Booking Info: bookings@shepherdproductions.org
Upcoming show
Coy Taylor Band has moved to Nashville
Eastside Vibe Interview
Jammin With The Coy Taylor Band
EV: First off introduce the band, tell us where you are all from and how you all got together?
CTB: The band Consist of Chris Beals- drums, backing vocals, Chris Hazelwood-keys, backing vocals, Bill Staudt- bass, Mike Dowden- lead guitar, Coy Taylor-lead vocals, rhythm guitar. We have all been in the music scene for several years. The music scene is a very close circle here in Cincinnati. We are a family so to speak. After all of us playing in several groups of all genres we have met up through shows, word of mouth and recommendation. It has taken me over 4 years to get the band that I wanted to become road ready. Players of this caliber will not work with just anyone, so it takes some time to get your name out there as a class act, in style sound and also business. We all have the same goals and aspirations so this band will go far!
EV: Did you all have a country background or did you evolve into country?
CTB: We all come from several backgrounds. Our members have played everything from rock to jazz and with local acts like the Websters, Midnight Rain, Thomas Michael to name a few. Our bass player Bill Staudt went to the musicians institute in California and has played all styles from jazz to country. Our drummer Chris Beals of Columbus, lived in Nashville for 2 years working as a drum tech for Mapex setting up studio kits and working with some great session drummers and playing the circuit at night on lower Broadway. Our keyboard player started out as an R&B artist in the early 90’s, then evolved into a great country keyboard and vocalist. The versatility of this band is what makes it so unique.
EV: Describe your bands “brand” of country music.
CTB: We are definitely like no other local act. We try to stay right on top of the new sound and look. Our style of country rock is a Merle Haggard meets Rascal Flatts, meaning we hit all areas in our live show striving to be the most current and on top of the Nashville sound and style!
EV: You have many great “radio ready” originals currently playing on radio and XM radio, share with us your influences as well as your song writing process.
CTB: My songs come from life experiences. I was raised in northern Kentucky on country roots and southern hospitality. The songs that I write try to reach out to “blue collar people” and help them get away from every day stress. My goal as a writer is to be able to relate my life experiences good and bad to the listeners.
EV: Obviously you feel passionate about original music, many bands have voiced their discontent about promoting their original music here in our area, how has your original music been received in local clubs so far?
CTB: That is a very true question. Original music is tough for the country scene especially here in Cincinnati. As you build a following and you put your music out there, if any one is gonna like it your fans will! We are very adamant about getting our music out there so we drive these songs and promote hard in everything we do.
EV: What advice do you have for bands who want to promote their original music but feel they must stick to covers to get good bookings.
CTB: Use a safe mix of originals and covers at first, (1 to 2 originals per set) and as people respect your band for your writing continue to add songs and phase out covers. Eventually they will all be singing your songs!
EV: We know your local shows are drawing big crowds, what out of town venues have you been playing? What other out of town show dates do you have in the upcoming future?
CTB: We are doing some opening acts in Columbus. We are with Jimmy Wayne this weekend (Whiskey Dick’s) we also are playing Frog Bear at Nationwide Arena for The post Ketih Urban and Jason Aldean show in August. We are in Nashville about twice a month playing the Millennium and working our way into more venues on lower Broadway.
EV: Tell us about any really special venues you have played that stand out above the rest?
CTB: We opened for Tracy Byrd at the Blue Ash Summerbration, they treated us like a national act!
We have a radio spot every Monday - Friday on the Jesse Tack Show at 7pm. The folks at B105 have been great to us. It is so exciting to get so much support from the best country station in your home town! We opened for Chris Cagle at Whiskey Dicks, the Low Cash Cowboys as well.
EV: At the Buffalo Harry’s show we met your new manager (Stephen Shutts), tell us how you met and what plans do you have for advancing the band?
CTB: Stephen Shutts is our Manager he works for Brooks and Dunn and is also involved with many organizations in Nashville. We are very honored to be working with such an intelligent and business savvy manager, we are in good hands!
