The musicians in The Boxmasters, featuring Billy Bob “Bud” Thornton, call their band “old school.” They believe in the quality of the lyrics, a stellar live show and gorgeous harmonies. Something Thornton and bandmate J.D. Andrew draw from decades past.
“We’re a ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll-influenced band,” Andrew says. “Like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Eagles. Add that with The Beatles and The Animals and other British-based bands, and take a bit of Big Star from Memphis from the early ‘70s, and that’s what we sound like these days.”
The Boxmasters have carried that sound over into its double album, Somewhere Down the Road and its digital record, Providence, both of which the band will promote during a September 15 show at Livewire in Scottsdale.
“We’re very proud of it,” Thornton says of the album. ‘It’s frustrating, though, when you take care to really try to write good lyrics and write meaningful songs and the lyrics get lost with people.
“I guess it’s always been that way to a certain degree. They hear the sound of the song and they like it for that reason. It’s always good when people appreciate lyrics. I always did. It’s pretty important to me.”
These days, Thornton says, he is inspired by his wife and kids—along with his grandkids, as a bandmate shouts in the background of the phone conversation. Thornton clears his throat and goes back to The Boxmasters’ influences.
“They inspire me,” he says of his family. “Also, there’s always something political or sociological that inspires me to write things. Sometimes you just want to write a plain rock ‘n’ roll song. Boy-girl songs will always be around.
“But political songs are tough to write. Any time I wrote lyrics that are political in nature, they’re usually not from the point of view of a political party. I’m kind of down the middle, to tell you the truth. I call myself a ‘radical moderate.’ I take whatever I believe is the best [part]of any side. I guess I would probably say I comment on social topics more than political.”
Although The Boxmasters have an intense touring schedule, there’s always time for fun. During a stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they took time out to bowl with Def Leppard.
“For some reason it got in the press that we played against Def Leppard. That isn’t true,” Thornton says with a laugh. “It was only Joe (Elliott) and Rick (Allen). We were both off and we ran into them at the hotel. They said, ‘What are you guys up to?’ We told them we were going bowling and invited them to come. The teams were mixed up. It was a good time.”
But the primary focus of the next couple months is the tour and the albums. Somewhere Down the Road captures the best sides of The Boxmasters.
“The first one has a lot of songs that are great to play live,” Andrew says. “It’s an upbeat, ‘60s jangle rock and pop record. We dive into a few songs from the second album, which has a very dark, Americana sound. The upbeat jangle rock is better for an audience and the divey clubs that we’re playing—except for Livewire.”
The Boxmasters feat. Billy Bob Thornton w/Tommy Ash, Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, 480.361.9783, livewireaz.com, Tuesday, September 15, 8 p.m., $23-$33
