Chuck Shute Podcast

Kenny Olson (ex Kid Rock)

May 09, 2023 Kenny Olson Season 4 Episode 341
Chuck Shute Podcast
Kenny Olson (ex Kid Rock)
Show Notes Transcript

Kenny Olson is a multi-platinum guitarist from Detroit, Michigan, who has performed with Aerosmith, Metallica, Run DMC, Sheryl Crow, Billy Gibbons, Mick Mars and more. He was Kid Rock’s lead guitarist for eleven years performing around the world with dozens of television appearances, including Super Bowl XXXVIII.  He has a new project with singer Aaron Letrick called Letrick Olson that just released a new single titled “Willow.”  He has many other projects we discuss as well as some stories from the old days! 

00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Life In Michigan 
02:02 - Project with Stephen Perkins 
03:15 - Letrick Olson 
08:03 - Music Documentary - "Beautiful Mistakes" 
10:25 - Creating Music For the Right Reasons 
13:25 - Pack of Wolves with Chris Van Dahl 
17:03 - Co-Writing Music with Kid Rock 
20:25 - Guest Spots & Creating New Music 
21:23 - Music Industry Changes
26:23 - Music Memories 
28:45 - Staying Busy, Recording & Playing Live 
31:35 - Big Venues Vs. Little Venues 
35:05 - Upcoming Projects 
37:01 - Charities 
38:45 - Outro 

Kenny Olson website:
https://kennyolson.com/

Letrick Olson website:
https://letrickolson.com/

St. Jude's Children's Hospital website:
https://www.stjude.org/

Chuck Shute website:
https://chuckshute.com/

Support the show

Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Chuck Shute:

Okay, guitarist Kenny Olson is my guest today and you may remember him is the guitar player for Kid Rock up until around 2005 When he left, and he's since been involved in some really cool projects, including his latest one called Electric Olsen with singer Aaron electric. And they have a new song out. We're going to discuss that plus we'll talk other projects Kenny has been involved in and we talked about the Kid Rock days as well enjoy so where are you at? I'm in Scottsdale, Arizona. Are you in? Are you still in Nashville or?

Kenny Olson:

No, I'm up in Michigan right now.

Chuck Shute:

Are your Michigan okay. Yeah. You've kind of bounced back and forth between those two?

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, I grew up. You know, Originally, I'm from Detroit area. And, you know, I was living down in Nashville if you're saying for these last 12 years, I think. And then COVID. You know, I've been commuting to Los Angeles quite a bit as well. doing kind of a supergroup thing out there with the think X project like Steve Perkins from Jane's Addiction in Norwood. From Fishbone over Fisher and Scott Page, Floyd, Roberta Freeman seven started commuted out to LA quite a bit doing that when I was still in Nashville, and then COVID kind of have fun, and then ended up quitting, you know, we got a big building in Detroit area and are putting a new recording studio in there in a live multimedia center TV, everything. So in the midst of producing a bunch of new stuff and recording a new album and a documentary and doing this project called the beautiful mistakes, bringing in all these special guests, old school legends and new talents and on developing as well. So yeah, yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, a lot of stuff going on why? So tell me about this thing with Steven Perkins. Yeah, I've heard you kind of meet briefly mentioned that. What is the band called? And when? When did that album come out? Or?

Kenny Olson:

Well, that was something we've been doing. It's called thick x. And we were doing we do like Norwood. And Steve and I years and years ago, started working on just a bunch of our own stuff. And that's also intertwine with some of the stuff we're doing for beautiful mistakes. But then we start, you know, working with Scott Page and Pete Floyd, and we start doing this whole thing X project, and we were doing a sing at the wisdom in LA. And we had like, a residency thing there. And we went over to Eastern Europe to quite a few things, got a little recording, but, you know, COVID just kind of, you know, change things around, everybody gets busy, like everybody involved in these super groups. We all have so many different things going on, that it's, you know, kind of, you know, but it's fun to because I get to bounce around and, you know, love all kinds of music. So I get to, you know, just kind of get you know, I get to get my creative flow, you know?

