Reconnecting with a Musical Mentor: Michael Wright’s Journey of Faith, Music, and Family

Introduction:

• Welcome back to the podcast! I'm your host, Jared Easley. Today's episode is unique as we reconnect with Michael Wright, a man who significantly influenced my life during middle and high school. Michael is multifaceted – a musician, artist, concert manager, talent broker, businessman, and family man.

Key Discussion Points:

God's Love and Mission:

• Michael reflects on the profound love of God and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
• Encourages listeners to embrace God's love, share it with others, and intentionally love the people around them.

Michael Wright's Musical Journey:

• Michael shares his favorite concert experiences, including seeing Blackberry Smoke and Yacht Rock Revue.
• Discusses what makes a band stand out, highlighting nostalgia and memorable experiences associated with music.
• Michael's humble beginnings with his first band, Calico Road, and progression through various bands, including Soft Rocking Cow, Slow Rolling Cow, and the cover band Coconut Cowboys.
• Transitioning to Suns of March, his original music project, and the success it brought.

Influence and Memories:

• Jared reminisces about Michael's impact on his musical development, including guitar lessons and songwriting inspiration.
• Michael's experiences in boxing, his pivot to music, and the influence of his faith on his songwriting.

Transition to Music Management:

• Michael's shift from a touring musician to a talent broker and concert manager.
• Insights into the music industry, working with big names like Blake Shelton and Eric Church, and managing significant festivals and events.
• The challenges and rewards of balancing family life with his professional responsibilities.

Family and Priorities:

• Michael's dedication to his family and the importance of setting priorities.
• I am balancing professional aspirations with being a devoted husband and father.
• The dynamics of a blended family and the emphasis on supporting their children's activities and interests.

Final Thoughts:

• Michael emphasizes the importance of making disciples and living a life of obedience to God's commandments.
• The inspiration was drawn from Kyle Lance Martin's Project 52, focusing on discipleship and intentionality in daily interactions.

Closing:

• Michael's final thought: "God is love. He loved us enough to go to the cross, send his son to the cross for us, and die for us so that he could come and possess us when we finally realized we needed him. He wants us to love, he wants us to receive his love, and he wants us to share his love. Let's go out tonight and tomorrow, and let's look at people and intentionally make a point in our mind to say, Hey, I'm going to love that person."
• Jared expresses gratitude for Michael's influence and friendship and teases a future episode featuring Michael performing on acoustic guitar.

Call to Action:

• Check out Michael's music project, Suns of March, at sunsofmarch.com.
• Follow Michael's musical journey on social me

Transcript

Starve the Doubts - Michael Wright
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Michael Wright: [00:00:00] God is love. He loved us enough to go to the cross and his son to the cross for us and die for us so that he could come and possess us when we finally realized we need him. He wants us to love and he wants us to receive his love and he wants us to share his love. Let's go out all of us tonight, tomorrow, and let's look at people and let's intentionally make a point in our mind to say, Hey, I'm going to love that person.

Jared: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm your host, Jared Easley. And I'm really excited today because I'm talking with a gentleman named Michael Wright, and there's been very few people. In my life, you've had a massive influence on me during my middle school and high school years, more so than this guy. I mean, you know, maybe Todd would one or two other people, but Michael Wright is someone that I've known for years and he does a lot of things.

He's a musician. He's an artist. He's a concert management, talent broker. He's a businessman. He's a [00:01:00] family man. He's got a lot of hats, but Michael, thank you for being willing to chat today. I appreciate it. Thank you, Jared. I appreciate that, man. Absolutely. So one question I typically, in most interviews I do, I always ask this question, so I'm going to throw it to you.

And it's actually a music question, which, uh, you're a musician, so this'll be kind of fun. So what is the best concert that you've been to? Oh man, like Putting you on the spot. 

Michael Wright: I'll tell you, uh, well, okay. I mean, my favorite band is a band called like original band is a band called Blackberry Smoke. Okay.

Yeah. They started out in Atlanta. They had some management from a company down in South Alabama called Bama. There was a big festival called Bama Jam that used to happen. And the guy who ran that managed them and then they ended up taking off and. Man, they're an awesome, like Southern rock jam band kind of feel.

I mean, those concerts are awesome just because all of their music, but like in terms of like, just a great time, there is a band called Yacht Rock Review. It's a tribute band, [00:02:00] like a cover band to Yacht Rock music. You know what Yacht Rock is? 

