Darryl Worley – Live Club, Trezzo d’Adda (Milano, ITALY), July 11th, 2011

I still remember when, in 2000, I saw Darryl Worley’s face on the cover of his first cd, showed in a prominent place on the “country cds” shelf in a department store here in Milano: I was looking for a new ‘country act’, who I really liked, and my sixth sense told me that “Hard Rain Don’t Last” could be worth the purchase. Eleven years later, having followed him on every new release, I understood that choice was wise. Neverthless, if that day someone had told me Darryl Worley would come to Italy to play live in 2011 I wouldn’t have believed it. However it did happen. The event, organized and managed by Country Music Network and US Motors, took place on July 11^th at Live Club, a very nice premises perfect for live events located in Trezzo d’Adda, a few kilometers out of Milano.
Not a real tour indeed: Worley was in Milano just a couple of days after his show at a music festival in Norway together with Mark Chesnutt and after Milano he flew back to Nashville. But his performance was a real event which will be imprinted in the memory of all the fans who gathered (not so many, to be honest, but all enthusiast and thrilled).

**** PRESS CONFERENCE ****
Accompanied by his tour manager, Darryl shows up perfectly on time at the press conference, which is set up in a beautiful hotel in Trezzo d’Adda, despite his flight from Oslo to Milano has been absolutely “forgettable”: the airline in fact lost his luggage, leaving him with just the clothes he’s wearing and not much more («I couldn’t even shave myself…!» he apologizes while seating). He borrowed a pair of white sport socks, a pair of slippers and a t-shirt which he considers to be ugly but which – deep down – it’s not. We have only 30 minutes. Darryl is a nonconformist: he says he cannot stand certain Nashville’s habits and the compromises to which some – many – artists submit themselves to in order to succeed. He admits he paid a quite high price for not accepting the easier way but – and this is a concept almost any american country music artist who have come to Europe through the years expressed in a way or another – your own music’s freedom worths any sacrifice.

Back home he feels he has been kinda confined: «If I told you the song that everybody back there would identifies me with that song would be “Have You Forgotten?”. I love that song and it’s very much part of who I am; but there’s so much more to what I do than just that song. And the problem is that sometimes when you have a song of that magnitude it’s very difficult to get passed it and move on in for the rest of your career.» If he had to pick up the song which characterizes him most he’d choose more than just that one: «I’d choose “I Miss My Friend”, “Good Day To Run”, “Awful Beautiful Life” … many  many songs! In the United States» he adds laughing «everybody comes to me and says “I love your song!” and I say “Yes but… which one?» [laughs] Then, without being pressed, Darryl expresses his appreciations for the welcome: «The reception here has been amazing. My wife and I are very common people and when we came into the airport and they were there opening the banners we moved over to the side because I thought that we were in the way of some fan fair and something else was going on… Till I noticed that it was my picture on the poster! And that was so sweet to us because, you know, we don’t get people with boards at the airport back home… sometimes people would come up with, you know, one autograph or whatever… but that was like “are you kiddin’me?” so we’re very thankful to be here!» [Darryl refers to the group of people who went to the airport as a welcome committee, author’s note] He cites a very representative group of singers as an important source of inspiration for him (and I realize why I like his musical style so much!): «Merle Haggard, Willie & Waylon, all the way back to Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Sr., Gene Watson, the Eagles… You know, not so much rock & roll, lots and lots of country, bluegrass early on and southern gospel music» and right about gospel music he adds «It’s definitely something I was raised upon because my father was a methodist minister and he calls us “the country catholics” [laughs].  Later in life my influences have broadened, I like music now that I never thought I would enjoy before and I thank my wife cause she probably had to do something with it.» When talking about the country discographical market in Europe and how it is perceived in the States the speech becomes quite interesting: «I have not concentrated as much on this as I should have» Darryl says «and I realized that a while back but I realized that much more while I’ve been on this trip to Europe. It’s very important to me, as an artist who has had success in our business. But things have changed drastically and I’m actually starting a record label on my own now with which we are going to try and continue our work with country radio mainstream in the States and this is very important because the people in Europe like the music that I came to Nashville to do and that’s all changing now…» Speaking of which, when the press conference will be over, he will tell us that with his close friend Billy Yates (who came to perform in Milano back in 2005 – I wrote about that on Il Giornale, the daily newspaper