A Dirty Dozen with COLONEL COBALT from COBALT MINOR – July 2024

According to a recent press release: “Colonel Cobalt and his band, Cobalt Minor, have unveiled their debut song, “Phatt.” This release serves as a heartfelt tribute to the remarkable music of 1972, a year renowned for its iconic hits and groundbreaking albums. For those familiar with these timeless songs but unaware of their 1972 origins, exploring the top 100 rock and pop tracks from that year will undoubtedly be a revelation. Listen to “Phatt” and go back to 1972. The accompanying lyric video was produced by Lyric Vids and is available on Colonol Cobalt’s official artist YouTube Channel. Listeners and music enthusiasts crave authenticity and emotional depth in songs and performances. They seek music that resonates, evoking specific feelings or memories. While this sentiment may sound cliché, its truth remains undeniable. In 1972, it was as if the planets and stars had aligned perfectly. The year embodied a collective musical zeitgeist akin to Muscle Shoals amplified on steroids.” We get Colonel to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Great question for the song “PHATT” because all the lyrics revolve around the year 1972 and the artists/bands that released songs that year.  Songs like “Layla,” “Lean On Me,” “Tumbling Dice,” “Burning Love,” and then there is the obvious chorus with James Brown, Humble Pie, The Hollies, and The Temptations references. Man, what an insanely great year for music.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Nothing got me into music, music got into me from my first breath.  I was too lazy to learn theory, too much like math.  I don’t like to follow recipes, just open the pantry and make it up with the ingredients you have. So, I just have always loved going, “I made that!” whether it was pleasing to anyone else or not.  That is a bonus if someone else digs it but just the process of creating it and producing it is so rewarding.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Beggars Banquet album by The Stones, Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride”, “Frankenstein” by The Edgar Winter Group are just a few that made me turn up the volume.  My first rock concert was Three Dog Night and I was like, this is amazing.  Feeling that kick drum in your chest and the low end of the bass.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

He tragically passed away in 1991 but Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie.  In my opinion, the best front man and the most soulful rock & roller that ever stepped in front of a microphone.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

The Colonel never needs to unwind because the Colonel never gets wound up when it comes to music or recording.  The Colonel does get wound up watching the state of politics and the lack of civility in today’s world but let’s not go there.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Well, I prefer straight up criticism or praise. I dig it or that is not good.  The worst response is, “Wow, that was interesting.”  The hardest thing for me is to turn up my vocal performance.  I am an emotional singer, but not a good vocalist.  Same with guitar, I can write a hook, I can’t run all over the fretboard. As far as describing my music, it has a vintage feel to it but it absolutely has no formula or “radio ready” sound. Some stuff leans toward country rock with pedal steel and fiddle and other stuff just leans into the bizarre and really cannot be categorized.  At the end of the day, it is just rock & roll oriented with no happy songs!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Cobalt Minor works a little differently than most.  Colonel Cobalt writes the songs and produces the basic tracks which is tempo and groove, rhythm guitars, vocals and sometimes bass and keyboards.  Then, the fantastic musicians who are dear friends add their ingenious parts.  The Colonel is blessed to have some of the most gifted musicians on the planet be a part of Cobalt Minor. These guys have played with huge artists and been on some big, I mean big records. Of course, the height of their careers is playing in Cobalt Minor, I’m sure.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Three times, two in Nashville and one in Memphis.  I shook George Jones hand and thanked him for how he makes us feel when he sings, the second was seeing Alice Cooper in a restaurant in Nashville, and third, having a conversation with Billy Gibbons at the bar in a Chili’s restaurant in Memphis. There was a cool chalkboard drawing of a young Elvis and Billy Gibbons said that “Young Elvis was the baddest cat that ever walked the planet and no one will ever equal or surpass that level of cool.”  I have had the pleasure and unique opportunity to meet a lot of cool and influential folks, but at the end of the day, we are all special in our own ways. Materialism and fame are fleeting, love and generosity are what matters.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I am not a musician, I am a songwriter and producer. I wish I had learned to play the piano and read music but I did not so I am the blind squirrel looking for an acorn.  If I wasn’t making music, my dream job would be being head of quality control for the Goo Goo Clusters company.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

“What is the greatest song ever written?” Answer, “Angel From Montgomery” by John Prine. I don’t guess there is a question I am tired of answering because someday, they won’t be asking.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No, because worry and regrets are poison.  As far as do overs, I wish I had been kinder to others and regret ugly things I have said to others.  I regret not telling friends and loved ones how much they mean to me. I am in no place to judge others but that did not stop me.  I am trying to be better and avoid this missteps. All in all, I am incredibly blessed to do what I do.  What I do is fun and rewarding, but it is not important. A fireman running into a burning home to save lives, now that is important.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would have loved to be just sitting beside the engineer at the Front of House mixing console when Waiting For Columbus by Little Feat was recorded.  Quite possibly, the greatest live record ever made. It’s just amazing to listen to how insanely great that band was and the flow and groove of that performance. It just shows one how amazing live music is.  I wish I had that tool in my toolbox but my comfort level is in the studio.

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Category: Interviews