Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 LIVE," it's The Nadas.

♪ I'm gonna shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ We do tend to pull from our lives to write songs.

One of the first songwriting techniques that we both learned together was what comes from the heart goes to the heart.

♪ Roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ Announcer #1: Musco Lighting is honored to support Iowa PBS.

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Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 LIVE."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight, we are excited to welcome a quintessential Iowa band, The Nadas, to the stage.

After forming in 1993 at Iowa State University, the band has spent the past three decades relentlessly touring, writing, and releasing original music, establishing themselves as a fundamental cornerstone of the Iowa music scene.

From house concerts to cruises to the Iowa State Fair to opening for Bon Jovi, The Nadas have performed thousands of shows to hundreds of thousands of audience members, building a dedicated fan base of listeners one performance at a time.

In 2023, the band released their most recent album, "Come Along for the Ride," on Authentic Records, a record label formed by the band themselves.

Fiercely independent, fiercely authentic, The Nadas have established their voice during a long and storied career and show no signs of stopping.

Please help me welcome to the stage The Nadas.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's an old hood ♪ ♪ We meet at the Greenwood and ♪ ♪ Do a little searching of our souls ♪ ♪ Do a little searching of our souls ♪ ♪ A few drinks is just fine ♪ ♪ 'Cause I take that night driving ♪ ♪ 'Cause I take that night driving ♪ ♪ And I love rock 'n' roll ♪ ♪ It's the time ♪ ♪ It's now or never ♪ ♪ 600 miles ♪ ♪ Des Moines to Denver ♪ ♪ Des Moines to Denver ♪ ♪ Let's meet there and come together ♪ ♪ It's gonna be the best weekend ever ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Friday-morning sunrise ♪ ♪ Poached eggs and home fries ♪ ♪ The Overland Trail takes us in ♪ ♪ Push through the last miles ♪ ♪ "Smokey and the Bandit" style ♪ ♪ It feels so good to be on the road again ♪ ♪ It's that time ♪ ♪ It's now or never ♪ ♪ 600 miles ♪ ♪ Des Moines and Denver ♪ ♪ Let's meet there and come together ♪ ♪ It's gonna be the best weekend ever ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Saturday, we're little-faced ♪ ♪ Together above this place ♪ ♪ Yeah, tonight's gonna be so sick ♪ ♪ Locked up the drums and bass ♪ ♪ The keyboard solo will melt your face ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪ ♪ Listen to the music ♪ ♪ It's that time ♪ ♪ It's now or never ♪ ♪ It's now or never ♪ ♪ 600 miles ♪ ♪ 600 miles ♪ ♪ Des Moines to Denver ♪ ♪ Des Moines to Denver ♪ ♪ Let's meet there and come together ♪ ♪ It's gonna be the best ♪ ♪ I said, it's gonna be the best ♪ ♪ I said, it's gonna be the best ♪ ♪ Oh, it's gonna be the best weekend ever ♪ ♪ Oh, it's gonna be the best weekend ever ♪ ♪ Oh, it's gonna be the best weekend ever ♪ ♪♪ Yeah, it is!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Hey, thank you very much.

Thanks to you guys for showing up tonight.

Guys, thanks so much for being here.

Can you tell me a little bit about back when this all came together, kind of what the inspiration for the band was and how you two came together?

Back in the day.

Yeah.

1993, we were both in college at Iowa State, in Ames, and I had a band.

We were looking for a guitar player, an additional guitar player, maybe a third or fourth guitar player, I'm not sure.

And Mike auditioned, and we gave him the job, and then all the other people disappeared, and it left just he and I.

So that's how it all started.

And when you think about the music you were listening to at that time, or the songs you were writing, how has, you know, the style of the band and kind of the sound of the band evolved over time?

I think, I mean, kind of with each album, we've shifted a little bit and evolved.

But what I think is interesting is, we started out as an acoustic duo and we kind of -- You know, at one point, we were a rock band, and now we're kind of back down to the sort of acoustic band.

