The Josie Show with Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Br br bro bro bro Bro around the world on
the world Wide Web. Ladies and Gentleman period is the.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Most The other stations are tuning in too.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Broadcasting live from the Josey Network Studios in downtown Madonna, Tennessee.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's that time of week again.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
It's time for the Josie Shoe, bringing you the most
exciting music, moves and guests from around the world right
here on the Jersey Show. Please make walking beautiful. It's Hannity. Hello,

(01:00):
by America's dy Else Business Josie assid he Osle.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
Hello, everyone, welcome back to the Josie Show.

Speaker 5 (01:15):
My goodness. We had such a.

Speaker 4 (01:16):
Wonderful time at CMA Fest as official media. We had
so many great interviews and met so many wonderful familiar
faces new faces. We just had such a great time.
But today I'm really looking forward to sharing this interview
with Darren and Brook Aldridge. I had a great conversation
with the two of them, so let's get it.

Speaker 5 (01:36):
I hope you enjoyed this great interview.

Speaker 4 (01:38):
Please welcome to the Josie Show. My special guest Darren
and Brooke Aldridge.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hi, good after me.

Speaker 4 (01:44):
Hello, Hello, thank you so much for joining me, I've
been looking forward to this.

Speaker 5 (01:49):
Oh, I'm so so thrilled.

Speaker 4 (01:51):
So for our listeners who are just now being introduced
to Darren Brook Aldridge and the music you create, how
would you best describe your sound?

Speaker 5 (01:59):
Let's start there.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
I would say, you know, we're a husband and wife duo.
We do a little bit of bluegrass, gospel and country,
kind of intertwine all of those genres that we love,
but we love duets. We love singing with a full
band as well, And so if you come to one
of our shows, you're gonna get a little bit of everything.

Speaker 5 (02:19):
I love that.

Speaker 4 (02:20):
I love that you have a little bit of everything
for everyone, whatever mood.

Speaker 5 (02:24):
Yeah, whatever mood you may be feeling. I think that's wonderful.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
And you have a new album out, Soul Condition, which
feels very personal and thoughtfully crafted. Can you tell us
about this album and what first time listeners can expect
with this With this.

Speaker 6 (02:36):
Album, well, a big part of Darren and Brook always
has been gospel music, and we've always included you know,
those type of material and songs throughout all of our records.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
And this is our eleventh studio album.

Speaker 6 (02:49):
Wow, we just decided to put a collection of songs together.
We've been doing over almost twenty years of Darren and
Brook together. There's one gospel collection, you know. Like I said,
we've always featured gospel music, and we had a lot
of success with a song that we recorded on our
last album called Jordan's which featured No Pittney and Mickey
Skaggs and Mark Fain, and you know, several songs previous

(03:13):
before that that people related to as gospel music. So
it was time just to do that and have an
album totally dedicated to that. So we grathered songs that
we'd sang in church growing up, other things that meant
to us and our families and from our heritage there
at North Carolina, and decided to put a collection of
music and put a you know, a Darren and Brook

(03:33):
spind on our type of gospel of songs.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah, and we had a lot of great collabs on
this too. We got to do something with Jason Crabb,
also with the Isaacs and our good pal John Cowen,
and we also had a really special moment with our
family on one of those songs that we recorded. At
the very end, if you're listening closely and you know,
listen through to the whole song. You'll hear a really
neat collab with our family. So that was really so

(03:58):
much fun to get to do.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
That's amazing.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
How else labs different than just of course, you know,
just with the with the duo, just the two of you.
I'm sure you know, artists that you work with are
able to kind of put their own little spin on
things and it adds more of like a freshness and
excitement to it.

Speaker 3 (04:12):
Do you feel it is?

Speaker 6 (04:13):
You know, like on this record, we've had spoken to
Jason Krab, you know, over the last maybe two years
about doing something, writing a song or recording a song,
and it finally came together at the right time and
got in the studio.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
We'd never really sang with him.

Speaker 6 (04:28):
Before, but we thought it was just a special moment
and they come together very well.

Speaker 5 (04:34):
Oh yes, I love that. I love that.

Speaker 4 (04:36):
And of course the songs are doing very well because
I seen on the Bluegrass Today chart five songs off
of this album were on there. So it must feel
so good knowing DJ's are enjoying and spinning. I mean,
what was that reaction like when you've seen that chart.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
That's probably been the most at one time that we've
ever kind on a chart, So that was really that
was really cool, a great feeling to link up on
a Friday morning and see that because that chart comes
out every Friday, you know.

Speaker 7 (05:00):
Just it's really neat to see that people.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Are enjoying what we're putting out and being touched by that,
because that's what we want to do through our music
is speak to people.

