Not many bands that have been around for more than 50 years can claim they’re getting better with age, but Bob Carpenter from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band insists the band’s live shows have reached another level of excellence.
In a telephone interview with NowMedia from his southern California home, Carpenter discussed life on the road, the band’s loyal support from Canadian fans, the group’s legacy as Americana and country-rock pioneers and much more.
The iconic Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have been combining their special mix of country, rock, bluegrass and roots music dating back to the mid-1960s, when music by The Beatles, The Who, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin was much more in vogue.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - also called The Dirt Band by many longtime fans - is travelling to B.C. early next week to perform four shows, including next Thursday’s gig at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton.
Founding members Jeff Hanna and Jimmie Fadden are the only remaining original members from when the band was formed way back in 1966.
Carpenter, who was a well-known session guitarist, joined them the mid-1970s and has been with the band ever since.
“It’s been 52 years this past May … and we’re still going strong,” said Carpenter. “We’ve already got dates booked for 2019 so we plan to keep on going.”
Only diehard music fans would know that legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne got his start in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before embarking on his solo career.
The three veterans will be joined by relative newcomers Jaime Hanna, Jim Photoglo and Ross Holmes.
Jaime Hanna is Jeff’s son. He played with country music star Garry Allen for more than a decade.
“He decided he wanted to join so he could play with his Dad,” said Carpenter. “He’s an amazing musician, a simply exceptional guitar player and great singer, so it was thrilling to have him join us.”
Ross Holmes, a talented fiddle and mandolin player, is Jaime Hanna’s good friend who spent the past several years playing with Mumford & Sons and Bruce Hornsby’s band, he said.
Jim Photoglo, the band’s bass player the past three years, has known him, Hanna and Fadden for 35 years, and is best known for co-writing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s No. 1 country hit Fishin’ in the Dark.
“He’s been writing songs with us, off and on, for many years,” said Carpenter. “It’s one of the most popular songs played on old-time country radio, so it has been fun for him to come out with us because all these years he’s never got any feedback. So for him to be on stage and for us to introduce him as one of the writers of that song, is really great as that tune gets wonderful reaction every time we play it.”
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, they performed and recorded an album at the historic Ryman Auditorium - formerly known as Grand Ole Opry - in the fall of 2015, said Carpenter.
Not only have millions seen that recording PBS stations across North America, but the album became one of the biggest selling in the group’s long history, he said.
Life on the road doesn't get easier as you get older, but keeping tours short and playing with an amazing band rejuvenates him every single performance, said Carpenter.
“Physically, it can be challenging when you travel a lot,” he said. “But it all goes away the second we walk on stage. We still love playing, still love entertaining people and still love keeping the legacy of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band out there.”
Next week’s performance will feature tunes from the group’s vast catalogue spread over 50 years, he said.
“We’ve got such a great group of musicians right now, so we’ve expanded the solos in the songs and the energy level is as good as it’s ever been with these new guys in the band.”
They’ve played the SOEC in Penticton before and always enjoy returning to B.C., he said.
“We’ve been all over B.C., but we haven’t been back for a couple of years,” he said. “We’re all excited to be coming back because it’s just a beautiful part of Canada.
“We did a tour of eastern Canada earlier this year and a few shows in Alberta. We also did a tour of western Canada last year as well, but didn’t have any shows booked in B.C. We were sad we didn’t, but we’re doing four shows in B.C. on this little tour before the holidays and really happy about that.”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has a large and loyal following across Canada, he said.
“The folks in Canada are always great and that’s why we’ve been going up their pretty much every year since the early 1980s,” he said.
The current lineup plans on returning to the recording studio in early 2019 and recording a new album of original material, he said.
“We’ll be back on the road in February,” he said.
Carpenter promised the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has never sounded better or put on better live shows and Penticton and area music fans are in for a treat.
“It’s the best it’s ever been in my 40 years with the band … the energy on stage is just unbelievable,” said Carpenter. “This is probably the best lineup this band has ever had in terms of just kickass playing. It’s so much fun being out on the road. It keeps us young.”
Tickets for next week’s show remain on sale. Tickets are $49.50 and $69.50 (with additional service charges). Tickets can be purchased in person at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC, online at www.valleyfirsttix.com or by calling 1-877-763-2849.
For more information on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, click here.