And we don't feel like we have to try so hard or use so much distortion.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, we don't.

We don't.

[ Both laugh ] This is a song about the hot, hot heat of the Iowa summer.

This is a song about the hot, hot heat of the Iowa summer.

And one possible solution for dealing with it.

♪♪ ♪ Fahrenheit 103 ♪ ♪ Numbers fade on the LCD ♪ ♪ And the sweat moves in some kind of parade ♪ ♪ Off my face into my lemonade ♪ ♪ But I can't move, but I can't stay ♪ ♪ Just waiting for a breeze to come my way ♪ ♪ So I search for some kind of cool ♪ ♪ So I search for some kind of cool ♪ ♪ The swirling waters of a river pool ♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tire swing in an old oak tree ♪ ♪ Sweet honey from a honeybee ♪ ♪ Muddy shoes and a game of spades ♪ ♪ Some have left and some have stayed ♪ ♪ Poker face, smokin' cloves ♪ ♪ One more hand, you lose your clothes ♪ ♪ Lose your clothes and take my hand ♪ ♪ Lose your clothes and take my hand ♪ ♪ It's more heat than a man can stand ♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm going to shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Oh!

Oh!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, you know, it makes me wonder ♪ ♪ About this love made in the summer ♪ ♪ If it's ever gonna last ♪ ♪ Once this heat wave has passed ♪ ♪ So let's take our time ♪ ♪ It's your body finding mine ♪ ♪ Take a chance and jump right in ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Let's see if we both can swim ♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm going down to the river ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shake and shiver ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna roll in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take your daughter ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

You recently celebrated 30 years as a band.

Quite the feat for any band.

When you started this band, did you imagine it would have kind of the staying power that it does and you'd still be doing this after all this time?

No.

I would say we both would say that, all along the way, we never really -- Not that we didn't think it would last, but it's just not the way we thought about it.

It was sort of like something we did in college, and then it was something to do for a little while after college, because why not?

And then it was going strong and it just was fun.

And at some point along the way, he and I said, "Should we just keep doing this forever?

Like, I'm in if you're in."

That was year 27, I think, when you could finally relax.

Yeah.

You weren't the new band anymore, right?

Yeah.

What does it mean to both of you to still have this kind of creative outlet, you know, and continuing strong and, you know, writing new songs and continuing to perform?

At this stage, it's just who we are, I think.

So, I mean, I'm incredibly grateful to have an audience, but if we didn't have the audience, we'd probably be doing it in our living rooms.

And it's just part of who we are.

It's just a normal part of the daily process.

Not that we write daily, but you're always kind of thinking about that, thinking that way, you know?

You said everything.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We write songs together, we finish interview questions together.

Yeah.

Right.

I was going to say, "Sandwiches."

We finish each other's sandwiches.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm about to break your heart ♪ ♪ Could have known it from the start ♪ ♪ Could have saved you ♪ ♪ From getting mad ♪ ♪ Maybe I was born bad ♪ ♪ Maybe I was born bad ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm about to wreck your world ♪ ♪ I'm sorry for that, girl ♪ ♪ Taking me, my love as a passing fad ♪ ♪ 'Cause maybe I was born bad ♪ ♪ And the sky is turning gray ♪ ♪ Nothing left to do, left to say ♪ ♪ And the earth is trembling ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm about to turn you out ♪ ♪ I won't leave you with a doubt ♪ ♪ It won't help things to be so sad ♪ ♪ It won't help things to be so sad ♪ ♪ 'Cause maybe I was born bad ♪ ♪ The sky is turning gray ♪ ♪ Nothing left to do, left to say ♪ ♪ And the earth is trembling ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall in love again ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall ♪ ♪ I'm about to fall ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

Thank you, thank you.

I know both of you have experienced a lot of change, personally, and, you know, how does that kind of having this band and writing songs together over the course of your lives, how have you kind of reflected and what have you learned, kind of about the songwriting process in that time?