Speaker 5 (05:08):
Yes, and you do it very well. I have to say,
you both do.

Speaker 7 (05:10):
That incredibly well.

Speaker 5 (05:12):
You're really welcome.

Speaker 4 (05:13):
And like you said, eleven studio albums, how do you
feel this album differs from previously released works, because as we.

Speaker 5 (05:19):
All are, you know, we're always growing and evolving.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
Well, this one's a little deeper, I guess, and a
little more personal to us because we tried to represent
our heritage a lot more in the song of the
songs that we chose, and of course having our family
and it was really special and these were songs that
you know, we remember hearing growing up as kids, and
songs that you know, our pastor and his wife might
have sang for me anyway, and it was pretty cool

(05:45):
to know that, you know, yeah, just.

Speaker 6 (05:48):
The meaning of the songs you knows about our family
and heritage, like I said before, it was coming through
to the audience that we've helped build over the last
close to twenty years, you know, with we're doing festivals
and concerts and playing at the Opry and building those
relationships throughout.

Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's just a special ton guys.

Speaker 4 (06:08):
It's such a special album, it really is. It's so
good and I hope everyone checks it out. It's available
now everywhere you find your music, you can stream it,
So check it out, everybody, please do so so good.
And I wanted to ask you, is there a song
off of this album that you particularly enjoy playing live
that really the crowd has been really responding to.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Uh, yeah, I would definitely have to go if you
don't knock. It's the very first track you'll hear on
Soul Condition. And we got to do this with our
good friend John Cowen, who we toured with and still
do from.

Speaker 7 (06:36):
Time to time when he's not on the road with
the Doobie Brothers.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
But this was a song, you know, we kind of
wanted to recreate and kind of put our own spin on.

Speaker 7 (06:45):
We remember when New Grass Revival.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
Cut this song and Cowen was a part of that band,
so it was really cool to invite him to be
a part of our cut, and we don't think it
could have turned out any better.

Speaker 7 (06:55):
But doing it live, you know, we really get.

Speaker 2 (06:57):
The audience involved at the very end and I've been
singing clack along. So this is this has been one
that's fun to see come to life in person.

Speaker 4 (07:05):
Yes, absolutely, that fan reaction is always It just makes
it something special. That's that's amazing. And that's a really
good song. That was definitely one that I was gonna say,
Oh thank you.

Speaker 5 (07:17):
Yes, that one would get me. That would be getting
me on my feet. I'll tell you that. I'm sure
so good.

Speaker 4 (07:24):
And I wanted to also mention that fans can see
you guys performing live.

Speaker 5 (07:28):
You know you could.

Speaker 4 (07:28):
They could check out your website darrennbrook Aldridge dot com.
But there is one special stage that you've returned to
over sixty times now and that's of course the Grand
Ole Opry, like you mentioned, So does it feel special
every time you step into that circle? What does the
Opry mean to the both of you?

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Oh yeah, it feels like the first time every time.
It's so surreal to uh to be in that building
and to stand on that circle and know all the
great folks that have came through there through the years
and brought happiness to people through their music. And you know,
the Oprey has continued to run over one hundred years now,
which is pretty incredible.

Speaker 7 (08:00):
So it really feels like it feels like home to us.

Speaker 2 (08:04):
They make us feel like family every time we're there,
and we always hope that they.

Speaker 6 (08:08):
Call absolutely and watching the Opry on T N N
when I was just a youngster has really got got
me into wanting to play music for a living and
wanting to try to learn to play this thing like
all the audience that.

Speaker 3 (08:22):
I looked up to.

Speaker 6 (08:23):
So it's special to get to be back there with
a lot of those folks that we had.

Speaker 3 (08:27):
Saw at a young age.

Speaker 6 (08:29):
And somebody brought this to my attention, you know, maybe
a year ago that you know, we have played it
over sixty sometimes and they said, you know, you played
the Opry more than you have any other venue. And
that was kind of hard to take in and think
of it that way. But you know, you play different
festivals and auditoriums and shows throughout the time, yes, but

(08:51):
we hadn't played any of those venues sixty times, but
the Opry, So that was pretty wild that way right.

Speaker 5 (08:59):
That is soul one old. Oh wow, what a great
thing to be able to say honestly, you know what
I mean, that's amazing. Absolutely, I love that so so much.
And I wanted to ask you both.

