Country group McBride & The Ride chatted about their new music, which includes their latest EP.
The group is made up of Terry McBride on lead vocals, Ray Herndon (guitar and vocals), and Billy Thomas on drums and vocals.
McBride & The Ride was the brainchild of producer Tony Brown. The band garnered ACM and CMA nominations and released three albums on MCA Records, Burnin’ Up The Road, Sacred Ground, and Hurry Sundown.
They scored hit singles with “Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run,” “Sacred Ground,” “Going Out of My Mind,” and “Just One Night,” among others.
How did you approach the song selection process for the new EP?
Terry McBride: I received a message via Facebook from a guy (Mark Harris) living out in West Texas. He said he had a song that was perfect for McBride & The Ride. I could tell he was a good guy so I responded and he sent me “Marlboros & Avon”. It was basically all there and I was knocked out with it and quickly shared it with Ray and Billy.
That gave us a song to start with and build around. I went back and found a couple songs I’d written over the years including “Along Comes A Girl” which I probably wrote ten or twelve years ago. I found a box of old demo cassettes that were pitched to us back in the 90’s (I don’t throw much away). In that box was a cassette dated 1991, San Angelo, Texas.
It was a live board tape of our performance that night and it had our version of “Honky Tonk Song” on it. I was knocked out at how good it sounded so I suggested we revisit the Webb Pierce classic and put our spin on it for our EP.
Billy Thomas: We all tossed around material on this. We even shared a collaboration with Brice Long. Then the best fitting, most authentic songs rose to the top.
Rey Herndon: We all started listening to songs, individually, and collectively for songs that sounded like McBride and The Ride, that consists of those elements that MBR have always been known for, strong lyrics, melodies and of course the three-part vocal harmony, as well of course songs that Terry would feel comfortable singing as the lead singer.
Terry had some great songs to choose from, we co-write one, and Marlboros and Avon was pitched via Facebook, and ironically enough, had all of the element I just mentioned.
None of these songs are about dirt roads, or four wheel drive pick ups…they are more reminiscent of songs that we would have recorded back in the 90s… but with a more driving sound. .
What do you love most about country music?
Terry McBride: I love how a simple country song I grew up on can take me right back there each and every time I hear it. I cut my teeth on country music and I’m still a fan of a well crafted lyric and a memorable melody. That’s what drew me in when I was young and it’s what I strive for each and every time I sit down to write a song.
Billy Thomas: I moved to Nashville from Los Angeles. Out there in those days(and I believe still), musical artists were walled-off deities, and rarely came in contact with their fans.
At my first CMA Fan Fest (back then known as Fan Fair), most of the artists attending had a booth where they’d spend time meeting and thanking their fans for their patronage. This was amazing to me! It hit me how important it was to give back and show a mutual appreciation. I believe this is why country music artist/fan relationships last so long.
Rey Herndon: I loved all the artists lie Merle, Waylon, Willie, Buck etc. just that authentic sound that defined this style of music. The steel guitar, the Fender Telecasters (I have a kitty named “Tele”).
However, I have always had diverse music in my life, I’m also a kid that grew up not only listening to Buck and Merle, but also to ZZ Top, Charlie Daniels, Kansas, Boston and Stevie Ray, as well as Steely Dan, Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson and the best jazz. I have always LOVED to listen to and play all styles of music.
What are some of your proudest professional moments?
Terry McBride: Being signed to MCA by Tony Brown was a proud moment and a life changing opportunity. We’ve had several of those moments with McBride & The Ride.
Landing at No. 1 on the country charts with “Sacred Ground.” Being nominated for New Vocal Group of the Year by the CMA and ACM Awards. I came to Nashville as a songwriter and having my songs recorded over the years by several of my favorite artists is still and will always be a proud moment for me
Billy Thomas: I’ve been blessed with many incredible musical moments, both in the studio and live. I would count playing/singing in Vince Gill’s band and many other country icons as a one high point.
Also singing and playing live and in the studio with McBride & The Ride is still very dear. It’s hard to find other people to trust and share your musical dreams. Also very rare to build a brand that still endures today!
Rey Herndon: For me, playing the Grammy’s with Lyle Lovett I think was one of my all time favorite moments. Looking in the front row at Stevie Wonder and the entire music business. Wow! Was hard to concentrate.
But also, McBride and The Ride celebrating our number one single “Sacred Ground,” and our song Me and You making it to the top of the charts by Kenny Chesney. This e moments are pretty unforgettable.
What’s your personal favorite song on there and why?
Terry McBride: I’m really proud of all of the songs on our EP but I think “Along Comes A Girl” really came together in the studio and surprised us and ended up being one of the songs that really captures who we were and who we are now as a band.
Billy Thomas: I have two favs on this project. “Marlboros & Avon” is a throwback to earlier days with an image laden lyric that’s both fun and nostalgic.
Looking back, this recording brought back that stamp of honesty that our fans(old and new) trust us to share.
Also, “Along Comes A Girl” is another sweet take on the fact of how much a girl can change one’s world!
