Phil Vassar listens to the country legends

Country artist Phil Vassar has a compelling schedule during his swing into Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, which shows just how popular he is across the country.

“We do Chicago then Temecula then Nashville in three days,” he laughed. “If I didn’t have my own management company I’d probably fire myself!”

Vassar has been writing and recording hits as well as touring for decades, and there are no signs of stopping.

“I have a bunch of new songs I’ve got sitting around, and I haven’t had a new record out in a while” he said. “You always want to get back on the radio and have songs out there, but for me it was good to take some time off. We will be going in the studio real soon.”

A hectic touring schedule, which he is happy about, can hamper the writing and production.

“We’ve been touring Europe and all over and for me it was good to take a break because being on a treadmill is not conducive to creativity,” he stated. “Granted, sometimes I write pretty well on planes when I am sitting there with nothing going on.”

The idea is to be true to yourself and do things in time, lessons Vassar has learned from some of the greats.

“Everyone wants you to crank out songs and make them money,” he said. “But I have talked with guys like Merle Haggard, Jackson Browne, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, and they told me you have to write at your own pace. It can’t be an assembly line. Any of us can write all day long, but are the songs going to be any good. You have to write something that means something.”

For Vassar, the process is aided by the vast number of influences in terms of music.

“My first concert was Merle Haggard and then I saw Van Halen, all in the same week,” he said. “I grew up in a musical family where one minute it might be George Jones and the next Nat King Cole. I listened to all the great songwriters like Willie Nelson, the Beatles, Elton John, and The Eagles. I craved that stuff.”

Over the years many of those same guys have continued to provide inspiration.

“I’ve seen Billy Joel playing by himself at a friend’s house and the same with Vince Gill,” he said. “It is awesome to just sit down and talk to them about why they wrote that song. Seeing Springsteen talk about a song and then play it is just incredible.”

That’s what his shows are like as well.

“The big arena shows are fine and fun to do but you don’t have much connection to your audience,” he said. “The places like Wilson Creek are really great because you can do some storytelling and really let them see the real you. They walk away from the show really knowing you and your music, not just thinking about a cool laser light show.”

He has learned from the greats and realizes he has to be true to himself and the music.

“You are always up against the newest thing,” he said. “You have to be out there and do what you do and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. The fans will stay with you if you are true to them and yourself.”