June 19, 2025 • 36 mins
Finding Authenticity and Healing in Music: A Chat with The Crowe Boys
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In this episode of Just Keep Talking, Brother Love delves into the impactful stories of artists with a special feature on The Crowe Boys, Ocie and Wes from New Orleans. They share their journey of growing up in a musical family, overcoming personal challenges, and finding their true voice in the world of alternative Americana and folk music. The Crowe Boys discuss the cathartic and transformative power of music, their viral TikTok moment, and the importance of vulnerability, especially for men. The episode also highlights the band's mission to bring hope and healing through their music, emphasizing the need for empathy, authenticity, and self-acceptance. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about creativity, resilience, and the unifying power of storytelling.
#mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #musicjournalism #musicianlife #beseen #beheard #belong #americanamusic #folkmusic #croweboysband #mcarecords #brotherlove #justkeeptalking
00:00 Introduction to Just Keep Talking Podcast
01:01 Meet the Crow Boys
01:23 The Journey of Pursuing Music
01:54 Bootstraps: A Song of Frustration
02:33 Crow Boys' Background and Struggles
05:27 The Turning Point: Viral Success
06:56 Reflecting on Vulnerability and Authenticity
19:07 The Message of the Crow Boys
20:44 The Power of Vulnerability
21:27 Brother Song: A Deep Dive
23:50 Coping Mechanisms on Tour
25:05 The Importance of Self-Reflection
30:33 Speed Round: Personal Insights
34:44 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Brother Love (00:00):
Telling our stories is the connective tissue of the
collective human experience.
The Just Keep Talking podcast delvesinto the lives and stories of artists.
What is the impact ofmental health on creativity?
What does it mean to bea creative individual?
Someone who feels deeply, experiencesjoy and pain, intensely and
navigates the challenges of lifethrough the creative process.
(00:21):
With each story shared, we explore theauthentic experience of our basic need
to be seen, to be heard, and to belong.
We are really not so differentfrom one another, nor are we alone.
Together we can inspire, encourage, andenlighten each other to find the true joy
and fulfillment that is within ourselves.
When we just keep talking, we create thespace for gratitude, self-acceptance,
(00:46):
and grace in everyday life.
In a world filled with divisiveness,fostering inclusivity and connection is
a powerful way to make a positive impact.
The Just Keep Talking podcast with me,Brother Love, because Your Story Matters.
Ocie Crowe (01:01):
Well, hey everybody.
we're the crow boys.
This is Wes and I'm Ocie and we'rebased out of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Wes and I, we, we grew up in a familythat traveled playing music which is a
really cool way to get to grow up, youknow, and we always had a lot of fun.
we did bands and like junior high andhigh school and there was a point where
we stepped away and, we both got marriedto our wonderful wives and started
famil ies and started pursuing life.
(01:23):
And there came a point where we hadto ask ourselves, what do we stand
for as people and what do we believe?
And for us, we really wanted to pursuethis dream of music and try to stand
for something and make a difference inpeople's life through music And it's
through trying to pursue somethingthat you love, that you find out
who's really gonna have your back.
When things get hard, and I think that's areally hard lesson that everybody in here
would be able to relate to is when, you'rereally pursuing something you believe in
(01:46):
and find, who's really gonna have yourback when things get tough and you see who
turns their back on you and walks away.
And that's what this song's about.
It's about the frustration in that.
It's called Bootstraps
the wayside.
You won't even a lift yourselfup from the bootstraps.
To say because you've got Bootstraps.
(02:08):
Oh my,
oh, hey, I'm now worried about tomorrow.
I'm too worried about today.
I'm falling past the wayside.
You won't even spare a glass.
Lift yourself up from the bootstraps.
(02:28):
Easy to say because you've got.
Bootstraps.
Thank you so much.
We're the crow boys.
Larry (02:33):
I'm here with the Crowe Boys, Ocie and Wes Crowe.
Hello gentlemen.
Man, you guys Made ToWander is there a record.
It is out now on MCA Records,which is formerly Universal.
The universe was just too bigand too wide and too wild.
They had
to
to pair it down, which I think goes withwhat you guys are all about, which is
a little more authentic, a little moregenuine, a little more to the point.
Ocie Crowe (02:55):
Sure.
Larry (02:55):
Born in Baton Rouge.
Built around Ocie Crowe on acousticguitar and West Crowe on mandolin.
The duo's acoustic driven direction hasresonated with alternative Americana
and folk audiences who feel an immediateconnection to songs such as Bootstraps.
The rousing album opener that reflectsa personal, yet relatable experience of
staying hopeful amid constant setbacks.
You guys, are a real success story.
(03:17):
In the greatest way.
Tell me a little bit aboutwhere you come from and how
we
are here now on the 22nd floorin Nashville, Tennessee at
your record label, please.
Just, I heard your story a few weeksago and I could have just recorded that
all in one take and just put that out.
I love everything thatyou're about, so please.
Ocie Crowe (03:36):
Wes and I, we grew up in a family that traveled,
playing gospel music.
And pretty early on in our travelswhen I was about 11 Wes was About
eight years old, we, had, welost our mom to battle of cancer.
And
I,
I would say that's really when music,I think became something different
for us.
It was more about, trying to navigate
our internal selves.
(03:56):
And so we really just started to lean oneach other as brothers and really just
fell in love with playing music together.
And we decided to do thatafter we left our family.
and we all moved To New Orleans together.
And we had started this band called CroweBoys, which is just me and Wes, and at
the time it was our other brother Jacob.
And You know, it wasjust really unsuccessful.
weren't really sure what we wantedto do with music, and we really
(04:17):
just struggled in the music industry
as a whole, just
for a really long time.
But there
was a point where some of our musicended up being found by our good friends.
Now, The Revivalists..
And, we started a relationshipwith them and they wanted
to help us with our record,
and our brother Jacob was like,Hey, I think you guys can go far.
I don't want to tour.
And so he stepped away andwe're very proud of him.
He's a firefighter.
(04:38):
He just had a baby.
he's
doing really well with his life.
and, you know, we reallysupport him for what he does.
So we, we started workingthrough this record
Most of these songs have beenwritten from anywhere from like a few
months, prior to us startingthis project, to years.
Years ago.
And, um, I think a lot of these songsare just about, things that we've gone
through emotionally, things that we'vegone through in life as brothers,
(05:01):
as individuals, as adults, as kids.
And we really just wantedto bring something that
was
like reflective of afull human experience.
So we started this journey with,with our friend Andrew Campanelli.
who's the drummer.
for The Revivalists.
And he produced our record and hewas like, Hey guys, like I know y'all
are serious on social media, butjust keep pressing, keep pushing.
And I was like, okay, well let's just takesome of our music that we've been playing,
(05:23):
you know, we really love folk music.
Let's just keep,
putting that on social media and, um.
You know, we'd been doing that fora while and one day we woke up so
frustrated 'cause we had been doing it for
quite
a while at this point.
And, but we were like, you know what,let's just get up, make the video.
And we
Did we made this video for our songWhere Did I Go Wrong and posted it and
woke
up the next morning tomillions of views and
(05:45):
it just an entire life change.
And we were supposed to go on a tour withour friends in a few weeks Um, as the
opener to, you know, to a bunch of roomsthat were maybe like 30, 40 cap rooms.
And, um, it was wild.
We, we started getting calls fromthe promoters saying like, Hey,
you have to close the show now, and
like you outsold all ofthese rooms and now we have
(06:06):
to move you to bigger rooms.
And Just like a very in themoment life changing experience
to go from like not really sure how todo anything with our music or what we're,
what we're even going to do to seeing areally cool, relationship starting to form
between us and these new, fans and
followers.
And
inside of that, we startedworking with C3 and our great
(06:26):
partners here at MCA and um,
and all The other teams
that have surrounded us that
have just really organicallybeen a part of this,
mission that I think we haveof just bringing goodness to
the world and hope and like
helping people find that there's away to move forward regardless of how
like good
or bad things get, like knowing that yourlife has purpose and meaning and, and,
for us.
I think that's what this record is about.
(06:47):
And so It's been cool to go throughthis whole journey to having just
a few days ago, released our record
Made To Wonder.
Yeah.
Larry (06:54):
I wanna go back to those days.
So
there's a quote that you say,Ocie, which is "Music was where
we went when we were frustrated orangry or confused, or just hurt."
Now this is a life as an artistthat all of us go through.
And the fact that you are brothers andhave each other, and I know that, Wes, you
were talking about how this was somethingthat, I don't know, you may not have been
(07:14):
able to do if you didn't have your family.
With you, your brother, with you.
Is that correct?
Wes Crowe (07:18):
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd say that's correct.
I mean,
it was,
the reason I like wantedto play music at all
was because,
you know, my family was doing
it, and then that was
an outlet for me to get all those
emotions
out
and like leaning on
my brothers.
so,
Larry (07:32):
So You guys are in a band, you, Wes, you were a
bass player in the band, right?
Yeah.
Right.
So you what would you callthe style of the band?
Was it folk music?
Was
Wes Crowe (07:39):
No.
Larry (07:40):
Was it Grunge?
It
Ocie Crowe (07:41):
was like Alternative Rock Pop kind of thing.
Yeah.
It
was very different thanwhat me and Wes do now.
I'd say it was, more so drivento trying to create music that
we hope people would like.
As opposed to music that
we really were inspired by and loved.
Yeah.
It was fun.
We had a good time.
but I think
things really
changed when we started being honest
about who we were as artists.
Larry (08:03):
I read about your story You played a show there's nobody there.
And
look, you could just say the heck with it.
I'm done.
You know, what's the,
Ocie Crowe (08:10):
we did too,
Larry (08:11):
right?
What's the point?
And at this point, either of you,were you married at this point?
Ocie Crowe (08:15):
Uh, I was.
Larry (08:16):
You were married and, oh, see, how old are you now?
Ocie Crowe (08:17):
I'm 26.
Larry (08:18):
You're 26.
You're 26.
So at the time, let's take back, so whatage were you when you were like, you know
what, this show, there's nobody here.
What are we doing this for?
How old were you guys then?
Ocie Crowe (08:27):
man.
This was like maybe
three years
ago.
Larry (08:29):
three years
Wes Crowe (08:29):
ago?
yeah.
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (08:30):
Yeah.
So I was like 20,
22, 23.
Larry (08:32):
Okay.
Wes, how old are you right now?
Wes Crowe (08:34):
Right now.
Yeah,
23.
Larry (08:35):
you're 23, so Ocie
Ocie Crowe (08:36):
You weren't even old enough to be in that bar Actually, now
that I'm thinking about it.
Wes Crowe (08:39):
I wasn't.