where I work) he talked a lot about Europe and together they are thinking about a project which should lead them back here for a series of performing events. I learn that when he talks about his new record company he’s not talking about Stroudavarious Records, founded by James Stroud, with whom he had planned a second album, “God & Country”, to be released by the end of this year. «No, we’re leaving. That’s over. I’m moving on. I’m starting my own company. We have just very recently found our financial backing. Like I said we’ll continue to work with mainstream radio in the United States. But I could do a completely separate album and bring it to Europe and it would be bigger, I think, than what I would give to those guys on radio in the United States, And the music that I would bring here would be more what I do naturally because here you truly love country music while what they’re playing on radio at home… I’m not sure what that is anymore…!» I can deeply agree with that point of view. The general crisis, as we know, hit country music as well and Darryl knows it very well cause he had to face some cuts. He talks about that when we ask him whether the musicians who are with him on this tour are long term members or, on the contrary, he “hires” them out when he goes on tour: «They are long term band members. You know, this business got so bad: we had to downsize a few years back so I had to let a couple of players go (the fiddle player and the pedal steel player) and I’ve had them for a long long time. So hopefully when we start coming over here more often I will be able to put those instruments back in the band. I like to keep my players as long as possible, there’s a lot of loyalty in this group and hopefully we will sound like our records.» A question focuses on the discriminant which influences the artists (highly-rated or not) when deciding where they want to go to perform in Europe. Alan Jackson went to Sweden, Brad Paisley went to England, but no-one ever went to Spain, and they are barely consider Italy…. How does it work? «We are here because we have not upraised ourselves out of the job… You know, those guys to me… they go and do things and it’s ridiculous money… I mean, you know, I could never spend all that money in my lifetime. And I get it, I mean, if I could command those dollars I might stay real close to home and hang out with the kids and make the big bucks out of probably playing twenty dates a year, not more. But you know I have always worked for a living so it does any good to get out and see that in other places people love what we do… So we will keep coming back and we’re going to put more emphasis on this than we had in the past». Then he lets himself go to some bitter considerations, on which I agree: «They are all amazing artists. Brad and I started off at the same time, working out at the same building. He was just out of college, I was 35 years old [laughs] … Jo Galante and RCA Records literally built a business plan with him: from the day he stepped out of college they groomed him to be what he is now. There is so much political club there and there is no way to stop that train.» Michele Sangion, promoter of the Country Christmas in Pordenone, cracks a joke: «Ok, but he better fits in the video just because he’s much shorter than you are!» and everybody laughs. «Yes! No need of wide angles!» adds Darryl «Great joke! I will tell him you said that!»
I want to ask him about “Have You Forgotten?”, about how much important the patriotic theme has become in his following albums and how his detractors judged that song as an expedient to get to the success in a faster way, telling that patriotism always pays off, especially after September 11^th. «Patriotism» says Worley «was always part of the “package”, that’s how I have been raised in a military family. People talk, people say a lot of things… What a lot of people don’t know is that we didn’t even release that song as a single! I had a single on the radio that was doing very well, “Have You Forgotten?” was a brand new song we had just written and I decided that I would play it live on the Grand Ole Opry one night, on the tv portion of the program [while talking he has the goose flash remembering that night]. American People heard that song from the Opry on television, they downloaded the mp3 of the live performance from the Grand Ole Opry and emailed it to all of the local radio stations across the United States. The new song killed my single that was already out! So they simply started to play this live version of “Have You Forgotten?”. At that point country radio said “we have some kind of product! This is gonna sell over million! You have to create some kind of product” So… there’s such a long story…! There was a huge confrontation in a court battle because of what the record label told me I could do and then the LA part of the label got involved and said “this is gonna be huge so we’re gonna create a full album”. But originally for me we would make a small EP, like six cuts, selling it for half price so that our military people could afford to buy it. But when the song took off all the big wings in LA said “no deal”, and I had gone out telling million and a half people that we’re gonna do an EP so it made me look like a “pig” . So that’s when the political fight began for Darryl Worley and I’ve been fighting ever since!»

