Blake Dixon at the Roseville Best Buy
Tracy Heck
On Tuesday, Missississippi rock band Saving Abel released their second album Miss America.
Yesterday, the band made a stop at the Best Buy store in Roseville for a in-store performance and autograph signing.
Before their performance, I got a chance to talk to drummer Blake Dixon.
Q: Miss America came out on Tuesday. How many in-stores have you done so far? How have they been going? What type of reaction have you been getting?
A: 4 or 5 now I believe. We've had a really good turnout especially yesterday. Yesterday was probably the best. It's been really cool.
Q: I saw a interview with Jason [Null, guitarist], where he said that he felt this album was a bit heavier this time around. Would you agree with that?
A: Yeah, I definitely think that it's heavier. I think the number of songs compared to the last album there are definitely a lot more heavier songs. We still have our ballads and our slower tunes but definitely we've stepped it up a little bit and made it I would say a lot more heavy but not too much to give you a shock.
Q: You have the song "Mississippi Moonshine" that has more of a Southern rock feel to it too.
A: Yeah it is. I love "Mississippi Moonshine". It really shows a lot about our roots and where we come from. That's the kind of riffs we grew up to that a lot of our families were playing. So it was good to show a little bit more roots on that tune.
Q: What kind of music did you listen to growing up?
A: I listened to anything from Frank Sinatra to Pantera from Vince Neil to Vince Gill. Then again, I've had a lot of family members I remember at family reunions who would bring out banjos and bass and would play really not like classic rock but bluegrass and classic country. Most of the influence I would say would come from there. That's what got me into music and listening and buying albums.
Q: When I interviewed Jason about six months ago you were just starting to work on the album and he was talking about how it is a true collaborative effort on your part and that you bring all of your influences together. Would you agree?
A: Yeah and we all listen to such different music that I think we use it to benefit ourselves because when one of us would be brought up in this area the other one would be brought up in this. We just come from different places when it comes to music but we seem to agree on a lot of levels so it really helps in the collaborating process.
Q: I also heard that you wrote a lot of the new album on the road?
A: Yeah definitely. We really didn't have a choice because we tour so much but it's good to do that. It's good to have a little bit from home and a little bit from on the road. You want to write about life and things that happen to you every single day which plays it's part.
Q: Are there any songs on this album that stand out or are particularly close to you?
A: I would say "Hell Of A Ride" because it explains where we've come from, where we've been and hopefully where we're going. You know, no matter what we do we know that this is what we love to do no matter how hard it gets because it can be tough. You know the road life is what we've always wanted. It's what we want to do and so petty arguments and mundane crap is not gonna get in the way of our dreams. And we all know that even if it ended tomorrow it's been a hell of a ride and that one is kind of close to my heart.
Q: Why did you name the album Miss America?
A: We named it when we went on our USO tour and it just seemed to be in our heads and right for all of us. It's like Jared [Weeks, vocalist] says whenever you get five different opinions, and we're all very opinionated, once you get us all together it's hard to agree on one thing. And that's kind of one of the few things that we all immediately agreed on and it just seemed right. Especially with being over there.
Q: How many times have you played for the troops?
A: Several times. We've been to, of course, the USO tour. There's been times that we've done some acoustic shows at Walter Reed and a few other places.
Q: Why is that important to you?
A: We feel like it's the least we can do. It's just a little bit that we can pay back. We wish that we could do more but it means so much to them that we can take our time to go over there because they're fighting for our rights and our country everyday and it's the least that we can do. We feel like it's a small thing to do but to them it's really bigger. Once you get over there and really see that it shows how much it means to them.
Q: Where was the "Stupid Girl (Only In Hollywood) video filmed?
A: That was done in Los Angeles at the Roosevelt Hotel. Out on Broadway and right next to the Capital Building.
Q: You do have some ballads on the new album but when you set down to write what do you lean more towards?
A: Really, it's just everyday you wake up in a different mood. You can't set yourself to wake up a certain way everyday. It just really strikes you at a certain time and you may put it down for a little bit and come back when you get that feel again. To just have that persuasion to write about it or write a hard rock song. I've got a few songs in my head right now with one heavy and one is more of a ballad. Whatever you're feeling at the time is what comes out.