Larry (08:40):
Right.
Right.
So you were, you were trying to fit in,
right?
You were trying to fit in asopposed to just being yourselves
and then something clicked.
And the click, going back toyou being brothers, it's a safe
space to be with your brother.
being in a band is hard.
Being in a room with anybody is hard.
So you guys turned to each other.
You played for each other?
To each other.
Ocie Crowe (08:59):
We
did.
We took all of our mics.
I mean, as soon as we realizedlike nobody's here to listen.
I think is really importantmoment for us as brothers.
Even outside of music.
Just as brothers, as
men, as friends.
Yeah.
To say like, when nobody elseis here like we are here.
Yeah.
And So we did, we turned ourmics towards each other and
we played our song Good Days.
Mm-hmm.
Which is really special.
It's on the record.
Yeah.
(09:19):
And we actually really struggled recordingthat song on this record, and we were just
having a really hard time nailing it downand our producer, Andrew was like, Hey,
how
far is your brother?
from here?
Because Jacob wasn't on anyof the rest of the record.
and
he was like,
let's
see if he's free and justlet, let's get him in here.
it was such a magical moment.
He walked into the studio and hewas like, I don't even know if
(09:41):
I remember how to play the song.
And I think we got it
in like one or
Wes Crowe (09:44):
days.
Nails it.
Yeah,
Ocie Crowe (09:45):
It was
just like, it's exactly what it was.
And we just had that momenttogether as brothers playing
it like we did in that venue.
And that's what's on the record.
Larry (09:52):
That's amazing because I've been the front person in my band.
Right.
I remember it being like.
Nobody's here.
What's the point?
And I didn't turn to necessarilymy band member and have a
feeling of vulnerability.
I was angry at the world.
I took out on the crowd that wasthere, the one or two people, which
was probably a relative of mine.
And then I turned and tookit out on my band mates.
I mean, I wasn't a good person
(10:14):
because I was hustling and I wastrying so hard to perform and to
please and to prove to everybody.
Come on, don't you get it?
Don't you get where I'm at?
And you guys went inward.
You did something very mature.
You did something that ispretty impressive and amazing.
So from that point, you startedto write different types of songs?
What is it like to now all of a suddengo from maybe like Grunge or you know,
(10:35):
a Rock, band with a traditional drums,bass, guitar, because Wes, all of a
sudden you picked up the mandolin.
And all of a sudden you guys arewriting different types of songs.
You're writing songs that I would sayare very much more from your heart.
Ocie, you write most of the material andor wrote the material on this record.
What was it like to just finally say, youknow what, I'm gonna do what I wanna do
(10:56):
and it's scary and let's see what happens.
Ocie Crowe (10:58):
It was really freeing.
'Cause I think like lookingback, we had a lot of songs that,
I was like,
man, I'm glad.
We didn't
become known for this
song,
you know, and so it was really
it was really
good looking back at how,
like,
how easy it is to crossover the wall of like
something becoming very
big and well known and popular.
Mm-hmm.
and like
(11:19):
Seeing how
easy it is to just be knownfor something that you've done.
Mm-hmm.
It's, it's kind of a dangerousand scary game and world that
like social media is.
I think we both look back.
and like we're Really gratefulfor what went off when it did.
I think it's scary in that likewhen something is truly a piece
of your heart You and you don'tknow how people are gonna receive
it.
It's the most vulnerableThat an artist can.
(11:42):
be, But I think
regardless
of how many people show up, some of thestories we've been able to hear from
people at how our music's affected them
or changed
their life
has really become
a hyper focus of
ours, of just like connectingwith those people and
like being able to exist with them.
in concert settings andjust surrounding ourselves
(12:02):
with those people and like being able to
kind of grow together.
as
artists and fans and, and
family and friends and just
this journey, of like trying to find
healing
I think is
where we really are and like wherewe're grateful that our music.
is.
But
it requires
a very hard and.
deep
part of yourself.
put into your music.
Larry (12:22):
Yeah.
that little moment where you said,we gotta make our video for, was it
for TikTok or for Instagram or both?
Or
Ocie Crowe (12:27):
It's
all
of it.
Larry (12:28):
it, of Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (12:28):
But for TikTok
Larry (12:29):
Where was your headspace?
Literally, I mean, at that
Ocie Crowe (12:32):
Oh, we are done.
we are, so aggravated.
Larry (12:33):
Wes, where was your head space?
Wes Crowe (12:35):
I, so I
woke up that morning, and Iwas like, I don't wanna do
this, I want to go back to bed.
the weather's not even that great.
Like, it feels like it's about to rain.
Let's just, I got work,
like I gotta work
later that day.
And I just didn't,
I wasn't feeling it.
Um, but when we actually got out there,
and we
played it a couple of times, Ifelt like I was like getting into
it and I remember being like,
(12:56):
he was saying, let's justtake it one more time.
You know,
see what happens.
And I was like, all right, I'm justgonna muster up all the energy that I
have.
Yeah.
And I'm gonna put it into
this video.
That's the video that,
popped off,
Larry (13:06):
Okay, so yeah, so you make the video and the video
was for, Where Did I Go Wrong?
Ocie Crowe (13:10):
Yeah.
Larry (13:10):
And you put the video out and 'cause this is like a
dream come true for everybody.
Just
gimme a little play by play.
Like you look at yourphone and there's not,
how often, by the way, at thispoint were you even looking at
your phone?
Ocie Crowe (13:21):
Okay, I'll run you
through what happens.
So we were told that if you golive right after you post a video,
on TikTok, it helps a little bit.
So we,
posted the video and Wes wentto work, And then I went to,
Larry (13:32):
And where were
you working?
Excuse
me.
Wes Crowe (13:34):
I was, I was
working at a
coffee shop.
Ocie Crowe (13:35):
And so he goes to work and I'm sitting
in this room I'm going live and it's,it's going u as it usually does.
There's like.
eight people in this live andI'm playing our songs trying to
like, get people excited, pleasego check out our last video.
And
all of a sudden they're like,
yo,
your video got.
10,000 views.
And I was like, whoa, that's thebiggest video we've ever put out.
Larry (13:55):
How long?
Ocie Crowe (13:55):
Wait, hold
on.
This is like a few minutes.
after.
This is A few minutes after.
And then all of a sudden they'relike, oh, now it's at 30,000.
And I was like, oh,that's, that's awesome.
And then people in the live start tobuild up, this is like minutes, like
30, 40 minutes after we post the video.
And then there's like 200 peoplein the live, 300 people in the
live, and they start countingdown to a hundred thousand views.
(14:17):
And I'm
like, oh my gosh, Like thisvideo's been out an hour,
and it's already at a hundred
thousand views.
And then
all of a sudden I'm like, Heyguys, like thanks for counting
down to a hundred thousand views.
Like this is amazing moment for us.
This is incredible.
But I have to go to work,
Larry (14:31):
And where were you working?
Ocie Crowe (14:31):
I
was running sound at a music venue.
Larry (14:34):
So you're running
sound
and what are you peeking at your phone
Ocie Crowe (14:37):
Well, okay, so I.
So
I have to like close out and I go
to
the venue and
I have to set up
for these bands.
And then like,
I am like, it's at half a million views
by the end of the night.
And I'm like calling our friends.
I'm like, hey, what does this mean?
Like,
what's happening?
And they were like, we'rejust gonna keep an eye on it.
And the next morning it hit amillion and then over the course
of like the next month or two,
(14:58):
it had hit like 10 million.
And I think it ended upcapping out at like 13.
0.7
million or something like that.
And it was just Like,
we
met everybody that existed.
Every
label, every management
company.
Like it, just everybody wanted,
you
know, it was really, it was areally crazy moment and it was cool
to just like see the life change.
But it was,
okay.
Larry (15:18):
Why do you think that happened?
I mean, I think I know why it happened,but why do you think that happened?
Ocie Crowe (15:23):
Honestly, I think people just connected with it.
'cause it was like somethingeverybody felt at that time.
Yeah.
And still do in a lot of ways.
Like I think a lot of people tookit as a little bit of a political.
song.
But the
truth is like the song is justabout a lot of things that
are
aggravating.
that happen in life.
You know?
Like
when
you leave your house for the first time as
a kid and you move out into theworld, you have these expectations
(15:45):
for what life is gonna be.
and
You get hit a lot by the failureof those expectations coming true.
And that is really whatthat song was about.
is like, oh.
Politics was like for me, oneof the first ones where I got,
like hit hard.
I was like,
oh, I expected more.
And then like trying to stressover like, wait, I thought we were
trying to go to this better place.
But then also like you get in carcrashes and all of this happens and like
(16:08):
relationships and so like a lot of ourrecord, the first three songs are kind
of about that same idea, like Bootstraps.
This
idea of like, you expectthings to go a certain way.
You
expect people
to be in your life and then they walk awayfrom you when you try to pursue something
you love.
I think a lot of people just connectedwith that because it was like,
yeah, we're all kind of getting.
(16:29):
blindsided by life.
Larry (16:31):
Well, you weren't posing that's the thing.
When I met you, the minute I heardthis story, which I'm so happy
that you're sharing, I thoughteverybody needs to hear this story.
You know why?
Because it's my It's
also his story and her story.
It's our story.
I just wanna read the lyrics.
Where did I go wrong?
Looking back at the good old days,not a single thing that I'd change.
Not true.
(16:51):
I hated myself.
This is where you became vulnerable.
You said, no, no, no.
I'm not just gonna whitewash this.
Not true.
I hated myself.
I wish I got caught up in the rain.
You'll make me cry.
You want to be present.
I
wish I wasn't so focused on money.
I wish I wasn't driven by status and Iwish I wasn't focused on all the people
that end up in hell are the ones withthe bad habits, and I thought, Thank you.
(17:14):
Thank you.
that's me every day.
I'm 53, bro, bros.
And that's me to this day.
Yes, you should have 70 billion peopleon your YouTube channel saying, me too.
That's the Me too I'm talking about,for vulnerability, for strength, for
really being in your skin enough toknow who you are to, as Brené Brown
would say, and I'm a big fan of BrenéBrown I quote her on my show a lot.
(17:37):
"Let go of who you think you'resupposed to be and embrace who you are."
Ocie Crowe (17:42):
Oh my gosh, that's so great.
That's so, that is so great.
Larry (17:46):
Right?
When I met you for the first timeand I sat in a, beautiful little
room here at MCA, uh, records.
Thanks for inviting me by the way.
The song Bootstraps blew my mind.
The song Bootstraps, The line, "Liftyourself up from the bootstraps.
It's
easy to say, ' causeyou've got bootstraps."
"I'm not worried about tomorrow.
