“Steel Magnolia shares duet with NY State Fair crowd”
Exclusive Interview by Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
Joshua Scott Jones (left) and Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia. Photo by Ryan Smith/Courtesy of Big Machine Records.
Known for their hit song “Keep On Lovin’ You” and as the winners of season two of CMT‘s “Can You Duet,” Steel Magnolia‘s Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey performed a free show on Sept. 1, 2011 on the Chevy Court Stage at the New York State Fair.
In a recent newspaper interview, the duo discussed their visit to Syracuse and shared some of their favorite fair memories.
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “As performers, what do you think each other brings to the table in terms of behind-the-scenes talents and abilities?”
Joshua Scott Jones: “When I first met Meghan, I was more of a songwriter than anything. I have to admit that I’ve learned to sing a lot better from her… When I started frequenting her Karaoke bar is when I got practice singing… throwing caution to the wind with her. We started writing songs together… I was more of a stylistic singer before and that’s one thing I learned.”
Meghan Linsey: “I think Josh is really good at putting music together. He’s got a good vision as far as what sounds good and how to put things together. He plays a lot of instruments and he’s a great writer.”
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “What are some of your favorite concert memories when you were younger and is there any recording artist past or present, that you model your showmanship or relationship with the audience after?”
Meghan Linsey: “I mean, we’ve watched lots of Johnny and June videos on YouTube and Sonny and Cher and all the successful duos. I think you can learn a lot from that, you know? I think just the banter that Johnny and June and Sonny and Cher both had – that playfulness is something we’ve kind of pulled from them.”
Joshua Scott Jones: “My favorite [concert] as a kid? Well, it’s kinda cool, I just met Ricky Skaggs last night. That was my very first concert that I ever went to. At the time, that was so cool.”
Joshua Scott Jones (left) and Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia. Photo by Ryan Smith/Courtesy of Big Machine Records.
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “What are some of your favorite memories from a fair when you were growing up?”
Joshua Scott Jones: “Well, it was exciting. It was like my dad was invincible back then. He’d put me up on his shoulders and I’d watch the concert and sing the words. You just get a fresh outlook on life, everything was so new and magical and seeing someone you hear on the radio live and with your parents riding the rides and just having that close time was something that was just very special back then.”
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “When you’re backstage before a show, what are some of the things going through your mind, and as you take the stage, what’s your focus on in those first few moments?”
Meghan Linsey: “We get with our band and we say a prayer and drink a Red Bull and go out there and just try to put on the best show we can. It’s exciting to have fans out there ready to see you. So I don’t know that we’re so much thinking as we are feeling.”
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “What’s your favorite song to perform on stage right now?”
Meghan Linsey: “We just started doing this little medley of duet cover songs. We play it acoustic, kind of in the middle of our set. We’re having fun with that because it’s something new we just added.”
Michael Aaron Gallagher: “Is there anything you want to say to the fans about your upcoming show at the New York State Fair?”
Joshua Scott Jones: “We just want to tell the New York fans that we love to play live and we’re going to come out and put on the best show we can for you.”
Meghan Linsey: “We’re just excited to play, man.”
“Steel Magnolia shares duet with NY State Fair crowd”
Copyright 2011 by Michael Aaron Gallagher
Photography courtesy of Big Machine Records
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