The last time New England Country Music talked with Phil Vassar, he was headed to Indian Ranch in Webster, MA for a concert. The month was July and it was 90 degrees outside and humid. The month and the temperature will be a bit colder when Vassar brings his #AmericanSoul tour back here to Massachusetts. He is scheduled to perform on February 14th at Cary Hall in Lexington. Massachusetts is one of Vassar’s favorite places to perform and some of his best friends live here in the Bay State. New England Country Music had the pleasure of catching up with Phil Vassar.
On this stop in New England, Vassar will be bringing along with him a brand new piano, his signature instrument. Vassar partners with Yamaha every couple of years and they designed him a new piano. He is excited to try out his new instrument and feels very lucky to be able to work with Yamaha for all these years. Phil will be taking his new piano to Europe in March where he will be performing at the big C2C festival in London. In June, Vassar will return again to Europe and will play in Munich, Milan, and six states in Ireland. It will be Vassar’s fourth time touring in Europe.
For the past four years Vassar has been working on his ninth studio album, collaborating with other artists such as Hunter Hayes and John Rich. He just finished recording a song with Hayes last week and next week he is scheduled to record three songs with John Rich. Vassar has written and recorded so many new songs that he has enough for five different albums, but Phil would be happy just getting this album out to his fans. “I have been writing and recording this thing for 4 years. To say it is done is an understatement. I have over recorded and I have a lot more songs than I need. I’m still doing it.”
Not one to wait around for things to get done, Vassar has been making the best use of his time. Vassar released his first episode of Songs from the Cellar, a unique video series where he showcases singers and songwriters, all while sipping wine in the cellar of his home. Phil did not just wake up one day and decide to make a video series in his wine cellar, but it did just kind of happen. “We were just sitting around and hanging out and I’ve got my studio downstairs and I said let’s just run a long chord in here and let’s just record what we are doing. We are just hanging out writing recording and now it’s become this big deal.” The series will be completely live. He will be showcasing real artists, real people, who will sit with him, talk, and just do their thing. The first episode of Songs from the Cellar was debuted on December 22nd and Vassar’s first guest was Jessica Beattie. The second episode will be released in the next couple of weeks and the guest will be guitarist, songwriter and producer, Steve Cropper. (‘Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,’ ‘Midnight Hour’). Vassar also has Tommy Shaw from Styx and Grammy Award-winning blues artist, Kevin Mode, on his guest list for future episodes.
Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990’s, but continues to make new fans every day. He gives a lot of credit to social media. “We have been getting a little more into the action. The Instagram’s and the Twitter and all this stuff. It’s amazing that everybody cares and wants to see that stuff.” One of the funniest things Vassar has been using social media for is to feature the antics of ‘Lil’ Phil.’ Lil’ Phil is a bobble head of Vassar that travels with the band as they tour. Just last week Lil’ Phil was just hanging out with all the presidents, bobble head presidents, that is.
Phil Vassar has been interviewed many times over the course of his career, so to add some fun to this interview, I asked him some entertaining questions. It’s interesting how you can get to know an artist in a different way from the questions that are asked. Here are some of those questions:
If you could have one super power what would it be? To be able to fly.
What is your biggest pet peeve? People that talk too much about themselves all the time. And crunching ice. That really makes me crazy. I don’t know what it is?
Is it better to beg for forgiveness or to ask for permission? I’m kind of a do-gooder in a lot of ways. I would always ask for permission. It destroys my street credit ‘cause you know, I’m a rebel in a lot of ways.
What would the theme song of your life be? ‘The Entertainer’ by Billy Joel.
What is your favorite cartoon? Family Guy. I laugh so hard and every night. I have to watch it.
What is your ideal retirement spot? The Caribbean or somewhere where it is nice and warm, where the beer is cold and the temperature is hot. That’s what I like.
Who is your celebrity crush? Jennifer Aniston- there is just something about her. I don’t know what it is.
Do you believe in ghosts? I think they exist. I live in a 100-year-old house on a Civil War battle ground with a Civil War cemetery behind my house. I think they are definitely here and they are all over the place. So yes, I believe in ghosts. I have cameras all over my house and at times you can see orbs.
Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning person. When I’m in the middle of my tours, you have to be disciplined. I try to go to bed by 11:30 and I don’t drink.
What is your greatest strength/weakness? My greatest strength is my work ethic. I work hard even if I don’t have to. My daughters are my weakness, done deal.
Being a musician and an entertainer is Vassar’s livelihood, and he loves being in front of a crowd. Feeding off of the fans energy and performing his songs are a part of who he is and what he loves to do, but to Vassar his daughters will always come first.
New England Country Music would like to thank Phil Vassar for the opportunity to catch up with him and have a little fun with the interview. We wish him great success with his video series, Songs from the Cellar, and are looking forward to seeing him in Lexington, MA, on Valentine’s Day. My guess is that he will be wearing something red for the occasion and, isn’t that a coincidence, red happens to be his favorite color.
Follow Phil Vassar on his official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Tickets are still available for the show on February 14th. You can purchase them here.
Artist Interview conducted by Lorraine Frigoletto, contributing writer for New England Country Music. You can follow me on Twitter