The night Laid Back’s high school classmates went on their senior trip, he played his first professional bar gig. It was not his first show, as he had played bass in local bluegrass bands, but it opened the door to smokey bars and honky-tonk survival. Over the years he went on perform and record with many well-known artists often uncredited, as was the Nashville way.

He has played with everyone from the Georgia Satellites to the Kentucky Headhunters. Opening for Thin Lizzy and The Guess Who, recording at Johnny Cash’s studio as well as the now defunct Butcher Shoppe in Nashville. He mentored a young Tyler Childers, who now has Laid Back signed on his Hickman Holler label. Mr. Childers also made several films with LB and included him in his music videos, as well as having LB open his sets at the Ryman Auditorium and Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Over the years Laid Back has honed his craft and played simply for the love of the music. His no rules approach to musical performance flies in the face of those who prefer their music to fit neatly into category. Equal parts Led Zeppelin, Waylon Jennings, Stanley Brothers, David Bowie and Motorhead, and that’s just the beginning. He doesn’t care what you call it, he just wants you to feel it. Attentive to the audience and ready for conversation, a Laid Back show is an interactive lesson on music, pop culture and whatever else is on his mind that day.

When you see him grinding out heavy guitar riffs with his companion Honey on drums in the White Stirpes inspired duo, you leave the concert knowing you have seen a show. Laid Back’s mantra is “playing country music and treating people right”. He strives to uphold that pledge every night.