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, well, so tell me about the latest thing because the thing you're doing now is with Aaron electric called metric Olson. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I only Aaron Sorry. Yeah. I was just gonna say I heard two songs the willow and the and the Led Zeppelin cover Thank you. But yeah, great and obviously the willow song is about Aaron's girlfriend or wife that died in a car accident hit by a drunk driver so it's really obviously really emotional and dark

Kenny Olson:

Yes, definitely. You know, Aaron Aaron's an old dear friend of mine and the group that came together to you know make the song happen was kind of an all star Detroit group Jimmy bones from you know, my solo band member that three years and Kid Rock into suburban charter band. He's so as Jimmy silicate rock, and Jimmy and I've been always doing different things on the side for as long as I remember. So we Jason heartless and Kevin shine who also played on track which recorded years ago so I mean, it you know, kind of started out as a project and you know, Aaron had came to me with this, you know, the psalmody with roughly kind of had outlined and you know, we went in there and really tweaked and arranged it and I did all the guitars Jimmy everybody did all their parts and everything and it came out to be quite a you know, it's one of those songs that it was just meant to be kind of thing when we even the whole process of recording it. You know, I took guitar solos everything was like one take, right? Yeah, these kind of out of body experiences because it is one of those emotional songs. And I'm used to, you know, I love all kinds of music. And I like songs that are really deep and emotional. But I also like, stuff that's really groovy and funky and trippy. And or just classic just simplified, you know, rock and roll as well, you know, and I've like, I think, you know, it's just, it's one of those songs that you know, that every time we've all got together and collaborate, it's been some really awesome. And I think that that song with a lot of people like we did, for example, only God knows why it was Kid Rock that was more of a slow thumb Valley song. And a lot of people would come to me through the years and say, Well, you know, you're thinking about, you know, with your guitar solo you're doing on on the God knows why, and the song, what you guys did got me through our family through this, or this, that and, you know, songs like this, that's, you know, they, if they help people get through stuff, you know, it's a good feeling on a partisan, you know, we've, you know, been able to create something that got them through it all. So,

Chuck Shute:

yeah, I would think it would help Aaron get through that. It would be cathartic for him to write that song and perform it.

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, yeah, it was. We performed it a couple times, you know, with the supergroup in Detroit. And, you know, we've got some other ideas and stuff to that, and I've got so much music, especially through COVID, I don't even know, I can't even tell you how many songs are, you know, are at least in completed with close to completed songs that I created. And so this, you know, this year coming up now with our own new studio, and we haven't a playground to really finish and hone in on all these records. I've got a lot of stuff that's going to be coming out here in the very near future. So I'm excited.

Chuck Shute:

So electric Olson, is that going to be kind of your main focus? And do you guys already have some other songs recorded or written?

Kenny Olson:

Well, I mean, right now, you know, it's more of a, you know, Aaron, you know, kind of, you know, we came to the song as it's like, a sense of Detroit supergroup, they kind of that came together for these last couple songs that we've done. And, you know, you know, we're always open or whatever, you know, and everybody's got their schedules, but we've been, there's definitely more music, I mean, kind of rising for with that lineup. And, you know, we're already like, gone and rocked out a few shows, it was amazing. And, I mean, as far as, like, my main thing, I've just, I got so much stuff going on, even with my own record, and documentary and other stuff, so, and then the guys, you know, out west, I'm still going down in Nashville, doing stuff too, with kind of the same similar thing with a bunch of badass dudes down there. So you know, I'm just doing what I can within the time that I can do everything in. So

Chuck Shute:

yeah, what told me about the documentary, I wasn't aware of that.

Kenny Olson:

That's kind of the beautiful mistakes. And it's, you know, just the making a record with a lot of just amazing people and letting them tell their stories. And some of the players on it are people that, you know, us like people like you and I are people, you know, there's a lot of people that know who they are. But there's a lot of people that don't know, and all the different stuff that they've played on. And intertwined with all of our creative process, a lot of great stories have been being told, and just a lot of education of the recording process. Just people's, you know, story, you know, it's this kind of a, and when I call the beautiful mistakes, it's because it's all nothing's really to pre thought out, you know, of all it's everything that I've been striving for is more that not overthought first take kind of, it's all vibey stuff, everybody's just kind of coming into this vibe, and together and, and we're taking what we get from that.

Chuck Shute:

And who are some of the people involved in that? Can you say?

