Les Kerr: Hillbilly Blues, Caribbean Rock n Roll, and the Art of the Story

On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by Les Kerr, a prolific songwriter, musician, and journalist with twelve albums under his belt. We kept things classic with the drinks—Les went with a Corona, a "pedestrian" favorite that reminds him of playing beach bars along the Gulf Coast and the marketing influence of Jimmy Buffett. I tried out the Southern Crisp, a 4.4% ABV pilsner-style lager from Nashville’s own Southern Grist Brewing Company.   Les takes us on a journey from his youth in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to his long-standing music career in Nashville. He describes his unique sound as "Hillbilly Blues, Caribbean Rock n Roll," a blend inspired by New Orleans funk, Delta blues, and the singer-songwriter movement of the 70s. We discuss his latest album, Child of Highway 90, his process of writing lyrics before melody, and the resilience he found during the pandemic by performing 67 consecutive live shows from his home. Les also shares hilarious stories from his college days at Ole Miss and explains why he has intentionally never learned to play "Freebird" or "Sweet Home Alabama".