Today's Country

JASON MITCHELL, JASON MITCHELL, JASON MITCHELL
by S. Parks

Three times a charm and he is – a ‘smooth yet rough’, a ‘sweet yet sassy’, a ‘country yet rocker’ charmer.

Born a Nashville studio rat, his head barely reached the recording console controls when his singer/songwriter father, Dan Mitchell, known for Alabama’s “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas”, was planting those music seeds in his little boy.  But life happens and the seeds went dormant when the family relocated away from Nashville.  While in college, his father arranged an audition, he got the part, his seeds sprouted and he said goodbye to micro-economics forever.  He knew his home was in music and in Nashville.

During our chat at the Tracking Room studio, site of recordings by Big and Rich, Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney, to name a few, it didn’t take long to discover what a delightful and determined artist I’d come to interview. He proudly said, “I was born in Nashville. I was born right up here at Baptist Hospital,” a right of passage not many aspiring artists can claim.

With an assembly of accomplished music movers in his corner combined with his positive attitude, amazing talent and unshakable confidence (without the unshakable ego), we can just accept the fact that Jason will soon be a major force in today’s market.  Managed by Kenny and Gretchen’s team led by Dale Morris, and having songwriters Chip and Billy Davis for uncles, Jason needs only to continue on his golden path of writing great songs, co-writing with the likes of Muzik Mafia’s Adam “Atom” Shoenfeld, playing as many shows as possible and building a great relationship with his fans.  That’s what he truly loves and he’s growing at just the right pace.

Having attended the same school as Danielle Peck, he can drop names with the best of them – sharing the stage with John Anderson, Jimmy Wayne, Confederate Railroad, and Tracy Byrd and growing up with music celebrities around the house.  That’s given him a certain comfort but he can command his own spot in any all-star lineup with his talent and presence. 

Jason’s live show is a must see with a band he raves about. Two to four hour shows of genre-crossing music are common with tunes by Keith Urban to Michael Jackson and great originals as well. The band has been collecting footage for a video for “(I’m Yo) Chicken Man” at several shows around the country including the Lost Parrot Beach Bar in Beckley, WV.  It will also incorporate clips taken by fans

A few excerpts from my studio chat with Jason in my trademark

 “Chat~erview”_™ series:

SP:              How would you classify your music? 

Jason:        Alternative country with more rock.  When we’re driving up and down the road we listen to a lot of rock.  We love the energy of rockin’ out and getting out there.  We’re not a traditional country group but that’s not our direction.  We’re more alternative country rock, a little on the Keith Urban side and the Kenny side for ballads.

SP:              In a sea of “Jason Mitchells” competing for industry success, what will make you stand out?

Jason:         The main thing that will make me stand out is I do a lot of stuff that is very close to my heart.  I take as many shows as possible.  We like getting out and playing those bar gigs and being with people and keeping in touch with them.  We like going out and playing the huge festivals too.  It’s very important for us to meet fans and talk with them.” 

SP:              Have you given any thought to analog recording and going to vinyl, something not done often in country but a new “old” trend among the Jack White, the Features and the Killers faction.

Jason:         I actually had a conversation with my Dad a few months ago about this.  I remember some of my first records growing up. I had a little Fisher Price.

SP:              Mine was yellow.

Jason:         Mine was gray!  Dad used to buy me records and bring them home.  I loved Barry White.  I would say at this point it’s possible.

SP:              A dream show – what would that be for you?

Jason:         I would have loved to play a show with Elvis or Barry White.

SP:              Did you ever meet Barry?

Jason:         I did not.  I used to sing when I was a child to Big Al Downing (Rockabilly Hall of Fame R&B/country great) …wore out the record on my Fisher Price. Hey Dad, what was the name of that Big Al song you used to put me to sleep with?

Dad (Dan)    “There Will Never be a Better Night for Being Wrong”.

Jason:         When he was in town for a while and found out I wore it out, he came by a couple of nights and sang it to me live. (a long pause)  I’ve never told anybody that.

SP:              Thank you for sharing that with us.

SP:              Nashville is famous for its unrelenting support of charities with its bottomless supply of music talent.  Which do you support?

Jason:         I started my charity when Dale wasn’t even working with me.    I’m not shy, I tell it like it is.  After I crossed the bridge coming home from the hospital, the first thing I remember is that I looked up and saw the church in Roscoe Village in Coshocton, Ohio, where I was raised, and I promised God that if I make it through this and if I ever do anything, I will give back.  

After spending four hours at the Akron Burn Center after an accident with a school project, they weren’t sure if I was going to need skin grafts, but we prayed a lot.  My Dad, my Mom, and my girlfriend at the time, Allison Skelley, took care of me to no end and I actually didn’t have to have any kind of surgery, no skin grafts and no scars at all.  And I can tell you today, it would not be like that if it was not for those people.  I’ve never publicly thanked Allison. 

(Jason then elaborated on the shows he does to raise funds for burn victims, Camp Hope, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, and when he saw a need to take the children’s minds off of their lengthy treatments, he went out and got Wiis so they could play games.  The Jason Mitchell Foundation (not this humble man’s choice for the name) will be expanding its work to sheltering battered women and animal welfare as well.)

SP:              What is something most people don’t know about you?

Jason:         I am an amazing kisser.  LOL  Just kidding.  I do love to do yard work and fix up houses.  I’m working on one now.

Jason has come a long way from playing saxophone in school. He took the opportunity to brag on his band and spoke as though they’ve been together forever.  On drums he has the amazing Tom Nord, with the versatile lead guitarist Stuart Hill, Jimmy Pino on rhythm guitar and WV’s Scott Workman, bass man and songwriter. He just couldn’t brag on them enough.  He loves having three true front men up there with him and, since they all play acoustic also, they can easily take it from full band electric to full band acoustic. Jason loves his Gibson and has his eye on another of his Dad’s vintage guitars.

The goal isn’t to get the “big bus”, although that’s surely in the future.  The exchange with a rapidly growing fan base is what really matters to these November babies (all but one) as they look forward to some great fan club parties.

As we spoke, confirmation came in for a show at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.  You can add that to his very full schedule and catch him in your area.  Look for the new CD that’s being mastered – go to http://www.myspace.com/soulfunksuperfly, no surprise since Barry White is still spinning vinyl in Jason’s memory.

Jason wanted to thank our Today’s Country fans for getting to know him and invites everyone to come out to see a show.  He looks forward to meeting each and every one.

In Jason’s words, “There’s always a song somewhere.”  Looking at the world through those icy blue eyes is sure to give him special insight that will lead him to the top.  I can almost visualize his banner for his first Number One as I drive down Music Row.

At the rate he’s going, he may one day end up borrowing a title from James Brown - “hardest working man in show business”, and I’ll add “with the biggest heart.”

http://ontourwithjasonmitchell.blogspot.com/

jasonmitchellfanclub@gmail.com

www.jasonmitchell.us

www.ustream.tv/jasonmitchell

www.twitter.com/jasonmitchel  (Note: one “l” as there is another Jason Mitchell)

www.myspace.com/jasonmitchel (Note: one “l” as there is another Jason Mitchell)

http://www.myspace.com/soulfunksuperfly

Contact S. Parks at:  musicmusicmusic100@hotmail.com 
Photo credits:            © 2009 S-Parks Creative and Custom Guitars (studio shots)