Photo credit to Steven C. Knapp.
Provided by Tony Lopacinski

I’m going to guess that you’ve never heard of the band Tailgate South.  The trio is relatively new but the members are not new to the industry.  The band is comprised of Mickey Kelley, lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Tony Lopacinski, guitar and backing vocals, and Mike Meadows, guitar and backing vocals.  They are currently with Upstart Records but are shopping for a major record deal.  They have one CD to their name, Don’t Fix It, which is available for purchase at their Myspace either in CD format, mp3 format via Amazon, and on ITunes.  I was unable to actually do a sit-down interview with Tony, but he was kind enough to answer my questions via email.

FM: Hi Tony, Thanks again for doing this.   I read on your website that you’ve been playing guitar since the 4th grade.  That is pretty amazing. Did you ever think when you got that first guitar that you’d be where you are today?
Tony: Man, my website needs a face-lift!  But the info is accurate.   I did begin playing in 4th grade.   I didn’t really know much about popular music then, but when I discovered Kiss a year later it was all over.   I used to dream about being Ace Frehley – I used to have Kiss trading cards.  Honestly though, I don’t think I would have believed you if you could of told me then how many shows were in my future.

FM: Are you still currently touring with Josh Gracin playing guitar?
Tony: Let’s get right to the tough questions shall we?!  Ha ha. Wow.   This is hard to answer. The short answer is yes.   His schedule through the summer is extremely busy. Almost too busy for me.   I have an amazing singer that I manage, play and write with named Devin Belle. My new band Tailgate South has been getting a lot of attention – on iTunes & Myspace. And I’d being lying if I didn’t say I absolutely love playing for Sarah Buxton.  She’s an amazing songwriter with a one of a kind voice.   She’s on Myspace too :)

All of this AND a songwriting schedule, a new song-plugger and a home recording studio that I use to write and demo my stuff. Several of my writer friends rent it out as well… Currently have stuff on the books with Bobby Pinson (tons of hits), Glen Mitchell (hit writer as well) and Josh Gracin.

As you can see. Something is gonna have to give or I’m gonna explode. Mike Meadows (the other Gracin guitarist and a member of Tailgate South) has just left the Gracin band to become a member of Taylor Swift’s band. In addition to that, one of my dearest friends (and Gracin’s drummer), Kevin Murphy, may go back on tour with the band Tonic. I’d like to take a summer vacation with my family for the first time in 8 years. I can afford to, so I probably will. How’s that for a long winded answer? Typed with thumbs no less.

FM: You also were Train’s touring guitarist for a time?
Tony: For about 3 years. Played electric and acoustic guitar, sang back-up vocals and played harmonica and even bass on a few songs. What a great experience that was. Got to see a
lot of places on those tours. I’m on the live CD – Alive at last.

FM: But now you have your own thing going again with this new band, Tailgate South. When and how did this new band form?
Tony: Tailgate South was an accident. Mickey Kelley (the lead singer) and I write a lot. We had all these songs that we loved and realized they had a common thread. We accidentally created a sound I guess. Almost every chorus would burst into 3 part harmony. I think I was mowing my lawn last year and it just hit me. We are a band, we just needed to admit it! So we talked about it, laughed and said “hell yea!” We’re extremely proud of the CD. We’ve been doing acoustic shows in Nashville and it’s really enjoyable to bring these songs to life!

FM: How would you describe the sound of this band?
Tony: Beer drinking, southern pop rock, that’s not afraid to be in touch with it’s feminine side. Did I just type that???

FM: Ha ha, yes you just did! On the band’s first CD, Don’t Fix It, can you pick a favorite song?
Tony: I honestly cannot. I love all of them.

FM: It’s a great album- one you can listen to all the way through and it’s enjoyable. Did
you guys have a goal when creating this album?
Tony: That was the goal!!! I’ve always loved CDs that flow – ya know? We put a lot of time and effort into picking the right songs and putting them in the right sequence. Unfortunately I thing the album format will fail eventually. That actually kinda saddens me.

FM: Honestly, it’s been a while since I found an album that you can listen to it straight through. Did you or your band-mates write or co-write any of the songs on that album?
Tony: All of them were written or co-written by a band member. We wanted to show off our “babies” (songs).

FM: How did you come up with the name Tailgate South?
Tony: We had a few songs with the lyric Tailgate in it. “Drop that Tailgate” – “Already
letting my Tailgate drop” – drop=down-south = the direction we all moved to live in Nashville :)

FM: I’ve always wondered how artists pick album names. Some go with titles of tracks on
albums and some go with other things. How did you guys decide on a name?
Tony: Track title – we wanted the truck on the cover’s Tailgate to be broken, but we ran out of time. And it was an amazing truck. We would of had to “photo-shop” it.

