Pat Green began his latest tour in Baton Rouge Friday to a packed house of adoring fans.
Green crooned the hits and the diverse crowd sang them back.
From spectators in cowboy hats and shiny belt buckles to those who looked like they had never seen a country singer, the crowd encompassed a broad base of fans.
Green has a massive following in his home-base of Texas, but his adoration has spread to Louisiana as well.
“I love being an import,” Green said. “I grew up next door to an LSU Tiger guy, and I thought I might go to school here.”
Green connects well with college students. Many of his songs talk of times familiar to the average college kid.
“It’s something about that time. I just identify with my college self. I never really wanted to let it go,” Green said.
Green’s beer drenched music rides the fence of country and rock n’ roll.
Green said he does not try to write any one genre of music, just great music.
“It’s not country music like the rest of country music,” Green said.
He said he listens to older country music and classic rock.
Green has a catalog of songs that are classics to his loyal fan base.
He played plenty of them Friday, from “Southbound 35” to “Carry On” to “Take Me Out to a Dancehall.”
Many of Green’s songs concern his home state of Texas. Green serenades Texas in ballads and more up-tempo hits.
“It’s been fewer songs recently,” Green said. “I didn’t choose where I was born. Coming from [Texas] you have to have an ability to carry yourself. I don’t sit down to write that way. I just write what falls out.”
Green said his inspiration comes from his wife, his friends, and life.
“The further I go the more experiences I have to write off of. I just keep my ears and eyes open,” Green said.
The inspirations surmount to form Green’s blend of musical stylings that he calls “twisted country.”
“I like exploring different sounds. I like playing country and rock n roll at the same time,” Green said.
Green is one of several artists playing this Texas country sound.
Artists such as Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keen, and Cross Canadian Ragweed are all touting themselves as Texas songwriters.
Their sounds defy categories of modern country or rock music.
Texas artists seem to be catching on to a sound the rest of the nation is missing.
“It’s an attitude, and Louisiana has an attitude too. You get a sense of who they are,” Green said.
He cites Louisiana natives Cowboy Mouth as an example.
“You can hear what he wants out there. That’s the way it is for Texas as well. Texas is what I am, not just my music,” Green said.
Green does venture out to tour. His shows are more of an experience than just a concert. Green has an undeniable live charisma.
He knows how to work an audience, being able to tell the perfect time to pause and tell a story about how he feels about Raising Cane’s and when it’s time to just play his heart out.
“I love playing live. That’s why I do what I do. It’s the bread and butter and rocket fuel all at the same time,” Green said. “I only know how to play one kind of show, all the way.”
Green has received a good amount of success doing things his way.
Green is a spokesman for Miller Light. He has been featured on everything from coasters to posters to commercials during the Final Four and Friends.
“I’m not doing this on purpose. I wake up and do the same thing everyday, wake up and go play,” Green said. “I am going to seek out success as hard as I can but I’m not going to press the issue.”
He said he has no desire to sacrifice himself to get popular faster.
He said he feels many musicians go into record companies and allow them to take total control.
“Their are certain sacrifices you have to make. There is always a different mix on the record than the radio, you know,” Green said.
But Green said it does not hurt when the CEO of the company loves his music.
“Gravity affects musicians more than normal people. The public is fickle, chances are you are out the door pretty fast,” Green said.
It does not seem gravity will affect Green anytime soon. His latest album “Wave On Wave” and constant touring are building on his success.
Things are only looking up for Pat Green.