He’s been all over America, and now, Pat Green is back home. But calling Texas home for Green might be a bit of an understatement; he was born in San Antonio, raised in Waco, attended college at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and lived in Austin. Now, Green is right in our own backyard – Fort Worth, where he’s lived for the past two years.
Fort Worth played a significant role in Green’s life even before he became a resident.
The Aardvark, a favorite bar among TCU students, is just one of the places Green has played at in the past.
“That is where things got started; it was the good ol’ days,” Green said. “A lot of fond memories there, hanging out in that smoky bar, playing my tunes.”
The Aardvark may have been a big venue for Green years ago, but it was Billy Bob’s Texas that was a major milestone for Green and his career.
“I never dreamed that we would be there,” said Green.
Green’s “Live at Billy Bob’s” album was recorded December 1998 and is the second most popular disc in the 30-CD series of “Live at Billy Bob’s” behind only Willie Nelson, said Pam Minick, marketing director of Billy Bob’s Texas.
Green said the best part about living in Cowtown is at the end of the day, he has his own bed waiting for him.
He has just released his tenth album, “Cannonball,” which is the first CD he recorded since moving to Fort Worth. The lyrical composition of the new album is heavily influenced by Green’s present-day life. He and wife, Kori, of five years are parents to a 3-year-old son, Kellis, and a 3-month-old daughter, Rainey.
“It’s pretty romantic that he is influenced by his kids in his songs,” said Minick.
Besides his children, Green is heavily influenced by Texas as a whole.
“Texas is a big state, and there is all of these cultures in there,” Green said. “It is hard to be creative in just one city. Texas has such a distinctive sound.”
If it seems like Green is nostalgic, then you should hear “Way Back Texas” off his new album, which is currently the most requested song at 95.9 the Ranch radio station, according to The Ranch music director, Chuck Taylor.
Taylor also discovered that the single, “Feels Just Like It Should,” spent 11 weeks at the top of Texas music charts.
From the sounds of it, Green is popular in Texas, but it should be noted that he has opened for national acts ranging from Kenny Chesney to Dave Matthews Band, according to billboard.com.
He said being the opening act for two major artists has been a dream come true.
“I was so impressed that they do this kind of thing on a nightly basis,” Green said. “They have people in the palms of their hands,”
In recording “Cannonball,” Green is living in the moment.
“When I record, I am honest about my situation as it is at that moment in my life,” Green said. “Otherwise it comes across fake.”
Even though he is 34 years-old, Minick said he has found a way to stay relevant with the younger crowd.
“Green remains popular with today’s youth because he still acts like he’s in college and he’s in his 30s,” Minick said. “He speaks to the heart of the issues that they’re facing on a day to day basis.”
Green may have lyrics that strike a chord among the younger crowd, but it was the fact that he was the first in Texas to break into the mainstream to grab people’s attention, Taylor said.
“His music can relate to everybody,” Taylor said. “Whether he’s singing about popping up a beer to eating a burrito in the back seat of a car.”
At this point in Green’s life and career, he would like to see his music make a lasting impression and a positive impact.
“I want my music to leave a mark; it’s the American dream kind of thing,” Green said.