The following question, from Sara Civillini, focuses on the country music female acts with whom Darryl would like to sing a duet: «Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless… mmm… [pause]» «I know, Taylor Swift!» Mitch – from Country Music Network – suggests, bringin’on in a loud laughter. «No» Darryl replies «Carrie Underwood! That’s it… I would do that, I’d love that… But maybe with Dolly and Patty that’s a little bit of a stretch. Then Sara Evans and Lee Ann Womack… very much so. A good question!»
There’s room for a last question, which I ask: «I know that you are here with your wife [Kimberly Perkins, note of the author] . I’d like to know: how can you balance your life between business and family? Is it hard for you? I say that knowing that you are very far from home…» «This is my second wife  [LAUGHTER], which says a lot on the matter… Honestly, coming from my background, I never wanted to have that record, you know… But it’s very very difficult. It was very difficult to have her on this trip with me, but you know we both work constantly and she doesn’t get to do a lot cause she watches after the baby all the time so it’s wonderful to have a few days together and she’s just outside of herself being here in Italy, especially Italy! She had her computer stuck out of the window showing her mum the view outside with skype!»

Francesca Pelizzari – from Country Music Network – is called to make a final consideration and it’s a consideration coming from the heart. She speaks directly to Darryl (who was able to understand anything thanks to the precious work of Miss Laura Ferrara): «Maybe the country movement in Europe  is finally growing and surely it happens thanks to humble personalities like you. Like you said before, yes you did started off with Brad Paisley… you might be here now because you don’t cost as much as Brad does, but the truth is that there is no difference. That’s: you might cost less money but you’re as good as Brad. So thanks to people like you we can hope maybe one day  to be able to listen to country music on the radio through real country music stations. That’s why the only thing we can really tell you is “thank you”!»
Before leaving the press conference, after thanking Francesca («I love listen to her talk!») Darryl Worley wants to disclose a personal anecdote to us regarding his family’s story: «My Great Uncle came back from World War II through New York City, married a young Italian lady and brought her home to Tennessee. Her name was Maria Antonietta Mamelito Worley! She was one of my favourite ever in the world and she brought a little bit of Italy to Tennessee.» While telling us this story the emotion brings tears to his eyes, which makes one thing certain for everyone of us: beyond a great country music artist stands a great man!

**** THE CONCERT ****
The concert starts off at 10 pm sharp when Darryl Worley’s backing band enters the stage. They are five, trustworthy elements: Jeff Jared at the electric guitar, Dink Cook at the bass, Monty Parkey at the keyboards, Tom Drenon at the drums and Scott Ruthen at the acoustic guitar. Both Tom Drenon and Jeff Jared know him very well having been part of Darryl’s studio recording band for “Sounds Like Life” album. As anticipated to us  during the press conference, pedal steel guitar is missing: the regret still remains  but Jeff Jared’s sliding will sooth the pain. Anyways a five pieces band is a highly respectable one and its power spreads from the beginning of the show which starts off great with “Honkytonk Life”. Darryl, yelling «Grazie!» (thank you) on his stage entry, wears the same clothes he was wearing at the press conference. A little change in final part of the “Honkyrtonk Life” lyric and the words become “…I love the neon, I love Italy and I love the honkytonk life…”. He really wants to let us know that he didn’t want to wear such clothes: «These are not my normal show shoes, these are not my normal show pants and this is not my normal show shirt … but since I left Oslo in Norway to get to Milano my guitar is the only thing I have that is mine!» than adds: «But this is the most important thing because this is the reason why I am here!» It comes so easy for him to warm up the audience and he shows to be 100% at ease with it, at such an extent that he says: «Back home in Tennessee most real country boys stand barefoot, so I’ll take these things off, too» and kicks off his slippers away from him, standing actually barefooted throughout the show with perfect nonchalance. He strikes up “Sideways” and, before he starts right after “A Good Day To Run” a good piece of news gets to the stage: they have retrieved his luggage and it is on its way to the hotel. After an understandable elation