Eli Young Band went from the college dorms to country hits on Billboard. Now they’re coming to the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek
Bassist Jon Jones opens up about touring, COVID-19 and recording in their hometown studio
Sometimes the people you meet in college end up playing a more important role in your life — both personally and professionally — than your degree. Such is the case with the Eli Young Band.
The four musicians met at the University of North Texas, building a fan base with covers and originals. Ironically, not all of the members grew up with country music as their favorite genre.
“We were open to all genres growing up,” said bassist Jon Jones. “When we first started, we were told we were too rock for country. Now, we’re told we’re too country for (contemporary) country. We don’t feel like our music has changed — just the way that it’s interpreted has changed.”
Nevertheless, the group has won Billboard’s Country Song of the Year and an ACM Award for Song of the Year with “Crazy Girl,” in addition to earning multiple CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Award nominations.
Since they first formed in 2000, their songwriting has, of course, evolved, especially since they all got married and had kids around the same time.
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“The well is a lot deeper to pull from,” Jones said, adding that having kids gave them a wider worldview. “In songwriting, as in life, there’s less partying, and the focus shifts from a selfish (desire) — though it wasn’t about fame or fortune but fulfilling an internal need to be on stage and create.”
The pandemic has also acted as a kind of reset for the band. Several years before shutdowns, they were touring too much for their own good. This year, they’re only playing a 100-plus shows, partially because the nine kids between the four of them keep them home for birthdays and other events.
“The break was really important — we didn’t know how much we needed it. About a dozen years ago, we were saying yes to everything and touring overseas, and we were at each other’s throats. The fun was gone. Now, we have a renewed sense of vigor and reason to do this, and I hope that never goes away,” he said. “We’ve blocked off birthdays (etc.) so we don’t get to tour as much, so when we do, we enjoy it more. We try to look at it as a release rather than a job.”
They’re also sitting on about 150 new songs they penned between 2020 and now — some with artists from Los Angeles, Nashville and New York City. Late-night discussions, trusted outside opinions and passion determine which will make the next album, which they’ll return to Denton, Texas — the original studio they recorded their first album in — to create independently.
“We’ve been on a record label for so long that we’ve met enough people to release a record on our own timetable — and there’s not as many gatekeepers,” he said.
The hometown studio allows the musicians to focus during the day and return home to sleep in their beds at night.
“Denton is just so comfortable. We were one of the first bands to record there,” he said, adding that one Nashville producer they’ve worked with came to the studio and gave them a solid nod, saying he enjoyed what they’re doing so far. “I feel like the sounds we’re getting are good or better than sounds we were getting in the best studios in Nashville.”
They currently have six tunes pegged for the album and return to the studio in three weeks for six more days. Once they record all of the songs for the record, they’ll release them one at a time.
“We’re finally adopting the new model of releasing a single every eight weeks,” he said. “It will be fun to figure out the order (of release).”
As far as selecting which make the cut, some naturally rise to the top — or bottom – of the pile. Overall, they’ll stick to what has worked for over 20 years: Going with what they believe in.
“We always feel like if you’re chasing what’s on the radio, you’re too late,” he said, adding that their solid fan base also dictates what they release. “We’ve learned that if we really go outside the box, it doesn’t go over well.”
On stage, Eli Young Band replicates their songs much like they sound on their albums.
“We don’t stray too far from the record … but it’s kicked up a notch, as far as a rock vibe and energy,” he said, adding that they love when the audience sings along and generally gets into the show. “And in that part of Colorado, how can you not have a good time?”
- What: Eli Young Band
- When: 7 p.m. Sept. 21
- Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center
- Tickets: $55.94-$78.54
- More info: VilarPAC.org