Kenny Olson:

Well, there's a couple I gotta wait till there's the big announcements for the final thing with some of the singers that are coming in. You know, some of it we're doing within the core group and stuff too, but like I said, like Steven and Norwood are, you know, on some of the tracks and a lot of my other fellow peers through the years dance and, you know, legendary stuff when I was doing the experience Hendrix tours, you know, having a chance to tour with like, Mitch Mitchell and Bill, like, sharks and body miles and you know, Paul Rogers Bootsy Collins. There are so many people that you've heard someone that, you know, it's it's just amazing to have these opportunities. And while you know some of the we're still here, true artists until you know, we can't even play anymore usually want to just keep creating, I mean, you look at like someone like Keith Richards, I mean, Keith is a true definition of rock and roll, because he does a imic the van they do for the love of what they do, you know, obviously they don't need need it for money or anything, it's I'm all about making music for the right reasons. Just like the song, you know, with Aaron, when he came to the idea, it was very emotional song that was, and we took it there, you know, we get we dove right into it. And, you know, I didn't even know his girlfriend personally. And I feel like I've known her quite a bit now. And I've met her whole family, and they're very grateful and in tune of what we've been doing with it all. So it's, you know, like, with certain projects, you never know, you know, what can happen in the future with it. But, you know, that's kind of how it's really started out was just taking a bunch of old friends from Detroit and, and making some music with it. You know, we're hoping for it to be heard by the masses.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, I mean, so are you at that point, like, you don't have to worry about money, you can just make music for fun. Like you don't I mean, are you have enough from like, the other stuff you've done with Kid Rock, and everything that you can just give enough to pay the bills at least? Or do you still have to kind of worry about at least being able to, like pay the bills?

Kenny Olson:

Well, you know, the music industry has changed quite a bit. And, you know, a lot of money has been taken from all us artists, you know, with no one paid for us. So, what we thought was, would continue to come in, for a lot of artists has changed. So, you know, and I just No, no better anyways, I mean, I'll always do what I do. And I don't even think that I've even let think that, you know, as many records as I've played on the stuff that we did to the Kid Rock a day, and you know, my own stuff, I don't even think that I've put out my best stuff yet by by any longshot. So as an artist, I'm really looking forward to, I mean, there's hundreds of songs I've recorded over the last decade since I quit good rock. And I think it's the best stuff I've ever done. But in his new age of music, and putting songs out, you know, it's always like, there's these pros and cons of everything, and you're basically giving your content away in this world, kind of, you know, and then the throw everything out there all at once. Because this is world where no one really has that attention span to really listen to whole album by selling anymore. It's all like, Okay, let me you know, and then a judge, and how many seconds or minutes, someone listens to a song when it's put out there. But they made it through 80% of the song. And I mean, it's 100% of the song, you know, it's it's not like the old days when we were younger, and we put on a great album that was anticipated, and it was made like a work of art, and sat back and listened to how it played from beginning to end. It's, you know, it sucks that it's not like, you know,

Chuck Shute:

yeah, I heard that. When you left Kid Rock was part of the reason it was because you've had this band called pack of wolves with Chris Van doll. And I still have not heard that. But I've heard that the album is, the rumor is that it's really good. And that's what Chris told me. I had Chris on the show. And he said, Oh, that stuff is amazing. And I was trying to find it. I don't see it on Spotify, or YouTube or anything, Will that ever be released?

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, that's one of those prices. Sitting there, and it's, I think, you know, when you listen back to those tracks, and the way we did them, you know, what's great about them is I wouldn't go back and redo anything. You know, even at this present moment, as long as we did, even though songs, you know, maybe a little bit of tweaking in the mixing stuff, but as far as the parts that were played, the vocals that were put down, everything is it was quite magical. It was like how you know, even when we did like that without a cause, for example, we just went in there and we wrote the record. And that's how we did with the packet will sing and then that turned into the flask and Eddie Kramer did that record and everything's kind of you know, all this music that I created in that time period, which I was going through a lot you know, deciding to quit a van as big as Kid Rock to go out on my own and then the music industry going upside down. The economy going upside down. So you know, and being a man with a family and everything like that it's you know the the highs have been high and you know, lows have been gay. Your highs and lows and in betweens are forever. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

So was that that was the reason that crazy, right? Yeah. But that was the reason that you left Kid Rock was just to form the pack of wolves. That's what was going to be your, your prot your main project after leaving Kid Rock?