Rey Herndon: Along comes a girl is one Terry co-wrote and is one of my personal favorite. We recorded three of the songs including Along comes a girl in Peter Frampton’s studio in Nashville.
Peter had a bunch of beautiful guitars hanging on the wall, and for Along comes a girl I decided to grab the Gretsch Duo Jet, the minute I plugged it in I got inspired! (This was the guitar Frampton played with the band Humble Pie).
The sound was beautiful and big, and just seemed to fit the track, so that’s what you hear on the track. Little did we know until a few weeks later, that this guitar wasn’t supposed to be played by anyone, (according to Peter’s guitar tech)…. oops!
Sorry Peter, hope he doesn’t get too mad at me, but I had met him at a Lyle Lovett concert a few years ago, he came up to say hello, and of course I had my picture made with him, he was very complimentary, so, hopefully that will help soften the blow of my playing his guitar
What’s it like working and mentoring country artist Josh Scott?
Terry McBride: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Josh but Ray’s really the one responsible for working with Josh and mentoring him.
Ray Herndon: I met Josh one night at my Restaurant/club Handlebar J in Scottsdale. He introduced himself and asked if I would listen to some of the songs he had written. I first said, ‘well can you sing”?
He said, well yessir, so I invited him to sing with the band that night, and he belted out some Hank Jr. and demanded the crowds attention, a big voice from a big 6’7″ hoss of a guy, so I agreed to hear the songs.
He came to my house and sang me some lyrics of which he didn’t have any music to, so I started strumming along with a few of them and came up with the songs we ended up recording.
My friend Chuck Ainlay mixed them for us (Chuck also recorded some of these new McBride and The Ride tracks as well as Chuck recorded our very first McBride and the Ride record for MCA back in 92) Josh won an iHeart radio contest with one of the songs called That Bottle, and he has been out there playing his songs for more and more fans.
What do your plans for the future hold?
Terry McBride: Continuing to write, record and tour. We’re committed to building our brand of country music so I definitely see more new music in our future. We just recorded our first Christmas song that we’re really excited about so I can’t wait to see what we come up with next.
Billy Thomas: In between our tours, I like to keep myself busy at the drums and use my voice working both live (The Time Jumpers) and in the studios on various artists projects locally.
Rey Herndon: We just recorded a Christmas song that we co-wrote with our pal Brice Long, its called “Honky tonkin’ X-MAs Down in Texas.”
What is your advice for young and aspiring country artists?
Terry McBride: Keep it real. Be yourself and learn all you can from anyone and everyone who inspires you. Learn to play an instrument or two and work on your craft everyday.
Singing, playing and practicing should be something you can’t wait to do each morning when you wake up. In not, you should probably consider doing something else.
Billy Thomas: It seems to me any successful artist these days must do his/her best to study and hone the necessary skills to self-produce and self promote their product.
The technology part of this business has turned it upside down. Also, I attribute having the courage to move to country music’s fertile ground of Nashville in the late 80s with opening so many doors.
How does it feel to be a band in the digital age?
McBride: It’s a good time to be an independent artist. If you’re social media savvy or if you’re smart enough to hire and surround yourself with talented young people who can help you navigate the digital world then it can be a very exciting time. We’re encouraged by the growth we’ve seen across the board from Spotify, Pandora and Apple to YouTube and even TikTok. It’s all important and for the most part it’s all fan driven.
Billy Thomas: Truthfully, I’m so happy to have younger folks around to help me though the process necessary to compete these days. It’s not easy to grasp the technical skills needed, but I realize the expediency of the internet and see the benefits of an artist sharing honestly with multitudes of social media followers.
Rey Herndon: Well we’re still the same band, we are all serious musicians and singers, and that’s something that’s never changed, even though everything around us has….
We have adapted our promoting to these avenues, and so far we are doing well. Its very different to get the instant feedback (of which has been all positive), but its definitely different than having a huge number one song on terrestrial radio, that’s for sure.
What would you like to tell our readers about the new EP?
Terry McBride: It was important for us to find songs that we felt fit us and put the spotlight on our three part harmonies. It was also important that we record as a band just like we did with those early recordings at MCA. We’re able to go from the studio to the stage with basically the same band and sound.
Billy Thomas: This is a top to bottom, mutually shared experience. Starting with our decision to reunite and to start touring again. Then, most recently leading up to this new EP package. On it you’ll hear a collaboration of ideas that worked well back in the 90’s. With that familiar stamp of intertwined musicianship and 3-part harmonies. A stamp that I believe still holds up in today’s country music.
Rey Herndon: We just want them to hopefully enjoy the EP, and the new music we’ve made. We want them to know we’re back out there making music again together.
We have a new internet fan club on Patreon that fans can become members of, so we hope we can stay in close contact with the fans and let them know what we’re up to, and when we will be performing near them so they can hear us perform these new songs and the 90s hits live.
Their “Marlboros & Avon” EP is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about McBride & The Ride, follow them on Instagram.
