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Tuesday, May 14
The Indiana Daily Student

Wav

Texas-born singer/songwriter breaks from the country tradition

Call it what you will -- country music, Texas country music, or Seattle grunge --it just doesn't matter to Pat Green. Formed from his Texas roots, the unique blend of music Green has developed is honest, strong and truly unique unto him. He is quite possibly, and often labeled as, the most famous country music singer that you have never heard of. All of that seems to be on the verge of changing, however, as Green branches out onto a national scene, including a show at the Bluebird Sept. 4. \nHonest in his music, and honest in life, Green says he only sings because he truly loves to. \n"I don't want to get caught up in it ... the people treating you differently, the money and all that junk is not important," Green says. "It doesn't matter what you do in life, if you like your job then you never work. You just spend your time doing something that you like to do, something that's enjoyable. There just aren't very many people who get to do that, and I'm one of the lucky few." \nRaised in Waco, TX. and educated at Texas Tech University, Green, in every sense, is a native Texan -- but his music is his own. Billed as a singer/songwriter, Green and his five-man band have recently released their eighth album, "Wave on Wave," which has climbed its way to number 19 on the Billboard charts. "Wave on Wave" represents Green's second work with New York-based Republic/Universal Records, with whom he signed in 2001. \nGreen's rise to stardom began in 1995 as a grassroots campaign in Lubbock, TX where he raised money from family and friends to produce his first album "Dancehall Dreamer." Over the next six years Green released five more independent albums, and teamed up with Willie Nelson, Cory Morrow and Kelly Willis for several of his songs. \nGreen's first record with Republic/Universal, "Three Days," mixed some of his older music with a few new songs in an effort to introduce him on a national stage. "Three Days" proved to be a huge success, debuting at number seven on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, where it stayed for over a year. "Three Days" also earned two Grammy Award nominations in 2002 for the album and the title track. \nSigning with a New York label has allowed Green to continue the commitment he has always made of staying true to himself and his band. From the small dancehalls and honky-tonks in west Texas to the 2002 Grammys, Green's lyrics hold a special place in his heart, and have struck a chord with thousands of fans throughout the nation.\n"If I write music that isn't true to me," Green says, "then when I sing it and I don't believe in it, it's going to sound fake; it's going to sound contrived and weak." \nGreen's music has proven to be anything but weak. The chant of "Pat f***in Green" rings out as thousands of fans turn out for every concert, knowing Green will always put on a good show. \n"His style is hard to classify, but Pat's one of those guys that can produce fun on stage and feeds off of the audience," says Dave Kubiak, bookings director at the Bluebird.\nDon Gehman, who has worked with R.E.M, Hootie and the Blowfish, and John Mellencamp, produced Green's latest album. "Wave on Wave" contains 13 new songs, 12 of which Green either wrote or co-wrote. The album, released in mid-July, shows Green is capable of making an album that's sound in its lyrics and music, while still maintaining the humbleness that has permeated Green's music since the beginning.\nGreen loves the music he writes and wants the people to love it as much as he does. He says that "the way that you make that connection (with the people) is by writing music that is fulfilling, and in some way fills the void that is left by life." \nHe wants people to listen to his music, enjoy the substance of his lyrics and identify with his work -- all while hoping that his audience will feel the same sense of happiness he feels when he sings. \nDrawing ideas for his music from a medley of musicians across all genres, Green looks to artists such as John Mellencamp and Tom Petty for inspiration. \n"I want a good song that is not only a good song, but I want a good groove and a strong melody that's heavy on guitars and heavy on drums - and that's how you make a good song," he says. \nReinforcing Green's description of a good song is the title track to his most recent album. "Wave on Wave is a song about whatever it is that saves you from whatever it is that's killing you … whatever it is that helps them (the fans) to focus on the things in life that matter the most," Green says. \nHe wants the fans to listen to his music and discover, in the same way that he has, the things that truly matter and make each one of their lives uniquely positive. \nGreen says he takes life as it comes. No matter where he plays or how many hear him, Pat Green says he will continue to play his own brand of music as long as he loves it, and as long as people love to hear it.\nPat Green will be performing at the Bluebird Nightclub Sept. 4. The show starts at 10:30 pm and tickets are available for $8 at the Bluebird or at any Ticketmaster location (21 and over). For more information call the Bluebird at 336-2473.

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