Jared Easley: Is that like, when I think of that, the first thing that came to my mind was like Jimmy Buffett or something like that.

Is that right? 

Michael Wright: Well, it's kind of more like Hall and Oates, Sealcroft, you know, all that kind of stuff. Michael McDonald, you know. Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's like a whole genre and there's this band called Yacht Rock Review and gosh, man, they are so good and we, my wife and I, and a couple of other couples, we always go hear them like whenever we get a chance together and it is the most fun.

I mean, every song, you know, is a hit, you know, but, uh, it's a tribute, man. They probably make like a hundred to 200, 000 a show. No kidding. Holy cow. 

Jared Easley: Just playing cover music. Just playing cover music. Okay, I'm in the wrong business. Me too, man. You know, I'm going to ask you this because you've been around a lot of music over the years and you've seen a lot of bands that are like really good.

And you've seen bands that are kind of, eh, what in your mind is something that sticks out that, you know, it's okay. This [00:03:00] band is worth seeing versus this band just kind of is, is just a, they're a decent band. They have a few different, you know, decent songs, but they don't really like stand out. Like what helps a band to like really stand out like you're describing.

Michael Wright: Well, I think for me, it is, man, I mean, I'm, and I think this is probably true for most people, but I think music is really a nostalgia thing, you know, and it's like, there's so many, man, Jared, you were writing great songs in high school and there are so many people like you and me who write songs that write songs that are probably really good songs, but that are just not in the right place at the right time to get the songs known.

And so, you know, once an artist has songs that are well known, you know, like if you're, if you're, you know, if you're with somebody doing some things or whatever, you know, and you hear a song come on, then it just kind of reminds you of that time, that moment. And so I think that's a lot of it is just like having your stuff out there.

So that people are experiencing your music with other experiences, you know, take that all in [00:04:00] together, you know, I think, I think that's really the main thing that sets bands apart. And a lot of that's kind of like winning the lottery. I mean, just being in the right, something happening, you know, I mean, but, you know, yeah, there's bands that are just like really awesome live.

You know, but then I think a lot of it's just being in the right, the nostalgia of a song, you know what I mean? You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. 

Jared Easley: Well, I, I don't know if this band's still around, but I remember years ago, there was a band where a guy, I think it was, they were called super Tyrone and a guy came out in a super Superman costume and.

So you've seen like gimmicks and stuff and yeah, you know, like, okay. Was super Tyrone really a great band? Maybe they were, I don't remember, but I remember I, what I do remember is they had that gimmick, you know, and well, there's no doubt that 

Michael Wright: like stuff like that, I mean, like, like, you know, profanity, like it's a big, you know, like when bands use profanity, I mean, you know, there's a lot of people go to shows, they want to hear, they want to hear that, you know, but yeah, light show dressing up, there's a lot of EDMs.

You know, DJs that wear like, you know, masks now and that sort of [00:05:00] thing, a lot of rock bands that do that now, you know, so yeah, there's a lot of gimmicks that like people buy into like that for sure. 

Jared Easley: I had not been to a rock, a good rock concert in a long time, but I did this past weekend actually went to one with my brother in law and we went to see Foo Fighters and, but before Foo Fighters was a Queens of the Stone Age, I believe is the name and uh, yeah, and they were great, but the lead team was doing exactly what you were just talking about.

Right. The profanity and it was excessive and, and, you know, that I could stomach, but he was calling the crowd like mother effers or whatever. And I just thought, well, that doesn't the artist know that's rude. Like, I don't want to call your audience that, but yeah, they, they didn't seem to the audience didn't seem to mind.

It was like, okay, well, I'll tell you that. And like flicking the 

Michael Wright: cam off, you know, that's like the big thing there's this comedian that I love named dusty slay. Okay. I haven't. Okay, dude, he is so funny. You need to check him out. But, uh, he did this big show with a bunch of comedians for this thing that Kid Rock did.

I don't know if they were at the Ryman or somewhere. I can't [00:06:00] remember, but the place was jam packed. And at the end of the show, he and all the comedians and Kid Rock got out on the stage to take a picture together where they were upstage, you know, shooting, Downstage so they could see the crowd behind them, you know, it was just a packed place and I guess they told everybody to flick the camera off and so everybody in the picture was shooting a bird for Dusty.

