Gary Allan: Hard- way honky tonk
Gary Allan was offered his first record contract at 15, after two years of playing honky tonk bars with his dad.
He somehow had the willpower to turn it down, heeding the advice of his parents to finish school.
His patience would pay off years later. Starting with his 1996 debut Used Heart For Sale, Allan has been a country music force — an old school throwback to the rugged, whisky- soaked singers of the ’ 60s and ’ 70s.
The road hasn’t always been smooth: Along with four number one country singles in the U. S., he suffered through the suicide of his third wife, Angela, in 2004. He filtered his own depression the following year with his harrowing sixth album, Tough All Over.
Allan has released just three albums since, with a new one reportedly finished for two years waiting for release.
Before he plays the Seneca Niagara Casino Saturday, Allan checked in for some Q& A with The Review:
You grew up in California, but did you ever visit Niagara Falls as a kid? Or even as an adult?
Allan: We have played the Niagara Falls area several times. It is a beautiful area and we enjoy coming up here whenever we have the chance. The band, crew and I have actually done the boat tour of the falls.
I imagine a lot of your friends growing up in the ’ 70s leaned towards rock — what pointed you in the direction of country?
Allan: My Dad was big fan of traditional country music — Haggard, Jones, Cash, Waylon, Willie, Buck, etc. He took me to my first concert, Ernest Tubb. That is the music I grew up on and what I learned to play. However, my music taste is quite eclectic. If you got in my car, you might hear Sinatra, Social Distortion, Bing Crosby, Merle Haggard or Jon Pardi. It all depends on my mood as to what I am listening to at the time.
‘ Alt- country,’ ‘ bro country’, ‘ pop country’ … do you miss the days it was simply called country music?
Allan: I have always felt that music evolves with time. The country sound of Hank Williams Sr. is not the same as the country sound of Merle Haggard or the country sound of Alan Jackson or Garth Brooks or the newer guys who are out today. I think you have to be able to evolve with the music, but still stay true to yourself and your sound.
You suffered an unbelievable loss back in 2004 with the suicide of your wife. Music helped you recover, but was there any moment you thought you’d never play again
Allan: I took some time off and took care of my kids and myself. I realized that the best form of therapy for me was writing and playing. Those things really helped me though some of the darkest days.
Your new album, Hard Way, has been finished for two years but still hasn’t been released. Why the delay? Your decision or the label’s?
Allan: I started making a new record and then we went into contract negotiations and I just stopped working on it during that period. Once the deal was done, I was still a UMG Nashville artist, where I have been my entire career, but I was now on EMI Nashville instead of MCA Nashville. I wanted to give the EMI promo team new music, something fresh sounding from what I had previously been working on. I am a perfectionist and I keep going back and changing things. So far we have recorded over 20 tracks. When I feel like we have those top 10 to 12, then we will have an album. Until then, we have been releasing singles here and there to have something out in the market.
You’ll be 50 next month. What can’t you do on the road any more?
Allan: I haven’t thought much about that. I’m just happy to still be out there singing every night and hope to continue that for a long time. I have a great band and crew and we all love being out there.