The Pat McGee Band will play at Rick’s tonight.
Kit: Save Me will be released April 6. How does this CD compare to your last album, Shine?
Pat: It’s the same size, but with louder songs. Honestly, it really shows a few more serious sides of the band and my songwriting. There are some songs on this record that have an intensity and energy in the music that Shine didn’t have.
Kit: Save Me is a more guitar-driven record concentrating on songwriting. Do you do most of your writing on or off the road?
Pat: I did the majority of this writing off the road. On the road, I will come up with ideas, musically or lyrically, but generally it’s only a rough idea and I need to get home and get away from the road distractions.
Kit: It must be exciting to mix y’all’s new and old music together. What are your fans’ reactions to y’all’s fresh style?
Pat: As with every band you go and see, you always want to hear the “classics,” but I think once they get the new album to their ears, they will really dig what we are doing.
Kit: How long have you guys been working on Save Me?
Pat: Well, the songs for this record took about two years to get together. We recorded them in about four months.
Kit: You play the guitar and are also vocals. Do you also contribute in the writing of y’all’s lyrics?
Pat: Yes. I write all the lyrics, for the most part.
Kit: Do you play any other instruments?
Pat: I wish I could say I still could rock the piano, but I only can hack my way through a few chords to write a song on. One day I hope to perform a tune live on keys. Oh and by the way in 7th grade I was a slammin’ clarinet player. When I heard no clarinet in any rock music, I smashed it on stage at my last rehearsal.
Kit: What is your favorite song to play at a live show?
Pat: “Give Up” off the new record is my current favorite live tune.
Kit: Your favorite venue you’ve played?
Pat: I’d have to say Red Rocks in Colorado, or the House of Blues in Chicago. Both have amazing energy.
Kit: On Oct. 7, y’all will sail away to the Grand Caymans along with Sister Hazel and other musicians. Tell me a little about this music cruise.
Pat: It is about 20 bands that all get along like brothers and want nothing more than to rock your faces off for four days in the sun of the Caribbean. We have had more fun on the road in eight years than anybody should ever have and The Rock Boat is at the top of the list every year for most amazing time.
Kit: This tour y’all are performing in Canada-how does the fan base in Canada compare to the fan base in the United States?
Pat: Canada is just getting going this year. We played there on the last record only once, but the one play was cool and we had some actual hardcore fans up there. We toured there with the Allman Brothers once, too. Pretty unreal!
Kit: How did you guys meet and where?
Pat: We all met in Richmond Va. After I left college in 1996, everyone was in a different band and I had to convince them one by one to leave their other groups.
Kit: Future goals for the Pat McGee Band?
Pat: I just hope this record reaches as many people as possible and the public gives the thumbs up. We just can’t wait to release this one and get rollin’ with it. The goal is always to keep this fantasy job of ours alive. It rules.