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, there was, you know, yeah, I mean, unfortunately, the business side and the music industry can have its negative effect on people's relations and stuff. And, you know, that was something that we started doing. And, you know, for different reasons and people involved, we, you know, haven't put it out yet. And it's people's paths and their journey in life, you know, and that was, like I said, it was right at a time when I was, you know, I still was in the band with Kid Rock when we started doing that. And at that point, it was a project, you know, but then once I decided to leave, you know, we were going to be gung ho about it, but then the music industry kind of went upside down too. And we even went through a phase back then, where they all said rock and roll wasn't hip, it was all about bro country and all this crazy shit that was getting put out. So you know, and then I eventually I was down in Nashville, and getting caught in that grind, playing on other people's records, making other people rich. So, you know, I'm all about, you know, I love playing on other people's stuff and being featured, but I am, you know, right now, it's, you know, writing, you know, you know, besides just being a lead guitar player, and and I'm really, writing is one of my favorite things to do and creating and producing songs. And, you know, right now, we've got an outlet now that we've, you know, have a plan of action to get all these songs out there, you know, in somewhat of a timely matter, so that they can be heard.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's interesting, because, like, when I look back, at your time with Kid Rock, you didn't write a lot of the songs I think there was some like, I think the song Devil Without A Cause you had a co write on that, maybe, you know, some stuff here and there. Was that, why why was he not allowed you allowing you to co write music at that point with him?

Kenny Olson:

We collaborated and most all that stuff was a lot of efforts from people in the room and all that kind of stuff. It's just kind of a, the nature of the beast is sometimes what names they want to put down on certain songs, too. So that seems to happen a lot in a lot of different occasions where what people see, you know, even on their songs on those records that I actually do get, you know, even calculator, they forgot to even put my credit underneath the thing where I'm still actually a songwriter in its, but it's the nature of the beast.

Chuck Shute:

So there were songs that you co wrote that you didn't get credit for. And you didn't fight with Ford or anything or

Kenny Olson:

No, I mean, they just didn't listed on the album's I mean, I have yeah, there's, there's stuff that I wrote that I actually am listed as a co writer when the publishing and writing world that they just didn't put it on the record.

Chuck Shute:

That's weird. You still get the money then for that? Right.

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, I mean, so that's theirs. But, you know, sometimes they is the one to take this, but, you know, it's, you know, everybody, you know, he, you know, he had an idea and he had a direction or songs and whether it was, you know, contributing guitar riffs and considers what, you know, part of the songwriting but I think when everybody's in a room creating a song, and throwing their two cents, and there's, that's part of the whole process, you know, even the group that is being laid down and just taking ideas, but is awesome. You know, it's, you know, we, you know, we had it was, you know, it's a whole different long story. With the business side of things, you know, it's, it's a lot it's a tough business.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Didn't know, did you when you left Kid Rock? Are you still cool with him? Or is it thing where like, you haven't talked to him since you left.

Kenny Olson:

Now we once in a while, we'll run into each other. We've known each other for a long, long, long, long time, even long before we even started, foot started playing together in the mid 90s. So, you know, it's, instead of the business side of the music industry can get in the way of, you know, old friendships and stuff too. So it's kind of it's a long, long story, but I just tried to, you know, taking the high road with it all and looking forward to put a bunch of music out, you know,

Chuck Shute:

ya know, it's exciting. mean that you're doing all this other stuff? I mean, you just, it's such a big part of your career. And then obviously you did all like you said, You did all these guest spots on other albums like Run DMC and Eric gales and big and rich and tantric. And I mean, that's just exciting things. But now you want to focus more on being the songwriter, and guitar lead guitars having your own pro having more creative control, right?

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, and I mean, I've always been in that situation. Throughout my whole career, I've been primarily, you know, even all my different bands. So that was my things. Besides just being a lead guitar player, I love writing riffs, you know, and arranging music. And it's been a big part of what I do and how I get paid and stuff too. But you know, and I love playing on other people's records. I mean, I do a lot of r&b albums, too. I've been I've been blessed to have cameos and Les Paul's record from the jazz scene at Chaka Khan, faith, Evans, you know, even a lot more hip hop records to that. I mean, I love doing that kind of stuff. And I'll always, you know, continue to do that. That's a lot of fun. But I'm also looking to looking forward to getting a lot of this music out that's been brewing up inside. And I'm excited for the world to hear it.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Now, how do you release music now? Because it's so different than say, in the mid 90s, early 2000s, when you had to basically be on a major record label now, so many artists are releasing it independently? Or do you have some sort of label? Or is it just going to be self released?