Q: With your debut album doing so well and your three hit singles was there a lot of pressure trying to put out a second album?
A: There is a lot of pressure but I don't think we let it get to us. I've always heard that doing a second album can be really strenuous but they kept us so busy that we really didn't have time to think too much. We just sat down and did it. We had something to do in a short period of time so we just got in there and did it. If you ask me I think this album is better than the first one and I think it will definitely do better than the first one. Even if we have to win everybody over one person at a time. We all have a lot of faith in this record and not to mention the last album when we recorded it we all had day jobs and we all did different things but now the past two or three years we've been touring and playing music everyday and it's become our lives so naturally we're going to be better at what we do.
Q: I think a lot of people, when you have a debut album that does so well, think that you became a star over night but you put a lot of time into getting to that point. You were together for quite awhile before that weren't you?
A: Yeah we were together, I think, close to three or four years and finally got all of the right songs in order and recorded what we wanted to record and got the sound we were looking for. Things really took off quick. It definitely wasn't over night but looking back it kind of seems that way!
Q: Any advice for up and coming bands looking to break into the business?
A: I would say that to just keep doing what you're doing. Keep working hard and take constructive criticism the right way. Don't let it go to your head. You kind of want to listen to what everybody's opinion is because some people would say I'm not worried about what everyone is thinking but it's like you can write whatever kind of music you want and work a day job but when it comes down to it you want to have fans and want to please your fans and you kind of want to write something in between what you love and what you think people want to hear. It's a balance and you need to meet in the middle.
Q: Is there a song you like playing live the most?
A: I like playing "Contagious" and "Miss America" because they're pretty rocking tunes and I guess it's after a couple of slower tunes during our acoustic set and I really like when we get to the tougher songs and rock out and pick up the pace.
Q: You're going to be playing the Michigan International Speedway. How did that come about?
A: We've had a relationship with NASCAR and we've done a couple of shows with them before. We're all fans of NASCAR so it's an honor anytime they ask us to come. We'll do anything. We won't turn anything down because we love those guys. They're really hospitable and they take care of us and we try our best to do the same.
Saving Abel will be performing at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on Sunday, June 13.
The week-end of August 13-15 they will return to MIS to perform as featured talent for the Show Me the CARFAX Weekend.
Yesterday, the band made a stop at the Best Buy store in Roseville for a in-store performance and autograph signing.
Before their performance, I got a chance to talk to drummer Blake Dixon.
Q: Miss America came out on Tuesday. How many in-stores have you done so far? How have they been going? What type of reaction have you been getting?
A: 4 or 5 now I believe. We've had a really good turnout especially yesterday. Yesterday was probably the best. It's been really cool.
Q: I saw a interview with Jason [Null, guitarist], where he said that he felt this album was a bit heavier this time around. Would you agree with that?
A: Yeah, I definitely think that it's heavier. I think the number of songs compared to the last album there are definitely a lot more heavier songs. We still have our ballads and our slower tunes but definitely we've stepped it up a little bit and made it I would say a lot more heavy but not too much to give you a shock.
Q: You have the song "Mississippi Moonshine" that has more of a Southern rock feel to it too.
A: Yeah it is. I love "Mississippi Moonshine". It really shows a lot about our roots and where we come from. That's the kind of riffs we grew up to that a lot of our families were playing. So it was good to show a little bit more roots on that tune.
Q: What kind of music did you listen to growing up?
A: I listened to anything from Frank Sinatra to Pantera from Vince Neil to Vince Gill. Then again, I've had a lot of family members I remember at family reunions who would bring out banjos and bass and would play really not like classic rock but bluegrass and classic country. Most of the influence I would say would come from there. That's what got me into music and listening and buying albums.
Q: When I interviewed Jason about six months ago you were just starting to work on the album and he was talking about how it is a true collaborative effort on your part and that you bring all of your influences together. Would you agree?
A: Yeah and we all listen to such different music that I think we use it to benefit ourselves because when one of us would be brought up in this area the other one would be brought up in this. We just come from different places when it comes to music but we seem to agree on a lot of levels so it really helps in the collaborating process.
Q: I also heard that you wrote a lot of the new album on the road?
A: Yeah definitely. We really didn't have a choice because we tour so much but it's good to do that. It's good to have a little bit from home and a little bit from on the road. You want to write about life and things that happen to you every single day which plays it's part.
