Pat Green brings evolving sound to Verizon Theater
by BEN HILL
The Daily Cougar
Pat Green's cult status among college students in Texas is quickly being replaced by nationwide superstardom, so tickets for his gig Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Theater will surely be hard to come by.
Green is touring in support of his latest album, Cannonball, which has more of the radio-friendly country extolling the virtues of being a good ol' boy that has so endeared him to his rabid following. For those unfamiliar with his sound, imagine Jerry Jeff Walker's crowd anthems or the sly hilarity of Gary P. Nunn's "London Homesick Blues," while avoiding dark corners of bottom-of-the-barrel desperation like Walker's "Mr. Bojangles."
Some criticize Green for that very reason, but just because he doesn't wallow in introspection doesn't mean he isn't capable of it, as evidenced in 2001's Three Days.
Cannonball shows the effects of a tour with the Dave Matthews Band -- Green's sound leans more toward the smooth, Charlottesville rock sound than that of his native Texas. This hardly hurts the album's accessibility; in fact, Green is likely to attract new fans with catchy singles like "Way Back Texas," "Feels Just Like It Should" and "Lost Without You."
The album's tone is fairly consistent; Green sticks to what he's good at and retains a country-rock edge with gritty slide guitar, pedal steel and fiddle in the right places.
Aside from that, the title track could end up on any contemporary rock station. Green's warm delivery recalls his heroes Robert Earl Keen and the aforementioned Walker, and the songwriting harkens to country's early-90s glory days.
Green isn't known for his albums, but rather the rowdy concerts that attract thousands of college students. Saturday night will be a great chance to see an artist in the middle of a career shift and maybe the last chance before ticket prices skyrocket.
Green's "Cannonball" may finally propel him to mainstream stardom
By MICHAEL McCALL
Aug 21, 2006
Associated Press
Pat Green, "Cannonball" (BNA)
Two years ago, when Pat Green scored a big hit with the song "Wave on Wave," he appeared ready to leap from the Texas underground to country music's mainstream. But momentum faltered, and the rowdy singer-songwriter returned to playing arenas in the Southwest and opening concerts for superstars across the rest of the country.
"Cannonball," his first album since moving to BNA Records, is an obvious attempt to streamline his sprawling, roots-rock style for the masses. For the most part, it succeeds. The gregarious Texan's words are punchier, and his arrangements more concise, giving more oomph to songs that retain the positive outlook and philosophical bent of his past work.
Green's middle American populism and his guitar crunch are reminiscent of John Mellencamp, a trait brought out by producer Don Gehman, who worked with Mellencamp during his heyday. Songs like "Cannonball" and the first single, "Feels Like It Should," are propulsive country-rock fist-pumpers, while "Love Like That" and "Way Back Texas" are mid-tempo sing-alongs that merge Nashville craft with Green's bohemian spirit.
Green has been expected to explode as the next country music star for years now. "Cannonball" might finally provide the firepower he's needed.
Green returns to Baton Rouge for culture, food
Singer will perform tonight at Fred's
by Emily Patton
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Entertainment
Chicken strips and a unique vibe keep Baton Rouge on Grammy-nominated Pat Green's list of cities to visit.
Green is traveling the country to promote his album "Cannonball." He plays tonight at Fred's Bar & Grill. Roger Creager opens at 8:45 p.m., and Green starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door and online.
Performing at shows with thousands of screaming fans makes a typical night for Green. Fred's may not hold thousands, but for Green it is more about the city than the venue.
"Baton Rouge is one of my favorite places in the world," Green said in an interview. "Not only because of Cane's, but the energy at the shows is fantastic."
Raising Cane's holds a special place in Green's heart. Although he travels all over the world, Green admits he looks forward to eating Cane's.
"We've been all sorts of places, and on the road I miss home sometimes," Green said. "But coming to get me some Cane's in Baton Rouge makes me feel at home."
Although Green usually plays in large arenas, he enjoys the intimacy smaller venues offer.
"I like smaller venues because you can communicate a lot more effectively with a lot more people," Green said. "You have all that energy because the crowd's all rubbing elbows with each other, and you can make real eye contact."
The owner of Fred's, Marc Fraioli, is happy to host him.
"I started working on this show about five months ago," Fraioli said. "This is definitely one of our bigger acts."
Fraioli is prepared for a large crowd.
"We put the tent up, which can hold up to 3,000 people," Fraioli said. "I'm expecting a strong walk-up crowd."
Green is no stranger to over-excited fans.
"Fans get excited, and I appreciate the fact that people want to get close to the energy. I don't get too worried about it," Green said. "I've been drunk before, so I know how it is. I know how to handle 'em."