Kenny Olson:

Um, yeah, that's all been there's a lot of stuff behind the scenes being masterminded excellent numbers. I'm excited about but you know, you have to think really outside of the box these days. I mean, there's a lot it's, it's like the wild wild west and music industry. It's kind of like, where the internet is, it's almost like if you were at a football game, and professional football game, and all these guys worked their whole lives, and dedicated their lives since they were youngsters to become a professional athlete. And now it's like, everybody from the stands was able to go down in the field as well and be like, Here I am, here I am. And it's, it's overwhelming.

Chuck Shute:

That's an interesting way to look at it. You're right, though. Yeah, it is. It's like, the people in the stands are just getting them to walk down to the field. And

Kenny Olson:

that's it. I mean, there was a time when you want, yeah, back when, like, very grateful. I mean, like, I, you know, going back to even the Kid Rock stuff, you know, I'm very grateful for the times that we've had, you know, you're not, it's not like, I'm no more than anybody, you know, I love all those guys in the band. And, you know, we've had amazing, amazing times together. But I mean, to get, you know, to get there, and what we accomplished, you know, those are cherished memories, but nowadays, you know, this music industry, it's, it's just so different. And I'm so grateful that I got in every part of the music scene in that last hurrah where you'd actually go get a record deal and like us with Atlantic and, and they get behind you, and you rise to the top by building it up and start opening up for this person, you know, do the work to rock my bootcamp, next year, I would open up for this thing and then Woodstock and and we had like a, it was a very, you know, as I guess, the last way, because not long after that, even like, when a lot of us did, you know, deals without labels and stuff. We weren't trying to figure out how it was gonna break down with downloads and all that stuff. Because that stuff didn't exist, then. You know, and it's like, time has just flown by like that. And now it's like everybody, it's all about likes there has given their content away just to get, you know, a few likes, and it's like, and where's the money? I mean, you break down, you know, these releases and what's been divided between people, it's, it's Penny pennies being divided up versus dollars. And that was only not that long ago. So how it all works, you know, even when you get it all figured out. At this era, it's like, everybody's on their own. And you got these younger kids that are so good and computer and technology savvy. So they know how to go out there and get the followers. I mean, now you got these agencies and stuff looking and seeing how many followers an artist has before they book. You know, we have all these generations. I mean, I remember back you know, when you met somebody really famous, you know, that you looked up to and he shook their hand started talking to him. If you want a minute you went to go and do a selfie. with them, you know, just, you know, out of like for your own little promotion, you went from friend to fan kind of thing where it was more of a respect thing. We didn't walk around with cameras and have I mean there's so many there's so many amazing famous people I don't moments with my journey. And I don't even have photos of all that because it wasn't like oh look at this opportunity to have it was more part of your journey as an artist and not about what the rest of the world Oh, they you know that whole name drop you think goes viral? We're sharing something within and being part of that journey and appreciating it that way versus, you know, doing it for all the wrong reasons. Like look at me, look what I did. Just like somebody who you look at it like a beautiful soul, like a valley partner, somebody like that these people they go do things for charity, no one anybody even know that they did it. They're anonymous, you know, donators to help these things? Because they're doing it because they, for those reasons, not very liquid. I just did you know, and unfortunately, the music industry is so there's, it's such an add world now it's all about, we'll see who we can attach ourselves to get as many likes as you can for that brief moment. That's like gone in the wet. Where's the timeless music?

Chuck Shute:

Well, you had I mean, you talk about these experiences that you had, I mean, in the in the 90s, and the 2000s, like touring with limp, biskit and Aerosmith, and Run DMC and Metallica. I mean, that's gotta be a lot of you might not have pictures of it, because there's got to be a lot of cool memories from all that stuff. I mean, even if you didn't tell me just having those experiences must have been fun.

