Jaxon Catches Up With Brent Smith of Shinedown

Jaxon catches up with Brent Smith of Shinedown ahead of our ALT 104.5 Showdown with Shinedown at The Shore!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Bret, My man, it's beena minute. Hell are you, man,
It's so nice to hear your voice. It's it has been a minute,
but good to talk to you.Man. Yeah, I tell you
what, man, I was thinkingabout this this morning. You know,
we had a quick phone chat aftersome crap went down across the street and
you told me, I'm paraphrasing,but you said something along the lines of
the universe has a plan. Trustit. Well you were right, you

(00:20):
were right, Yeah, man,you just got to trust it. You
know, there's a It's interesting man, throughout you know, there's so many
moments where I think, as humanbeings, we have all these different obstacles
that happen in our lifetime and youknow, as we're on different journeys where
we think sometimes it's the end ofthe world and like this is never going
to get any better, and thisis such a difficult thing or a process

(00:41):
and time in my life. Andlo and behold, man, when you
least expect it, it gives youan opportunity. You just have to you
know, you just have to goafter it. Yeah. I hear you,
man, I hear you. So. First and foremost congratulations on the
continued success of Planet zero. Stillit's still kicking out hits. Are we
at nineteen number ones? Now twenty? Oh my god, it's up to

(01:02):
twenty two. It's something that Ihave a hard time like even processing between
seven albums and thirty one singles thatwe've released. It's pretty extraordinary. But
I attribute it to the to theloyalty of radio interrestrial radio, and to
the fan base people like yourself thathave been with us from day one.

(01:22):
You know, the band's been aroundfor we're going on. You know,
we're at two decades, and youknow, we're very, very proud of
what we've done over the last twentyyears. But it's about what do we
want to do now, what dowe have to say now, and what's
the next twenty years and beyond.But I do not take it for granted.
Everything that is happening right now,especially with the song Symptom of Being
Humans, it's pretty extraordinary. Yeah. Yeah, And you know, for

(01:44):
those that are new to the Shinedownfamily, we're talking about the number of
number one hits. Shinedown holds therecord the most number one songs in charting's
history, which is just mind boggling, just crazy. And I got to
tell you, man, being kindof og you know, going all the
way back to the very beginning,back to when you were jumping off balconies

(02:06):
at the Tracadero Theater. Oh yeah, to where to where you guys are
today as a fan, and I'msure there are a lot of people that
feel the same way I do.We feel like we've been a part of
the ride, you know, andif you're a family, yeah, more
than just a part of the ride, man. I mean, you know,
if I could be so bold,you're the wheels that is. And
you know, it's funny you You'reone of the most gracious people I've ever

(02:30):
met. You always say that,you know, you used to say all
the time, the band has oneboss, and that's the audience. And
I think, honestly, man,that is what has made you guys so
damn successful. But that question isthat mindset right? Yeah? Because I
also think that, you know,when you've been given a platform to be
yourself by an audience and a publicwhere our big focus is always just trying

(02:53):
to see how many people can weaffect in a positive way with the that
we write, like we in thesongs we you know, we never walk
into a writing session and write asong because we want to be famous.
We never did it for that.We don't do it for that. You
know, you go in and youwrite the material and you write the songs
because you have something to say.So I think that the audience, whether

(03:14):
they've been there from day one orthey're just kind of finding out about us
now, is to understand that.We try to do our best to make
sure that the public knows that everythingthat we are is authentic. And you
know, because an audience and apublic, you know, they're they're not
ignorant, they can spot it ifit's fake and if it's not real,
and they don't like pandering. Sowe just try to be as authentic as

(03:38):
possible. But ultimately, yes,I mean it's a lot of grassroots,
it's a lot of you know,travel and just going into market by market,
city by city, country by countryand just building a strong base.
But we've learned over time that that'show you that's how you really do build
a strong base. You just continuouslykeep coming back and hopefully the audience will

