Interview with Terry of Clyde

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Music has always been a major part of my life. My mother wrote songs and sang. My brother was very talented. We grew up in a church where a ton of great musicians would come through. Playing music doesn’t pay the bills, but I can’t imagine not having this creative outlet.

What do you like to do when your not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I paint, read, listen to other musicians. I also LOVE standup. I try, frequently, to go to a local venue and catch whoever is playing that weekend. All these things are inspirational in their own way, but, for me, most of the inspiration for the songs come about from life experience.

How long has your band been around?

Different lineups, but Clyde has been around since early ‘00s.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Louisville, KY. Louisville has a pretty vibrant music scene. There are quite a few innovative players around town that have been involved with Clyde, in some way. I grew up a little north of Louisville in South Central Indiana. That had a lot of impact also…

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you.

I settled on Clyde as it was the most non-descript, generic male name I quickly came up with. A lot of folks think it’s related to Bonnie & Clyde. That’s not the case.

Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.

Our best show: we opened for a local band at this huge greek (frat/sorority) weekend party. I dreaded it. I thought all the things one would think about when playing original music at a greek event. But it was really cool. There were a ton of people there and they completely paid attention to the set. Really into it too.

Our worst show: our final show of the first (and most influential) Clyde lineup. We played a venue we’d played several times and had a large draw. We were really loud in that lineup. Most of the time it was embraced. That night was especially bad….we emptied the room. Like, completely emptied the room.

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you haven't already?

Favorite venue: The Exit Inn in Nashville. Pipe dream: LOVE to play Albert Hall.

If you could play any show with any lineup who would be on the ticket?

Hot Snakes and Gram Parsons….probably Son Volt as well.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

Be authentic. Have something authentic to say. Do what matters.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Learn to play pedal steel

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Bleeding the Safe Line. The song leans into, what I consider to be, one of our big challenges today. Everyone wants to be led…wants someone to tell them what to do, how to think. It really is an ode to contrarian thought.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

This varies, oddly. There are songs, depending on the audience, where someone tells me “X” is my favorite song. Some of the more obscure material turns up more than I would imagine.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I always start with a guitar riff, then bring in a melody. Lyrics are always last. I’m inspired by life experience. Things that have happened, or are currently happening, that make me feel a certain way.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I’m less interested in conveying a message than I am creating an emotion, or a feel. Most of the songs that have stuck with me over time, had an effect on me emotionally.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Of course. Covid caused an issue, or two, between a couple of guys. I tend to get out of the crisis, first, by having an adult conversation. This particular instance was fairly toxic, so we took a bit of a break and I came back with a different lineup. Kind of harsh in that instance, but necessary.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that's coming up?

We’re releasing a few singles with Animal Farm, working on new material and playing the occasional show. I’m excited for the next couple of releases. We’ll have some interesting videos to go with them.