EV: Tell us about your latest CD, what songs have special meaning to you and why.
CTB: We are in the studio in Nashville this spring. We are working on some very hot new tracks that are up tempo and easy for the crowd to get into! We are very excited to be back working with one of the hottest producers in Nashville!
EV: Give us a sneak peek of what’s to come for the Coy Taylor Band.
CTB: Coy Taylor band is working very hard to refine our show and become a touring level band and be ready to hit major stage by 2010. We are working with booking agents and our manager for showcases in Nashville.
EV: Where can fans see & hear more about the band online?
CTB: Our fans can go to www.coytaylorband.com or myspace.com/coytaylor2009 they can stream video and listen to live and studio cuts. They can also go to wube.com and listen to our radio show for Jesse Tack at night on B105. You can sign up for our fan club at www.coytaylorband.com. We appreciate all of our family and friends that have supported us all the way, great things are ahead for us!
We also had the chance to talk to The Coy Taylor bands new manager Stephen Shutts.
EV: Tell us a little bit about who you are and where your from.
Stephen M. Shutts. I grew up in Lebanon, Ohio and ventured to Nashville after college, not knowing a soul there. 15 years later, I have toured extensively with Brooks & Dunn. Initially as an entertainer on the Neon Circus Tours. I am currently facilitating the sponsorship program on tour for Brooks & Dunn with Toyota. I also handle Kix and Ronnie’s Meet-N-Greets before each concert with a couple other road dogs like myself. I own one of the largest country music collections in the US. It is about to embark on a three year tour of state museums. I have marketed the world record sale of Elvis’s Audubon Drive Home in Memphis as well as purchased Elvis’s favorite Roller Coaster, The Zippin Pippin. I guess I am a bit of an eccentric... LOL.
EV: How did you first find out about the Coy Taylor band?
SS: I quite literally ran into Coy at a Toyota dealership in greater Cincinnati. We struck up a conversation about country music after he commented on my GAC ballcap.
EV: What prompted you to pursue managing the band?
SS: Coy and I stayed in touch via e-mail. I became increasingly aware of his serious pursuits as an artist. I came out to hear them play locally and was impressed with his entertainer qualities and most importantly Coy’s capability to write radio friendly songs. He struck me as a very dedicated artist, true to pursuing his dream. I believe in the band’s capabilities and thus us now working together with the same goals in mind.
EV: What expectations do you have in promoting the Coy Taylor Band?
SS: I look at managing the Coy Taylor Band as first carving out a niche within the music community and then making them standout amongst their peers. With the “American Idol” syndrome that has swept this country, so many people claim to be artists and having legitimate bands. I expect The Coy Taylor Band to be heard for their talents and sincerity to pursue viable careers collectively as a true act.
EV: Do you have plans to pair the band with any national acts in the near future?
SS: We never know what lies around the corner as far as what event will prompt a support act. We definitely have discussed getting the band on a tour as a consistent support act to a labeled artist.
EV: What makes a band stand out to the music industry, what aspects are record labels really looking for today?
SS: I think good strong marketing skills, a realistic approach to the industry with a sense of self in regards to being a musician and a songwriter. The old label model is rapidly dissolving. The internet / digital age has changed how an artist can be broken, marketed and sold if you will on many levels. I think labels are taking a hard look at how well an artist or band is approaching them as a “turn-key” entity.
EV: Share some of your expertise and advice with us on how a local act can approach a label and get serious management and promotion.
SS: First, I believe artists today need to be very business savvy, have a desire to sacrifice other aspects of their life to pursue their dreams and at the same time be realistic on who they are regarding their craft. Looks and image by today’s standards play a significant role in defining an artist whether someone wants to hear that or not. I believe an artist or band needs to be able to take a good hard look at themselves and approach labels and management totally prepared and then some. Vocal coaching, image assistance from an industry stylist, understanding the works of marketing and understanding the ins and outs of the music biz model are just parts of being prepared to lay yourself before the powers that be on music row.
