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Many of Phil Vassar's songs deal with growing up in Lynchburg. |
BY BEN SELLERS
It may be said that the greatest tension of humanity is coping with change. Wars are fought over it, tomes written, religions created.
But country star Phil Vassar, for one, keeps a simple outlook on this timeless problem: "Change is always gonna happen," he said in a recent phone interview. "I don't know if it's good or bad--change for the better is always good; change for the worse is--worse."
Vassar will join Sugarland, Tracy Byrd and others this Saturday at Nissan Pavilion's WZMQFest.
The undercurrent of change runs throughout his latest album, "Prayer of a Common Man." Many of the songs take a nostalgic look back at life in Vassar's hometown of Lynchburg. "Uncle Joe and Uncle Jake, haven't spoken since '98, just said hello. It's a good day to let it go," he sings in the first single, "Love Is a Beautiful Thing," about a family getting together for a young woman's wedding.
"I think the whole album, thematically, is a real down-home record," said Vassar.
While also close to home, the album's first track, "This Is My Life," deals with a darker side of change. Vassar wrote it after last year's shootings at Virginia Tech. "That made me want to write that song and put it out," said the James Madison University alumnus.
"Just the fact that you can't send your kids to school without something like that happening--I mean, who could ever imagine this day and age where you're paying $5 a gallon for gas and your kids practice lockdowns?"
Overall, though, Vassar remains upbeat about the inevitably changing world. And it's the good sort of change that has helped him carve out a successful career in Nashville and beyond.
As a piano-based country musician, it was a challenge at first breaking through in a genre that's notoriously resistant to change, he said.
"People, a lot of times, want change--and in our industry, they hate it. They wouldn't allow drums on the [Grand Ole] Opry."
But with country music becoming more mainstream these days, fewer people are trying to push cowboy hats on Vassar. "It's changing a little," he said. "The cool thing about country music, to me, is the diversity. Everybody sounding like hillbillies--that just bores me."
Over the phone, an electronic-sounding feedback played as Vassar spoke.
"I'm at the studio doing a dance mix of one of the songs ['Baby Rocks'] right now it's hilarious. I love it."
Ben Sellers: 540/374-5423
Email: bsellers@freelancestar.com
| What: Sugarland, Phil Vassar, Tracy Byrd, Jypsi and Laura Bryna headline WMZQFest. Where: Nissan Pavilion, off Interstate 66 in Bristow When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Cost: $20 to $59.50 Info: 703/754-6400 Web: nissanpavilion.com |
