Getting to know Nick Cory Young: The A-Z interview
Getting to know Nick Cory Young: The A-Z interview
By Roman Jones
Nick Cory Young’s sense of country music, along with his pop-punk tendencies, makes him a comfortable fit with the alt-country crowd. The singer-songwriter’s material nods towards such bands as The Lemonheads, R.E.M. and The Replacements while an indie-rock lilt to Young’s voice suggests a north of the Mason-Dixon vibe.
Young’s third studio album “Crow Got Drunk” dropped on August 19, 2022 (Youth Dew Records). It features 12 tunes whose lyrics tend towards melancholy while generally joyful melodies add balance. Produced by Dan McLoughlin (Dinosaur Jr., The Push Stars, Weezer), it’s his first release since “South Lima” (2013).
Despite living in the same city, your correspondent reached out to Nick Cory Young via email with the A to Z interview to find out more.
A Song Which Made You Want To Make Music:
“Me” by The Push Stars. The song is unapologetically uninhibited and doesn’t waste a single note or lyric. It taught me that to be a “real” songwriter (or any kind of writer, for that matter), you have to be 100% honest and 100% fearless.
Best Album Ever Written:
“Trace” by Son Volt. It’s always been my gold standard as both a songwriter and a listener, just a perfect record in my opinion.
Craziest Moment You’ve Experienced In The Band:
I don’t have a consistent band per se but on day one of recording back in March, we recorded 3 songs completely live in the studio with no rehearsal and the band (Dan McLoughlin, Ryan MacMillan & Matt Beck) just nailed them all on the first take. I’ve played with some absolutely amazing musicians before but I hadnever been around that level of musicianship and it was both thrilling and inspiring.
Deepest Lyrics One Of Your Songs Features:
The song ‘Simple See You Later” is written from my point of view as someone who is recently deceased so the entire song is pretty heavy but I’d say the line “Does the grass still grow? Does my mama know?” is the one that carries the most emotional weight for me.
Easiest Song You Wrote:
“Florence Virginia”. It’s a song I wrote way back in 2004 from my paternal grandmother’s perspective as she lay dying (death just might be a common theme of the album). It just flowed out of me very quickly and it couldn’t have taken more than a half hour to write. I’ve kind of had it in my back pocket all of these years and it finally found a home on this album.
Favorite Show You’ve Ever Played:
Playing in the round at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville with Jim Reilley (The New Dylans) & Chris Trapper (The Push Stars). To be on the same stage with writers/performers of that caliber in such a legendary venue for songwriters was a very legitimizing experience.
Guest You’d Most Like To Feature On Your Record:
Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek). She might be my favorite singer on earth and her fiddle playing is second to none.
Happiest Moment You’ve Experienced In The Band:
Making this record. It’d been almost 9 years since I’d been in a recording studio and the thrill and excitement of making a record with such high caliber musicians and all of the laughing we did together in the control room made it even better.
https://nickcoryyoung.hearnow.com/crow-got-drunk
Interesting Fact About One Of Your Members:
My drummer on this album is Ryan MacMillan and he’s in one of my all time favorite bands “The Push Stars” and has also played with Matchbox Twenty, Tonic and The Chicks.
Jokes You Have In The Band:
Any dialogue from the films “This Is Spinal Tap” or “A Mighty Wind”.
Kicking Off Your Set Is Best With Which Song:
“Staggering”. It’s the new record’s first track and its opening is an obvious nod to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana in that it begins with a lone electric guitar playing a 4 chord riff twice before the full band joins in. The song/record doesn’t have much in common with Nirvana’s music other than that but I always enjoy paying homage to my early musical inspirations.
Longest Distance You’ve Travelled To Play A Show:
300 miles each way (Rochester, NY to Philadelphia and back in one night).
Most Inspiring Musician You’ve Ever Experienced:
Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum circa 1993 at my first ever “real” concert in a small venue in Syracuse, NY. I decided right then and there that I wanted to do what he was doing.
New Band You’d Recommend:
Not new at all but new to me: Ezra Furman. She’s the real deal and is a blast to listen to and has also lit a fire under me as a songwriter.
Opening For This Band Would Be Ideal:
Old 97s. My all time favorite band and one of my biggest musical influences period. So many great songs played with such raw, passionate energy (and their singer Rhett Miller sings harmonies on the album track “Backwards” which was a HUGE honor for me).
Place You’d Most Like To Tour:
Australia. I’ve just heard it’s magical and I’d be doing pretty damn well career-wise if I could ever afford to tour there. Plus, they have koalas.
Quote That You’d Like To Pass On To Readers:
“It don’t pay to think too much on things you leave behind.” -Townes Van Zandt
Townes is my songwriting North Star. There’s no better lyricist as far as I’m concerned.
Reason For The Title Of Your Recent Release:
My maternal grandfather George Taylor was a gifted storyteller and one of his stories was about a crow he encountered in college that drank some of his and his friend’s beer (don’t tell the ASPCA). So the phrase “crow got drunk” is in one of the songs (“Gonna Be Alright”) on the record and as a storyteller myself (albeit in song form), naming the album after one of his stories was a tribute to his influence on me.
See Us Live At:
“Me and a 4 piece band are playing Abilene in Rochester, NY on October 7th for the official record release show for the album.”
The Old Days Of Music Were Better Than Those Current, do you agree:
Not at all, I think there’s just as much talent and beautiful artistry out there now as there’s always been, it’s just harder and harder to stand out in the ocean of content that there is today.
Unusual Merchandise:
“Compact Discs…who even has a CD player in 2022??”
Variations You’d Like To Do On Any Of Your Songs:
Maybe a bluegrass version of the song “I’m Winning”.
What Bands Have You Seen Live and Regretted:
I think I accidentally saw Kid Rock once, like 20 years ago. I’m sorry.
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band related injuries:
I’ve had carpal tunnel release surgery done on both of my hands but we can’t be sure if it resulted from playing guitar or from my many, many (many) years in retail.
You could have written any song in history, which would you pick:
“Our Town” by Iris Dement. The most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band:
Otter (who doesn’t love otters?).