He was standing right in the middle, so it looked like they're flicking him off. Well, no, but I mean, it's just, he was the only one just kind of standing there and it just, it looked so awesome to see, like, you know, not because he wasn't shooting a bird necessarily, but just because just the way he, you know, doing that, it was a really cool thing.

Yeah. Flicking the camera off, man, is, you know, is essential now to the rock, rock genre. 

Jared Easley: Yeah. Well, you know. All right, so we're gonna do some very, very basic music trivia, but I think this might be just kind of fun. So, uh, first music trivia question for you, Michael, and, and, you know, no pressure. What was the name [00:07:00] of the Eagles debut single?

It was released in 1972, which was also the title track of their debut album. I'll give you choices here. So it was A, Take It Easy, B, Desperado, C, Hotel California, or D, One of These Nights. Oh, I have to say Take It Easy. Take It Easy. All right, there you go. All right, let's keep going. One for one here. Which 1990s boy band had a hit song with I Want It That Way?

Was it the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees, or O Town? Um, that's Backstreet, right? That is Backstreet, yes. All right, and we'll do one more here. What is a popular nickname for Willie Nelson? All right, here's your choices. Whiskey Wizard, The Outlaw of Nashville. The redheaded stranger or the braided biker.

That's redheaded stranger. Redheaded stranger. Well played. Okay. Three for three. I 

Michael Wright: got all three. 

Jared Easley: You got all three. All right. And well, I haven't asked those questions to other guests. Those are special just for you. Yeah. I'm just making sure you're, you're qualified here and you passed. All right. So [00:08:00] at least it was as much as you, right?

Yeah, exactly. All right. All right. We're going to finish this sentence. I'm going to give you the beginning of a sentence and then you complete it. All right. So, uh, these are kind of random, but kind of fun. So, uh, Finish the sentence when getting a haircut blank, how would you finish that sentence? Getting a haircut.

When getting a haircut blank. Figuring out dinner. Figuring out dinner. That's what you're doing if you were to get a haircut. Yeah. Smart mood. Okay. Okay. Let's go there. What, what's the, the, the ideal dinner in the right household? 

Michael Wright: But there's many, I love to cook. That's one of my favorite things to do. So I'm constantly trying out new recipes and that sort of thing.

I guess the last thing I made was. I made some Jamal and I went, I, you know, I have like a huge, like 30 gallon, not 30 gallon, but 30 quart, 30 quart pot. And I, I make a huge thing of it, you know, and everybody comes and eats it, that sort of thing. I'm making wings tonight. Um, there you go. Yeah, so, so I guess, yeah, but you know, stuff like, I guess Jamal gumbo, that sort of [00:09:00] thing.

Oh my gosh. 

Jared Easley: Alright, so I'm coming over to your house. We love fish. Yeah. No shame in that. All righty. I didn't realize you were, uh, you're quite the chef. That's good. 

Michael Wright: I mean, I told you when you come up, man, I'm gonna cook for you. 

Jared Easley: All right. Well, I am. I'm coming up.

Okay. This is interesting. I didn't know some of this. All right. So let's talk about how we met. So you and I met in the early nineties. And I'm going to let you share what you remember. Well, 

Michael Wright: I mean, I just remember, you know, being in the student ministry there at the church together. And, you know, I remember like you, you know, being a talented songwriter, musician, you know, we talked about before, like, you know, you turn the events, you know, you would lead the music for them, you know, um, that's kind of my main memories is, is all centered around, you know, doing shows.

Yeah, 

Jared Easley: well, and I, yeah, I mean, you, you were someone I [00:10:00] learned a lot of music from actually, I, I definitely, I took guitar lessons from you for a time and I mean, yeah, you were a big, big reason that I, um, you know, took that and ran with it more than I probably would have. So absolutely. And I'm not the only one.

There was a lot of, a lot of folks that went through that. Went through that place to have similar stories as that one. Uh, so, yeah, that's absolutely right. That's how we met. That's how we became friends. And it seems like one of the first things I remember about you, Michael, was, uh, this was even before I started playing guitar, but, and I, I might be wrong here, and if I'm wrong, that's fine.

But I think I remember, like, you were kind of into boxing, or you had just gotten out of boxing. Is that true? 

Michael Wright: Yeah, that's 

Jared Easley: very 

Michael Wright: true. Can you tell that story? Well, I'll just, I'll just say this about it is that, um, like when I was in high school, I was one, I wanted to play football. I wasn't very good and my grades weren't very good.

