A Conversation with Gary Allen
A Conversation with Gary Allen
Singer/Songwriter Gary Allen Returns to the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino
Country singer/songwriter Gary Allan is making a stop at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino on Saturday, September 30th at 7:00pm.
Selling out venues all across the country, Allan’s tours had have him playing live to over one million people and this time around isn’t going to be any different. With a strong connection to his fans and his love of playing live, the singer has no plans to slow down anytime soon and is loving getting back out there on the road in support of his latest album, “Ruthless”.
While putting the album together, the songwriter put the track names on different shapes of pieces of paper towels and set them on his kitchen counter, and as he walked by them multiple times a day he would switch the order of the songs to put a flow together. “I viewed all that countertop work as putting a show together… you can’t start out with something sad or slow, because that establishes initially the whole night.” Adding, “You do have to come out and set the tone… then stand back and tell your story.”
“The Ruthless Tour: 25 Years The Hard Way” is getting rave reviews as he brings to life the songs from the album that tells his story. “This is a montage of everything I have done since my last album, ‘Set You Free’,” said Allan.
Signing his first record deal in November 1995, he released his first single, “Her Man” in July 1996. His first album, “Used Heart For Sale” was released in September of 1996. From there the singer/songwriter has garnered multiple Platinum and Gold albums and singles, and has had his share of those going to the number one spot on the charts as well as debuting in the top spot.
I had the pleasure of catching up with Allan to talk about the album, tour, a family business that is far different from his musical career, his success in working with female songwriters, the two years of the “shut down” and staying true to himself.
Allan is thrilled to have Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino on his list of stops for the tour and being back with his fans saying, “I feed off the crowd response, so come on out and let’s get back to the fun!”
For more information on Gary Allan please visit garyallan.com. For more information on tickets go to senecacasinos.com and click on Seneca Allegany.
A CONVERSATION WITH GARY ALLAN
HULICK: When I spoke with you last in 2014, we talked about your album, “Set You Free” and your new approach of working with female songwriters. I see that your newest album, “Ruthless” includes some female songwriters. That experience must have worked well.
ALLAN: My songwriting group was always focused around a few friends who would bring other writers to the group. I didn’t realize I had not written with females until my manager mentioned it. Once I did, it brought a new perspective to writing. I have enjoyed writing with females and wish I had done it sooner.
HULICK: A lot has happened since then in all of our lives because of the pandemic. The world shut down immediately and all musical artists were blown off course. I’ve talked to many artists this past year that expressed their songwriting took on a whole new meaning. What was your experience during those difficult two years?
ALLAN: To be honest, I didn’t write during the pandemic. I shut down then, but I have just started writing again recently. Getting back in the process has been great, and I am excited about creating new music.
HULICK: I know when I go to a concert now the artist has a sense of appreciation that you can really see and the audience seems like they are really enjoying the experience right along with them. There is a difference all the way around. How has this related to you?
ALLAN: I have always loved and appreciated my fans. Without them, I could not do this for a living. I feed off the crowd response, and the more they are into it, the more excited I am. It definitely makes a difference in the show.
HULICK: You are known for staying true to yourself, which you demonstrated after graduating high school while you and your band at the time, “Honky Talk Wranglers” were playing in bars and a promoter tried to sign you into bigger bars but with the stipulation that you could not cover any “old country” artists and their songs. You refused. Do you think that was a pivotal moment in what has been a very successful career?
ALLAN: It was a little of that, but more the advice from my Dad. He wanted me to find my voice and not imitate other artists. Once I found my voice and decided how I wanted to sound, I wanted to stay true to that.
HULICK: Music isn’t your only talent. You design and sell jewelry with your daughters under Gary Allan Custom Jewelry. This has become a successful venture you enjoy. What’s it like working with your daughters?
ALLAN: Working with my daughters is a great experience. Before starting the jewelry business, I had a clothing store, The Label. My daughters worked there while they were in school. Once we closed the store, two of my daughters decided to go to jewelry school with me. My oldest is the only one who works full-time for the jewelry line now, but we all pitch in and help during the holidays. I enjoy having a family business.
HULICK: Your album, “Ruthless” is being released on vinyl, which like you, I believe there is nothing better in music than putting that album on the turntable and setting the needle down and hearing it get into the groove on the album… that very first sound of scratching before the music plays. You are also going to have different colors of vinyl to choose from. A lot of our readers probably remember Elvis Presley’s “Moody Blue” album which was one of the first color vinyls in blue. There’s something so nostalgic about the experience. Can you talk a little bit about that?
ALLAN: The sound of music on vinyl is different. The sound, the nostalgia of thinking of my Dad playing vinyl albums, it is an experience all around. When we decided to release Ruthless on vinyl, Universal wanted to do the standard black vinyl and two alternate colors. My favorite color is green, so I gravitated to that one first. Then we looked at the album packaging with all the available vinyl colors, and the purple was a good fit. They turned out well, and the fans seem to love them all.
HULICK: The artwork on the cover of “Ruthless” is terrific and will look awesome on the album cover. Who is the artist and have you worked with them before?
ALLAN: We were finishing the packaging for Ruthless during the pandemic. At that time, I had joined a friend on a boat in the Dominican Republic and did not want to return for a photo shoot until Covid had calmed down and vaccines were available. The label needed the cover quickly, so we decided to do something with my skeleton bronc logo. Craig Allen is the designer who created the cover and has designed the packaging for several of my albums over the years. Once we had the cover, we still needed photos, so I had my photographer, Eric Adkins, come to the Dominican and shoot all the images there.
HULICK: How good does it feel getting back to touring and playing live?
ALLAN: It was 452 days between my last show of 2020 and my first one in 2021. I had never gone that long without playing live since I started performing as a teenager. The band and I rehearsed for two weeks before the first show. It took a while to build back up to singing and performing for 60 to 90 minutes. Thankfully, those first shows were great! Walking onto the stage with the fans excited and screaming was emotional, not only for me but for the band and crew as well.
HULICK: Fans surely have more choices of concerts to choose from this summer and fall. Everyone is out on tour this year. Do you have a message for your fans and our readers on what they can expect from your show?
ALLAN: I always say to come out expecting to have a good time. We play the hits and some fan favorites and throw a few newer songs into the mix. I want the fans to hear the songs that made them become a fan while giving them something they were not expecting. I want them to leave the show just as excited as they were coming into it and leave wanting more.
HULICK: What’s next for you after your tour?
ALLAN: We have dates booked through the end of this year, and we are already starting to announce shows for 2024. We will break for the holidays and then jump right back into it. I am also writing and hope to have new music out in 2024.
HULICK: Before you go, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your crazy busy schedule to answer a few questions. One last question… What is the best thing about being Gary Allan?
ALLAN: The best thing about being Gary Allan is that I get to do something I love for a living, which brings other people joy. I am very thankful for that.