The Examiner

10 Questions with Adam Hood

Thomas McAleer, Austin Local Music Examiner
January 16, 2012

Adam Hood is once again heading to Texas for another tour. While a resident of Opelika Alabama, Hood is also one of the most popular songwriters in Texas. His songs are covered by many Texas bands and songwriters, and he has a legion of fans in the state. His tour this time brings him to Cheatham Street Warehouse on Jan. 20. Hood’s career has really taken off due to two chance meetings. While performing at a club in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2004, Adam received his first big break when he had a chance encounter with producer Pete Anderson. Adam spent the next two years making trips to the West Coast to write the material for what would become the album, A Different Groove, produced by Anderson and released in March of 2007.

After releasing A Different Groove, Tavern on the Gruene in Gruene, TX was the site of a second big break. Adam was appearing on Ray Wiley Hubbard’s weekly radio show on KNBT. Miranda Lambert and her mother were driving through town when their car broke down. While they sorted out their transportation problems, they caught most of Adam’s set. Miranda was impressed. She introduced herself to Adam, later asking him to open a string of shows. One of these shows was at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, where she introduced him to her producer, Carnival Music partner Frank Liddell, who signed Adam as writer to Carnival Music Publishing and to their record label as an artist.

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The Shape of Things, released in October 2011, is a collection of new material that Adam has been writing and recording over the past couple of years during breaks in his touring schedule. The album contains eleven songs penned or co-penned by Adam. Earlier in 2011, he appeared on Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown tour. A self-titled EP was released in May 2011 to coincide with the tour. In advance of his upcoming Texas tour, Adam answered 10 questions for me.

Who are your songwriting influences?

John Hiatt is probably my biggest influence and has been since I was 16. I’ve always been a big Delbert McClinton fan but I pull more from his style that I do his lyrics. Steve Earl, Lightning Hopkins, Ian Moore, Willis Alan Ramsey, The Wood Brothers, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones have all impacted me and shaped my writing style.

Where was your first public performance?

First United Methodist Church in Opelika, Alabama. I was 15 and it was for a 3 day youth group event that traveled to 3 churches. For some reason I was asked to put a band together for all three nights. The first night, there were 4 of us. By the third night, there was a horn section.

What was the first record or cd you purchased with your own money?

The first was Van Halen “1984”. The second was Stevie Ray Vaughn “In Step”.

What was the first live concert you attended?

I attended Atlanta Fest at Six Flags. Jeff Moore was there, Steven Curtis Chapman and a few other Christian bands. As you can tell, I started my musical career in church.

Which venue would you most like to play that you haven’t yet/ and which is your favorite venue to play?

The Gorge in California and any Fillmore that would have me.

Gruene Hall is my all time favorite place to play, no question.

What is the best career advice you’ve been given, and by whom?

Frank Liddell said once that the most successful songwriters that he knows are the ones that were the most persistent. Everything takes time and the tuff part about this business is being patient enough to give it the time that it takes.

Who are you listening to now?

Thanks to my daughter, I listen to more Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift than I’d like to admit. She got the new Miranda Lambert album for Christmas and since then it has become the most listened to CD in my truck. Drew Kennedy gave me his book and CD the last time I was in Texas and I can truly say that both are incredible. Stoney LaRue “Velvet” is on constant rotation. I haven’t moved past Keith Gattis “Big City Blues” in over a year.

What is your best story about life on the road?

I spent the summer of 2011 on the road with Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown. I collected a few stories on that tour that I will never divulge, however, we did go through border patrol is South Texas. It’s strange feeling to wake up with someone screaming “Are you a US citizen” at you while you are sleeping in your bunk.

What recordings are available to the public and where can they be purchased?

“21 to Enter”, “6th Street”, “Different Groove”, “Adam Hood EP”, and “The Shape of Things” are all available on my web site www.adamhood.com. They can also be purchased from Lone Star Music and iTunes or Amazon.

When and where are you playing next?

I start a Texas run on January 13th to January 21st. I’m playing a birthday party in Marshall at Charlie’s Backyard Bar, Nacodoches at Frank’s, San Marcos at Cheatham Street, and Alvarado at The Silver Star.

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