And once I finished high school, I didn't have any opportunities to do anything like that. And I wasn't, I'm now a Christian and became a Christian when I was 19. But at the [00:11:00] time I had not met the Lord yet. And my identity was completely wrapped up in athletics. And, I was so desperate to have some type of, you know, sports outlet that I could identify myself with so that I, you know, when I met people, I could go, yeah, I do this.

You know, I was so desperate that I went all the way to the opposite side of town in Montgomery and. Joined a boxing gym and didn't really want to box. I just, that was just, I didn't know any other outlets, you know, so I started boxing and I wasn't very good, but I was in great shape while I was doing it and I had, I sparred a lot and then I finally had one fight and I got absolutely pummeled by this guy from Tallahassee.

And it was like a TKO, you know, and then when I get, we got done, I didn't know what city I was in. Oh, wow. Yeah. It was rough. But, but after that, I was like, I think I'm just going to pursue music. And then I started mountain biking too. 

Jared Easley: Oh, well, okay. So, [00:12:00] and, uh, yeah, I remember you were kind of into it and then you, then you weren't anymore and that explains why.

So that makes sense. But yeah, I do want to talk about music. I mean, we already, we've already hinted at that, but, um, You, you know, really immersed yourself in music, you know, it was, was that something that you're always kind of into or, or, you know, how did that, how did you kind of go from interested in that and say, you know, I'm gonna actually, you know, make a go at this.

Michael Wright: Well, okay. So when I was around seventh grade, like just a little backstory, my parents split up when I was around 10 or 11. And then we ended up moving into a completely different school district when I started seventh grade started in at that point. That's when you started middle school was in seventh grade, right?

This was in Montgomery. This was in Montgomery. Yeah. And, uh, and so, uh, and so, you know, I changed schools. I didn't know anybody in the school. And the neighborhood where I moved to, I started kind of to get to know some of the kids there and they were all like skaters and into metal and all that kind of thing.

And so [00:13:00] I started really listening to a lot of metal bands, like, you know, like first like Bon Jovi and bands like that. And then I got into some of the lesser known bands, kind of like Dokken. At that time, Def Leppard wasn't that well known around this part, you know, of the country. That was before like Hysteria came out.

And, you know, some, some bands like that, and then even some, like some heavier bands. But once I started listening to all that, you know, and in fact, then that those metal bands, it was all about the guitar solo. And so I just, you know, I was, I guess that identity thing, man, I was just searching for something and I wanted to be like a lead guitar player.

So I started playing guitar. And then, you know, I just did that for a long time. And then eventually I started singing and still cannot write songs. But once I, once I, you know, began a relationship with God and, and, um, Jesus came into my life. Man, he just started writing songs for me, bro. And I mean, I don't, that's how I write, you know, it's like, I just music just pops in my head and then lyrics pop in my head.

And I, and then next [00:14:00] thing I know, I'm sitting there with a song and I've written like a little over a hundred songs that way, you know, and I don't really know how it happens. I'm not the kind of writer that can go sit down and just write with people, you know, or write about a topic because it's just kind of something that just kind of comes out, you know, so.

But yeah, that's how I got into it, you know, 

Jared Easley: I remember being around you often that season of my life and you would always be like, Hey, man, hear this song. I just wrote. And it was like, at that moment, it was like, probably one of the best songs I'd ever heard be anybody. Right? Because, you know, I wasn't as, uh, immersed in, in, in the music scene as you were, but, yeah, So you're kind of making, you know, jokes about writing songs and stuff and maybe not being the best at it, but I always was like, wow, this is a, this is a really good song.

So I guess 

Michael Wright: I'll just say that. It doesn't matter that you weren't immersed in music. They really were that good. 

Jared Easley: Yeah, I think that, I mean, I liked them. Yeah. And I still do actually. So, you know, last time you and I chatted, which was, was not too long ago, the other day, actually, we, we, you know, I was asking you, Hey man, where'd I find these old songs?

[00:15:00] You know, So there is, there's a lot of nostalgia that's, you know, I have a lot of really good memories related to a number of those songs from back then. So how has your songwriting progressed? Uh, you know, now it's been, you know, a couple of decades, I mean, from things that, you know, were important to you then to, to something you'd write now, like, um, how would you describe that?

I guess. 

