Steve Cook:

Bigger stages - Same Bad Ass Groove

Steve Cook is the bass player version of a cat - he has nine lives and always lands on his feet. When one musical opportunity comes to an end he lands a better one before he has time to catch up on his primetime TV watching! Now playing with Country's hottest new act, Trent Tomlinson, Steve has a future so bright that shades would not protect against the glare. Luckily, I was able to catch up with Steve for a quick chat to see what his life is like now and what it is like playing on bigger stages.

It is great to catch up with you again. What are you up to right now?

I am in the middle of a huge touring season. We were home for 3 days in July, and we won't be home much in August or September, either. That's not the 'norm' for a country tour, because in say, the rock world, tours last months at a time. If you tour with a country act, you are generally home every week.

How did you get the gig with Trent Tomlinson?

It was sort of funny. I would run into a drummer friend of mine in town every so often, and he would tell me about his new gig with an up-and-coming country artist. He said the bass chair was pretty much locked down, but I also never bugged him about the gig, either. I would say 'I'm really happy for you, let me know if I can help at all.' A few months later I got a call from my friend (who had been made Musical Director) asking if I wanted to play. It was really that simple. They needed someone right away, and I said yes. I had to learn 20 songs with BGV's and be on the bus in a week. In hindsight, I think NOT asking for the gig really helped in his decision to hire me. Funny how that works.

So you didn't even have to audition first?

No, which was even funnier. He called and asked me to come to his house and listen to the music. After hearing the tunes, he asked me if I'd be interested in the gig, and I said yes. We had one rehearsal, then next thing I know I'm on a 10-hour bus run to open for Montgomery Gentry in a baseball stadium. 15 months and a million miles later, here I am.

Even though you had success with your previous bands and tours, nothing can compare with what you are experiencing with Trent . Have you had any difficulty adjusting to the massive exposure and bigger stages that the past year has provided?

Longer guitar cables!! When I started out with Trent , he was a small blip on the radar, and now his stock is rising daily so it's getting crazier and crazier. You mentioned previous bands I have been with, and the same holds true today as it did when I was hacking away in the garage at age 13 - be nice to everybody, and be as accessible as you can be to the fans. Country fans are extremely loyal, and they are good people. Trent of course bears the brunt of all the fan interaction, but I try to be available for fans after shows. The stages have been getting bigger and bigger, so really the only adjustments I make are putting more of the band in the wedges. I know, practical doesn't make for exciting.

Not at all! Practical is perfect! You recently performed in Las Vegas for the Country Music awards. That must have been very exciting!

You sound like you have heard stories... The ACM's were really a blast. We didn't perform on the televised show because Trent wasn't up for any awards this year, but we did play 2 shows on Fremont Street for a lot of country fans. You can't really go wrong in Vegas for 5 days. Unless you start splitting 4's against the dealer's 10.

Let's get back to your first few days with Trent 's band. You had a very short time to learn a lot of material. How did you go about learning the bass parts and the vocals?

First I just listened to the tunes, bass in hand, sort of picking out bits here and there, and of course listening to the vocals. No real study initially, just getting a feel for the grooves and the overall 'tone' of the band. Then I started at the top and ran them until I had them back and forth. I think I had some notes for each song written out, but no charts. I actually stood up and learned the songs and sang, too. It sounds funny, but I think it helps to stand and run tunes, just because you will be standing on stage anyways. It's one more thing to make you more comfortable as you are learning. It forces you to think on your feet, literally.

Any train wrecks on that first show warming up for Montgomery Gentry?

Not that I can remember. I'm sure the clams were out that day somewhere. I actually got lucky - the first show was only 6 or 7 songs, so I could get my feet damp before we played a full show.

I am sure that playing with Trent has allowed you to realize many of your dreams and goals, but getting to appear on the Howard Stern show had to be a big one! What was that like?

That was sort of surreal. We were supposed to be on for 15 minutes, and ended up staying on for an hour. Everybody was really nice to us, and Howard was a genuinely nice guy. The 'hard' act is for shock value. That was actually a very long day - we had 3 shows around NYC after that one, plus Howard sent a camera crew to film our 'after party' with Miss Howard Stern on the bus, which has become sort of a YouTube underground hit. I can not answer any further questions about that event...

Ha! Fair enough. As far as current Country music goes,
Trent 's music is more rockin' than the norm. It seems like the fans are enjoying it, but how have the other Country acts reacted to the band's sound?

Hmmm. I am wondering how cocky and real I can be at this point. The band rocks. I will say that. It is not your Daddy's country. I will say that, too. The more traditional acts, they appreciate it, but sometimes look at us with suspicion (not naming any names). Of course, what's funny is that the old country stars love Trent and what he's doing. They look at it as sort of rebellious behavior like they acted in the 60's and 70's. I was standing next to Trent at the Opry right before we went on and Loretta Lynn said she loved him and gave him a big hug. We have talked to a few biggies about touring, but they just don't want us in front of them. Plain and simple. And frankly, we're OK with that. In my opinion, we're raising the bar. We do our thing, do it well, and have a great time, which, just like anything in life, is key.