FM: When you were putting this album together, did you have a theme and chose songs to fit that theme, or did you just pick what you guys thought were your best songs?
Tony: Both. I think we have some amazing stuff that’s not on the CD as well. We just felt those 10 had an amazing voice when put on the same team.

FM: My favorite song is still undecided at this time! Too hard too choose! Going back to Josh Gracin again, you co-wrote the title track to his sophomore album, We Weren’t Crazy. Have you written any other songs for other artists?
Tony: I have a lot of songs… I just hired a new song-plugger to help find them some homes :). I think a lot of this Tailgate South stuff will see the light of day. Hopefully with us performing it, but if not, that’s okay too.

FM:What about songwriting would you say is the hardest part?
Tony:Starting. (Ha, ha) Somebody is always late, the first half hour is always catching up and gabbing. Sometimes it’s where the song idea actually comes from.

FM:You have a lot of touring in your background. Do you ever get tired of it?
Tony:Yes. The traveling (buses, planes) gets soooo old. But I love seeing new places and doing new things. Just this morning I climbed the mountain overlooking Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe AZ. I feel blessed to be able to see so much of the world.

FM: That’s pretty amazing! Tailgate South has been doing some shows in the Nashville are. Are there any plans to expand the touring area? I would love to see you guys.
Tony: We need a budget. That usually requires a record label and tour support. Or a hit
song… we’re pretty spoiled. What I mean by that is our buddies are some of Nashville’s best players (read expensive) we will not ditch the tour bus (6-10k/week) for a van and trailer. I think most people would be in shock to hear that $10,000 a show barely puts a touring band in the black. The music industry is upside down and trying to reinvent itself. I’d like to see us get creative and be a part of that. We’re willing and
able…

FM: Where do you see or hope to see Tailgate South in the future?
Tony: My goal is to get our music out there. If we could get out their and play our own songs instead of touring for somebody else – that would be nice.

FM: Besides the guitar, you play other instruments as well. What all can you play?
Tony: The only instrument I consider myself to play “well” is guitar. I also “play” bass, a litte mandolin (that’s not redundant – I don’t mean small), harmonica, I try to play keys, accordion (my Dad’s) pops up from time to time (“Party Of One” – Tailgate South) and I have a crate of percussion stuff that for some reason I always track alone in my bathrobe with a cup of coffee in the morning. Strange visual, I’m sure.

FM:What was the hardest instrument for you to learn?
Tony:Harmonica. Because when I got the call for the Train audition they asked if I played it. I said yes having never owned one. I’m not a habitual liar, I just needed the gig! I had to play guitar at the same time so the headset was required. For the next 2 weeks I practiced while I was driving and everything. I almost wish a cop had pulled me over – it would make the story better.

FM: Yes, it definitely would! Could you ever imagine a life without it involving you making music in some form?
Tony: Nope. I don’t think I’ll ever retire. It doesn’t feel like a job anyway. I’m very
blessed.

FM:What have you yet to accomplish musically that want to?
Tony: I wanna get our girl Devin Belle a record deal. She has a voice the world should hear. I’m ready to get stated on more Tailgate South songs. We’ve got a few ready, but we have some writing dates coming up! I know my best song is still inside me, waiting to come out..

FM: Are there any musicians that you haven’t gotten to work with yet that you’d like to?
Tony: All of them! Ha ha. If you’re lucky enough to make a living in the music business then you’re lucky enough. At least this is what I tell myself when I’m in a bad mood. What a great community of musicians we have in Nashville. I love the war stories and every new person I meet. I was lucky enough to write a song in my studio with Teddy Gentry of Alabama. Just one of those “pinch me now” moments you cherish…

FM: I bet that was amazing! What was the last album you bought?
Tony:Blake Shelton, I thought I might be getting an audition so I was doing some preliminary study. I didn’t get the call, but it didn’t matter ’cause I’ve always been a fan
anyway. And what a great guy. This reminds me that I need some new music. I’m at the
point where I don’t wanna hear anything on my iPod…

FM: I love Blake as well! Your life has to be busy. You have been touring with Josh Gracin, you have your solo thing, Tailgate South and you produce other bands music. Do you have any free time?
Tony: Not much. When I do I’m working on my lawn or house. Getting my taxes done this year will be a small miracle. Sorry to end on that sour note.

FM: Well, good luck getting your taxes done! Thanks for your time and for doing this interview, Tony. Hope to see more of you and Tailgate South!

Author: Jamie: A 20-something music lover of all types. Some of my favorites include Garth Brooks, Lori McKenna, Patty Griffin, Jessica Harp, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash.