Still wanted, a his celebration Wanted! The illegalsthe first country music album ever to go platinum and the 10th anniversary of Rolling Stone Country, it was the perfect time to talk about country music past and present — over an outlaw-themed Dickel's cocktail round at the Nashville Palace.
“Outlaw is doing what you feel you have to do, and that's how we've always played our career,” says Mike Harmeier, lead singer of Silverada – formerly known as Mike and the Moonpies. “Changing our name was a huge milestone that we wanted to achieve for a long time. And when I'm asked the question now, “Why did you do it?” The answer is “Because I wanted to.” We follow our own path.”
When Harmeier looks to the band's future, he sees more of that same outlaw spirit.
“The way we think about making records is that there is no genre. It's what we're after right now, and it's all for the sake of the song. Whatever the song is worth is what we'll do, and I hope that continues. I think it will happen.”
Pure at heart, Harmeier keeps his drink order simple. “I consider my Dickel neat, because I'm a neat man,” he laughs.
“When I think of an outlaw, I think of crooks and con artists who go against the grain and offer something that is truly original. They were true artists. They knew who they were and what they wanted to say,” says Maggie Rose. “Nashville has evolved a lot in the last 10 years and my own sound has evolved a lot. I think my evolution has had a lot to do with that growth. There are so many great resources here and people to work with. It's not just a place for country music, it's colorful and there are all different flavors to be found here.”
Rose says she sees parallels in Dickel Whiskey and outlaw country traditions. “There is excellence and timelessness there. It is a brand that is steeped in heritage,” he says. “There's an authenticity to people who know who they are.”
A true outlaw country singer, Taylor Hunnicutt subscribes to authenticity above all else. And she sees a bright future for that mindset, both in herself and in the industry.
“In the next 10 years my career, and the outlaw country in general, will have a complete resurgence,” predicts Hunnicutt. “I think people crave what's real and relevant, and that's definitely what I aim to do.”
When it comes to her Dickel Whiskey, Hunnicutt couldn't be easier to please. “I'll take it any way!” she says. “I've always liked Dickel and I'll take my Dickel cocktail while I can get it.”
Grammy nominee Brent Cobb already has a successful career in country music as both a singer and songwriter. During Dickel and Rolling Stone's Still Wanted live event, he spoke at length about all the milestones he witnessed.
“I've been privileged to be somewhat of a fly on the wall for the past nearly 20 years and have had a front row seat to the rise of independent country music. When I first started, if you weren't on the radio, you weren't heard at all. For the last two decades or so, you have people who do nothing for radio and sell out 20,000 seats,” says Cobb. “The collective consciousness — the listeners of the country music genre — are now ready to hear some regular, regular old music. No one is trying to sell anyone. They're just songs for the sake of singing.”
This return to quality and authenticity echoes Cobb's Dickel mandate. “I like mine with a bit of rocks,” she says. “When it's this good, that's all you need.”
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/the-next-10-maggie-rose-brent-cobb-outlaw-country-1235089080/