I'm too worried about today.
(18:06):
Oh mama.
I overthink things in my head andI care too much what people think."
Man, your records, you'resongs, they're timeless.
You're
saying things that are timeless andthank you so much because you know what's
going on for me in this world that I seeis that men especially are too afraid
to speak this truth, this inner truth.
(18:28):
I felt the pain.
I felt the joy.
It's not all just pain, but you'reable to express yourself in your songs
and your honesty is what's speaking
to me and your honesty iswhat's speaking to everybody.
So you wrote all these songs and yourecorded a record and then you got signed.
Did they just let you keepthe record the way it was?
Ocie Crowe (18:46):
They sure did.
Larry (18:47):
Whoa congratulate.
How could you change it?
Could you imagine?
So I like the fact thatyou feel responsible now.
I think there's something in your messagewhen I see you guys, I feel very safe
and very calm, and I feel like you'reboth going out into the world now.
You're gonna hit the road andplay and tour and play festivals,
but you have a message, man.
Ocie Crowe (19:07):
Sure.
Larry (19:07):
What is your message?
You seem, very fired up.
Ocie Crowe (19:10):
I am fired up right now.
So I think
I think the
actual words I've been usingand that we've both kind of
used have changed
over time.
And lately, I feel like thebest way to put, it is that
at the end of the dayeveryone wants to feel,
deeply and feel loved deeply.
But we're too afraid toput ourself out there.
But The truth is, in order to
(19:31):
feel
love and the feel joy at such a deeplevel you also have to put yourself
in a place where you might also
feel pain
and feel hurt at that
same level.
I think that's the perspectivethat most people are afraid of.
I know I was so afraid of, allowingmyself to be hurt for so long,
and
that's why I missed out on so manymoments getting caught in the rain.
(19:52):
That's why I miss out on so manymoments that I look back and think,
man, I, I wish I hadn't missed that.
I wish I was
there and present in that moment.
and I.
missed it, and I won't miss
It again.
And
so I think the only like messageI'd say is like, don't be afraid
to wear your heart on your sleeve.
You know?
And like when you feel alone
Or
hurt,
know
that like
(20:12):
whatever
is happening to you is not who you are.
At the end of the day, no matterwhat happens you are still
a priceless person.
it doesn't matter what youbelieve, doesn't matter politically
where you stand, it doesn't
matter.
whether ethnicity,
religion you are a priceless person.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and so we, we hope that whenyou do need something, to lean
on, you can listen to some
(20:32):
of our songs and knowthat you're not alone.
Because we
as
brothers, as individuals
have experienced and
hurt and pain
and we hope that through
listening to.
it you can know that likeyou're just not by yourself.
Yeah.
So
Larry (20:45):
Yeah.
That's what this show is all about.
When I heard your story,
it drove me nuts to think, you know what?
When I hear every day thatvulnerability is weakness.
When I am being shamed, and peoplearound me are being shamed for feeling,
just for feeling just shut it down.
You know, my parents are boomers and myfather does not understand, and I can't
blame him for not understanding, but Ido get upset with him for not wanting
(21:07):
to know why I am hurting, And it upsetsme that we have so much division in this
country where it's like, Hey, if you'revulnerable, something wrong with you.
I got news for you folks.
About 13 million people toldyou that you are doing the exact
right thing by being vulnerable.
And that's the thing that I have hope.
I have so much hope becauseof what you guys are doing.
I truly do.
Bootstraps blew my mind.
(21:28):
And then when you have asong like Brother Song.
It just broke my heart in the best way.
"Feel my beating chest.
Let it anchor in.
Don't try to end it all."
When you said don't try to end it all,were you saying like, like suicide or were
you saying just blow it all up or both?
Ocie Crowe (21:43):
I guess it could depend on, like.
I know, like for me personally mm-hmm.
Which I, I don't share a lot
and it's been
hard, but I know, like I've had moments.
where I would like, havewanted to end my life
And
I, I
have like
very few people in mylife who I share that with
Um,
but Wes is one.
of them, and
(22:03):
so I, I originally wrote that song.
I think
because on
stage singing it andus singing it together,
it's like We can
know
that we have each other asbrothers to lean on in that aspect.
But
just like there's a lot of anxiety and
and
chaos and you know, like
I think a lot of.
people see
the exciting success story, butthe truth is like there's also just
(22:26):
as much that we've
lost
that we've
been like, hurt from through this process.
And I think
just having that accountability witheach other was the most important part.
But
also for whoever's listening, likewhatever that is for you, like
whatever
you're planning on ending, like sometimesit's not worth ending a relationship.
Sometimes it might.
be, But
I
think it's always worth
(22:46):
like trying to fight for.
Continuing on and likefinding a better place.
in life.
Larry (22:51):
"Brother, lean on me."
You say "When I kneel to pray, ormaybe when I pay for the sins I commit.
"So hold your head up high.
Laugh at all the little voices in yourhead that tell you You're better off dead.
I tell you", Ocie is telling us, andWes, "There's no better sky than the
one that sets the sun each night.
To wake up for another day andtry to fight the clouds away."
(23:13):
You know, we forget that the skyis blue all the time up there.
We forget that the starsare there all the time.
We really do.
The clouds they come, they go.
The mental emotions they come, they go.
They, they are not whowe are, they're just not.
And the fact that you have each otherit's precious, it's very precious.
I'll go back to, uh, Thich NhatHanh, who's a Buddhist monk and poet.
(23:36):
He wrote "True wisdom and compassionare born from touching, real suffering."
And I feel like you guys arereally wise beyond your years.
And you have character and you haveintegrity, and you write songs.
Now you gotta go out into the world.
Ocie Crowe (23:49):
Mm-hmm.
Larry (23:49):
Touring is hard.
this is amazingly toughbusiness that you're in.
Wes, what do you see as far as,like, do you have things in place?
Do you feel like you have something inplace that I can say, all right, when
I get out on the road, I have somethingthat, uh, maybe an exercise routine.
Or maybe I'm gonna just be able to,
stay tethered to something.
I have to stay connected tosomething or someone because
(24:10):
it's a wild world out there noweverybody wants a piece of you guys.
Ocie Crowe (24:13):
Sure.
Wes Crowe (24:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think something we've both recently started,
doing is journaling.
Larry (24:18):
Mm.
Wes Crowe (24:19):
I mean, Just waking up every
morning and just writing
like my thoughts
down.
And of course like everyday gotta text the wife,
gotta call the wife.
You know, Just, just make sure like, she's
okay.
I'm Okay.
How are we
both feeling how are we
both doing?
Also
things like yoga andexercise just put me in a, a
mental head space
of
just like to clear my head of
(24:40):
of tour.
'Cause tour is it does get hard
and
i'm a very
like,
social anxious person.
When I'm in big crowds, I
I get
really
like,
anxious.
And, stuff
like that helps a lot.
Larry (24:53):
That's not an easy thing to do.
I mean, I've been on tour for, you know,my whole adult life and I come back and
I go, wow, I'm spent I didn't call mywife enough, you know, and vice versa.
She's on the road.
I mean, having these things in place.
What do you have, Ocieand you, by the way?
Excuse me?
You both have children?
Ocie Crowe (25:09):
I
have.
I have
Larry (25:10):
Ocie you got kids?
Ocie Crowe (25:11):
I
have two.
Larry (25:12):
You got two kids.
Wes, you have a wife.
Got any pets?
Wes Crowe (25:15):
No.
Larry (25:16):
Okay.
You had to think about that.
That's kind of funny.
So
how old are your children
Ocie?
Ocie Crowe (25:20):
So
my
daughter
Josephine is four.
And my son is two.
Mm-hmm.
And they are a lot,
but I, I love him to death.
Larry (25:27):
Wow.
So what do you have in place?
Ocie Crowe (25:29):
I think it boils down to like creating a list.
And
really learning like
what's the
difference between somethingthat makes you happy?
And
something that
actually Refuels you?
Because there's a lot ofthings that are fun on tour
that'll give you a good moment.
Like, like playing a show feels good,
but it, it's not always refueling,
you know?
Or like hanging out withfriends on tour is fun.
And those are moments I like,but they're not always refueling.
(25:52):
Sometimes that's also just
constant exerting energy and creativity.
And so I think trying tofind for you, you know,
as a person, and I think this goes beyond
touring.
I think everyone should have a
list like this,
of things that just allowyour mind to settle.
And your heart and
your, body to just likesettle for a moment.
So
I take a lot of showerswhere I'll just sit,
(26:14):
and just allow my mind to run, you know,
and allow my emotionsthrough the day to like take,
a full course.
Um,
I personally like reallystruggle with just bottling up
and
knuck like white knuckling through life.
So like for the past couple
of years
it's been a lot of, like, finda way to be completely alone
for a
moment,
whether
(26:34):
that be like
an hour, 30 minutes,
you know, even five.
Just as long as youcan, especially on tour.
And
just allow your mind to run its course.
You know,
you, just never know,like what's built up.
You know, like I've spenta lot of time crying on
tour, which is, you know, a
vulnerable thing to say.
Also just like anger or frustrated orconfused and hurt, and it's easy to not
(26:54):
feel those things when you're, on tour.
Yeah.
Do lot of journaling as well.
That's
a good way to like, go backand see where your mind was.
I'd say those are like the two main ones.
And then, yeah, we both hit the gym a lot.
Yeah.
And so like keeping your body in shape and
eating, well.
Like we've had to changeour diet on tour a
lot.
Larry (27:08):
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (27:09):
Just The more intense it gets, the more on top of it you have.
to be.
But yeah, taking time to self-reflect
is very important.
Larry (27:15):
Yeah.
" Integrity is choosingcourage over comfort.
Choosing what is right over whatis fun, fast or easy, and choosing
to practice our values ratherthan simply professing them."
You walk the walk, you talk the talk.
Again, that's Brené Brown.
One day we should haveBrené Brown come in here.
Wes Crowe (27:31):
I'm down.
Larry (27:31):
Let's invite Brené Brown to MCA because I want her to
be able to meet all of us.
But
Ocie Crowe (27:36):
That sounds cool.
Larry (27:36):
You guys, yeah.
It sounds cool.
You guys are wise beyond youryears and you've tasted something,
you've tasted Freedom, right?
I
Ocie Crowe (27:42):
I think so.
You
know, I, that's suchan interesting concept.
A lot of people think that likehaving a lot of money or the ability
to do whatever you want is freedom.
But the truth is, Freedomcomes with discipline.
Love it.
Larry (27:52):
My man.
Ocie Crowe (27:53):
Freedom comes with controlling your mind,
and taking back control of your body.
and, and your own thoughts.
You know, like that'struly a freeing moment.