Reagan Moore, apparel and fashion freshman, saw Green perform in The Woodlands and has witnessed the over-the-top fans Green speaks of.
"He puts on a really cool live show," Moore said. "The crowd got pretty hyped up, and everyone started chanting 'Pat ... Green' over and over. I'm excited to see what goes on at Fred's."
According to Green, the crowd can expect to hear his older hits as well as a few from his new album.
"My favorite song from the new album is 'I'm Trying to Find It' because it's about the search, the fight, the struggle," Green said. "You never know what the world's going to bring you."
PERFORMING ARTS
Tuesday, September 12, 2006; Page C14
Pat Green
Texas singer Pat Green hosted a love-in for the Lone Star State with a rambunctious show at the 9:30 club on Sunday. And despite the fact that he has a slick new album, "Cannonball," on a fancy-shmancy label, with its lead single on heavy rotation on CMT, this was a concert for fans who have followed Green since he was just a guitar-toting college guy.
Green, 34, strolled onto the stage barefoot, wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, with mussed-up blond hair. As he played the opening notes of "Cannonball" he threw back his head and gave that big white Pat Green smile. He was in heaven on that stage, and he acted like a total goofball, rolling his eyes mischievously and dancing silly jigs at the end of the songs.
Green plays the kind of optimistic, singalong rock-country that attracts scads of frat-boy fans. And when his fans say, "He's big in Texas," they ain't kidding: Green has sold out the Houston Astrodome and the Smirnoff Music Centre in Dallas as a headliner.
At the 9:30, Green played three cuts from "Cannonball," and one of them, "Dixie Lullaby," was the only song of the night to get a lukewarm reception. Green can't really do sentimental, at least not live. He sure can in the studio -- the last track on the album, "Sleeping With the Lights On," is bliss.
In "Carry On," from the 2001 album "Three Days," Green sang the lyric "Come down to Texas and drink with me for a while." Though the 9:30 club is no Billy Bob's Texas, the huge honky-tonk in Fort Worth, Green's show was the next best thing.
-- Rachel Beckman
Pat Green visits Starkville
by Brittany Boggan
September 27, 2005
Three-time Grammy award nominee Pat Green will be taking the stage at Rick's Cafe Thursday at 10 p.m. Students may be familiar with his song "Wave on Wave" which topped the Billboard country music charts, his new release "Baby Doll" which is steadily rising or "Don't Break my Heart Again" which was co-written with Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas.
The Texas native will be making his third appearance on Rick's stage since his first performance in February 2004.
"It is always a lot of fun to play in college towns, and Starkville is the biggest one in Mississippi," Green said. "It is always good to come back; the fans treat me great."
Cafe owner Rick Welch said he is glad to have Green at the top of his entertainment list this year because he can relate to the fans and charm them with his lyrics.
"Pat has developed an extremely loyal following," Welch said. "I think the main reason that people love him so much is because they can relate to his music. The crowd sings along to every song. I've seen Pat stop singing during a song just to listen to the audience sing the lyrics. That has to be a great feeling, knowing that fans that have come to see him know his music so well. The show turns into a party, and Pat is the ring-leader," he added.
Since Green's debut album Wave on Wave, he has opened up for many nationally acclaimed artists and recently toured with Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson. Green's lyrics include topics of love, faith and good times and leave them to be interpreted however his fans choose to.
"I intentionally wrote the song 'Wave on Wave' to be about overcoming a problem that you need to get away from, but it has been interpreted in many other ways," Green said.
"People can apply songs to their own life situations and interpret them in any way they like, and that is one of the greatest things about music," Green said.
Some students have already purchased their tickets and eagerly await Green's performance.
"I love Pat Green's music," freshman major Sarah Leard said. "It is great to have the opportunity to see one of the greatest rising country musicians."
"We've been very lucky the past few years to snag some really great national acts, and I would put Pat Green at the top of that list," Welch said.
"I couldn't be more proud that Pat Green keeps coming back to Starkville and Rick's." Tickets for the event can be purchased for $18 in advance online at www.rickscafe.net and $20 at the door.
CD review: Pat Green scores with feel-good nostalgia
August 23, 2006
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
Pat Green
B+ Cannonball (BNA)
Back in the early days of Pat Green's recording career, when he was still an independent Texas country artist playing every club that'd have him, the San Antonio native established himself as a feel-good troubadour. He sang about carefree driving down "Southbound 35" and kicking up his tattered boots while in a "Dancehall Dreamer" stupor.
The feel-good quality remains, but the stakes are much higher now. Cannonball, Mr. Green's debut for Nashville's BNA Records, aims to spread his competent, tuneful brand of country-filtered-through-roots-rock to the masses. It's a pivotal disc for him, one that needs to elevate his national profile beyond 2003's gold-selling breakthrough, Wave on Wave .