Michael Wright: Well, I'll be honest with you, like, it really hasn't progressed in the last like 15 to 20 years because I haven't even written a new song because I've been work, just work, you know, busy raising my, my kids and working, you know, kind of doing the family thing. Um, what I have been doing, I guess, in terms of the creative part is because I'm not, I haven't been playing out.

So what I do is I just like practice, you know, four or five, six days a week. And I try to do maybe, you know, five, six, seven songs a day. And I just work on them, man. I just like try to hone them. I try to work on really the, my performance of them, my vocals, you know, [00:16:00] little things here and there, just being an acoustic guitar.

And I'm just trying to, man, you know, I, I have a very, I'm probably my biggest fan. I love the songs that God gave me and, and so, you know, I feel like my, my responsibility at this point is to just. Keep trying to hone those songs and make them the best that I can possibly make them, you know, when I'm singing them and playing them just on an acoustic, you know, one day hope to have the opportunity to try to do that with a band, you know, like recording a full album or something again, you know, but, but as of right now, you know, that's not an, That's not like for me right now.

So I'm just, I've just been working. I was like, I'm kind of creating in a small way in that way. But, um, but yeah, I just, I just, I have not, you know, for me to write, like I have to be very relaxed and not a lot of anxiety. And, you know, the family thing with work and all that does not lend itself to that, you know, so it just has not happened.

So, but, you know, I think later on it might happen again, you know, [00:17:00] I'm not worried about it, but 

Jared Easley: yeah, you got the, the pressure of making jambalaya or wings, you know, it's like, okay, I'm possibly going to focus on, you know, hit song right now. I know. I mean, good jambalaya, man. I love it. So, uh, for people that aren't familiar with your music or the bands you've been in, um, so when I was around you, you were in a couple of bands and then later I moved away from Montgomery and, and you and I lost touch for a number of years, but you were, you know, still doing music scene then.

And, uh, so let's, let's talk about that for a few minutes. Like, uh, you know, what's, what were some of the early bands and then, uh, some of the bands that, that had a little more success than you said right now, that's. Uh, and then it got to a point where you, you know, you had family responsibilities and things, and it didn't make sense to, to be involved in that right now, but let's talk to you up to that point.

So let's talk about some of the early music, early bands, and then, uh, some of the ones that you had a little more success with, uh, when you were doing it full time. 

Michael Wright: Yeah, the very first band I ever was in was a band called Calico Road. Calico Road. I don't [00:18:00] think I knew about that one. Yeah, well, we never played anywhere except my buddy's, like, music room at his house in County Downs.

There you go. He and I are still friends, the guy who was the drummer in that band. And the guy who was the lead singer in that band, we're kind of friends, but he's like a cowboy now, and he's living up out in the Midwest or somewhere like that, so. Oh, nice. But yeah, but that band, that was the first band.

And then we had several, I mean, we actually had a band called creed for a minute. Creed. 

Jared Easley: That was before the, the, the creed that got popular back in the way where that was, of 

Michael Wright: course we were better than them, but yeah, you were better than them. Yeah. You were better. But now, but, uh, they were inspired by you.

Yeah, that's maybe so, but anyway, but yeah, but we, then we, then I had like a band called plow, we had a band. Okay. I remember plow. Yeah. We almost played a show with that band, but we never did. And then we had a band called soft rock and cow, but. Eventually we realized that name was kind of dumb. So we changed [00:19:00] it to slow rolling cow, because that's a way cooler now than soft rock and cow.

Jared Easley: I told me to do that just for a minute. Why, why did y'all change that name? I gotta say, Oh, well, this is a dumb name, but this is a better name. What, what was it that made you change it? Cause it doesn't sound that different. 

Michael Wright: Because the drummer in the band, my buddy was like, man, we're not soft rock. We don't want to like give the wrong impression.

Jared Easley: Ah, that kind of makes sense now. 

Michael Wright: Yeah, we were masterminds of the music industry at that point, man, we really had it figured out, you know, so. 

Jared Easley: Remind me his name. I forgot his name. What was his name, that drummer? 

Michael Wright: Well, 

Jared Easley: that was Phil Lachey. Phil. Yes, Phil, Phil. And I always, yeah, I always, uh, liked Phil. He was a good guy.

Michael Wright: He was, he was very accomplished. I mean, he played with a very popular, extremely talented band called Blues All Stand. Yes. You remember them and they played all around this part of the country, all the way up the east coast. Extremely popular band. And then he also played with another very popular band called Adela Soul.

