The Outlaws: Pioneers of country rock keep it old-school for their longtime fans

October 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Outlaws singer Henry Paul has been around the world enough times to learn he knows a lot about a little. Even though he enjoyed success with his own outfit the Henry Paul Band and even BlackHawk, what he’s discovered over the past few decades is the music of the Outlaws still touches a chord with country-rock fans.

Positioned alongside legendary acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Marshall Tucker Band, the Outlaws helped define the genre with hit songs such as “There Goes Another Love Song” and “Green Grass and High Tides,” which are from the group’s 1975 self-titled debut effort.

“If you know the first three albums, that sort of defines our sound,” said Paul, calling from his Nashville home. “There’s a three-part harmony country-rock personality that is sort of tempered with a very aggressive style of play. And the aggressive style of play is the rock ’n’ roll side of the band. But the songwriting and the lyrical issues, everything is kept in character from who the band has been over the years from a personality standpoint.”

Paul said that character and personality are being revisited with the group’s new CD, which he hopes to record in 2011. The goal is to create something that fits in with the aforementioned hits, as well as other Outlaws achievements, such as its popular 1980 cover of “[Ghost] Riders in the Sky.”

Already in the mix is the emotionally energetic “It’s About Pride,” which Paul said details the early Southern-rock experiences performing alongside Charlie Daniels and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant. There’s also fun track “Hiding Out in Tennessee,” a “Knoxville Girl”-type track that has already become a fan favorite during concerts.

Speaking of which, Outlaws will be at The Cellar in Struthers on Saturday night. Paul said the band’s nearly two-hour set features familiar material from all of his various bands. More so, he feels as though the group is performing a soundtrack of sorts for its audiences. Paul also hopes there are more memories coming in the future.

“People come to the show and talk about seeing us in the past or listening to a certain song when driving or even just being in their dorm room,” Paul said. “Whatever they were doing, we were a very relevant part of their past. My perception of my job, aside from being faithful from a musical character standpoint to what that was, is to try and create a future for a band that has a rather storied past. It’s really like writing classic rock. It’s very challenging and really an endearing task because the fans are so passionate.”

Invariably, old-school is what the Outlaws provide audiences these days. In fact, the band is akin to a throwback jersey, in the same way today’s sports teams wear their uniforms from another era.

“There are people who just love guitar rock,” Paul said. “It’s sort of an old-school style of play that you don’t find in Death Cab for Cutie. It’s a different deal.”

Finally, Paul could have said a million words before a Death Cab For Cutie reference would be expected.

He laughed, “I know a little bit about a lot.”