I love Chi-town,” says country music singer Pat Green. “I’m excited to get there.”
A year after the release of his third major-label album, Lucky Ones, and fresh off of a tour with Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson, Green hasn’t stopped moving. His days are filled with promotions, 15-minute interviews with media and, of course, performances.
The Grammy-nominated artist is selling out venues all over the nation, including the Houston Astrodome and the Smirnoff Music Centre in Dallas – both in his home state of Texas. He also performed in front of more than 54,000 people at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on the largest-grossing music tour of the year. Green plays a more intimate setting in Chicago Friday, Oct. 21, at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.
Surprisingly, even after performing in front of so many people, he still hasn’t gotten over being nervous in front of a crowd. “I don’t think you ever get over it,” Green says. “You just have to make it apart of the show.”
While some skeptics may be automatically turned off by the mere mention of the country-music genre, Green’s songs have a poppy edge. And for those who claim not to be fans of country music, Green promises an enjoyable performance. “Just give me a chance, and I guarantee you’ll come back,” he says.
Some Northwestern students are giving him that chance. After listening to his new single “Babydoll,” Medill sophomore Molly Lipsitz says she was pleasantly surprised by what she heard.
“This is actually a good country song,” Lipitz says. “It could almost be put in the pop genre, which appeals to a wider audience.”
Green says he isn’t afraid to bring a pop sound to his tagged country music. He paired up with former Matchbox Twenty frontman and Grammy award-winner Rob Thomas to write “Babydoll,” and he lists the Dave Matthews Band as one of his influences.
“I didn’t pick country music,” he says. “I just played and the people listening called it country music – though it wasn’t with the fiddle in the background.”
And though the pop and rock influences are there and have helped him gain fans outside the world of country music, he’s still grounded as a country artist, citing fellow Texan Willie Nelson as one of his favorites.
The San Antonio-born, Waco-raised singer developed his love for performing by watching his father acting on stage. Ten years ago, when Green entered college, he started playing acoustic guitar in a band with friends every Wednesday night. His performing in front of thousands of people is what he calls a “natural progression.”
“If I wasn’t performing, I would probably be a bum because this is the only thing I know how to do,” Green says.
On top of being an experienced performer, Green has been writing his own songs for eight years. Though Green says his songs range in topics from love to faith to having fun, his writing isn’t limited to music. He also has written short stories and composes “interesting thoughts.”
“Whenever you do something in one area of writing, you start to look into other forms of writing to get your message out,” Green says.
But Green says he’s happy to play his songs for his fans. His fun-loving energy is magnified onstage as he performs his hits and even some covers – including songs by Bruce Springsteen.
“I like that if I get up there and have fun it gives people a chance to forget about what has happened Monday through Friday, ” Green says. “I feel like a cheap therapist.”4
Medill sophomore Niema Jordan is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