As far as kind of going through life's challenges and changes, it's amazing to have another family, in the band, you know, that supports you and can help you through that.

And we do tend to pull from our lives to write songs.

And so, just as we've matured, I think, thematically, the songs have matured somewhat, as well, you know?

As has our audience.

As has our audience.

Which is kind of -- You know, I think that's why people have stuck with us for so long, one of the reasons, and one of the first songwriting techniques that we both learned together was what comes from the heart goes to the heart.

And so as we are going through these things and then writing about it and using our songs as our own therapy, it also -- probably, there's somebody out there that's experiencing something similar that can benefit from it, so...

Right.

I've talked to a lot of the guests on this show about, you know, maybe the exact lyrical content isn't exactly what someone's experiencing, but that you would hope that there are enough universal themes in that music that there's something that they can latch on to, right?

There's -- Mike: Yeah.

Or that it means something different to them, clear as day, clear as a bell.

than what we were intending.

But, like any art, that's perfectly fine and that's great.

Yeah.

Right.

It doesn't necessarily totally belong to you once you put it out in the world.

Other people can interpret it the way that they see fit.

In that same vein, as you revisit songs that you wrote 30 years ago or 20 years ago, even five years ago, how has your relationship with the songs and the lyrics changed over time, as you, as individuals, have changed, as well?

I mean, in some ways, dramatically.

In some ways, you listen to that song or you're performing that song and you're listening to it, and it brings a lot of nostalgia back to it sometimes.

But other ways, they've completely evolved.

I mean, I don't even drink alcohol anymore.

My drinking songs have a completely different meaning, but they're still relevant to me in a different way.

That's just one example.

But I love the fact that the songs have evolved for me personally, and I can kind of live with them in a different way, so...

It's funny, too.

There's some, I guess, technical antiquities, like talking about a wall phone or things that just don't exist anymore and just singing that, you know, staying true to the song and singing that, but it does sort of make me giggle, at least in my head, every night that we sing a song -- And also out loud, visually, onstage, in front of the audience.

Sometimes, yes.

When we're talking about something that my kids have never seen in their life.

♪♪ This song is kind of -- It's based in the Prohibition time, about all these farmers who used to make farm whiskey, and it was just, like, a lot of, bootleg whiskey at the time, except for they aged it.

So they called it "the good stuff."

And for some reason, people just kept making it.

And when we'd play in that part of the state, someone would always have a sample for us and they'd give us a sample.

They'd watch to see what happened to our face, see if we fell over, and then they would tell us a story.

So we started collecting the stories.

The first time I ever had it, I had a beautiful head of dark-brown hair, but the first time I had it...

So this is a song -- first-person accounts collected over the years from people who were willing to share.

♪ Born in a cloud of dust ♪ ♪ It broke the best of us ♪ ♪ Sweating poverty ♪ ♪ It was a desperate time ♪ ♪ Then they took our drink away ♪ ♪ How we supposed to live that way?

♪ ♪ Nothing takes away the pain like Templeton Rye ♪ ♪ So let the barn burn ♪ ♪ Let the band play ♪ ♪ Everything will be okay ♪ ♪ 'Cause when your mouth gets dry ♪ ♪ Fill my cup ♪ ♪ With Templeton Rye ♪ ♪ Bag of sugar and a bushel of grain ♪ ♪ Everyone is praying for rain ♪ ♪ Revenue was poured down the drain ♪ ♪ So we start from scratch ♪ ♪ 30 feet of a copper pipe ♪ ♪ Hundred gallons cooking overnight ♪ ♪ Make sure it tastes just right ♪ ♪ Start another batch ♪ ♪ Let the barn burn ♪ ♪ Let the lovers dance ♪ ♪ State-fair romance ♪ ♪ 'Cause when your mouth gets dry ♪ ♪ Fill my cup ♪ ♪ With Templeton Rye ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now we make it on our own ♪ ♪ In the basement of our home ♪ ♪ Sell a little bit to Al Capone ♪ ♪ The guy's got a mean thirst ♪ ♪ Take the rest to the River House Barn ♪ ♪ Out in back of the heater farm ♪ ♪ A pretty girl walking on my arm ♪ ♪ Guided by the moonlight ♪ ♪ Let the barn burn ♪ ♪ Let the band play ♪ ♪ Everything will be okay ♪ ♪ 'Cause when your mouth gets dry ♪ ♪ Fill my cup ♪ ♪ With Templeton Rye ♪ ♪ Fill my cup ♪ ♪ With Templeton Rye ♪ ♪ When your mouth gets dry ♪ ♪ Fill my cup ♪ ♪ With Templeton Rye ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