Cannonball also arrives two years after 2004's Lucky Ones, a rushed follow-up to Wave on Wave that sounded tepid and couldn't maintain his momentum at radio.
"Feels Just Like It Should," Cannonball's first single, can certainly do the job. One listen to the track – with its clean, crisp and propulsive melody, not to mention that instantly catchy chorus – and you're hooked. The song's already a rising radio staple; it sits at No. 16 on the Billboard country singles chart. The rest of Cannonball keeps Mr. Green grounded. While it's nowhere near as artistically mature as Wave on Wave, the CD's a major improvement over Lucky Ones, which lost what little luster it had with repeated listens.
Cannonball also finds Mr. Green in reflective mode. A handful of songs such as "Way Back Texas," "Love Like That" and "I'm Trying to Find It" touch on nostalgia, the need to return to younger, worry-free times. The message is clear – I want to go back.
Perhaps Mr. Green, now married with two children and living in Fort Worth, misses those easy beer-and-bucks days. Or maybe it's all just part of his persona, the everyman happy to live in the present but always reminiscent of the past.
Cannonball also balances the singer-songwriter's Texas music roots with his burgeoning Nashville presence. He co-wrote "Finder's Keepers," a melodically sultry ballad done as a duet with Sara Evans, with premier tunesmith Matraca Berg; and crafted the moody roots rocker "Lost Without You" with Brett James. "Way Back Texas," "I'm Trying to Find It" and "Love Had Something to Say" are outside cuts penned by Music City hit makers Craig Wiseman, Jeffery Steele and Texan Radney Foster.
Nothing feels forced, though. Mr. Green's no trailblazer, but he's grown into a singer and performer with a distinct, uncomplicated charm.
Musician to play old, new tunes at Old City concert
Nikole Dugger
Friday, September 30, 2005 issue
Pat Green has risen into the consciousness of music fans since his stop in Knoxville two years ago, and his return engagement tonight serves to prove that the Texan hasn’t strayed from his singer/songwriter roots. “Few people make the crossover without selling out to anything that got them where they are, but Pat managed it,” Stephen Mooney, junior in history and the Fall Fiesta chairman, said. “His older stuff has more steel guitars, and the newer may be catchier, but it’s more of a compromise.”
“His music is on CMT and WIVK now, but he remains tight with his underground fans and puts on a great live show.”
Fresh off a summer of sharing the big stage with Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson, Green arrives in Knoxville with “Babydoll,” the first single from the newly-released Lucky Ones album, climbing the charts and sees no end in sight.
“I’ll never stop or slow down,” Green said. “I don’t want to take the chance to let the momentum go. I really feel that I was meant to be on the old tour bus.” For the brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha, the man who twice sold out the Alamo Dome in his home state before catapulting to stardom, was an obvious selection.
“We’ve been pretty intent to have him come back since his last performance,” Mooney said. “He just blows the roof off the place.”
It’s been a gradual path to success for Green, who opted to lay low for what some perceived to be an overly-processed Nashville scene, instead focusing on the plains of his Texas home.
“What I’m trying to do is grow slowly, because it is usually permanent growth,” Green said. “It’s easy to have a sky-rocket career, but it usually leads to falling back down. I’m not trying to save the world from the word ‘go.’”
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the performance in the Old City Courtyard, and Green is eager to bring his show to the Big Orange Nation.
“I love the atmosphere in Knoxville,” he said. “It’s a great college town where people are excited about live music and any chance I get to play there, I’ll come back as much as I can.”
“Wave on Wave” and “Babydoll” may be the most recognizable tunes to resonate with fans, but older tunes like “John Wayne and Jesus” get equal billing during the shows.
“I try to make every song a home run,” Green said. “The audience may not know some of the songs that weren’t hits, but we want them to leave with the thought they should’ve been.”
The personal touches Green adds during his electrified performances are the capstones for fans, and Green doesn’t intend to hold back once he takes the stage.
“Whatever comes out, comes out, and as long as I stay out of jail, it’ll stay that way,” Green said.
Country: Pat Green, Cannonball (3 out of 4 stars)
Taking his own path since the start of his career, Pat Green has gained a Texas-based following that most of Nasvhille's country singers would envy. But he intends on making an even bigger splash with Cannonball. Single Feels Just Like It Should announces intentions of Springsteenian magnitude - right down to the piano player quoting the guitar riff from Born to Run. Green brings in Sara Evans for a duet and covers more outside material than ever before. But whether he's singing about misty-eyed nostalgia in Way Back Texas or social optimism in Lean How to Live, Green's choruses are larger than life, making him sound less like a cult favorite and more like the heartland rocker that country music has needed for years.
- Brian Mansfield