(04:00):
grow. Right and with symptom thisis speaking of like people. It sounds
weird after two decades to say youknow, people new to the Shinedown family.
But that's what you're looking at here. This is a massive crossover hit.
Like it's hot Ac, it's alternative, it's Top forty. When you
were writing that song, did youhave any idea that that was going to

(04:20):
happen? Well, you know,it's so interesting too with symptom also because
there were certain people that did notfeel like, you know, like the
rock stations were going to gravitate towardsit. And it was wild that it
ended up being number one for fourweeks on Active Rock, and then it
stayed in the top ten on alternativefor ten weeks. We're in the middle,

(04:41):
you know. We started a songat hot ac and broke the top
fifteen for the first time in fourteenyears, and now we're in the top
twenty five on Top forty. Butthis is how I looked at it.
We wrote that song in the mistof a pandemic and so and that's wild
to think that we all so technicallywe wrote the song four years ago.

(05:02):
When I look back at it,every once in a while, you will
get a gift on a record,right, And what a gift is is
it's a song that literally uses you, utilizes you as a vessel because it's
important that the song is brought tolife, because it's necessary in our career.
I think we have three of those. Forty five from the debut album
would be one. Second Chance fromthe Sound of Madness would be another,

(05:26):
and Symptom from Planet Zero is agift because in the midst of that time
in human history, we knew thatpeople were afraid, We knew they were
scared, We knew that they werefrustrated and angry and furious or all these
extreme emotions. Rightfully so, becauseof everything that was going on. But
the core of that song is tooit's a reset for people. That's what

(05:51):
the public has told myself and Zachand Barry and Eric. It's a song
that allows them to kind of takeup breadth and understand that we're all a
work in progress. Yeah. Sowhen we were mastering the album, I
just remember this. I remember wewere mastering Planet Zero. We were sequencing
everything, very very proud of thatrecord, proud of every single song on

(06:14):
that album. But every time wewould hear Symptom and we were trying to
figure out, like where to putit in the record, But just the
song itself. It just seemed likeevery time I would hear the song in
my mind, I would say,I'm proud of everything on the record,
but I will go to absolute warfor that song. Yeah, and you
know that's what we're doing. Wejust want as many people on the planet

(06:34):
to hear it as possible. Yeah. Well, and here's the thing.
It's like, you're at a pointnow where you know you're going to play
a show and you're looking at likea whole bunch of like second generation fans
meaning moms and dads like bringing theirkids to see you now creating new shine
Down fans. And with this thiscrossover, you know, you're going to

(06:54):
create a whole new fan base.It's just it's absolutely amazing. Man.
You should be super proud. Butthat's the way it should be, you
know what, man. You know, Jackson and you have talked about this
for many, many years, likeespecially when you talk about terrestrial radio.
You know, listen streaming is aplatform that you need in the consumption of
music and the music business and whathave you. And no slight to any

(07:15):
of those services or what have you. They support us, we appreciate them,
you know, very very much.But when we think about the core
of how we started and who hasbeen there with us from day one.
It's terrestrial radio people like yourself thathave really championed the band over the last
twenty years and continue to do that. So when you have a song that
crosses different genres and different formats,because the last song of the last song

(07:39):
we had that really did something ofthis nature was Second Chance and it's what
that's doing, though, is everybodycan be a part of music if it
stands out and it's something that isrelevant, I believe. So it shouldn't
be about rock music or you know, alt music, or pop music,
or country music or metal music.It should be about all music and we

(08:01):
can all you know, we canall work together, and we can all
play together as well. And you'reseeing that too with the younger generation,
where they're not so concerned about itborn on date on a song or who
it's by necessarily, they only knowif the song evokes an emotion in them
and makes the hair on the backof their neck. Standard. So you're

(08:22):
seeing a lot of cross genres workingwith each other right now, which I
actually think is a beautiful thing becauseit works, you know, it helps
everyone. Yeah, you know,through all these years, I don't think
I've ever asked you this question.But I'm curious because you know, I
work with a lot of local bandsand the excitement, the look on their
face the very first time, youknow, they hear one of their songs