Q: Are there any songs on this album that stand out or are particularly close to you?
A: I would say "Hell Of A Ride" because it explains where we've come from, where we've been and hopefully where we're going. You know, no matter what we do we know that this is what we love to do no matter how hard it gets because it can be tough. You know the road life is what we've always wanted. It's what we want to do and so petty arguments and mundane crap is not gonna get in the way of our dreams. And we all know that even if it ended tomorrow it's been a hell of a ride and that one is kind of close to my heart.
Q: Why did you name the album Miss America?
A: We named it when we went on our USO tour and it just seemed to be in our heads and right for all of us. It's like Jared [Weeks, vocalist] says whenever you get five different opinions, and we're all very opinionated, once you get us all together it's hard to agree on one thing. And that's kind of one of the few things that we all immediately agreed on and it just seemed right. Especially with being over there.
Q: How many times have you played for the troops?
A: Several times. We've been to, of course, the USO tour. There's been times that we've done some acoustic shows at Walter Reed and a few other places.
Q: Why is that important to you?
A: We feel like it's the least we can do. It's just a little bit that we can pay back. We wish that we could do more but it means so much to them that we can take our time to go over there because they're fighting for our rights and our country everyday and it's the least that we can do. We feel like it's a small thing to do but to them it's really bigger. Once you get over there and really see that it shows how much it means to them.
Q: Where was the "Stupid Girl (Only In Hollywood) video filmed?
A: That was done in Los Angeles at the Roosevelt Hotel. Out on Broadway and right next to the Capital Building.
Q: You do have some ballads on the new album but when you set down to write what do you lean more towards?
A: Really, it's just everyday you wake up in a different mood. You can't set yourself to wake up a certain way everyday. It just really strikes you at a certain time and you may put it down for a little bit and come back when you get that feel again. To just have that persuasion to write about it or write a hard rock song. I've got a few songs in my head right now with one heavy and one is more of a ballad. Whatever you're feeling at the time is what comes out.
Q: With your debut album doing so well and your three hit singles was there a lot of pressure trying to put out a second album?
A: There is a lot of pressure but I don't think we let it get to us. I've always heard that doing a second album can be really strenuous but they kept us so busy that we really didn't have time to think too much. We just sat down and did it. We had something to do in a short period of time so we just got in there and did it. If you ask me I think this album is better than the first one and I think it will definitely do better than the first one. Even if we have to win everybody over one person at a time. We all have a lot of faith in this record and not to mention the last album when we recorded it we all had day jobs and we all did different things but now the past two or three years we've been touring and playing music everyday and it's become our lives so naturally we're going to be better at what we do.
Q: I think a lot of people, when you have a debut album that does so well, think that you became a star over night but you put a lot of time into getting to that point. You were together for quite awhile before that weren't you?
A: Yeah we were together, I think, close to three or four years and finally got all of the right songs in order and recorded what we wanted to record and got the sound we were looking for. Things really took off quick. It definitely wasn't over night but looking back it kind of seems that way!
Q: Any advice for up and coming bands looking to break into the business?
A: I would say that to just keep doing what you're doing. Keep working hard and take constructive criticism the right way. Don't let it go to your head. You kind of want to listen to what everybody's opinion is because some people would say I'm not worried about what everyone is thinking but it's like you can write whatever kind of music you want and work a day job but when it comes down to it you want to have fans and want to please your fans and you kind of want to write something in between what you love and what you think people want to hear. It's a balance and you need to meet in the middle.
Q: Is there a song you like playing live the most?
A: I like playing "Contagious" and "Miss America" because they're pretty rocking tunes and I guess it's after a couple of slower tunes during our acoustic set and I really like when we get to the tougher songs and rock out and pick up the pace.
Q: You're going to be playing the Michigan International Speedway. How did that come about?
A: We've had a relationship with NASCAR and we've done a couple of shows with them before. We're all fans of NASCAR so it's an honor anytime they ask us to come. We'll do anything. We won't turn anything down because we love those guys. They're really hospitable and they take care of us and we try our best to do the same.
Saving Abel will be performing at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on Sunday, June 13.
The week-end of August 13-15 they will return to MIS to perform as featured talent for the Show Me the CARFAX Weekend.
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