Larry (28:01):
Isn't that the greatest thing to fight for in your life?
To work for?
I have so much anxiety of Notenough, Not enough, Not enough,
Ocie Crowe (28:09):
Same
Larry (28:09):
Not enough.
Ocie Crowe (28:10):
Who doesn't?
Larry (28:11):
Not enough money.
It's just not, and especiallythese days, I go to the store
and I'm like, oh my gosh, what?
Are you kidding me?
And then when I am, in a space whereI'm walking the dog, the sun is setting.
might have the right musicon, or I'm just free.
Or I'm right here, I'm free right now.
This Is Freedom.
And when you taste thatFreedom, there's nothing better.
There's nothing better.
Wes, what is it like to feel free for you?
Wes Crowe (28:32):
Being alone is very,
freeing for me.
A lot
of times life just gets you down.
And even like people
just get you
down sometimes.
And
I think being alone, takingthose showers just to gather
your thoughts.
And just be with yourself.
because like if you'renot your best friend,
like for yourself, youcan't be somebody else's
Ocie Crowe (28:49):
That's so good.
So
true.
Larry (28:52):
That's everything.
Yeah.
Wes Crowe (28:53):
Yeah.
So
just like, I love cold showerspersonally, and they really just clear my
head of
everything.
The stress, the anxiety,
and
money.
And
it's such a good feeling
when
you're not worried about money.
I don't have a
lot of money.
but I'm not worried about it.
Money, money comes And money goes
Ocie Crowe (29:09):
And it's
gonna go away
eventually too.
Larry (29:11):
What do you mean 13 million streams?
Come on guys,
you're loaded.
No?
Ocie Crowe (29:14):
Yeah, yeah.
Absolutely not.
Larry (29:16):
So there's a distinction here, 'cause you both mentioned
being alone, there's a distinctionbetween being alone and being lonely,
Ocie Crowe (29:21):
Yes.
Very much
Wes Crowe (29:22):
Very much so.
I don't feel so much lonely
specifically
because like
I
do have,
my wife
and Ocie and, I do have friendswho are part of our team
that are here with us, today.
I think it's, more solike, I want to find time,
to be
with myself and spend thattime like getting to know
who I am.
Getting to know myself.
(29:42):
Because like,
If I can't
know
myself, i'm not ready to be
able to put myself out there
to get to know other people.
Larry (29:49):
You free yourself by finding yourself, don't you?
Wes Crowe (29:51):
Absolutely.
Larry (29:52):
You guys fantastic.
You gonna add something,
Ocie?
Ocie Crowe (29:54):
It's such a good
truth.
I
hope that like anybodyhere in that knows that
there's never a place you get.
It's never
about like achieving something
with finding yourself.
It's just
about every
day,
taking the time to get
to know yourself.
if
you've ever been in arelationship, it never
ends
up in a place where it works, perfectly.
You're just constantly growingand I think life is just about
(30:14):
the journey
and taking the steps to
grow deep as, as deep as you can to
know yourself,
and know the people around you.
That's really what it'sabout at the end of the day.
Larry (30:23):
It's amazing
right
? We're here!
UGH, I want to go home,
But if you're already home,
Ocie Crowe (30:27):
You're turning the corner of a circle building.
Larry (30:29):
Yeah.
but if you're already home, whereveryou go, you're always there.
Guys my speed round of questions.
Oh yeah.
Alright.
Ocie,
What fascinates you?
Ocie Crowe (30:37):
Ooh.
Hearing what
other people
are inspired by.
I love people's stories.
Cause you never know what is inspiring
to somebody.
I talked to somebody that was
inspired
by how bricks were made.
and I was like, so,
excited.
Larry (30:49):
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (30:49):
So I love hearing what people are passionate about.
Larry (30:51):
Wes, What
fascinates you?
Wes Crowe (30:52):
Um,
wow.
I mean,
Larry (30:54):
you
had two seconds to think about it.
I'm kidding.
Wes Crowe (30:56):
I thought I was gonna get a different question.
Nature fascinates me a lot.
The forest and the ocean, and
the sky and
I just think is really cool.
Larry (31:04):
Right
Wes Crowe (31:04):
I think it's awesome.
Larry (31:05):
Ocie, What angers you.
What pisses you off?
Ocie Crowe (31:07):
When people have a lack of empathy or respect
for life,
and for other people's life.
Yeah.
Larry (31:13):
Wes,
same question.
What angers you?
What pisses you off, man?
Because I don't wanna piss you off.
By the way, you're both
very intimidating characters becauseWes very much is intimidating
just because you're both tall.
Okay.
And I'm not, and I've alwaysbeen intimidated by tall people.
But let me tell you something.
You look like the Shaman that couldlike handle life with magic or with
brute strength, or with your quietness.
Ocie Crowe (31:34):
That's a very, That's very truth.
Wes Crowe (31:35):
You want my honest opinion?
What pisses me off?
Larry (31:37):
Speak it to the microphone, Wes.
Yes.
Wes Crowe (31:39):
What pisses me off is,
people that gossip behind otherpeople's back who has no defense
towards any of it.
That pisses me off.
Larry (31:48):
Yeah, man.
Wes Crowe (31:49):
Yeah.
Larry (31:49):
Okay!
Ocie, What brings you joy?
Oh,
Ocie Crowe (31:51):
Oh, I think
genuine conversation with
someone.
Yeah.
When
you can really tell that they're being
authentic and genuine
with you.
It just feels very
wholesome and meaningful.
Larry (32:00):
Wes, What brings you joy?
Wes Crowe (32:01):
What
brings me joy?
Ocie Crowe (32:03):
Me, his older
brother.
Ocie!
Wes Crowe (32:05):
No
wrong.
False.
My wife brings me
the most joy
that I've ever had in life.
And I think also going back to
spending those like
moments, just
being
my
friend with myself.
I think that brings me a lot of joy
as
well.
Larry (32:19):
What's your wife's name?
Wes Crowe (32:20):
Harley.
Yeah.
Larry (32:21):
Harley.
If you're listening, he'sgot a huge smile on his face.
He's like a, he's like a tall
Christmas tree
Ocie Crowe (32:25):
My boy crushing.
He's crushing.
Wes Crowe (32:26):
I'm over here blushing.
Larry (32:27):
Yeah, he's
blushing.
Ocie Crowe (32:28):
I'm blushing and crushing.
Larry (32:29):
That's right.
Okay.
Ocie, If you had a magic wand andyou could fix one thing, I got it.
I'm fixing it.
I'm gonna make it better.
What would it be?
Ocie Crowe (32:38):
Oh man.
Uh, that's
a
crazy question.
Um.
if I could fix one
thing?
Probably Wes' wrist.
It's broke right now.
Larry (32:46):
Oh, is your wrist really broken?
Wes Crowe (32:48):
It's it's been
broke since last June.
Larry (32:50):
Your wrist is broken.
A mandolin player's wrist is
broken.
Ocie Crowe (32:54):
He is just been
playing with it.
Wes Crowe (32:56):
Yeah.
Larry (32:56):
You're a tough cat.
My goodness.
Well, I wish a magic wand ontoyour wrist or I hope that there's
some health insurance at the record
label.
Ocie Crowe (33:03):
There is.
It's just hard to get it,
get home long enough to get it
Wes Crowe (33:07):
I just, need some time.
Larry (33:08):
No, I know.
We just got a puppy and he's sixmonths old and he broke his leg.
How do you stop a puppy from,continually breaking its leg open?
So how do you stop a musicianfrom going on tour and doing
what he or she's gotta do?
You can't, you
cannot be
stopped.
Ocie Crowe (33:21):
You should tell our manager
that
Larry (33:22):
Yes,
Wes, if you had that magic wand backfrom your brother what would you fix?
One thing.
Boom.
I got it.
Ocie Crowe (33:28):
Don't, say something stupid.
Don't you do it,
Wes Crowe (33:30):
Fix that gap between yo teeth!
No.
what would I fix?
Ocie Crowe (33:33):
You, can't edit that out.
You can't edit
the gap between your teeth out.
That's so good.
Larry (33:38):
It's gold, baby.
It's gold.
Wes Crowe (33:40):
Hard
question.
Ocie Crowe (33:40):
I know.
It's like, man, there's so many things.
But also like, shouldwe fix anything really?
Wes Crowe (33:45):
If fixing something changes something to where it's now like,
not as meaningful or purposeful?
No.
What would I fix?
Ocie Crowe (33:51):
I think we're getting too
Philosophical here.
Larry (33:53):
That's
an answer.
I mean, really, that's an answer,
Wes Crowe (33:56):
I think
the gossip thing.
If I could just
boop.
gossip.
is no
more.
Ocie Crowe (34:00):
About to
pull a Thanos.
Anybody that's ever gossiped, SNAP!
Larry (34:02):
Gossip be
gossip, be gone.
That's what you're saying.
Wes Crowe (34:04):
Gossip be gone, yes.
Larry (34:05):
Wonderful.
Okay.
Now you thought thatwas the hard question.
All right, boys, gentlemen.
Toilet paper over or under?
Ocie Crowe (34:10):
Over.
Larry (34:11):
Over.
Ocie says over.
Wes Crowe (34:13):
Over,
that's the only right question.
Larry (34:15):
Thank you very
much.
Ocie Crowe (34:15):
It's Inside, like you, can't see the backside of the
toilet paper that's inside out.
Larry (34:19):
Do you know how many nut jobs?
Do you know how many crazy peopleInsane people put their toilet paper on.
I'm kidding.
Ocie Crowe (34:25):
But I actually, personally, I take it off
of the thing and hold the roll.
Larry (34:28):
oh well.
I go into people's houses.
If it's under, I change it forthem to see if they notice.
'cause that's how nuts I am.
Ocie Crowe (34:33):
Just remove it from
their bathroom altogether.
Be like, you don't deserve toilet paper.
Larry (34:37):
And then I learned cats.
If you have a cat, the undermight make a little more sense.
Wes Crowe (34:42):
That's fair.
Larry (34:43):
Okay.
That's fantastic.
I'm gonna leave you with one more quotefrom Howard Thurman, an American Author,
Philosopher, Theologian, and, an amazingEducator and Civil Rights Leader.
"Don't ask for what the world needs.
Ask what makes you comealive and go do it.
Because what the world needsis people who have come alive."
Ocie and Wes Crowe, you have comealive and you have given me a lot of
(35:04):
hope in the future of music and thefuture of humanity because you are
absolutely authentic and wonderful.
Crowe Boys.
New album, Made to Wanderout now on MCA Records.
You guys are touring.
You're gonna be everywhere.
How do we find you?
