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Lee Brice is on the country road to stardom Like coming home
By John Benson
If there’s a road traveled by rising country artists becoming bona fide Music City superstars, Lee Brice appears to be on it.
For the past five years, the singer-guitarist has been racking up top 10 hits (“I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Parking Lot Party” and “Drinking Class”). Now the South Carolina native, still riding high on his 2014 album, “I Don’t Dance,” is bringing his “Life Off My Years” tour to Youngstown for a Friday show at Covelli Centre. Opening will be Maddie & Tae and Dylan Scott.
The Vindicator talked to the Grammy Award-nominated artist about Northeast Ohio rednecks, his new duet with Jerrod Neimann and plans for his next new album.
Q. We’re excited to get you back in Northeast Ohio. What are your memories of Youngstown?
A. I have a lot of memories of Youngstown. My wife [Sara Nanette Reeveley, whom he married in 2013] is from Youngstown. One of my first memories of playing there was at the Dusty Armadillo. That was my stomping grounds. It was one of the places coming up when we were a band in a van all over the country. That was one of the places that always brought us back where we were growing crowds and growing a fan base. That’s why coming to Youngstown is like coming home.
Q. So does that mean the upcoming show’s guest list will be huge?
A. Yeah, I believe we’ll have in-laws, cousins and friends. But it’s my wife’s family, so she’s the one who has to deal with that. Youngstown is kind of part of our story. I was doing my first radio tour, which basically means I was visiting all of the radio stations. That’s when I hadn’t seen Sara for a long time. I met her before that, but we were able to reconnect. That was kind of the beginning of us again. From there, it’s been a long story and a beautiful one. But it’s so cool. I’m from South Carolina. I always picture up north to be so different, but the more I’ve gotten to know her family, they’re just a bunch of rednecks like me. It really does feel like home every time we’re there.
Q. Your last CD, “I Don’t Dance,” was released in 2014. Don’t you think your fans are clamoring for new tunes?
A. I’ll tell you what, my buddy Jerrod Neimann and I are best friends, so we recorded a song together. That’s what we’ll put out next. It’ll be really cool to get that out at radio around Memorial Day. It’s called “A Little More Love.” Also, I’m making a new record now, and it will be out at the beginning of next year. We’ll have a single in October. So music is coming.
Q. Looking ahead to the new album, stylistically, how will it differ from “I Don’t Dance?”
A. “I Don’t Dance” taught me so much. I love every song on the record. The difference for this next record, it’s going to be a definite theme and a definite sound. It’s going to be a sound that it’s the same band playing every song. Before, I tried to make each track so unique.
Q. Are you currently playing any unreleased tracks that will be on the next album?
A. I’m playing a couple in the new show. One new song is a Bonnie Raitt-like/R&B tune called “Rumor.” Another is The Band-sounding “I Don’t Smoke.”
Q. Perhaps the follow-up should be called “I Dance Now?”
A. I’m not sure what the record will be called. There’s a song I’m trying out, and it feels like it’s between two or three things. It could be called “It Keeps You Up at Night” or “Songs in the Kitchen.” [Laughs] But I can tell you for sure, the next album won’t be called “I Dance Now.”