(08:43):
on the radio. Do you stillget that feeling when you if you're driving
down the road, God and oneof your songs comes on? A thousand
percent, I am not. I'mnot that guy that, you know.
Sometimes people get asked that question.They're like, you know, when your
song comes on, or do youhear it somewhere? You know, do
you like run from it or belike, oh, when you turned the
channel? I'm like, why no, I turn it? I turn it

(09:03):
up? What are you talking about? Like that's a that's amazing, Like
that's the best feeling in the world, you know, when you can hear
your stuff, you know, goingout on the airwaves. I'm a little
bit old school, but you knowI'm also new school too. But yeah,
man, you know, we writemusic. We at least we attempt

(09:24):
to write songs that listen. Man. We wouldn't put it out if we
didn't want to listen to it,right, I mean so we hope everybody
else wants to listen to it.So, dude, I still geek out
when I hear it on the radiothat I love that. I've always said,
like, I feel like each recordyou guys put out is kind of
this sonic masterpiece. I mean thereand a lot of the credit on that

(09:45):
goes to to UH Eric Eric Bassright, he's engineered, producer and mixed.
Like the last few records, correctproduced, mixed, one of the
main songwriters. UH engineered the lasttwo records with our very very good friend
Doug McKean, who unfortunately is nolonger with us, but his pictures in

(10:07):
the studio and Charleston, South Carolinawhere we're at, so Doug's always watching
this making sure we're doing what weshould be doing. But yeah, man,
you know, when it comes toEric, I cannot express the amount
of joy it brings me to watchhim work in the studio. And sometimes
people will say, is that oddhaving a band member, you know,

(10:28):
a producer and a mindset and havethat kind of a skill set in the
studio. Is that challenging because he'sin the band. Do we like have
arguments or do we get in fights? And you know, do we disagree
a lot. No, we don't. We really don't. I mean we're
intense when we're in there. Buthe has such a way and such an

(10:48):
incredible ability to settle everyone down becausehe's always looking at each other, or
he's looking at everyone in the studio. His engineer who's been with him a
long time, Eric, who worksthere in Kiwa Island at Big Animal Studios,
which is Eric's studio. You know, Eric has never been a producer
with an iron fist or you know, produced as we call back in the

(11:11):
day, by force, meaning likesome producers will belittle you and they'll push
you because that's what they think theyneed to do, they need to mess
with you. Eric's not like that. Like Eric gives you all the confidence
in the world. And if youdon't get the part, you know,
one hundred percent, and it's gonnatake a little bit of wood shedding,
dude. He'll spend sixteen hours withyou if that's what it takes for you
to get the part right, becauseonce you get the part right, you're

(11:33):
never gonna forget it again, rightright, you know. And so he's
really patient and such a sabant inthe studio it's it's actually pretty extraordinary to
watch. If I'm being honest,I'm very honored to be in a band
with him, and I hear tail. I don't know if this is just
rumored that he's actually working on aside project too. Man he he,

(11:54):
He's gonna kill me, but no, man he he. He has a
massive project getting ready to come outthis year that he has been working on
for the better part of my god. Man, he's got to been working
on it at this point, likefive years on six years in the making.

(12:16):
And all I can tell you isthis, it is incredible. It
is amazing. Obviously you're going tohear about it here in a minute,
but you know, he's been soprecious with it, and I understand that.
You know, it's his baby becauseit's a it's an album that is
very deep, kind of in thecomic book world, and also it's a
completely original story, and you know, the music the record is this whole

(12:41):
world that he's created, and it'sjust it's it's really amazing on a lot
of different levels. But the mostamazing thing about the project is he's singing.
He sings every single note on therecord. Wow, He's he played
every instrument on the record, andhe engineered it, mixed it, and
produced it himself. It's it's it'scrazy, man, that one guy was

(13:07):
able to present something of this caliber. I mean it's very quote unquote,
dare I say it's very print Iwas just gonna say, I was just
gonna say it sounds like the nextPrince. That's amazing. Yeah. Yeah.
So hey, but it's coming,man, And I know I know
Philly's gonna be super super stoked aboutit too, and I know they're going
to be supporting him. But uh, it's and then it's a wild project.

