From Cattle Trucks and Tractors to a Brand New Idea

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

         A long time ago in a little town that has been gone for years, I was a stupid teenage boy in my very first rock band. At that moment in history, Bob Seeger, REO Speedwagon, and Skynyrd ruled the day. This was a pretty good thing because most of those songs were reasonable to play for those of us, like myself that were less gifted. We usually met at my house and would practice for hours out in the barn. Back then, we had to stand around one of our cars to hear one of the songs we were attempting to play. And let me tell you, an eight-track player really sucked if you needed to hear a little something more than once.

         We didn’t have much back in those days. I remember wondering what it was like to actually have a real PA system and not be forced to sing into a radio shack microphone and a ratty old bass speaker. In truth though, I think this is when I may have learned how to project my voice. It was kind of out of necessity because none of us had the sense to turn anything down, just up. We all wanted to be heard, but I think the only thing listening was the endless cornfields and maybe a few June bugs.

         I remember thinking about the potential throngs of girls that were going to identify with our awful sound. It was going to be epic. I would probably act like James Dean given the chance. I figured I would always be gloomy and distraught about society for some reason. As it turned out, I think I had more Don Knotts and Jerry Lewis in me than anybody cool like Mr. Dean. Whatever girls actually gave me the time of day probably just felt sorry for me because I had no game. 

Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions

         Those days and nights were full of music though, and all I really wanted to do was drive the country roads and dream about the future. I didn’t have much money then, so I got crazy good siphoning gas out of the cattle truck and case tractor. I remember watching my poor dad looking under the truck for dead grass trying to determine just where the gas leak was on the truck. I still feel guilty to this day about that, but at this point, maybe we should just keep that story to ourselves. He still has a little bit of fire in him.

          I don’t know what year it was, but I remember some kids over in Ohio got trampled to death because of festival seating at a “Who” concert. I also remember my mom daring me to ever go to another concert. I really don’t know how she didn’t make some connection with all of my concert t-shirts. Maybe she thought I got them at Val’s Department Store. I just don’t know.

         So, about this same time, I’m driving on syphoned gas to a Rossington Collins Band concert on a weeknight that I have sworn I would never attend. I’m a small, skinny little kid back then, so I easily worked my way all the way to the front of the stage. I couldn’t believe my eyes as Allen Collins, Garry Rossington, and Dale Krantz walked within feet of me. Gary stood there with his Les Paul on his shoulder and a cigarette hanging loosely out of his mouth, and he made James Dean look like Pee Wee Herman. “I have got to start smoking,” I told myself. But, then again, “Maybe I should wait until I can at least afford to buy my own gas, or I’ll blow myself up and then my dad will be mad.” Yes, I was a boy genius. 

 (The song "Full Throttle" will be featured on Scott's next album)

         Later that same winter, I saw Charlie Daniels at Market Square Arena. As he sang, “Million Mile Reflections,” I had tears in my eyes. When he and his band tore through “Legend of Wooley Swamp”, I lost my mind. It was then, that very winter, my young mind made itself up about my future.

         I have always thought I would have enjoyed a life in the marines, but I wasn’t sure I would get to see many women, and that was a deal-breaker for me. Now, I am aware I was wrong about this tidbit as well. Marines always have cool looking women. I also thought maybe I could do well in a few other fields, but it was music that owned me. It still does. I love everything about music. It takes me away from problems. It takes me back to a moment in time that I still miss. And it guides me in ways that are pretty hard to explain. Yes, I am fully aware that most of you felt this same way at sixteen, but you moved on with your lives. I can’t explain it, but I love it just as much today as I did way back then.

         I still need to work on that whole James Dean thing though. Problem is, I’m pretty happy most of the time, I don’t have cool hair, and I’d probably just crack myself up trying to be all serious.

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

Photo of Scott Coner by Cynnamae Media Productions

'Roll With The Changes...'

By Country Artist Scott Coner

“As soon as you are able, women I am willing

To make the break that we are on the brink of

My cup is on the table, my love is spilling

Waiting here for you to take and drink of...

So if you’re tired of the same old story

Oh, turn some pages

I will be here when you are ready

To roll with the changes…."

-- K. Cronin / R.E.O Speed Wagon

            It’s cold today here in Indiana. The water for my horses is frozen, I can’t get the barn any warmer than it is, and my hands hurt from being out in the weather. I picked my parents up at the airport early this morning when they came in from their home in Florida, and I could see the shock on their faces as the cold wind whipped around them. These are the days that I long to be anywhere else but where I’m from. I grew up outside of the town that I currently live outside of, and I have to tell you that I need to leave as soon as possible.

            When I grew up here, it was a much smaller, much more personal community than it is now. My friends were here, my family pretty much all lived on the same road, and I was comfortable. I figured things would always stay the same. Man, was that ever an oversight. I still have a handful of friends around here, but we don’t really have anything in common. We rarely even see each other, and there isn’t much to say.  One of my childhood friends sells cars, and the other sells insurance. They are great guys, and I care deeply about them, but it sure sounds like a John Prine song doesn’t it? We just drifted apart. Our values are different, the way we raise kids is different, and what we enjoy is different. Long story short is, I’m ready to get on out of here for good.

            The music is finally starting to get its own legs, my daughters are both pretty much raised, and my worst nightmare is that I don’t finally seek some change in my life. I stayed around to be with my parents if you want to know the truth, but they have moved on as well. They stay in Ft. Myers in the winter and travel most of the summer, and I am very happy for them. It’s me and my immediate family who need to move away. I just don’t have much to keep me here year-round anymore. I expect I’ll keep my house and farm. After all, it’s where my kids grew up. But I need to begin the process of looking around seriously for a different place to land when I'm in Nashville. I spend way too much time in hotels when I’m there, and I never feel fully relaxed. Life changes us in ways we never expected, doesn’t it?

Scott Coner ( Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            When you are young, you think you have all of the time in the world. That big clock in the sky doesn’t even show itself until you begin to hear this very loud ticking, and you start to get things in perspective pretty quickly. There is so much I want to do. So many things I want to see with my wife and kids. I stand back these days and look at my music, listen to my songs, and I can’t always remember writing them all. There was a time I didn’t believe anything good was ever going to happen for me, and yet, finally things seem to have turned around. It leaves me with a warm, satisfied feeling in my heart. But I still feel detached where I’m at today, and I know it is close to time for me to move along. I don’t know why, but I expect that will be a sad, tearful day. I might just be relieved to be honest.

            I hope as you have read this you haven’t found yourself starting to think I am not appreciative for what I have. That’s not the case at all. Instead, I am truly grateful for all that has happened for me, and I always will be. What I hope you take away from this is something far more personal and real than my own complaints and ramblings. I hope you take a look at your life and your position, and do a self -check. Are you happy? Are you complete? Is there something missing that could actually be corrected? Don’t wait too long. Don’t put things off. Begin the process of change. Remember, it is a process and it doesn’t usually take place in one day.

            The things I need to do are scary for me. I get uncomfortable whenever things start to change. I’m a creature of habit. But change is usually good because it challenges us to be aware of things and allow for a new approach. I worry about being on the road with my music. I worry about being away from my family. I even worry about my farm and animals. But I have worked hard, and so has my wife. It is time to put all of our cards on the table and play the hand we have. And yes, it scares me quite a bit. I hope you will do the same thing. Place your bets people and believe in yourselves… and always "Keep Pushin’". (By the way, I sure miss Gary Richrath)

“Well, it’s coming together and I finally feel like a man

I never thought I’d be where I am

Every day I work a little bit harder

I keep pushing on.…"

-- K. Cronin / R.E.O Speed Wagon   

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.