What's the basic, gimme the quick
Ocie Crowe (35:19):
Crowe boys.com
It's all there
Larry (35:21):
Done.
Thank you so much for tuning intothe Just Keep Talking podcast with
me because Your Story Matters.
Until next time, see ya.
Brother Love (35:30):
You can personally support this show simply by clicking
the tip link in the show notes.
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Please like, share, and subscribe.
Visit our website atwww.justkeeptalking.com,
our YouTube channel.
@JustKeepTalkingPodcast andInstagram @theJustKeepTalkingpodcast.
(35:51):
We all just want to be seen,to be heard and to belong.
Thank you so much for supportingmy mission and the Just Keep
Talking podcast with me, BrotherLove, because Your Story Matters.
Telling our stories is the connective tissue of the
collective human experience.
The Just Keep Talking podcast delvesinto the lives and stories of artists.
What is the impact ofmental health on creativity?
What does it mean to bea creative individual?
Someone who feels deeply, experiencesjoy and pain, intensely and
navigates the challenges of lifethrough the creative process.
(00:21):
With each story shared, we explore theauthentic experience of our basic need
to be seen, to be heard, and to belong.
We are really not so differentfrom one another, nor are we alone.
Together we can inspire, encourage, andenlighten each other to find the true joy
and fulfillment that is within ourselves.
When we just keep talking, we create thespace for gratitude, self-acceptance,
(00:46):
and grace in everyday life.
In a world filled with divisiveness,fostering inclusivity and connection is
a powerful way to make a positive impact.
The Just Keep Talking podcast with me,Brother Love, because Your Story Matters.
Ocie Crowe (01:01):
Well, hey everybody.
we're the crow boys.
This is Wes and I'm Ocie and we'rebased out of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Wes and I, we, we grew up in a familythat traveled playing music which is a
really cool way to get to grow up, youknow, and we always had a lot of fun.
we did bands and like junior high andhigh school and there was a point where
we stepped away and, we both got marriedto our wonderful wives and started
famil ies and started pursuing life.
(01:23):
And there came a point where we hadto ask ourselves, what do we stand
for as people and what do we believe?
And for us, we really wanted to pursuethis dream of music and try to stand
for something and make a difference inpeople's life through music And it's
through trying to pursue somethingthat you love, that you find out
who's really gonna have your back.
When things get hard, and I think that's areally hard lesson that everybody in here
would be able to relate to is when, you'rereally pursuing something you believe in
(01:46):
and find, who's really gonna have yourback when things get tough and you see who
turns their back on you and walks away.
And that's what this song's about.
It's about the frustration in that.
It's called Bootstraps
the wayside.
You won't even a lift yourselfup from the bootstraps.
To say because you've got Bootstraps.
(02:08):
Oh my,
oh, hey, I'm now worried about tomorrow.
I'm too worried about today.
I'm falling past the wayside.
You won't even spare a glass.
Lift yourself up from the bootstraps.
(02:28):
Easy to say because you've got.
Bootstraps.
Thank you so much.
We're the crow boys.
Larry (02:33):
I'm here with the Crowe Boys, Ocie and Wes Crowe.
Hello gentlemen.
Man, you guys Made ToWander is there a record.
It is out now on MCA Records,which is formerly Universal.
The universe was just too bigand too wide and too wild.
They had
to
to pair it down, which I think goes withwhat you guys are all about, which is
a little more authentic, a little moregenuine, a little more to the point.
Ocie Crowe (02:55):
Sure.
Larry (02:55):
Born in Baton Rouge.
Built around Ocie Crowe on acousticguitar and West Crowe on mandolin.
The duo's acoustic driven direction hasresonated with alternative Americana
and folk audiences who feel an immediateconnection to songs such as Bootstraps.
The rousing album opener that reflectsa personal, yet relatable experience of
staying hopeful amid constant setbacks.
You guys, are a real success story.
(03:17):
In the greatest way.
Tell me a little bit aboutwhere you come from and how
we
are here now on the 22nd floorin Nashville, Tennessee at
your record label, please.
Just, I heard your story a few weeksago and I could have just recorded that
all in one take and just put that out.
I love everything thatyou're about, so please.
Ocie Crowe (03:36):
Wes and I, we grew up in a family that traveled,
playing gospel music.
And pretty early on in our travelswhen I was about 11 Wes was About
eight years old, we, had, welost our mom to battle of cancer.
And
I,
I would say that's really when music,I think became something different
for us.
It was more about, trying to navigate
our internal selves.
(03:56):
And so we really just started to lean oneach other as brothers and really just
fell in love with playing music together.
And we decided to do thatafter we left our family.
and we all moved To New Orleans together.
And we had started this band called CroweBoys, which is just me and Wes, and at
the time it was our other brother Jacob.
And You know, it wasjust really unsuccessful.
weren't really sure what we wantedto do with music, and we really
(04:17):
just struggled in the music industry
as a whole, just
for a really long time.
But there
was a point where some of our musicended up being found by our good friends.
Now, The Revivalists..
And, we started a relationshipwith them and they wanted
to help us with our record,
and our brother Jacob was like,Hey, I think you guys can go far.
I don't want to tour.
And so he stepped away andwe're very proud of him.
He's a firefighter.
(04:38):
He just had a baby.
he's
doing really well with his life.
and, you know, we reallysupport him for what he does.
So we, we started workingthrough this record
Most of these songs have beenwritten from anywhere from like a few
months, prior to us startingthis project, to years.
Years ago.
And, um, I think a lot of these songsare just about, things that we've gone
through emotionally, things that we'vegone through in life as brothers,
(05:01):
as individuals, as adults, as kids.
And we really just wantedto bring something that
was
like reflective of afull human experience.
So we started this journey with,with our friend Andrew Campanelli.
who's the drummer.
for The Revivalists.
And he produced our record and hewas like, Hey guys, like I know y'all
are serious on social media, butjust keep pressing, keep pushing.
And I was like, okay, well let's just takesome of our music that we've been playing,
(05:23):
you know, we really love folk music.
Let's just keep,
putting that on social media and, um.
You know, we'd been doing that fora while and one day we woke up so
frustrated 'cause we had been doing it for
quite
a while at this point.
And, but we were like, you know what,let's just get up, make the video.
And we
Did we made this video for our songWhere Did I Go Wrong and posted it and
woke
up the next morning tomillions of views and
(05:45):
it just an entire life change.
And we were supposed to go on a tour withour friends in a few weeks Um, as the
opener to, you know, to a bunch of roomsthat were maybe like 30, 40 cap rooms.
And, um, it was wild.
We, we started getting calls fromthe promoters saying like, Hey,
you have to close the show now, and
like you outsold all ofthese rooms and now we have
(06:06):
to move you to bigger rooms.
And Just like a very in themoment life changing experience
to go from like not really sure how todo anything with our music or what we're,
what we're even going to do to seeing areally cool, relationship starting to form
between us and these new, fans and
followers.
And
inside of that, we startedworking with C3 and our great
(06:26):
partners here at MCA and um,
and all The other teams
that have surrounded us that
have just really organicallybeen a part of this,
mission that I think we haveof just bringing goodness to
the world and hope and like
helping people find that there's away to move forward regardless of how
like good
or bad things get, like knowing that yourlife has purpose and meaning and, and,
for us.
I think that's what this record is about.
(06:47):
And so It's been cool to go throughthis whole journey to having just
a few days ago, released our record
Made To Wonder.
Yeah.
Larry (06:54):
I wanna go back to those days.
So
there's a quote that you say,Ocie, which is "Music was where
we went when we were frustrated orangry or confused, or just hurt."
Now this is a life as an artistthat all of us go through.
And the fact that you are brothers andhave each other, and I know that, Wes, you
were talking about how this was somethingthat, I don't know, you may not have been
(07:14):
able to do if you didn't have your family.
With you, your brother, with you.
Is that correct?
Wes Crowe (07:18):
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd say that's correct.
I mean,
it was,
the reason I like wantedto play music at all
was because,
you know, my family was doing
it, and then that was
an outlet for me to get all those
emotions
out
and like leaning on
my brothers.
so,
Larry (07:32):
So You guys are in a band, you, Wes, you were a
bass player in the band, right?
Yeah.
Right.
So you what would you callthe style of the band?
Was it folk music?
Was
Wes Crowe (07:39):
No.
Larry (07:40):
Was it Grunge?
It
Ocie Crowe (07:41):
was like Alternative Rock Pop kind of thing.
Yeah.
It
was very different thanwhat me and Wes do now.
I'd say it was, more so drivento trying to create music that
we hope people would like.
As opposed to music that
we really were inspired by and loved.
Yeah.
It was fun.
We had a good time.
but I think
things really
changed when we started being honest
about who we were as artists.
Larry (08:03):
I read about your story You played a show there's nobody there.
And
look, you could just say the heck with it.
I'm done.
You know, what's the,
Ocie Crowe (08:10):
we did too,
Larry (08:11):
right?
What's the point?
And at this point, either of you,were you married at this point?
Ocie Crowe (08:15):
Uh, I was.
Larry (08:16):
You were married and, oh, see, how old are you now?
Ocie Crowe (08:17):
I'm 26.
Larry (08:18):
You're 26.
You're 26.
So at the time, let's take back, so whatage were you when you were like, you know
what, this show, there's nobody here.
What are we doing this for?
How old were you guys then?
Ocie Crowe (08:27):
man.
This was like maybe
three years
ago.
Larry (08:29):
three years
Wes Crowe (08:29):
ago?
yeah.
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (08:30):
Yeah.
So I was like 20,
22, 23.
Larry (08:32):
Okay.
Wes, how old are you right now?
Wes Crowe (08:34):
Right now.
Yeah,
23.
Larry (08:35):
you're 23, so Ocie
Ocie Crowe (08:36):
You weren't even old enough to be in that bar Actually, now
that I'm thinking about it.
Wes Crowe (08:39):
I wasn't.
Larry (08:40):
Right.
Right.
So you were, you were trying to fit in,
right?
You were trying to fit in asopposed to just being yourselves
and then something clicked.
And the click, going back toyou being brothers, it's a safe
space to be with your brother.
being in a band is hard.
Being in a room with anybody is hard.
So you guys turned to each other.
You played for each other?
To each other.
Ocie Crowe (08:59):
We
did.
We took all of our mics.
I mean, as soon as we realizedlike nobody's here to listen.
I think is really importantmoment for us as brothers.
Even outside of music.
Just as brothers, as
men, as friends.
Yeah.
To say like, when nobody elseis here like we are here.
Yeah.
And So we did, we turned ourmics towards each other and
we played our song Good Days.
Mm-hmm.
Which is really special.
It's on the record.
Yeah.