Alright, we put a new record out last year.

It's called "Come Along for the Ride."

It's sort of an invitation.

Invitation for you to come along for the ride, either, like, you know, in a car, on a road trip, in a relationship with someone, or, like, following along on a career, like some of you have done.

Stuck with us.

And the first album cover was this, like, serene picture of a guy riding a horse across a desert that my wife, Emma, took down in Mexico.

It's very peaceful, and it was called -- And we knew the album was called "Come Along for the Ride."

It was that horse-riding theme.

And then we found this picture of a friend of ours, whose father -- This guy wasn't even from Iowa, but he just happened to be in 1963.

He, like, signed up for a rodeo in Ames, at Iowa State University.

And he got on this horse and he made it 8 seconds.

And someone snapped a picture of him sideways, like, horizontal with the ground, on the side of this horse bucking.

And I saw that picture and I thought, "That's the ride we've been on."

And so I asked him if we could use it.

Gene Merz is his name.

And that's the cover of the record.

But this is the title track off that record, "Come Along for the Ride."

♪ Come along for the ride ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Buckle up, this road could get bumpy ♪ ♪ You just gotta hold on ♪ ♪ On my own, I'm known to get jumpy ♪ ♪ Every time you're gone ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride ♪ ♪ With you by my side ♪ ♪ Because with you, the miles, they just fly by ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Buckle up, this road could get bumpy ♪ ♪ Baby, climb on board ♪ ♪ Play through 'cause I've got one ♪ ♪ Turn it up a little more ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride ♪ ♪ With you by my side ♪ ♪ 'Cause with you, the miles, they just fly by ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride with me ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ The best part of this drive is you with me ♪ ♪ Straight into the sun ♪ ♪ Don't worry, soon, it will be setting ♪ ♪ Loving you on the run ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride ♪ ♪ With you by my side ♪ ♪ 'Cause with you, the miles, they just fly by ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride with me ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride with me ♪ ♪ Come along for the ride ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you all.

What do you hope people take away from a Nadas show?

I think one thing that we have that is really unique and amazing -- Not that other bands don't have it, but ours is unique to us, is that community of people.

And it is an incredible exchange of energy between the audience and the band every time.

There's this magic that happens that's not really describable.

And I hope that the audience feels that magic and that energy and I hope they feel that there's this collaboration happening.

And when people new come into that community of people who have been around us a long time, I hope they feel welcome in that.

So, 30 years of friendship ever since the audition for the band, 30 years of making music together.

I can't imagine the number of hours you two have spent in a car together across the country.

What has that friendship and that kind of companionship in the band meant to each of you?

I think that's a huge factor in why we've done it so long, because if we didn't love hanging out with each other -- Don't get me wrong, we've had some fights, you know?

But if we didn't love hanging out with each other and respect each other, we would not be doing it.

We've had fights?

I've blocked them out.

I don't remember.

No, it's a partnership.

It really is like a marriage.

Like, he's like a brother.

There's a family element to it.

It's definitely the thing that -- It's part of that magic.

I keep talking about magic.

I think it's just because I don't have the words to explain it, but it is definitely part of what's kept it going.

It's the thing that's kept it going.

Alright, this next song is a love song.

And Mike and I wrote it for my wife, Emma.

Her name is Emma Rose.

The song is called "Roses."

