Chad Brownlee Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour Preview Interview
Chad Brownlee isn’t a coffee guy, but I’d never have guessed it as we talked on the phone in the morning hours in BC (lunchtime in Toronto). We caught up to talk about new music, the upcoming Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour, and we played a long-overdue round of 5 Quick Questions.
The tour starts in late-March, but before that, Chad’s got new songs to share with country music fans. And it starts now with the deluxe edition of Back In The Game. The 2019 album was originally a seven-song release but has now been boosted to a more robust 11 tracks, including Money On You.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, Chad Brownlee has announced that all Ontario tour stops on the Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour have been cancelled due to illness. Brownlee posted the announcement via his social media channels Thursday morning, and venues have started sharing the news with refund information. For more information please contact your ticket vendor.
I asked about the decision to add to the already released album versus maybe a new EP or waiting to release another larger album. Chad said that it came down to getting new music out as soon as possible. Consistent content is the idea, and it makes sense. There was a three-year gap between Brownlee’s Hearts On Fire and Back In The Game albums, and as far as he’s concerned, that’s too long. He told us that it tried his patience to wait that long, but as we covered later, it all worked out. So now, to avoid those patience trying moments and to get fans ready for the shows he’s going to be playing across Canada throughout 2020, it’s new music time once again.
It all worked out of course because the fans and industry gave Chad Brownlee a huge reception to his new music after that lengthy wait. Starting with Dear Drunk Me as an advance single in 2018, and then with the Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere single, Chad reached brand new heights as an artist. Dear Drunk Me climbed to the #3 spot on the charts, putting him in the Top 5 for the first time. And then, in mid-April 2019, the BC boy reached the highest of heights when Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere went all the way to #1.
If the year had ended then, Chad Brownlee could have probably called it a win, but he kept going. From coast-to-coast, Chad travelled with Dean Brody and Dallas Smith on the Friends Don’t Let Friends Tour Alone run. Fans got a taste of the new music and Brownlee got a chance to get back into a big tour groove. We talked about the feeling of being out on that tour and getting ready for the Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour and Chad told us that he doesn’t think he’s ever had more fun playing live. His enjoyment levels have climbed to new levels, and he sees that as an absolute positive for him – and also for the show because he sees his job as inviting and allowing every fan in the building to just let go of life and have fun from the start of the show to the end.
“I’ve never had more fun on stage than I am right now. I can’t think of another time in my career when I’ve enjoyed performing any more than right now. I just have fun up there. And at the end of the day, that’s really the job of the artist, to give people permission to have a good time.”
When it comes to this tour, that good time includes Lauren Alaina and Jade Eagleson. TV viewers may be familiar with Lauren Alaina from her recent season of Dancing With The Stars, so I asked Chad if he was going to learn a few steps from her before they hit the road. The answer, a laughing “no I wouldn’t wait around for that”. But, he is excited for her to come north and join the tour, and we’re guessing that she’s excited too as she’ll be coming almost directly off of an American tour with Blake Shelton to start this Canadian trip.
And then there’s Jade Eagleson. We asked Chad how it feels to be able to bring an artist that’s at the start of their career out on tour and he told us that it’s great. But more importantly, he’s happy that it’s Jade that’s coming. He described the Ontario native as having an infectious type of smile and energy, and it’s true. If you’ve seen Jade on stage or met him at a show, you know he’s happy to be singing for fans and making music and living this life. Chad also mentioned his voice, and he’s right to because ever since the day we first saw Jade Eagleson play at Boots & Hearts, we’ve been hearing people talk about how much they love that voice.
On bringing Jade Eagleson on the tour, “He’s got so much raw talent. To be able to give him a platform, to be able to show people exactly what he can do, I feel good that I’m able to give that to him.”
With four new songs (Money On You, Lovin’ A Wild Thing, Rest Of Your Nights, Something Real) for Canadian country fans to learn, the excitement is only going to build as we get closer to the Ontario dates on the Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour. And after festival season ends, that excitement is going to pick back up when Chad announces the Maritime and Western dates for part two of the tour.
We’ve seen Chad play live as far back as 2013 at Boots & Hearts. We saw him headline in Toronto on 2015’s When The Lights Go Down Tour. He and Tim Hicks helped us preview the Shake These Walls / Hearts On Fire Tour. We’ve seen him at the CNE, Country Thunder, Canadian Country Music Week and more. And here’s what we’ve learned, it’s always a good time.
If there’s an Ontario date near you, get tickets. And if you’re down east or out west, stay tuned for those announcements later this year and get your tickets then.
Now, hit play and check out the round of 5 Quick Questions we played with Chad Brownlee to find out which album he’d reach for on a long drive, who he would love to duet with, what job he’d be doing if he wasn’t singing country music, and more!
5 Quick Questions with Chad Brownlee
Thanks to Chad for taking the time to chat. We’re looking forward to the show.
Leave a comment if you’ve got tickets for any of the Ontario dates. And tell us which songs you hope Chad plays in the set!
Chad Brownlee, Back In The Game (Deluxe Edition) Tracklist
1. Money On You *
2. Back In The Game
3. Lovin’ A Wild Thing *
4. Dear Drunk Me
5. Rest Of Your Nights *
6. Bourbon
7. Something Real *
8. The Way You Roll
9. My Revival
10. This Old Guitar
11. Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere
* new songs added in Deluxe Edition release
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