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, it was in there. There's pictures of it. So it's hard. Nowadays, because a lot of them were I remember we used to, none of us really had anything really nice high tech cameras. We buy those little disposable, Kodak's you know, because we knew we were going to these tops, and when we swing by the truck stop when the gas has been filled and going by helpful disposable cameras to have in your access. He's like, Oh, we're gonna be around so and so tonight, or, you know, those things you got? I mean, I mean, the first time I hung out with Keith Richards I was so happy that there was people there taking photos or like kind of Hendrix tours, you know, like cat, you know, but there's a lot of times you know, some there wasn't a camera. You just had to seize the moment for yourself and know as part of your journey and got a little tall tale to share with, you know, the grandkids and so forth. are different friends, you know, because it's hard. It's hard to even remember it all. Everything happens so fast that you don't really have a couple of days even let it register in your head. It was like for us in the Kid Rock heyday. It was like, just on to the next thing. It was like we didn't even have time to keep a journal. As I went by when do I have time to go on my bunk for 45 minutes and write out what happened that day. It's like I remember it my head and all sudden, before you know it, you're like looking at your tour books, and you're laminates from boxes of him like wow, I don't remember that place. I was there. Oh, I didn't even know I remember I went to that country. Oh my god, you know, you don't. And so some jars with memory. And I've been trying to do a lot of that as you know, I'm still young and got a lot of years left to me. But I'm also live a lot of life and living that a lot of people so I'm trying to exercise my brain to keep it all remember.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, do you like being busy like that, like with Kid Rock where you're on to the next thing because it sounds like that's what you're doing now is that you're, you're talking about all these different projects that you're just staying really busy. I know for me, like I'm much happier when I'm busy. Like when I'm when I'm not busy. I feel like worthless and bored.

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, and especially after, you know, the couple years we all spent during COVID Like going like, you know, even if I had like all these musical ideas, it's like okay, yeah, we're sharing some files you know, from this part of the CompTIA the other but even that is you know, which I do and it's cool because I don't always want to get on a plane I do like no mind that traveling but there's a certain point where you have to have your your downtime to recharge and but um, there's been a lot of sessions you do you send the files and, and it's even like, there's some of that intimacy. That's why I'm like, love what I'm doing with the beautiful mistakes project because everything is there. There's no cameras around making people feel uncomfortable. It's just people doing what we do and we're just capturing the moment. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

do you like performing? Do you like for forming live better? Or do you like writing and recording in the studio?

Kenny Olson:

Wow, well, they're both like I think recording studio is like, in making songs is it's like making a painting. So it's like, it's so much that the system amazing but then playing live is like the ultimate drug of just it's not even the being paid the money we've you know, when you finally get to that point, it's all the traveling and everything in between that really feels more like the work because the that moment when you're on stage that obviously there's nights where if you tour long enough, you're gonna have to perform on a few different nights for your might have the flu or not feel good. And eventually people you know, most people have to been enrolled, even the younger years in rockville boot camp where we, you know, burn the candle at both ends, I should say, in a PG way of saying thanks, but eventually become friends of the road and and learn that, you know, even going on that stage at the level we were, you know, Kid Rock, it was a two and a half hour show. You know, we had to like get ourselves all pumped up and you know, and have some rest and especially as we get older. You know, the rest is farther and receive between Yeah, when you're when you're

Chuck Shute:

when you're doing those big shows like with Kid Rock when you guys put like Woodstock and like the Vans Warped, like those huge arenas? Is that a huge difference from playing in a in a club or a theater? I mean, is it does it really feel that much different? Or is it once that there's a crowded room? It doesn't really matter? It's all the same energy?

Kenny Olson:

Yeah, I mean, it's, you know, I, in both in both situations, I think it's like, like live in a big lot. Huge audience like Woodstock. We're into Metallica, speedways it's such a rush, just to walk out in front of all those people and just be like, Yeah, you know, it's like, there's no highlight. But to go into like a place like, like going to Hendrix tours and break it down to dynamics and playing at like the Fox Theater in my hometown in Detroit, where, you know, or you play these places where when you blues guys that bring it way down, you can hear like a pin drop, because everybody's just listening, you can hear the residents of the theater and just, you can hear all the subtle nuances. So to me, and whether 20 people or five people. If you take them to another place or a million people, it doesn't really matter. Because you're you know, it's a moment in time where you're, you're translating what you do, I guess it's not really to me. I like both, but I like to intimate gigs, because I like the dynamics of it, and how intimate it feels. But I also love the big rock and shows where you're just like, you know, there's there. There are different kinds of highs I guess. They're both they're both they're both a great buzz but they're different.

Chuck Shute:

Now that makes sense. I just as a fan, I love the smaller gigs. So like, if it's a band you really like and you're you can get like 10 feet from them. Like that's arenas, like as a fan, if you're on the back, it's like you can't even hardly see anything. You're watching the TV screen. So like Aerosmith. I know if you saw their latest piece out to or the it's like 300 bucks or three or 400 bucks for the nosebleeds. It's crazy.

