Pat Green, referred to in a recent article as “the country singer who hates country music” will bring his signature style and high energy show to Rick’s Caf tonight.
Green, who has a following in his home state of Texas, names greats like Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen as influences. He’s been nominated for three Grammies in the past two years, including a nomination for male vocalist of the year. His competition in that category-Johnny Cash.
Henry Glascock, Green’s friend and promoter, said Green is one of the nicest guys he’s ever worked with and that in addition to artists like Nelson and Keen, Green is also influenced by people like the Dave Matthews Band and Tom Petty.
“He’s not influenced by modern country like Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith,” Glascock said. “His whole goal is to have songs that people will sing years from now. Most songs today are so cheesy that it doesn’t take long for people to forget them.”
Green’s seventh album, Wave on Wave, was released in 2003 and recently went gold. The video for the song with the same title went all the way to No. 1 on Country Music Television. All this from an artist who Glascock said “is not considered mainstream country.”
Glascock said Green sold over 100,000 copies of his own CDs before signing with New York-based Republic instead of a Nashville label. He also sold out the Astrodome at the Houston Rodeo, coming in fourth on the attendance records only behind George Strait, the Dixie Chicks and Aerosmith.
Rick Welch, owner of Rick’s Caf, said he’s thrilled to have Green back in Starkville.
“I had the pleasure of working with Pat at the Downtown Music Festival last year,” Welch said. “He is the coolest guy to hang out with, both him and his band. He’s very down to earth and I really like his music.”
Jessica Scott, who has been a Pat Green fan for about a year, said she started listening to Green when her old roommate convinced her to go to a show. She’s been a fan ever since.
“I like his music because he puts on a good show and the band has fun playing,” Scott said. “I think he’s different from other people because he’s more down to earth and he just plays out of enjoyment. He plays for the fans, but he does it more for himself because that’s what he loves to do. He never thought he’d get famous.”
Welch said anyone who’s never heard Green should definitely make plans to attend tonight’s show.
“Bottom line: the show is fun and people who have never heard him will have a great time,” Welch said. “It’s just a great, upbeat show and if you’ve never heard Pat Green, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be a fan once you hear him play.”