And today is our wedding anniversary.

Yours and Emma's.

Yeah.

Yes.

Sorry.

Emma and mine.

Yeah.

Ours is coming up in October.

[ Laughter ] I'm not sure what you guys do for wedding anniversaries, but what we do is, I go play shows and politely ask her to attend.

Anyway, this one's for Emma.

♪ I did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ Not for the posies ♪ ♪ Not for the daffodils or dandelions ♪ ♪ Did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ It's not the miles ♪ ♪ It's the driving that kills me ♪ ♪ I need to be kind ♪ ♪ Because I'm trying to get there ♪ ♪ Wait up for me ♪ ♪ Till my car door closes ♪ ♪ I did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ Not for the posies ♪ ♪ Not for the daffodils or dandelions ♪ ♪ I did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ And I make it hard ♪ ♪ To make it easy ♪ ♪ Don't try to be that way ♪ ♪ But sometimes, I guess ♪ ♪ It all just gets the best of us ♪ ♪ And I swear forgiveness ♪ ♪ Is always nice in heavy doses ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ Not for the posies ♪ ♪ Not for the daffodils or dandelions ♪ ♪ Did it all for the roses ♪ ♪ Not for the posies ♪ ♪ Not for the daffodils or dandelions ♪ ♪ I did it all for the roses ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Jason: Thank you.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey, Henry James, got me going insane ♪ ♪ As I patiently wait for that beautiful brain to crack open ♪ ♪ And you to fall out like hard rain ♪ ♪ So the world can know what I know ♪ ♪ You're a king ♪ ♪ And I know sometimes, the noise can strain ♪ ♪ And you need that familiar refrain ♪ ♪ Just breathe and say my name ♪ ♪ Henry James ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey, Henry James, I'm so glad that you came ♪ ♪ You're my third best friend and an inspiration ♪ ♪ I try my hardest every day to make sure that your life doesn't end up lame ♪ ♪And I know sometimes, you like things the same ♪ ♪ Like a picture held in the same-size frame ♪ ♪ Just breathe when you say my name ♪ ♪ Henry James ♪ ♪ I've been trying ♪ ♪ Alright ♪ ♪ I've been missing ♪ ♪ Your smile ♪ ♪ I've been driving ♪ ♪ All night ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get weird when I'm gone a while ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey, Henry James, you're a hurricane ♪ ♪ Rolling over the Earth like a wild freight train ♪ ♪ But your heart is sweet, and you will sustain ♪ ♪ And your mom and dad think you're off the chain ♪ ♪ And I know sometimes, you don't like change ♪ ♪ So I hold your hand and lead the way ♪ ♪ So just breathe when you say my name ♪ ♪ Henry James ♪ ♪ I've been trying ♪ ♪ Alright ♪ ♪ I've been missing ♪ ♪ Your smile ♪ ♪ I've been driving ♪ ♪ All night ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get weird when I'm gone a while ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey, Henry James, when I'm away ♪ ♪ Don't go down with the ship or up in flames ♪ ♪ You should keep yourself kind and let love remain ♪ ♪ And your sisters will keep you warm and safe ♪ ♪ And I know sometimes, we all lay blame ♪ ♪ But you're perfect and lovely in every way ♪ ♪ Just breathe when you say my name ♪ ♪ Henry James ♪ ♪ I've been trying ♪ ♪ Alright ♪ ♪ And I've been missing ♪ ♪ Your smile ♪ ♪ I've been driving ♪ ♪ All night ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get weird when I'm gone a while ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get weird when I'm gone a while ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get weird when I'm ♪ ♪ Gone a while ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much!

That's called "Henry James."

Wrote that for my son.

He has autism and he's, like, the coolest kid, and now dude, really, around.

He loves to hear that song.

[ Cheers and applause ] Kind of reflecting on what you've learned over these years and maybe talking about how different releasing music is now than it was, you know, when you were first putting music out, what advice would you give young musicians today who look to start a band?

