Jack Ingram sets sail for Chicago concert
When Ed Warm of Joe’s Bar gives a country singer a call, nearly every artist from here to Texas will pick up the phone — including singer/ songwriter Jack Ingram.
But the musicians might just be in for a surprise from now on.
“I read a tweet and someone was mentioning something about me playing on a boat,” chuckles Ingram, fresh off his morning run. “I mean, anything Ed [Warm] asks of me, I say yes. But the boat thing, well, I immediately called my manager to ask what the heck was going on and what was I getting myself into.”
What he will be getting himself into come Thursday is part of Warm’s latest country music brainstorm, in which country artists perform among the waves of Lake Michigan on board the Spirit of Chicago.
“It’s the great part about music: It’s the equalizer — it doesn’t matter where you play it,” Ingram says. “I might have to work a bit harder to keep everyone’s attention out there on the boat, but I have been in plenty of situations where I have had to work hard to keep people’s attention.”
Indeed, since kicking off his country music career back in the early ’90s, Ingram has not found his way back onto the charts for awhile. After giving the label, which now carries artists such as Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts, its first No. 1 hit back in 2005 in the form of his single “Wherever You Are,” Ingram and Big Machine Records parted ways in 2011. Ingram hasn’t put out a record since.
“I’ve spent the last couple years getting ready for the next part of my career,” says Ingram, who hopes to put out an album of new material sometime later this year. “I’ve really changed my approach to music and gave myself permission to do something completely different. It’s not about having a hit that has a number on it, but it’s about having a song that means something to me and the person listening to it. I have always been not frustrated but amazed that in any other business, the goal is to differentiate yourself. But in country music, what makes you unique doesn’t help you get played on the radio. It will always be a source of contention for me.
“I don’t want to sound like other people,” Ingram continues. “I don’t want to sound like Jason Aldean. I like him just fine. He does a perfect job doing his job. But there is a line all the way back to Texas of people ready and willing to be the next Jason Aldean. I just want to be the very best Jack Ingram.”
Of course, the very best Jack Ingram has also been known to have had many a bout with motion sickness in the past.
“You can be darn sure I’ll be packing my Dramamine for this ride,” he laughs.