Speaker 4 (09:11):
You know, have you guys ever had while performing anywhere
it could be anywhere around the world that you've performed,
have you ever had any embarrassing on stage moments that
you could recall or something that just was an on
stage mishap that you remember.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
Oh, forgetting the words, that's always embarrassing, right, yes, And
there's there's been times when I thought, well, if I
keep singing, maybe maybe the words will come to me,
and I might I might motion mouth something or just
make up words. Sometimes the audience doesn't recognize that. But
sometimes people have came up and been like, you forgot
the words. But that doesn't happen too often. That's probably
one of my most embarrassing things about Well.

Speaker 6 (09:45):
I was touring with the Country Gentleman, you know, for
about five years with Charlie Waller, and you know that
was later in Charlie's life, and I remember one story
I'll share pretty quickly. We were we were down.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
The east of North Carolina, and of the marine base of.

Speaker 6 (10:02):
I guess maybe so that might be in South Carolina.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
I can't remember.

Speaker 6 (10:07):
But Charlie had had been having a few difficulties in mind,
and he had just had like a mini stroke, and.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
He had had some complications getting out there.

Speaker 6 (10:18):
And he sat down the last year and a half
of his tourist and I remember he.

Speaker 3 (10:23):
Was sitting there and he was having a.

Speaker 6 (10:25):
Little bit of a situation, and he didn't have his
guitar pick. And I said, well, here, Charlie, I said,
take one of mine and play it, because it was
already at the lay of getting to the stage before
the announcer brought us song. So ten minutes it seemed
like it had went by. And then he got up
and said, no, I want my own pick. And he

(10:46):
stood up and he emptied his pockets and his jackets
and his breeches with probably five sets of keys.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
He pulled his gun out and laid it on his stool.

Speaker 6 (11:00):
As Bill fo I mean everything like an older gentleman
that worked on the farm had in his pockets. At
the time, that's what Charlie had. And it became a
comedy like act. You know, everybody thought that, but at
the time us sitting there living it and doing it.
It seemed like forever.

Speaker 5 (11:17):
You know, that is so funny, Like Mary five, just
it keeps just coming out.

Speaker 6 (11:21):
Just read Yeah, when out and laid out there on
the store for everybody to see.

Speaker 3 (11:26):
That was that was real good.

Speaker 5 (11:28):
That's a good story. That's hilarious. Oh that is so funny.

Speaker 4 (11:32):
The things that you the things that you experience when
you're out on tour, you just never know. That's right, Yes, absolutely,
And speaking about on tour, is there a comfort food
that you guys love or or just like a comfort
item that you guys have to always have with you
on tour.

Speaker 2 (11:48):
Oh, I'm a pepsi drinker.

Speaker 7 (11:54):
I know, the coffee drinker.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
So that's kind of my go to, uh when I
was needing some energy or pick me up.

Speaker 5 (12:01):
Oh yeah, how about.

Speaker 7 (12:03):
You beb.

Speaker 6 (12:06):
We don't stray too far from finding any food that
we won't if we need to. But you know, Jesus,
Lance crackers is always good, you know, coffee or you know,
somewhere to stop.

Speaker 3 (12:18):
Waffle House is always to go to anytime, So.

Speaker 5 (12:23):
Always those two are always the go tos.

Speaker 6 (12:26):
Listen, Yes, musicians get across the country, that's for sure.

Speaker 5 (12:31):
Yes it does.

Speaker 4 (12:33):
It really does, Thank goodness waffle House and Cracker Barrel,
I'm telling you. And I also wanted to ask you, guys,
can you please give out your social working site so
people after the show can follow you guys and check
out what's next.

Speaker 7 (12:45):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (12:46):
So if you want to find us, you can go
to Darrenybrookladers dot com. You can also check out YouTube, Instagram, TikTok,
Facebook or on all of those things, and of course
any digital media platforms that you want to find our
music on like Pandora, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify. So yeah,
we're out there. You just gotta tap our name in

(13:06):
and we'll come up fabulous.

Speaker 4 (13:09):
It's super easy, y'all pop up, so please make sure
you guys check it out. Please check out the new album,
of course, Soul Condition. And before we go, I just
want to ask you, are you guys writing or any
new music maybe in the works.

Speaker 5 (13:19):
At some point? What's been going on in your world musically?

Speaker 3 (13:22):
You know?

Speaker 6 (13:23):
I think we're gonna actually go in the studio again
next week to get some singles and some bluegrass material
to come out later in the years since possible projects.
So yeah, that's that's coming on strong, so we're kind
of shifting in that gear again.

Speaker 5 (13:39):
Fabulous.

Speaker 4 (13:40):
Oh yes, well we're gonna keep tuned in. We really
really are. And thank you both so much for chatting
with me and please come on back.

Speaker 5 (13:46):
And the time y'all.

Speaker 7 (13:48):
Thank you for all you do. Josie, oh, thank you

Speaker 5 (13:50):
Thank you both so so much