(09:19):
And we actually really struggled recordingthat song on this record, and we were just
having a really hard time nailing it downand our producer, Andrew was like, Hey,
how
far is your brother?
from here?
Because Jacob wasn't on anyof the rest of the record.
and
he was like,
let's
see if he's free and justlet, let's get him in here.
it was such a magical moment.
He walked into the studio and hewas like, I don't even know if
(09:41):
I remember how to play the song.
And I think we got it
in like one or
Wes Crowe (09:44):
days.
Nails it.
Yeah,
Ocie Crowe (09:45):
It was
just like, it's exactly what it was.
And we just had that momenttogether as brothers playing
it like we did in that venue.
And that's what's on the record.
Larry (09:52):
That's amazing because I've been the front person in my band.
Right.
I remember it being like.
Nobody's here.
What's the point?
And I didn't turn to necessarilymy band member and have a
feeling of vulnerability.
I was angry at the world.
I took out on the crowd that wasthere, the one or two people, which
was probably a relative of mine.
And then I turned and tookit out on my band mates.
I mean, I wasn't a good person
(10:14):
because I was hustling and I wastrying so hard to perform and to
please and to prove to everybody.
Come on, don't you get it?
Don't you get where I'm at?
And you guys went inward.
You did something very mature.
You did something that ispretty impressive and amazing.
So from that point, you startedto write different types of songs?
What is it like to now all of a suddengo from maybe like Grunge or you know,
(10:35):
a Rock, band with a traditional drums,bass, guitar, because Wes, all of a
sudden you picked up the mandolin.
And all of a sudden you guys arewriting different types of songs.
You're writing songs that I would sayare very much more from your heart.
Ocie, you write most of the material andor wrote the material on this record.
What was it like to just finally say, youknow what, I'm gonna do what I wanna do
(10:56):
and it's scary and let's see what happens.
Ocie Crowe (10:58):
It was really freeing.
'Cause I think like lookingback, we had a lot of songs that,
I was like,
man, I'm glad.
We didn't
become known for this
song,
you know, and so it was really
it was really
good looking back at how,
like,
how easy it is to crossover the wall of like
something becoming very
big and well known and popular.
Mm-hmm.
and like
(11:19):
Seeing how
easy it is to just be knownfor something that you've done.
Mm-hmm.
It's, it's kind of a dangerousand scary game and world that
like social media is.
I think we both look back.
and like we're Really gratefulfor what went off when it did.
I think it's scary in that likewhen something is truly a piece
of your heart You and you don'tknow how people are gonna receive
it.
It's the most vulnerableThat an artist can.
(11:42):
be, But I think
regardless
of how many people show up, some of thestories we've been able to hear from
people at how our music's affected them
or changed
their life
has really become
a hyper focus of
ours, of just like connectingwith those people and
like being able to exist with them.
in concert settings andjust surrounding ourselves
(12:02):
with those people and like being able to
kind of grow together.
as
artists and fans and, and
family and friends and just
this journey, of like trying to find
healing
I think is
where we really are and like wherewe're grateful that our music.
is.
But
it requires
a very hard and.
deep
part of yourself.
put into your music.
Larry (12:22):
Yeah.
that little moment where you said,we gotta make our video for, was it
for TikTok or for Instagram or both?
Or
Ocie Crowe (12:27):
It's
all
of it.
Larry (12:28):
it, of Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (12:28):
But for TikTok
Larry (12:29):
Where was your headspace?
Literally, I mean, at that
Ocie Crowe (12:32):
Oh, we are done.
we are, so aggravated.
Larry (12:33):
Wes, where was your head space?
Wes Crowe (12:35):
I, so I
woke up that morning, and Iwas like, I don't wanna do
this, I want to go back to bed.
the weather's not even that great.
Like, it feels like it's about to rain.
Let's just, I got work,
like I gotta work
later that day.
And I just didn't,
I wasn't feeling it.
Um, but when we actually got out there,
and we
played it a couple of times, Ifelt like I was like getting into
it and I remember being like,
(12:56):
he was saying, let's justtake it one more time.
You know,
see what happens.
And I was like, all right, I'm justgonna muster up all the energy that I
have.
Yeah.
And I'm gonna put it into
this video.
That's the video that,
popped off,
Larry (13:06):
Okay, so yeah, so you make the video and the video
was for, Where Did I Go Wrong?
Ocie Crowe (13:10):
Yeah.
Larry (13:10):
And you put the video out and 'cause this is like a
dream come true for everybody.
Just
gimme a little play by play.
Like you look at yourphone and there's not,
how often, by the way, at thispoint were you even looking at
your phone?
Ocie Crowe (13:21):
Okay, I'll run you
through what happens.
So we were told that if you golive right after you post a video,
on TikTok, it helps a little bit.
So we,
posted the video and Wes wentto work, And then I went to,
Larry (13:32):
And where were
you working?
Excuse
me.
Wes Crowe (13:34):
I was, I was
working at a
coffee shop.
Ocie Crowe (13:35):
And so he goes to work and I'm sitting
in this room I'm going live and it's,it's going u as it usually does.
There's like.
eight people in this live andI'm playing our songs trying to
like, get people excited, pleasego check out our last video.
And
all of a sudden they're like,
yo,
your video got.
10,000 views.
And I was like, whoa, that's thebiggest video we've ever put out.
Larry (13:55):
How long?
Ocie Crowe (13:55):
Wait, hold
on.
This is like a few minutes.
after.
This is A few minutes after.
And then all of a sudden they'relike, oh, now it's at 30,000.
And I was like, oh,that's, that's awesome.
And then people in the live start tobuild up, this is like minutes, like
30, 40 minutes after we post the video.
And then there's like 200 peoplein the live, 300 people in the
live, and they start countingdown to a hundred thousand views.
(14:17):
And I'm
like, oh my gosh, Like thisvideo's been out an hour,
and it's already at a hundred
thousand views.
And then
all of a sudden I'm like, Heyguys, like thanks for counting
down to a hundred thousand views.
Like this is amazing moment for us.
This is incredible.
But I have to go to work,
Larry (14:31):
And where were you working?
Ocie Crowe (14:31):
I
was running sound at a music venue.
Larry (14:34):
So you're running
sound
and what are you peeking at your phone
Ocie Crowe (14:37):
Well, okay, so I.
So
I have to like close out and I go
to
the venue and
I have to set up
for these bands.
And then like,
I am like, it's at half a million views
by the end of the night.
And I'm like calling our friends.
I'm like, hey, what does this mean?
Like,
what's happening?
And they were like, we'rejust gonna keep an eye on it.
And the next morning it hit amillion and then over the course
of like the next month or two,
(14:58):
it had hit like 10 million.
And I think it ended upcapping out at like 13.
0.7
million or something like that.
And it was just Like,
we
met everybody that existed.
Every
label, every management
company.
Like it, just everybody wanted,
you
know, it was really, it was areally crazy moment and it was cool
to just like see the life change.
But it was,
okay.
Larry (15:18):
Why do you think that happened?
I mean, I think I know why it happened,but why do you think that happened?
Ocie Crowe (15:23):
Honestly, I think people just connected with it.
'cause it was like somethingeverybody felt at that time.
Yeah.
And still do in a lot of ways.
Like I think a lot of people tookit as a little bit of a political.
song.
But the
truth is like the song is justabout a lot of things that
are
aggravating.
that happen in life.
You know?
Like
when
you leave your house for the first time as
a kid and you move out into theworld, you have these expectations
(15:45):
for what life is gonna be.
and
You get hit a lot by the failureof those expectations coming true.
And that is really whatthat song was about.
is like, oh.
Politics was like for me, oneof the first ones where I got,
like hit hard.
I was like,
oh, I expected more.
And then like trying to stressover like, wait, I thought we were
trying to go to this better place.
But then also like you get in carcrashes and all of this happens and like
(16:08):
relationships and so like a lot of ourrecord, the first three songs are kind
of about that same idea, like Bootstraps.
This
idea of like, you expectthings to go a certain way.
You
expect people
to be in your life and then they walk awayfrom you when you try to pursue something
you love.
I think a lot of people just connectedwith that because it was like,
yeah, we're all kind of getting.
(16:29):
blindsided by life.
Larry (16:31):
Well, you weren't posing that's the thing.
When I met you, the minute I heardthis story, which I'm so happy
that you're sharing, I thoughteverybody needs to hear this story.
You know why?
Because it's my It's
also his story and her story.
It's our story.
I just wanna read the lyrics.
Where did I go wrong?
Looking back at the good old days,not a single thing that I'd change.
Not true.
(16:51):
I hated myself.
This is where you became vulnerable.
You said, no, no, no.
I'm not just gonna whitewash this.
Not true.
I hated myself.
I wish I got caught up in the rain.
You'll make me cry.
You want to be present.
I
wish I wasn't so focused on money.
I wish I wasn't driven by status and Iwish I wasn't focused on all the people
that end up in hell are the ones withthe bad habits, and I thought, Thank you.
(17:14):
Thank you.
that's me every day.
I'm 53, bro, bros.
And that's me to this day.
Yes, you should have 70 billion peopleon your YouTube channel saying, me too.
That's the Me too I'm talking about,for vulnerability, for strength, for
really being in your skin enough toknow who you are to, as Brené Brown
would say, and I'm a big fan of BrenéBrown I quote her on my show a lot.
(17:37):
"Let go of who you think you'resupposed to be and embrace who you are."
Ocie Crowe (17:42):
Oh my gosh, that's so great.
That's so, that is so great.
Larry (17:46):
Right?
When I met you for the first timeand I sat in a, beautiful little
room here at MCA, uh, records.
Thanks for inviting me by the way.
The song Bootstraps blew my mind.
The song Bootstraps, The line, "Liftyourself up from the bootstraps.
It's
easy to say, ' causeyou've got bootstraps."
"I'm not worried about tomorrow.
I'm too worried about today.
(18:06):
Oh mama.
I overthink things in my head andI care too much what people think."
Man, your records, you'resongs, they're timeless.
You're
saying things that are timeless andthank you so much because you know what's
going on for me in this world that I seeis that men especially are too afraid
to speak this truth, this inner truth.
(18:28):
I felt the pain.
I felt the joy.
It's not all just pain, but you'reable to express yourself in your songs
and your honesty is what's speaking
to me and your honesty iswhat's speaking to everybody.
So you wrote all these songs and yourecorded a record and then you got signed.
Did they just let you keepthe record the way it was?
Ocie Crowe (18:46):
They sure did.
Larry (18:47):
Whoa congratulate.
How could you change it?
Could you imagine?
So I like the fact thatyou feel responsible now.
