C: Tone Cool Records, your label, is based out of Boston, too. They seem to be a good fit for you musically. How did you originally come together with them?

S: I had been searching for a label for a long time. I had been pursued by a few majors, but nothing ever seemed really substantial. They were just kind of throwing stuff out there. It never seemed like they really cared about me. It was hard for me to take them seriously. The only label that seemed serious was Tone-Cool. They were very supportive of me as a person and as an artist. I made the decision to go with them. They were honest and I felt like I could trust them, unlike most record companies. I think they are very good people. They know a lot about blues and traditional music. They were definitely the right people to go with at the time.

C: Sean Costello played a part in your music career for a period of time. Paul Linden played piano in that band too, didn’t he?

S: Yes. That whole band played with me from about February ’98 until [pauses] Well, I played with Sean for about 7 months, but then I kept using the rest of his band for a while even after that.

C: Costello played the lead lines on most of your latest album, “Just Won’t Burn.” Was your desire to do more lead playing what lead to your parting ways?

S: No, it was a clash of personalities.

C: That album has some great diversity between all the songs, but your vocals are what really rise above there, as opposed to the guitar lines. Is the album that you have been working on at Dark Side studios down in Louisiana going to be a different kind of album?

S: Well, that was, but I don’t know if that is the recording we’re going to use. I think we’re actually going to go back into the studio and do some more. I don’t know if that’s going to be the one or not. I think it should be interesting to see what happens. I need to make some decisions about what this record is going to become. I think it will be similar to the last record in the variety of styles. I doubt it will be anything too extreme, though.

C: Who are the players going to be on the album? Will it be some of the guys from the last one?

S: Well, that’s what we did in the studio. I haven’t actually made the record yet, so I’m not sure. There are a lot of musicians who want to be on the album now. Jimmy Vaughn wants to play on it. There are a bunch of people I want to work with on it. I do have some people I want to work with on it, so it should be different.

C: You were backed by Double-Trouble on one tour, right? How did you end up playing with those guys?

S: I met them one time when I did Austin City Limits, a year ago February. They came out and said they would really like to play together with me some day. So, I invited them out to do a tour with me. We had a blast. It was a great learning experience.

C: You did a few tracks with Willie Nelson as well for his duets album. You could probably release a duets album of your own from all the appearances you’ve had with Bob Dylan, B.B., Bonnie Raitt…

S: Yeah, you know I finally got to hang out with her the other day in Telluride and we just had a blast. We played Angel From Montgomery together.

C: Was that a highlight for you?

S: Yes, definitely. Just to get to meet her and realize how down to earth she is was really a wonderful experience.

C: That’s pretty neat that a bluegrass festival can still make room for other musicians that don’t necessarily play straight bluegrass. I’m sure the audience appreciated it.

S: That’s the thing that I found to be true. They had a lot of music that was actually very diverse, but still rooted in the same place.

C: Speaking of roots, you did Farm Aid last year. Did Willie Nelson get you involved with that?

S: Yeah, he invited me to come out and play with my band. It was awesome. He actually invited me to do a special date with him, but I couldn’t do it because I was going to be touring with B.B. and Buddy. I had one day off in 11 shows and I would have had to fly from the West Coast to the East Coast to do it that day. He’s been so incredible, he just so gracious. He’s an American Legend, but so down to Earth. He knows music, he knows people, and he’s just very inspiring. He’s a pure and good person.

C: How have your touring experiences differed between touring by yourself to traveling with the Allman Brothers to just traveling with Derek when he’s tour with his own band?

S: Well, in a way they’re all kind of similar. But the difference is that I actually learn a lot from Derek. He’s just so thoughtful and intelligent about everything. The guys in his band are really above the music. They’re just good people.

C: I agree, I like those guys a lot.

S: They’re outstanding. You really don’t see a lot of bands like that anymore. To me, sometimes all I see is a lot of egos on the road. The thing that amazes me about that band is that they’re ego-less. They don’t let their attitudes get in the way of the music or each other. I really love that band. They’re like a home for me. The RV is really cool.

C: You met Derek opening for the Allmans last summer, of course. How long did it take you to get past the professional part of your relationship?

S: [To Derek in the background] Hey honey, he wants details! [laughs]

C: You don’t have to talk about that if you don’t want.

S: Maybe two weeks. No, he says a week.

C: Fair enough. You said he’s helped you a lot, does that include your guitar technique?

S: It’s hard for me to watch him and try to think about playing like that because his tuning is so different and his whole right hand is different. I almost want to just give up! Actually, he makes me a lot more aware of tone, of playing melodies, and the appropriateness of the guitar. I’m still learning so much, but I’m so far behind.

C: Speaking of learning experiences, you have one heck of a tour coming up with B.B. King and Buddy Guy throughout August and September. You used to play gigs in Memphis at the Black Diamond on Beale St. quite a bit. Do you feel any special kinship with those musicians?

S: I don’t know B.B. or Buddy really well. I have toured with B.B. before and he’s just such a humble person. I learn so much from being around people like that not only as a musician, but also as a person. He’s very gracious with the musicians in his band. Plus he’s worked harder than most people will ever work in their lives. They don’t make people like that anymore.

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