Say yes to everything?

Say yes -- That's a lyric in one of the songs on that last record.

But say yes to everything.

Say yes to everything, yeah.

Yeah.

The things that have happened for us were because we were out there doing it, you know, because we were mailing CDs to labels and -- Waiting for someone else to give you the opportunity.

I mean, really, you have to create those opportunities, I think.

and just look for those people who want to help you.

Yeah.

And do what you want to do, musically.

There is an audience for it, and it's "easier than ever" to find that audience.

We just got back from playing out in Colorado.

Play out there quite a bit.

It's just down the road.

It's like you leave our driveway, you make one turn, and you're there.

We play a place called the Little Bear Saloon, which is up in Evergreen, just outside of Denver.

up the mountain a little ways.

It's like an Old West saloon.

We tie our van up to the hitching post.

We walk along the boardwalk with our spurs a-janglin', make our way through the swinging saloon door, find our way through the hundreds of bras hanging from the ceiling, just like Old West saloons used to have.

We get onstage and we play usually two or three nights, and it's a good time.

But one unique feature of this particular venue is that every square inch of the place is carved with people's names and dates and the person that they love.

And so this is a song about that, song about love and vandalism.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ In a wood stump with a jackknife ♪ ♪ Cross your "T" and dot your "I" ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ Made my mark and left my name ♪ ♪ Maybe you could do the same ♪ ♪ Screws on a windowpane ♪ ♪ Made my mark and left my name ♪ ♪ Won't you stand next to me ♪ ♪ And tell me who you want me to be?

♪ ♪ Only your eyes can see ♪ ♪ Won't you stand next to me, yeah ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ In a wood stump with a jackknife ♪ ♪ Cross your "T" and dot your "I" ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ As I press ink to skin ♪ ♪ Hoping you would let me in ♪ ♪ And it may have been a sin ♪ ♪ I pressed ink to skin ♪ ♪ And now everyone can see ♪ ♪ You're a part of me ♪ ♪ It's almost like a guarantee ♪ ♪ That everyone can see ♪ ♪ The years roll by ♪ ♪ Soon, I'll surely die ♪ ♪ Baby, don't let me lie alone, no ♪ ♪ Carve your name in stone ♪ Get down!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ In a wood stump with a jackknife ♪ ♪ Cross your "T" and dot your "I" ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ In a wood stump with a jackknife ♪ ♪ Cross your "T" and dot your "I" ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ You wanna carve your name?

♪ ♪ Carve your name next to mine ♪ ♪ Wanna carve your name ♪ ♪ Carve your name ♪ ♪ Carve your name ♪ ♪ Next to mine ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't belong here ♪ ♪ This isn't my scene ♪ ♪ Everyone's plastic ♪ ♪ And kind of annoying ♪ ♪ But I'm going to stay ♪ ♪ And see it through ♪ ♪ It's only one day and, and I'm going to win you ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ You're taking me home ♪ ♪ And we'll be ♪ ♪ Starting to fall ♪ In deep ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ You are alone here ♪ ♪ Curiously ♪ ♪ In the corner, arms folded, staring at your feet ♪ ♪ You know I'm not good enough ♪ ♪ Oh, pretty ♪ ♪ But I'm gonna walk right up and talk to you ♪ ♪ For once in my life, that's what I'm gonna do ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ You're taking me home ♪ ♪ And we'll be ♪ ♪ Starting to fall ♪ ♪ In deep ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ Can we ♪ ♪ Make a ♪ ♪ A time to ♪ ♪ Take a walk ♪ ♪ To gather ♪ ♪ And remember?

♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ You're taking me home ♪ ♪ And we're gonna be ♪ ♪ Starting to fall ♪ ♪ In deep ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪ You're taking me home ♪ ♪ And we'll be ♪ ♪ We'll be starting to fall ♪ ♪ In deep ♪ ♪ If everything goes ♪ ♪ My way ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

Can you talk a little bit about the inspiration behind the song "I'm Still Here"?