You did not get a chance to record with Trent on his last CD, “Country is my Rock”. Have you done any new recordings with him? Will you be on the next CD?

Well, in Nashville , there is an unwritten rule that there are studio players and there are touring players. It's not that one set of guys are better than the others, it's just what they each specialize in. What's funny is that I do both touring and studio work, but with being out so much, it's difficult, so I focus on the road. That being said, Trent has expressed that he wants his touring band to record at least one track on the new record. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is a generous gesture, as those of you in Nashville who read this know.

In your previous bands you have always kept multiple side projects going, but Trent 's band is always working. Are you still able to work on other projects, or have you put them on hold for now?

You almost nailed it. I bought a bunch of mics, a drum kit, and lots of toys for the home studio just in time to leave town. I got together with Jeff Cease, our guitar player, and he and I have been tracking some great rock and reggae tunes, just to have an outlet. I think it's important to stay busy and not get in a musical 'routine', and work on things not 'work' related. Even back in King Konga I would work on music that we would never record. What's ironic is that I am tracking that same stuff now. We're talking about pitching some songs that we have done, as well as making them available on myspace, so we'll see.

Let's talk about your basses now. Since joining Trent 's band you have added some axes to your arsenal. What basses do you have now?

Well, my stage bass has changed to the Streamer $$. Not to sound like an ad or anything, but this bass has serious, serious tone. It's punchy and low and fat and all things good. I also have my Stage II as a backup, and I use a third 'mystery bass' every few weeks. I use it for one song, and I do it to mess with my front of house guy. This week it's a 75 Jazz RI. Next week it could be a washtub bass. My arsenal is pretty extensive and crazy, but I store them all at an undisclosed location for safe keeping.

The Streamer $$ is a very flexible bass, what with all of the coil taps and all. Do you find yourself setting the electronics one way and playing the whole night, or do you make adjustments from song-to-song?

I leave the electronics set. I get a lot of compliments on my tone, but that's the bass talking. I may ease more bottom every now and then, but my front of house guy tweaks for different songs, too. I use my fingers mostly, changing hand positions or using different attack points on the fingers of my right hand.

I watched your performance with Trent on GAC's “Live at the Opry” and was surprised with how much singing you do in the band. Are any of the songs hard to sing and play at the same time?

Oh, so you saw my mistakes, huh? Anything that gives me trouble just finds more time in the woodshed. For the most part it's pretty straight ahead.

I honestly did not notice any mistakes. Still, it had to be a bit nerve-wracking to be on GAC and playing the Opry…with Loretta Lynn in the wings!

I have been honored to be on the Opry a lot in the past year - I think I'm up to ten times, and every time is nerve-wracking. Just because of the history and the fact that I am a rock guy playing that stage, with those legends. I always think 'How did I get here'?

Speaking of your Rock side, how are you getting that itch scratched these days?

Trent 's show isn't a “normal” country show. It's basically southern rock, so we turn up loud and don't wear cowboy hats. That also means that soundcheck is more fun, and we play everything from Beatles to The Stones to The Replacements to The Clash to get things going. It's also funny to see how many heads turn at a festival when you soundcheck with 'Message in a Bottle'.

You guys should release a live bootleg CD of your soundcheck covers!

Heck, it could already be out!

You know, listening back through your musical history, from King Konga to Trent and all of the stops in between, I hear a lot of different influences in your playing. A dash of McCartney, a little Sting, maybe some Duck Dunn… am I close at all to the players who influenced your style? Any others?

Did you break into my iPod again? You hit it on the head. All three are huge in my book. They all play just the right amount of notes, which is essential as a bass player. Too many notes and you get fired. I learned that the hard way my first go-round in Nashville. A friend was doing a showcase, and I was hired in to do the gig, but was told in the first rehearsal that it wasn't my place to play so much. That will shut you up very quickly. My point is that silence is a huge influence. No kidding. Another big influence early on was Scott Bannevich, who played for Edwin McCain for 10 years. Listening to him pushed me into different directions, which ultimately shaped King Konga's sound.

So what is coming up for you in the coming months? Any big gigs? Cool tours?

We are a very busy band with a lot of shows to close out the year. There have been swirling, enigmatic talks about this tour and that tour, but I don't get excited until the ink is dry, and even then I'm a skeptic. We are doing a couple of cruises in the coming months, and just lots of shows, including some big headlining shows. Trent 's third single is moving up fast, so that will keep us busy in the coming months, too.

To see a video of Steve playing with Trent and the boys, follow this link.

Interview by: Dale Titus - DaleT@danabgoods.com