For Episode 9 of AAA, Tom Russell's latest rummage through the archive turns up a backstage interview with Shinedown, recorded at the Hydro in Glasgow, with drummer Barry Kerch front and centre.
The conversation was recorded around two years into the life of Attention Attention, an album that marked a shift for the band, both musically and personally. By this point, Shinedown were established, road-hardened, and thinking carefully about what it means to keep a modern rock band alive in a changing industry.
Tom introduces the interview and sets the scene before the tape rolls. Backstage, Kerch talks openly about the band's writing process, how songs are shaped collectively, and the realities of making a living as a contemporary rock act. There is also a frank discussion of mental health.
As always, Tom is joined by Scott McArthur and Andy Muir for a wide-ranging conversation. They reflect on what the interview reveals about Shinedown as a working band, the economics of touring, and how openness around mental health has changed rock culture. Warning - Scottish accents!!
The discussion also takes a detour into Tom's long-standing support for emerging acts at this time through his fabulous "Secret Sessions", where bands were encouraged to play Glasgow pubs long before arenas were on the cards. From there, things wander as they should, touching on whisky, shared musical memories, and unexpected name-checks, including a nod to Leo Sayer.
An episode that balances serious themes with relaxed, off-the-cuff chat, capturing both the discipline of a successful modern band and the informal culture that surrounds live music in Glasgow.
