. So I hope that that sticks for a little while.

Thomas Mooney 58:11

Yeah, I do as well, man. So yeah, it's been really great talking this afternoon. Yeah, you too, brother. I mean, I appreciate the call, but better. All right. That is it. For this one. Be sure to check out blood, sweat and beers by Rob Linus. If you haven't already, go check out our visiting partners over at Desert. The blue light live in wild gallery. Stop on over at the merch store if you haven't already as well. And yeah, I'll see y'all later this week for another episode.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai