Lakeport >> Last year’s Concert in the Park went so well, Chad Bushnell just couldn’t stay away. And so he’ll be performing tonight at Library Park for KXBX’s annual Summer Concert Series, which features music by a variety of groups every Friday throughout the summer. It’ll be his second year in a row playing his country tunes beneath the white gazebo.
With family in Mendocino County, Bushnell, a Red Bluff resident, always enjoys the opportunity to perform close to home, especially when the people are as nice and welcoming as those in Lake County. Plus, the venue isn’t too shabby. “I definitely prefer to do stuff like that over bars any day,” he said.
Bushnell has been busy since last summer. Over the course of the year he’s written and recorded two new singles. One, called “Mexico,” is about traveling down south to heal a broken heart. The second song, “What They Ain’t Telling Us,” is a little more contentious, addressing how media outlets “cover up things on the news.”
Bushnell will be performing both tonight at Library Park in Lakeport, along with music from his first two CDs. His music has that classic country sound — plenty of twang, plenty of tradition. Some influences include Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam and Alabama.
Speaking of Alabama, Bushnell is on familiar terms with Teddy Gentry. It’s a six degrees of separation type of deal: Bushnell’s mother’s best friend from high school knows the Alabama member and Bushnell was able to give Gentry a CD.
Now, Bushnell has a nice list of contacts in Nashville, the country music capital of the world. He said he hasn’t made it in the music industry yet, but he has made a number of influential friends, which certainly bodes well for his future.
The highlight of the last year came when Bushnell received the opportunity to record at the personal studio of one of his huge influences — Merle Haggard. Like many things in life, it’s all about who you know, and Bushnell happens to be friends with Haggard’s son. Thanks to that connection, he scored two days to get his tracks down.
But two days can go by quick, so there was a decent amount of prep work to put in, ensuring everything was perfect before he even stepped foot in the studio. All the work was worth it in the end — three members of Haggard’s band, the Stangers, played on the tracks, as well as Haggard’s son, who contributed backing vocals and keyboards.
So what’s next for the country singer? Another West Coast tour — possibly an East Coast one, too — and hopefully a single on the radio. “I’m trying to get something bigger on the radio,” Bushnell said, “get a little bit more recognition, trying to branch out a little bit more.”
But, as ideal as it would be, Bushnell’s life isn’t all about music. For years he’s been shoeing horses for his day job, but he’s about to hang that up, opting instead to focus on teaching. He began substitute teaching in May and he’s looking to obtain his credential. Soon, he hopes to be teaching during the year and heading out on the road for a long tour when school isn’t in session.
Although shoeing horses may be in line with a country music persona, it’s hard, physically-demanding work. Some days, Bushnell is too exhausted from shoeing to practice his music. So one of these days, students at a Red Bluff school may be able to say they heard their teacher’s song on the radio.
Bushnell will be performing at Library Park in Lakeport tonight for the Summer Concert Series from 6:30-8 p.m.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