Darryl wants to thank first of all the American Air Force members who came to the show: «I got some very special friends in the audience tonight, we have some folks here from the Unites States Air Force. They are here in Italy and they came to see the show. We wanna thank them for coming. One of the reason I was so concerned about losing my bag is because there are some things in there that they had given to me in the past which I didn’t want to lose. The rest, I could replace; but those things I couldn’t». The other acknowledgements goes to Michele “Mitch” Perricone, to Country Music Network and to Country Power Station (the italian internet radio which allows us to listen to tons of great country music 24 hours a day, note of the author). «I promise you this much» adds Darryl «As soon as the new project is finished you will be hearing the real Darryl Worley’s music and also we will be coming back to play in Italy»Maybe to celebrate the good news a shot of tequila for everyone arrives on stage. After “Living In The Here And Now” Darryl wants to dedicate “I Miss My Friend” to George McAnthony (popular italian country singer who was taken away from a heart attack last July 7^th at the young age of 45), earning a heartfelt applause from the audience. He keeps a low rhythm playing “Tequila Dance” while inviting everyone to dance if they feel like it and then he makes a toast to the evening with a second glass of tequila his wife brings on stage – «Salute!» (Cheers!) he says in Italian. Then he introduces the next song, “I Just Came Back From A War”: «I am a patriot and just like you I love my country and I love the men and women that protect us from those who might harm us. This song was inspired by the militaries and from some of the things they have to do. You, folks out there, who are deployed tonight: God bless you!» Right after he asks for an applause to his band, The Crew, before starting off “Tennessee River Run”. Eventually his luggage is brought to the stage, with much surprise to Darryl. «God’s been good to me!» he exclaims while starting “Family Tree”. Time for the classics and Darryl pays homage to the great Buck Owens performing a rendition of his “Streets of Bakersfield” and then leaving the spotlights to Scott Ruthen who tries his hands to “Whiskey Bent & Hellbound”, great hit for Hank Williams jr. (great strings plucking, man! And what a voice!). Back to the “vintage” Worley with the mid-tempos “I Need A Breather” and “When You Need My Love”, with Darryl thanking  technical staff and crew who made the show possible. “Jumpin’ Off The Wagon” and “The Way Things Are Goin’ “ follow. The american soldier standing among the audience have been requesting out loud a song since the beginning of the concert. That’s the time when Darryl satisfies them singing “Unsung Heroes”, which is a single available only through internet (with free download for military people) talking about all the casualties of all “peace” wars. The song list doesn’t disappoint me, nevertheless some favourites of mine are missing: now it’s the time for “Best of Both Worlds”, “Sounds Like Life” and “Nothin’ But A Love Thang”. More than one hour and a half have passed since the beginning and it seems Darryl has no intention to ever stop. It is really a staunch and convincing show: the band is amazing, never loses grip and one can distinctly feel the harmony between the six of them. Darryl’s voice is excellent, baritonal and really tuned, strong and full-bodied. You can really say that a feeling is coming from the stage as well and the atmosphere is really familiar. Sooner or later it had to come, everyone was waiting for it. And eventually here it comes, “Have You Forgotten?”, dedicated from Worley to all the innocent people who – for a reason or another – are caught up and then he adds – talking abviously about Bin Laden – «we finally dug him out!» And here it comes the legitimate patriotic apotheosis with a closing, particularly felt applause. “Awful, Beautiful Life” climbs in the grand finale and it’s the proper closing of the set. But audience doesn’t have enough yet: «One more song!» they repeat so Darryl comes back willingly on the stage  and this time he pays homage to Merle Haggard with a swinging version of “Mama Tried” after which, more than 2 hours later his entering the stage, say goodbye to all singing “Was It Good For You”, which is also a question he asks everybody to the hall and whose answer is surely “Yes, it was!”
“God Bless You All!” shouts Darryl while leaving. May God bless him as well: for a magic night he brought his heart and the Nashville’s smell to Trezzo d’Adda.
Massimo Annibale – ©2011 CountryStateLine
All Rights Reserved
Photo Credit: Joan Enric Clofent©2011 & Massimo Annibale©2011