(13:30):
Man, He's he's almost getting readyto announce it. So we're all
so excited for him and also himand Barrier and Charleston right now, just
so everybody knows, and you're gonnahear here first, So Barry and Eric
are in Charleston right now laying drumsdown on Brandney shine down. Yes,
just to let everybody know. Well, then you just answered my next question.

(13:50):
That's excellent. Love to hear that, man, Love to hear that.
Yeah, we're all very excited withwith what we got cooking in the
laboratory right now. It's doing good. Hey, you know, I have
to thank you. I think itwas the show in Camden and that it
was the one I brought my sonout and introduced you to him. I
believe it was jelly Roll, andI have to thank you for turning me

(14:11):
onto Jelly Roll. I became afan that night and have been ever since.
It's so cool. Do you have, like any other bands out there
that you got your eye on?You? No mats? Somebody was asking
me that the other day. There'sa band called Idols that I don't want
to say that. I don't knowwhere they're based out of, and they've
been around for a minute, butthey the singer kind of has a background

(14:33):
as a DJ, kind of likeI don't not necessarily a trap type of
DJ. But they put a bandtogether and it's called I don't know if
it's just called Idols, I de Ls. I hope I'm not messing
that up, or it's the Idols. They just played Jimmy Fallon a couple
of weeks ago, okay, butthey're kind of coming on the scene and
they're they're amazing, Like there's justI mean, they just have an attitude,

(15:00):
the punk rock attitude that I justhaven't heard in a long time,
Like when I watched and their videostoo. I watched it and I'm just
kind of like, man, thesedudes are dangerous, like and I I
just dig, I dig all thatand the other. She's getting a lot
of credit where credit is due rightnow. But Sierra Ferrell, Yeah,

(15:20):
just extraordinary man like h And Iknow, she just was on CBS this
morning. They were kind of profilingher and you know her her kind of
journey that she's had in folk musicand Americana and country music. But she
just had John c Riley get upwith her on stage and they did a
bunch of walk I think it wasa walk hard. Yeah, songs from

(15:41):
there it're just so rad. Butyeah, the idols in Sierra Ferrell,
man, those are those are kindof two people that I'm you know,
are two artists I should say thatI'm really into right now. Excellent man,
love it, love it. Solook, man, we we really
look forward to seeing you at theshow August tenth. This is uh my
favorite kind of inn you because I'veseen you get from everything you know,
every place from small venues all theway up to you sold out at the

(16:03):
theaters. But a smaller venue likethat. I want to see. It's
like four hundred people, that intimatesetting that is gonna be flipping amazing.
Yeah, we're gonna give you alot of music that night too. We're
gonna pull some stuff out that wehaven't done in a minute and really kind
of make it an evening with andgive everybody a really cool experience. Also
too, We're just gonna see ifwe can play some of these songs like

(16:26):
we pull, like literally pulling somelike deep cuts out that we haven't played
before. Love it just for justfor the heck of it. You know,
we'll play the songs that people know, but we just wanted to do
something a little different. We gotthe opportunity to, you know, go
in and the venue has been socool with us about it, and uh,
it's gonna be a fun time.Yeah, looking forward to it.
We'll have to catch up, man, I'll definitely be out there and we'll

(16:47):
have to catch up absolutely. Man. We got to call out some time
just to hang for a minute.Man. But I'm so proud of you
and so happy for you. Andwhen I saw this on the schedule and
that it was you, like,I lit up, man, so I'm
so so stoked to be talking toyou. Well. I love it man,
and it is fantastic to talk toyou to you again, so seriously
looking forward to the show. Youguys continue to kill it out there,

(17:10):
and we will see you very soon, all right, ma, man,
all right, my brother, Iappreciate you very very much. I'll see
you soon, all right, Thanks, Brent, appreciate it alright. Later Se