Corb Lund may be a new name to most of us here in the U.S., but he’s been a big name on the Canadian country music scene for years. Having grown up in Alberta, Canada on a cattle ranch, Corb started playing music in a rock band while in college and then moved into writing country western music. Since then he’s won a JUNO Award from the Canadian Grammys, has amassed multiple Canadian Gold Records, and was named Artist Of The Year from the Canadian Country Music Awards eight times! He recently performed at the Americana Music Festival and landed himself on Rolling Stone’s list of the “22 Best Things We Saw at Americana Music Fest 2015”.
With Corb’s new album, Things That Can’t Be Undone, dropping yesterday (10-9-15) and his upcoming show at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN this Tuesday (10-13-15), Jackie from MinnesotaCountry.com caught up with Corb to learn a little more about the country music star from Canada. Check out the Q&A
Jackie: Congratulations on your new album dropping! I’m sure it’s a very exciting time for you! Speaking of the new album, if you had to choose three words to describe it to people what would they be?
Corb Lund: 1960s-ish, melancholy, not to turn people off, but it is melancholy, and personal.
Jackie: Now, you worked with Dave Cobb (who’s worked with some pretty big names, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) on this album, what was that experience like
Corb Lund: It was awesome! Dave did a great job and I’m really happy with it. He was really creative in terms of helping to come up with arrangements for songs and even tried a few different things that we haven’t done in the past with the band. Dave really jumped right in and rolled up his sleeves with us in the studio.
Jackie: What made you want to get into music when you were younger?
Corb Lund: Black Sabbath when I was 16 was what made me want to play music, but Marty Robbins was my hero when I was a kid. I was really into him and I liked Elvis and The Oak Ridge Boys. I was an Eagles fan when I was in high school.
Jackie: So besides those guys, who are some of your other musical influences?
Corb Lund: Ian Tyson who is a Canadian country western singer. He’s one of the patriarchs of traditional cowboy music and he’s a friend. Also, SNFU, a Canadian rock band was a big influence when I was playing with my rock band. They helped me learn about the DIY stuff with music and promoting shows.
Jackie: If you could tour with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Corb Lund: Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, and Johnny Horton because it would be cool to get to watch their shows every night, and Jerry Reed would be fun to hang out with. Freddie Mercury too, but I’m not sure his fans would like us (laughs).
Jackie: What has been the most memorable or exciting moment of your career so far?
Corb Lund: Playing for the Duke and Duchess when they visited Ottawa for Canada Day. Kate is really pretty and she’s funny. They’re both really down to earth and personable. Music is weird like that where one day you’re meeting those people and the next day you’re meeting bikers (laughs).
Jackie: Ok last question, you have a show coming up here in Minneapolis at the Turf Club next week, what can people expect from your live show?
Corb Lund: Well we have eight records out now so every night is different. I don’t make a set list. I just call out songs and take requests. I base the song choice on the audience, if they are more rock and roll I’ll play rock songs, if they’re more country then I’ll play country songs. The band has been together forever so they’re really good. Usually it’s a beer drinking, honky-tonk party.
As you can see Corb Lund is a very down to earth guy who plays some damn good country music. He has an original sound that is reminiscent of old school country icons and some of the new school greats like Sturgill Simpson, Hayes Carll, and Jason Isbell. To grab his new album Things That Can’t Be Undone click here, it’s definitely worth a listen and maybe even a few days of playing on repeat. If you want to be part of that beer drinking, honky-tonk party, grab tickets to his live show next Tuesday, October 13th at the Turf Club.
Thanks to Corb for his time, and to all of you reading this, we hope you’ll check out the new album and check out a show near you soon!
– Jackie Ebnet