Keith Urban Co-Hosts 9/6-7

This wknd the co-host is Keith Urban, who joins Lon from Australia. He’s on his High & Alive World Tour, and just spent the month of August in Australia. He returns to North America this week, and the tour continues thru October in Nashville. He’s also part of the new TV talent contest “The Road,” that begins October 19th on CBS-TV.

Lon asked if Keith is varying the setlist in different countries: “We made a couple of song tweaks for Australia, songs that were released here that weren’t in the US, and some local covers.  I’ll do the same thing in Canada. I usually think of them as I’m driving to the gig.”

Keith posted a video of him in Brisbane.  He got a big emotional in that venue, and Lon asked him why: “I have a lot of history there.  So many things about what I do, I learned by watching bands play there.   It was a great training ground to be in the audience there.”

Chase Matthew has been opening for Keith all summer: “He comes out with a take-no-prisoners attitude.  Two songs in, he has everybody on their feet.  Same thing in Australia.  He’s got something.  He’s a motivational speaker and an entertainer.”

When the tour ends, Keith can be seen on the new TV talent show The Road: “I thought it focused on a part of the artist’s journey that hadn’t been captured and touched upon in these other shows.  The live show is a big part of that, The goal is to connect with the audience.  That’s what you’ll see on The Road.”

Keith just released a live version of Straight Line.  He told Lon, “We have a live album coming out sometime this year. I’ve never done one.  It’s kind of crazy. We felt on this tour, it was feeling musically special, the crowd energy was really special, so let’s start capturing some of these and see if we can do an album.”

Besides the live album, what’s next for Keith? I’ve been writing quite a bit. I’ve been recording quite a bit. I’m looking forward to getting back into the studio.  That’s what I do. i don’t have hobbies.  I love music. That’s whay I do.”

What do you do to unwind? “I drive, I drove to the gig the other night, and someone asked ‘How come you drive yourself?’  I said I always drive myself.  Somebody driving me is like somebody playing my guitar.  I’d rather be doing it.”

Keith also has great stories this week about Blake Shelton, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, and Jelly Roll.

NEXT WEEK: Russell Dickerson

Tags: featured, keith urban

Category: CO-HOST