Yeah.

I mean, I think -- Did we write that when we were coming up on our 30-year anniversary?

Mm-hmm.

Which, for me, that was like -- It's just a number, but that was a pretty big number.

Yeah.

And we wrote this song and we were thinking about it in a lot of different ways.

The last verse, we were thinking about all of our friends that were coming up at the same time that we were, some of whom had, like, giant commercial success, some who had regional success, some who really didn't, but they're not playing anymore.

Almost none of them are playing anymore.

And then, you know, we had some verses kind of about mentoring, and I'll let you talk about that.

Well, just even thinking about those other things that happen in life that would maybe lead you to not continue or pursue a career like this, that, somehow, we did anyway, because there's always pressure all around you to get a real job or do something else, or throw in the towel or whatever, and we just sort of didn't listen.

And so that's what it is about.

I think one of the things about it is just that we just kept going and we're still here.

Well, I, for one, am glad that you didn't listen.

I'm glad you guys are still here.

And I appreciate you being part of "Studio 3 LIVE."

Thank you both for being here.

Thank you for having us.

Appreciate it.

Alright, we got one more for you guys.

Thanks so much.

It's called "I'm Still Here."

[ Cheers and applause ] Yeah.

It's about you guys.

About you guys and us.

Thanks for sticking with us.

And if you're new, it's your first time seeing us, we'll see you in 30 years, you know?

♪ I remember clearly ♪ ♪ Walking through the hall ♪ ♪ And laying down my papers ♪ ♪ And dropping out ♪ ♪ Because I was in a band ♪ ♪ And things were starting to click ♪ ♪ That was 1996 ♪ ♪ And I'm still here ♪ ♪ And I remember clearly ♪ ♪ Having to make a choice ♪ ♪ Tell stories with my camera ♪ ♪ Or just use my voice ♪ ♪ But I played guitar and I ♪ ♪ I stayed up late ♪ ♪ And that was 1998 ♪ ♪ And I'm still here ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ After all these years ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember standing ♪ ♪ I remember standing ♪ ♪ Over the sink ♪ ♪ As I watched the plus sign ♪ ♪ As I watched the plus sign ♪ ♪ Fade to pink ♪ ♪ And in the back of my mind, I thought, "Oh, no, we're done ♪ ♪ But that was 2001 ♪ ♪ And I'm still here ♪ ♪ I remember waiting ♪ ♪ To get the news ♪ ♪ Clear, blue, and easy, but only one was true ♪ ♪ And at that moment, it was about more than me ♪ ♪ That was the start of 2003 ♪ ♪ And I'm still here ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ After all these years ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Through the joy and fear ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ To all our friends ♪ ♪ Who fell off along the way ♪ ♪ I hope to see you and hear you play ♪ ♪ I hope to see you and hear you play ♪ ♪ Share a drink ♪ ♪ Share a drink ♪ ♪ Share the stage ♪ ♪ Share some stories about the good old days ♪ ♪ And I'm still here ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ After all these years ♪ ♪ After all these years ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Through the joy and fear ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Through the love and tears ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Thank you, guys.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for being here.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thanks to Iowa PBS.

Brian Duffey on the bass guitar.

[ Cheers and applause ] Brandon Levi Stone sitting on a stump.

[ Cheers and applause ] Perry J. Ross, the ring of jingles.

[ Cheers and applause ] Mike Butterworth on guitar and vocals.

[ Cheers and applause ] Jason Walsmith on the guitar and vocals.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Davis: "Studio 3 LIVE" is also available as a podcast.

Get it wherever you get your podcasts.

Announcer #1: Musco Lighting is honored to support Iowa PBS.

We're an Iowa company that lights local schools, community fields, and stadiums, arenas, and venues in more than 125 countries.

While our reach is global, our commitment is local.

The Pella Rolscreen Foundation is a proud supporter of Iowa PBS.

Pella Windows & Doors strives to better our communities and build a better tomorrow.

Announcer #2: Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.