The Zach Edwards Band Comes Home to its San Angelo Roots With High Expectations

By Joe Hyde
Publisher
January 27, 2008

Podcast

Zach Edwards exclusive interview in San Angelo (Jan 26, 2008) by Joe Hyde

Zach Edwards talks about Big Lake, his inspiration of AC/DC and Jason Boland, and what his songs mean to him. Interviewed Jan. 26, 2008 at The Triple Crown Club on Knickerbocker Rd in San Angelo, Texas.
Interviewer: Joe Hyde
Year: 2008
Length: 14:51 minutes (17.41 MB)
Format: mp3 stereo 160 Kbps 44.1 kHz (cbr)

The Zach Edwards Band on stage at The Triple Crown Bar in San Angelo. From left, Ian Willmore, lead guitarist; and Zach Edwards. (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

Zach Edwards grew up in Big Lake, went to Texas A&M University (class of 1996) and caught the Texas country music bug while watching Robert Earl Keen, and then Jason Boland’s career take off. Edwards’ music certainly has the honky tonk style of Boland, but there is also a hint of AC/DC too.

He is relatively new on the scene, but he has support from fellow Texas country singer Darren Kozelsky who is also from this area, Ballinger. Both live in the Dallas Metroplex today. Kozelsky’s band played backup on Edwards’ first album and Kozelsky provided his Rolodex to help Edwards find the right engineers to produce the CD.

Without much help from seasoned pros, Edwards has taken his music far. That is, without a Walt Wilkins to produce him. His first single release from the album “Cowboy Crew” was one of the first of many Myspace songs, “You Look Good on Myspace.” His second single release, the honky tonk-sounding “Texas Women” is now at #24 (week of Jan 28, 2008). Not bad for a first time, self-published artist.

That’s not bad, even for an opening act for Aaron Watson where Edwards was Friday night at Graham Central Station (2545 Southwest Blvd, San Angelo). It is interesting trivia to note that Edwards single “Texas Women” was charting higher than Watson’s latest release, “Blame it on Me” from his “San Angelo” album this week.

The Zach Edwards Band opened for Aaron Watson. But Zach's single "Texas Women" was charting higher that day than Watson's latest. From left: Ian Willmore, lead guitar; Forrest Johnson, bass, and Zach Edwards. Keeping the band on time was Zach's brother, Caleb (sitting up high on the drum set). (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

That may have explained the larger than normal crowd at Graham Central Station Friday night.

Edwards takes the stage and plays like he’s in command. His vocals are excellent, and the passion for what he’s doing really comes across to the audience. His band (and excellent lead guitarist Ian Willmore, a Canadian) tackles some of the harder covers, like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy” (with extended guitar solos).

Edwards is a local boy who’s done well. He has an excellent self-published and produced album out, has charted a few hits, but he’s looking for bigger and better things for himself and the band. “I want to take my songs nationally,” he says. He emphasizes that on his Web site, www.countryzeb.com. He’s looking for a great producer for his next album. Whoever gets hired will probably go far. Zach Edwards is that good.

The Zack Edwards Band includes brother Caleb Edwards on drums, Ian Willmore on lead guitar, and Forrest Johnson on bass.