Country star Stuart coming to Orlando
“Florida’s always had an interesting relationship with country music,” says country star Marty Stuart. “A certain segment of the audience, they get it. We always come [to Florida] when we’re invited.”
Known for his blownout hair and hits including “Hillbilly Rock” and “Tempted,” Marty Stuart is headed Thursday to The Social in downtown Orlando with backing band His Fabulous Superlatives. They’re touring behind the album “Way Out West,” released in March. (Showtime is 7 p.m. at 54 N. Orange Ave. Tickets are $35-$40, available at thesocial.org.)
The new album is, as the Mississippi native calls it, a “love letter to the West.” In 15 tracks, the band covers the sounds of Old West mythology, from surreal atmospherics and Native American chants to Spanish guitar to Gene Autry-style songwriting. “It’s a psychedelic trip through the desert,” says Stuart, 58. “It rings true, it feels honest and it feels like the right place for us to be.”
Stuart’s fascination with the American West started in childhood. “The first song that spun my mind in that direction was Johnny Cash’s [1958 hit] ‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,’” he says. “And just the atmosphere of those cool cowboy TV shows.”
Stuart became truly charmed by the West during his first visit in the 1970s. “I saw it in color; in living color,” says Stuart. “It just absolutely captivated me … It’s man against the elements. It’s all about spirit out there, and how much heart you have.”
Like Florida, Stuart’s story with country music is also unique. He grew up listening to and admiring the mid-century era stars, such as Cash and Lester Flatts. Then, at 13, he was invited to join Flatts’ band and later Cash’s. He saw Grand Ole Opry singer Connie Smith as a child and then married her in 1997.
“They were my idols when I was a little kid,” says Stuart, 58. “But from the time I was 13 on, they were my family.”
Stuart says he tries to return the kindness he was shown to other up-andcoming musicians. “Connie and I always look out for young artists,” he says. “For guys like me ... it’s really about passing it on and making sure it gets to the next generation.”
He carries a similar philosophy to his audience, reaching out to people who may not be familiar with the older sounds of country. “Maybe they’ve seen Johnny Cash on a T-shirt flipping the bird or something,” he says. Hence why he chooses to play indierock venues, such as The Social. “I knew that it was time to take the message to an entirely different generation of people.”
“Man, the enthusiasm,” he says. “It’s like we’re making a different group of friends every night.”