Kenny Olson:

And I right there with you because myself, you know us me, you know, I was thought as before because I don't, a lot of times, you know, go see still love to see shows. But if it's a big show, and I gotta get in a whole, the whole craziness of it, it's like, versus going and seeing somebody that I've been dying to see or just love what they do. And see it in their in a theater or a small club. Like you. It's like you're saying it's just for me myself. You know, maybe you know, when I was younger, I was a little different. But I enjoy that much more to really experience it versus being like masses of people. And in the event the sound is so much louder that you can't really there's no even when you're on stage playing. And you want to bring it way down and you're in front of all those people. It's still you can do it dynamically but it's different. You still have but like I said they're just two different kind of buzzes to me. But I like them both.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, that's what I think.

Kenny Olson:

I think he got more. You got your like your Indigo kind of gigs, your sativa gigs and then your hybrids.

Chuck Shute:

There you go. That's a good way to put it. Absolutely. Very cool. Well, lectric Olson is a couple songs out now and maybe more from that. You got all these other projects, so people need to follow you on social media to keep up with everything that you're doing. I'm sure you'll be posted about it, right?

Kenny Olson:

Yep, everything we, cuz like I said, we're gonna be, you know, like, we were all, you know, had a lot of metal out to everybody to create a song we have. And I'm glad that, you know, everybody's kind of on board to put it out there. And for it to be heard, which, you know, it was like, awesome. And, you know, already that I've done a, you know, we've got other songs, and we've that super group that went out and played, we've already done it a few shows, but everybody in these super groups that I'm playing with all have their own schedules. And, you know, and I'm always doing my own thing that's like, that's never even through the years with Kid Rock. I've always, you know, had my own studio and just always been writing and it's, there's so much stuff that people haven't heard. And then when they hear they go, What did Jesus do this. And I was like, now I'm just listening to the stuff. And it's like, sometimes it's like a blessing and a curse, because you have all this stuff. And it's like creating your own little bit, you know, like your own little family and all these sounds and emotions that I've gone through the highs and some lows and whatever, and what was going on at the time and have captured it. But you want the masses to hear, you know, you never know like, it's like a lot of stuff to the masses, here are things that you know, the powers that be are getting behind. So I'm definitely going to be cranking out a lot of stuff. That's my plan and my goal, and I'm having fun doing it. So.

Chuck Shute:

All right, very cool. Well look forward to that. I always am promoting a charity. Is there a charity that you've worked with that you want to promote here at the end?

Kenny Olson:

Well, you know, that's, I love that I've done stuff through the years with, you know, St. Jude's and make a wish and I do a lot of stuff, even the local communities too, because you know, like my little cousin Halle passed of ovarian cancer a few years back and I do a golf outing every year in honor verf foundation that she's called Halley's hearts, and that raises money for women with ovarian cancer. So I've been you know, but I've done stuff for the with the military stuff to one year with my golf outing. We've had so many, but I've sent the Yeah, just there's so many.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, no, that's good. How these hearts and I love giving back. Absolutely. We'll put that in the notes along with your website. And like I said, the electrical sun's out now. And I look forward to all this other stuff. I hope I can hear the pack of wolves too. Someday, I'd love to hear that. It sounds amazing. I mean, sounds like a sailor.

Kenny Olson:

Definitely stay in contact and make sure you keep my info and I get all yours and stuff I got you know, as we come up with new stuff, whether it's you know, Electricals and but also I've got all these new projects, I'd love to come back on the show. And really, you know, share everybody all this stuff as it's coming out because I got a lot of secrets up my sleeve of some pretty amazing stuff. There's so much of it. I just want to throw it all everybody all at once.

Chuck Shute:

All right, yeah. Come on back. Well, let's stay in touch.

Kenny Olson:

All right, so much. Looking forward to it. All right. Thanks,

Chuck Shute:

Kenny. I'll talk to you later. Okay. Thanks, brother. By all right, I really enjoyed this interview. I hope you guys enjoyed it as well. You can let me know by liking, commenting or sharing the episode on YouTube and social media. And make sure to follow Kenny on social media as well. And of course, check out their latest project electric Olson have a new single out now called Willow to check their website for more details and my guests appreciate your support. And of course, I appreciate that support as well for the show. So please make sure you subscribe, wherever you watch or listen. We have some great guests coming up. And I also have some really cool ideas for some YouTube exclusive only videos. So make sure you're following the YouTube channel. I know he said I said subscribe wherever you watch or listen but you better be subscribed to the YouTube channel because there's some cool stuff on that one. So thanks so much. Have a great rest of your day and shoot for the moon.