I recently had the opportunity to interview one of my current favorite band’s lead singers: Pecos Hurley of Pecos & The Rooftops.
The Texas-based band—which blends country, rock and blues—recently released their second full-length album, From Me (Warner Music), following 2023’s self-titled LP and 2019’s Red Eye EP, and they will be touring throughout October and November. You can read my review of the new album at this link.
In our email interview, Hurley answers some personal fan-related questions I had, he also discusses the band’s live cover song decisions, tour transportation, eating on the road, current music he’s been listening to and who he’d like to tour with.
All in all, it was a nice interaction and I can’t wait to watch them perform again. You can read my Columbus, Ohio concert review at this link.
In 2021, I was going through a really rough divorce and my mental health was in a terrible place. I randomly heard “Lonely With You” and was completely captivated. That, of course, led me to “This Damn Song,” which ended up on repeat for a solid six months.
Was there a specific real-life heartbreak that inspired that song?
Yeah, every word in that song was real life at the time. My good friend Kalen Davis (bassist) that I co-wrote the song with was going through his own stuff and he had brought that chorus to me, so I asked him if I could finish writing the song because I had plenty to say [laughs]. But, yes, the song is inspired by real experience.
Sticking with that song for a minute, there’s a lyric in it that I think speaks volumes about the state of men’s mental health: “I guess I’m okay not being okay.” That line hit me hard—it resonated so strongly that it’s now tattooed on my body.
Can you share where that mindset came from?
Well, Kalen actually wrote that line, but I would imagine him coming from a place of: “Well, I know I’m not doing great, but I’m alive and maybe things will get better eventually.” If I had to guess.
I have had the privilege of seeing you guys perform live a few times and one of the highlights for me is always the random covers you throw in—“Indian Outlaw,” “Family Tradition,” and I think the first time I saw you, it was “Sex And Candy.”
How do you decide which songs to cover? Have there ever been any completely off-the-wall suggestions that got vetoed?
I think we just figure out which songs we all like and would want to play. Then, we have to see if the song lines up with my voice or if we need to change the key, if it’s some crazy high song. Then, we see how our version sounds and if it works. The last song to get voted out was actually “Indian Outlaw,” just because we didn’t know how it would land to the fans. But, eventually, I was like, you know, any comments that I’ve seen online about the song from any actual native people, have all been positive. People love the song. I play the song from a very respectful place and fun fact, I’m a blood descendant of Pocahontas.
You guys have been touring pretty much non-stop the past few years.
How are you getting around—vans or tour buses?
We started out in a car and a truck, then I bought a blue van that I basically remodeled the back of to be a little mini-bus. Totally illegal [laughs]. Then, we graduated to a sprinter van and blew the engine up in it and moved on to a bus. Now, we go up and down the road on a bus, and it’s a blessing to have.
If you could do a tour with three other artists or bands, who would they be?
Alive: Post Malone/Chris Stapleton/Metallica
Not Alive: Elvis/Waylon Jennings/George Jones
What albums are currently in your rotation?
The new BigXThaPlug album is one. My wife, Jade, loves the new Morgan Wallen album, so we’ve been listening to it a lot! Been digging Gavin Adcock’s new album. Zach Top’s new album. Jordan Nix, Parker Ryan, Waylon, Vince Gill, Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Moneybagg Yo, Key Glock… I’m sure I’m missing a lot of the music I’ve been listening to, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
And last—You’ve just finished an amazing set at a sold-out venue. It’s 1 a.m., you're starving. Where are we stopping to eat, and what’s everyone ordering?
Probably at a truck stop if we’re being honest [laughs]. I would most likely get some butter pecan ice cream, and the rest of the guys all eat different stuff, so there is no telling or predicting what they would get [laughs].
Band Members
Pecos Hurley (vocals/acoustic guitar), Brandon Jones (rhythm guitar), Zack Foster (lead guitar), Kalen Davis (bass), Garrett Peltier (drums)
Tour Dates
https://www.pecos-rooftops.com
Connect With Pecos & The Rooftops
Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website
Photo: Grant Whites
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