I think there's something in your messagewhen I see you guys, I feel very safe
and very calm, and I feel like you'reboth going out into the world now.
You're gonna hit the road andplay and tour and play festivals,
but you have a message, man.
Ocie Crowe (19:07):
Sure.
Larry (19:07):
What is your message?
You seem, very fired up.
Ocie Crowe (19:10):
I am fired up right now.
So I think
I think the
actual words I've been usingand that we've both kind of
used have changed
over time.
And lately, I feel like thebest way to put, it is that
at the end of the dayeveryone wants to feel,
deeply and feel loved deeply.
But we're too afraid toput ourself out there.
But The truth is, in order to
(19:31):
feel
love and the feel joy at such a deeplevel you also have to put yourself
in a place where you might also
feel pain
and feel hurt at that
same level.
I think that's the perspectivethat most people are afraid of.
I know I was so afraid of, allowingmyself to be hurt for so long,
and
that's why I missed out on so manymoments getting caught in the rain.
(19:52):
That's why I miss out on so manymoments that I look back and think,
man, I, I wish I hadn't missed that.
I wish I was
there and present in that moment.
and I.
missed it, and I won't miss
It again.
And
so I think the only like messageI'd say is like, don't be afraid
to wear your heart on your sleeve.
You know?
And like when you feel alone
Or
hurt,
know
that like
(20:12):
whatever
is happening to you is not who you are.
At the end of the day, no matterwhat happens you are still
a priceless person.
it doesn't matter what youbelieve, doesn't matter politically
where you stand, it doesn't
matter.
whether ethnicity,
religion you are a priceless person.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and so we, we hope that whenyou do need something, to lean
on, you can listen to some
(20:32):
of our songs and knowthat you're not alone.
Because we
as
brothers, as individuals
have experienced and
hurt and pain
and we hope that through
listening to.
it you can know that likeyou're just not by yourself.
Yeah.
So
Larry (20:45):
Yeah.
That's what this show is all about.
When I heard your story,
it drove me nuts to think, you know what?
When I hear every day thatvulnerability is weakness.
When I am being shamed, and peoplearound me are being shamed for feeling,
just for feeling just shut it down.
You know, my parents are boomers and myfather does not understand, and I can't
blame him for not understanding, but Ido get upset with him for not wanting
(21:07):
to know why I am hurting, And it upsetsme that we have so much division in this
country where it's like, Hey, if you'revulnerable, something wrong with you.
I got news for you folks.
About 13 million people toldyou that you are doing the exact
right thing by being vulnerable.
And that's the thing that I have hope.
I have so much hope becauseof what you guys are doing.
I truly do.
Bootstraps blew my mind.
(21:28):
And then when you have asong like Brother Song.
It just broke my heart in the best way.
"Feel my beating chest.
Let it anchor in.
Don't try to end it all."
When you said don't try to end it all,were you saying like, like suicide or were
you saying just blow it all up or both?
Ocie Crowe (21:43):
I guess it could depend on, like.
I know, like for me personally mm-hmm.
Which I, I don't share a lot
and it's been
hard, but I know, like I've had moments.
where I would like, havewanted to end my life
And
I, I
have like
very few people in mylife who I share that with
Um,
but Wes is one.
of them, and
(22:03):
so I, I originally wrote that song.
I think
because on
stage singing it andus singing it together,
it's like We can
know
that we have each other asbrothers to lean on in that aspect.
But
just like there's a lot of anxiety and
and
chaos and you know, like
I think a lot of.
people see
the exciting success story, butthe truth is like there's also just
(22:26):
as much that we've
lost
that we've
been like, hurt from through this process.
And I think
just having that accountability witheach other was the most important part.
But
also for whoever's listening, likewhatever that is for you, like
whatever
you're planning on ending, like sometimesit's not worth ending a relationship.
Sometimes it might.
be, But
I
think it's always worth
(22:46):
like trying to fight for.
Continuing on and likefinding a better place.
in life.
Larry (22:51):
"Brother, lean on me."
You say "When I kneel to pray, ormaybe when I pay for the sins I commit.
"So hold your head up high.
Laugh at all the little voices in yourhead that tell you You're better off dead.
I tell you", Ocie is telling us, andWes, "There's no better sky than the
one that sets the sun each night.
To wake up for another day andtry to fight the clouds away."
(23:13):
You know, we forget that the skyis blue all the time up there.
We forget that the starsare there all the time.
We really do.
The clouds they come, they go.
The mental emotions they come, they go.
They, they are not whowe are, they're just not.
And the fact that you have each otherit's precious, it's very precious.
I'll go back to, uh, Thich NhatHanh, who's a Buddhist monk and poet.
(23:36):
He wrote "True wisdom and compassionare born from touching, real suffering."
And I feel like you guys arereally wise beyond your years.
And you have character and you haveintegrity, and you write songs.
Now you gotta go out into the world.
Ocie Crowe (23:49):
Mm-hmm.
Larry (23:49):
Touring is hard.
this is amazingly toughbusiness that you're in.
Wes, what do you see as far as,like, do you have things in place?
Do you feel like you have something inplace that I can say, all right, when
I get out on the road, I have somethingthat, uh, maybe an exercise routine.
Or maybe I'm gonna just be able to,
stay tethered to something.
I have to stay connected tosomething or someone because
(24:10):
it's a wild world out there noweverybody wants a piece of you guys.
Ocie Crowe (24:13):
Sure.
Wes Crowe (24:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think something we've both recently started,
doing is journaling.
Larry (24:18):
Mm.
Wes Crowe (24:19):
I mean, Just waking up every
morning and just writing
like my thoughts
down.
And of course like everyday gotta text the wife,
gotta call the wife.
You know, Just, just make sure like, she's
okay.
I'm Okay.
How are we
both feeling how are we
both doing?
Also
things like yoga andexercise just put me in a, a
mental head space
of
just like to clear my head of
(24:40):
of tour.
'Cause tour is it does get hard
and
i'm a very
like,
social anxious person.
When I'm in big crowds, I
I get
really
like,
anxious.
And, stuff
like that helps a lot.
Larry (24:53):
That's not an easy thing to do.
I mean, I've been on tour for, you know,my whole adult life and I come back and
I go, wow, I'm spent I didn't call mywife enough, you know, and vice versa.
She's on the road.
I mean, having these things in place.
What do you have, Ocieand you, by the way?
Excuse me?
You both have children?
Ocie Crowe (25:09):
I
have.
I have
Larry (25:10):
Ocie you got kids?
Ocie Crowe (25:11):
I
have two.
Larry (25:12):
You got two kids.
Wes, you have a wife.
Got any pets?
Wes Crowe (25:15):
No.
Larry (25:16):
Okay.
You had to think about that.
That's kind of funny.
So
how old are your children
Ocie?
Ocie Crowe (25:20):
So
my
daughter
Josephine is four.
And my son is two.
Mm-hmm.
And they are a lot,
but I, I love him to death.
Larry (25:27):
Wow.
So what do you have in place?
Ocie Crowe (25:29):
I think it boils down to like creating a list.
And
really learning like
what's the
difference between somethingthat makes you happy?
And
something that
actually Refuels you?
Because there's a lot ofthings that are fun on tour
that'll give you a good moment.
Like, like playing a show feels good,
but it, it's not always refueling,
you know?
Or like hanging out withfriends on tour is fun.
And those are moments I like,but they're not always refueling.
(25:52):
Sometimes that's also just
constant exerting energy and creativity.
And so I think trying tofind for you, you know,
as a person, and I think this goes beyond
touring.
I think everyone should have a
list like this,
of things that just allowyour mind to settle.
And your heart and
your, body to just likesettle for a moment.
So
I take a lot of showerswhere I'll just sit,
(26:14):
and just allow my mind to run, you know,
and allow my emotionsthrough the day to like take,
a full course.
Um,
I personally like reallystruggle with just bottling up
and
knuck like white knuckling through life.
So like for the past couple
of years
it's been a lot of, like, finda way to be completely alone
for a
moment,
whether
(26:34):
that be like
an hour, 30 minutes,
you know, even five.
Just as long as youcan, especially on tour.
And
just allow your mind to run its course.
You know,
you, just never know,like what's built up.
You know, like I've spenta lot of time crying on
tour, which is, you know, a
vulnerable thing to say.
Also just like anger or frustrated orconfused and hurt, and it's easy to not
(26:54):
feel those things when you're, on tour.
Yeah.
Do lot of journaling as well.
That's
a good way to like, go backand see where your mind was.
I'd say those are like the two main ones.
And then, yeah, we both hit the gym a lot.
Yeah.
And so like keeping your body in shape and
eating, well.
Like we've had to changeour diet on tour a
lot.
Larry (27:08):
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (27:09):
Just The more intense it gets, the more on top of it you have.
to be.
But yeah, taking time to self-reflect
is very important.
Larry (27:15):
Yeah.
" Integrity is choosingcourage over comfort.
Choosing what is right over whatis fun, fast or easy, and choosing
to practice our values ratherthan simply professing them."
You walk the walk, you talk the talk.
Again, that's Brené Brown.
One day we should haveBrené Brown come in here.
Wes Crowe (27:31):
I'm down.
Larry (27:31):
Let's invite Brené Brown to MCA because I want her to
be able to meet all of us.
But
Ocie Crowe (27:36):
That sounds cool.
Larry (27:36):
You guys, yeah.
It sounds cool.
You guys are wise beyond youryears and you've tasted something,
you've tasted Freedom, right?
I
Ocie Crowe (27:42):
I think so.
You
know, I, that's suchan interesting concept.
A lot of people think that likehaving a lot of money or the ability
to do whatever you want is freedom.
But the truth is, Freedomcomes with discipline.
Love it.
Larry (27:52):
My man.
Ocie Crowe (27:53):
Freedom comes with controlling your mind,
and taking back control of your body.
and, and your own thoughts.
You know, like that'struly a freeing moment.
Larry (28:01):
Isn't that the greatest thing to fight for in your life?
To work for?
I have so much anxiety of Notenough, Not enough, Not enough,
Ocie Crowe (28:09):
Same
Larry (28:09):
Not enough.
Ocie Crowe (28:10):
Who doesn't?
Larry (28:11):
Not enough money.
It's just not, and especiallythese days, I go to the store
and I'm like, oh my gosh, what?
Are you kidding me?
And then when I am, in a space whereI'm walking the dog, the sun is setting.
might have the right musicon, or I'm just free.
Or I'm right here, I'm free right now.
This Is Freedom.
And when you taste thatFreedom, there's nothing better.
There's nothing better.
Wes, what is it like to feel free for you?
Wes Crowe (28:32):
Being alone is very,
freeing for me.
