The Fall and Rise of Butch Walker: Hot Hand Producer Hits the Road with His Hot Band (Interview)

Butch Walker is the singer/songwriter you have possibly never heard of. Then again depending on the artists you listen to you have indeed heard Butch Walker. Walker burst on to the music scene in the 90's with the Atlanta based modern rock band The Marvelous 3. The band scored a hit with the tune "Freak of the Week" but by the time their second disc was released their record company was done with them. The group split up and Walker embarked on a solo career with the release of his first disc Left of Self Centered. Although the disc, chock full of arena rock ready anthems, didn't light up the sales charts, artists liked what Walker was doing in the studio when he was behind the sound board. Walker has become the hot hand when it comes to production. He has produced records for Pink, Hot Hot Heat, The Von Bondies, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Sevendust and the All American Rejects. Along the way Butch has managed to carve out a nice solo career for himself. His second solo release, Letters was a somber singer/songwriter affair and his last record The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonites is a party disc that features a glam rock sound. It's tough to pigeon hold an artist who can wax philosophical on the musical merits of Elvis Costello, Lilly Allen and Motley Crue all in one fatal swoop. Is he a producer with the midas touch? Is he an indie rocker, an introspective balladeer, an anthem rock king? The answer is yes, he is all of the above and he has no problem doing it all with a wink and a smile. Walker and his current band (The Let's Go Out Tonites) are getting ready for a mini-fall tour where their last stop will be the Austin City Limits music festival. Right before the tour I had the opportunity to shoot some questions to this indie rocker/producer and here's what he had to say.

Associated Content: The Rise and Fall disc sounded like a real party record. What influenced such a party vibe on the disc? What were the cool things that happened in the previous year that contributed to the good feeling?