A lot
of times life just gets you down.
And even like people
just get you
down sometimes.
And
I think being alone, takingthose showers just to gather
your thoughts.
And just be with yourself.
because like if you'renot your best friend,
like for yourself, youcan't be somebody else's
Ocie Crowe (28:49):
That's so good.
So
true.
Larry (28:52):
That's everything.
Yeah.
Wes Crowe (28:53):
Yeah.
So
just like, I love cold showerspersonally, and they really just clear my
head of
everything.
The stress, the anxiety,
and
money.
And
it's such a good feeling
when
you're not worried about money.
I don't have a
lot of money.
but I'm not worried about it.
Money, money comes And money goes
Ocie Crowe (29:09):
And it's
gonna go away
eventually too.
Larry (29:11):
What do you mean 13 million streams?
Come on guys,
you're loaded.
No?
Ocie Crowe (29:14):
Yeah, yeah.
Absolutely not.
Larry (29:16):
So there's a distinction here, 'cause you both mentioned
being alone, there's a distinctionbetween being alone and being lonely,
Ocie Crowe (29:21):
Yes.
Very much
Wes Crowe (29:22):
Very much so.
I don't feel so much lonely
specifically
because like
I
do have,
my wife
and Ocie and, I do have friendswho are part of our team
that are here with us, today.
I think it's, more solike, I want to find time,
to be
with myself and spend thattime like getting to know
who I am.
Getting to know myself.
(29:42):
Because like,
If I can't
know
myself, i'm not ready to be
able to put myself out there
to get to know other people.
Larry (29:49):
You free yourself by finding yourself, don't you?
Wes Crowe (29:51):
Absolutely.
Larry (29:52):
You guys fantastic.
You gonna add something,
Ocie?
Ocie Crowe (29:54):
It's such a good
truth.
I
hope that like anybodyhere in that knows that
there's never a place you get.
It's never
about like achieving something
with finding yourself.
It's just
about every
day,
taking the time to get
to know yourself.
if
you've ever been in arelationship, it never
ends
up in a place where it works, perfectly.
You're just constantly growingand I think life is just about
(30:14):
the journey
and taking the steps to
grow deep as, as deep as you can to
know yourself,
and know the people around you.
That's really what it'sabout at the end of the day.
Larry (30:23):
It's amazing
right
? We're here!
UGH, I want to go home,
But if you're already home,
Ocie Crowe (30:27):
You're turning the corner of a circle building.
Larry (30:29):
Yeah.
but if you're already home, whereveryou go, you're always there.
Guys my speed round of questions.
Oh yeah.
Alright.
Ocie,
What fascinates you?
Ocie Crowe (30:37):
Ooh.
Hearing what
other people
are inspired by.
I love people's stories.
Cause you never know what is inspiring
to somebody.
I talked to somebody that was
inspired
by how bricks were made.
and I was like, so,
excited.
Larry (30:49):
Yeah.
Ocie Crowe (30:49):
So I love hearing what people are passionate about.
Larry (30:51):
Wes, What
fascinates you?
Wes Crowe (30:52):
Um,
wow.
I mean,
Larry (30:54):
you
had two seconds to think about it.
I'm kidding.
Wes Crowe (30:56):
I thought I was gonna get a different question.
Nature fascinates me a lot.
The forest and the ocean, and
the sky and
I just think is really cool.
Larry (31:04):
Right
Wes Crowe (31:04):
I think it's awesome.
Larry (31:05):
Ocie, What angers you.
What pisses you off?
Ocie Crowe (31:07):
When people have a lack of empathy or respect
for life,
and for other people's life.
Yeah.
Larry (31:13):
Wes,
same question.
What angers you?
What pisses you off, man?
Because I don't wanna piss you off.
By the way, you're both
very intimidating characters becauseWes very much is intimidating
just because you're both tall.
Okay.
And I'm not, and I've alwaysbeen intimidated by tall people.
But let me tell you something.
You look like the Shaman that couldlike handle life with magic or with
brute strength, or with your quietness.
Ocie Crowe (31:34):
That's a very, That's very truth.
Wes Crowe (31:35):
You want my honest opinion?
What pisses me off?
Larry (31:37):
Speak it to the microphone, Wes.
Yes.
Wes Crowe (31:39):
What pisses me off is,
people that gossip behind otherpeople's back who has no defense
towards any of it.
That pisses me off.
Larry (31:48):
Yeah, man.
Wes Crowe (31:49):
Yeah.
Larry (31:49):
Okay!
Ocie, What brings you joy?
Oh,
Ocie Crowe (31:51):
Oh, I think
genuine conversation with
someone.
Yeah.
When
you can really tell that they're being
authentic and genuine
with you.
It just feels very
wholesome and meaningful.
Larry (32:00):
Wes, What brings you joy?
Wes Crowe (32:01):
What
brings me joy?
Ocie Crowe (32:03):
Me, his older
brother.
Ocie!
Wes Crowe (32:05):
No
wrong.
False.
My wife brings me
the most joy
that I've ever had in life.
And I think also going back to
spending those like
moments, just
being
my
friend with myself.
I think that brings me a lot of joy
as
well.
Larry (32:19):
What's your wife's name?
Wes Crowe (32:20):
Harley.
Yeah.
Larry (32:21):
Harley.
If you're listening, he'sgot a huge smile on his face.
He's like a, he's like a tall
Christmas tree
Ocie Crowe (32:25):
My boy crushing.
He's crushing.
Wes Crowe (32:26):
I'm over here blushing.
Larry (32:27):
Yeah, he's
blushing.
Ocie Crowe (32:28):
I'm blushing and crushing.
Larry (32:29):
That's right.
Okay.
Ocie, If you had a magic wand andyou could fix one thing, I got it.
I'm fixing it.
I'm gonna make it better.
What would it be?
Ocie Crowe (32:38):
Oh man.
Uh, that's
a
crazy question.
Um.
if I could fix one
thing?
Probably Wes' wrist.
It's broke right now.
Larry (32:46):
Oh, is your wrist really broken?
Wes Crowe (32:48):
It's it's been
broke since last June.
Larry (32:50):
Your wrist is broken.
A mandolin player's wrist is
broken.
Ocie Crowe (32:54):
He is just been
playing with it.
Wes Crowe (32:56):
Yeah.
Larry (32:56):
You're a tough cat.
My goodness.
Well, I wish a magic wand ontoyour wrist or I hope that there's
some health insurance at the record
label.
Ocie Crowe (33:03):
There is.
It's just hard to get it,
get home long enough to get it
Wes Crowe (33:07):
I just, need some time.
Larry (33:08):
No, I know.
We just got a puppy and he's sixmonths old and he broke his leg.
How do you stop a puppy from,continually breaking its leg open?
So how do you stop a musicianfrom going on tour and doing
what he or she's gotta do?
You can't, you
cannot be
stopped.
Ocie Crowe (33:21):
You should tell our manager
that
Larry (33:22):
Yes,
Wes, if you had that magic wand backfrom your brother what would you fix?
One thing.
Boom.
I got it.
Ocie Crowe (33:28):
Don't, say something stupid.
Don't you do it,
Wes Crowe (33:30):
Fix that gap between yo teeth!
No.
what would I fix?
Ocie Crowe (33:33):
You, can't edit that out.
You can't edit
the gap between your teeth out.
That's so good.
Larry (33:38):
It's gold, baby.
It's gold.
Wes Crowe (33:40):
Hard
question.
Ocie Crowe (33:40):
I know.
It's like, man, there's so many things.
But also like, shouldwe fix anything really?
Wes Crowe (33:45):
If fixing something changes something to where it's now like,
not as meaningful or purposeful?
No.
What would I fix?
Ocie Crowe (33:51):
I think we're getting too
Philosophical here.
Larry (33:53):
That's
an answer.
I mean, really, that's an answer,
Wes Crowe (33:56):
I think
the gossip thing.
If I could just
boop.
gossip.
is no
more.
Ocie Crowe (34:00):
About to
pull a Thanos.
Anybody that's ever gossiped, SNAP!
Larry (34:02):
Gossip be
gossip, be gone.
That's what you're saying.
Wes Crowe (34:04):
Gossip be gone, yes.
Larry (34:05):
Wonderful.
Okay.
Now you thought thatwas the hard question.
All right, boys, gentlemen.
Toilet paper over or under?
Ocie Crowe (34:10):
Over.
Larry (34:11):
Over.
Ocie says over.
Wes Crowe (34:13):
Over,
that's the only right question.
Larry (34:15):
Thank you very
much.
Ocie Crowe (34:15):
It's Inside, like you, can't see the backside of the
toilet paper that's inside out.
Larry (34:19):
Do you know how many nut jobs?
Do you know how many crazy peopleInsane people put their toilet paper on.
I'm kidding.
Ocie Crowe (34:25):
But I actually, personally, I take it off
of the thing and hold the roll.
Larry (34:28):
oh well.
I go into people's houses.
If it's under, I change it forthem to see if they notice.
'cause that's how nuts I am.
Ocie Crowe (34:33):
Just remove it from
their bathroom altogether.
Be like, you don't deserve toilet paper.
Larry (34:37):
And then I learned cats.
If you have a cat, the undermight make a little more sense.
Wes Crowe (34:42):
That's fair.
Larry (34:43):
Okay.
That's fantastic.
I'm gonna leave you with one more quotefrom Howard Thurman, an American Author,
Philosopher, Theologian, and, an amazingEducator and Civil Rights Leader.
"Don't ask for what the world needs.
Ask what makes you comealive and go do it.
Because what the world needsis people who have come alive."
Ocie and Wes Crowe, you have comealive and you have given me a lot of
(35:04):
hope in the future of music and thefuture of humanity because you are
absolutely authentic and wonderful.
Crowe Boys.
New album, Made to Wanderout now on MCA Records.
You guys are touring.
You're gonna be everywhere.
How do we find you?
What's the basic, gimme the quick
Ocie Crowe (35:19):
Crowe boys.com
It's all there
Larry (35:21):
Done.
Thank you so much for tuning intothe Just Keep Talking podcast with
me because Your Story Matters.
Until next time, see ya.
Brother Love (35:30):
You can personally support this show simply by clicking
the tip link in the show notes.
The Just Keep Talking podcast is nowavailable on all podcast platforms.
Please like, share, and subscribe.
Visit our website atwww.justkeeptalking.com,
our YouTube channel.
@JustKeepTalkingPodcast andInstagram @theJustKeepTalkingpodcast.
(35:51):
We all just want to be seen,to be heard and to belong.
Thank you so much for supportingmy mission and the Just Keep
Talking podcast with me, BrotherLove, because Your Story Matters.
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