Okay. And then like, he got [00:20:00] with me just to kind of do like a little side project, you know, and that's kind of what we did, you know, 

Jared Easley: So he raised his standards is what he did and, uh, you know, started playing with Michael, right? Yeah, I 

Michael Wright: remember that. Those bands were way bigger than anything I had done at that time, but, uh, impossibly ever.

But right after that, I started this cover band called the Coconut Cowboys. Okay, I remember that. Yeah. And it was just a straight cover band designed to pick up like work kind of like, I mean, there was a lot of Jimmy Buffett in there, a lot of, uh, you know, stuff like Brandy, some of that yacht rock kind of stuff was in there too, like Brandy, you know, stuff like that.

Okay. But, uh, it was just like a cover band that we did and yeah, you had some 

Jared Easley: success with that. That started getting you, you know, booked and Nick playing around and it got really 

Michael Wright: popular. Yeah. I mean, we, we played a lot of big clubs with that. A lot of, did a lot of college stuff and like, you know, we did weddings, we did all sorts of stuff.

And then that, once we got that, once I got that going really, really, really good, eventually I [00:21:00] ended up just having that. Kind of do itself, there was other guys that were playing in it, you know, and then I was just kind of managing that and then that's when I started the project that I have now, which was to promote the goal was to promote original music called Sons of March 

Jared Easley: and then that, that is music that's out there now, if you search for Sons of March, you can find, you know, music that's out there.

Yeah, and I'm still 

Michael Wright: operating, I'm still, you know, operating under that. That's kind of. 

Jared Easley: And when you, when you put out new music, I mean, cause there's times I've seen you post on social media where you'll be like, Hey, here's a new song. Even in the last year you had, Oh, here's a new song. I need love. By Sons of March, I'm like, Oh, cool.

You know, I didn't know you're, you're still doing that. So that's pretty awesome. Yeah. That's, and that's 

Michael Wright: what I'm just trying to get. Basically what I'm doing is just trying to make a record of the songs that I have. So that, you know, so that when I die, like at least there's a record of it. 

Jared Easley: No shame in that leaving a legacy.

All right. So Sons of March took off, right? I mean, that one like really reached a level that you'd not reached with some of the [00:22:00] other music. Yeah, 

Michael Wright: we, it was really good. We played a lot of different, like a lot of different shows and we played, you know, we played some really big shows to open them for bigger bands and that sort of thing, played, playing in front of, you know, 10, 20, 000 people.

It was a blast, but, but, you know, then, um, once I got married and eventually had children, it just kind of lost its appeal. And, um, 

Jared Easley: it's a lot to do and you're, you're, it's a full time job and it's travel and it's. That's not the best option for, you know, someone who's got family responsibilities. Uh, some people can.

And it was what we 

Michael Wright: did. That was our career. You know, we were just playing full time and I was doing it to be honest with you. I was doing it the wrong reasons. I was, you know, really that whole identity thing, man, that's kind of been my theme struggle probably like the last. Yeah, and I'm still probably struggling with that, you know, you think you have things beat, but then you're still struggling when you don't realize it.

But yeah, I would say it took like it took just the [00:23:00] last five years. I've really started to kind of understand who my identity is and Jesus. And, you know, that it's not about trying to do things to make myself feel good about myself for him. He doesn't want us doing that. You know, he wants me to, he wants me just to worship him, love him and love the people around me and then let him work through me.

Right. You know what I mean? So. That's helped me really get a handle on that. That's my identity is just, you know, his son. You know what I mean?

Jared Easley: For people that knew you from a few decades back, you know, when you say you dealt with pride and stuff like that, like that, I kind of laugh at that because I'm like, that's not the Michael I remember. Like you were pretty humble, dude. Like you're pretty. Generous and gracious. And you didn't strike me as, as the, as the pride guy.

So when you say, Hey, I was, I was traveling, we're having success with the music and playing for all these people. And, you know, it was kind of a pride thing. I just like, well, like, I don't, I don't know that [00:24:00] I really saw much of that. 

Michael Wright: I remember, man, I'll tell you, it was weird. It's like, I remember playing shows.

And you know how it is, you know, when you're playing a show, you're on a stage or whatever, people are watching you, people see you, you know, and then, and then you come off stage and you're like talking to people. And I just remember feeling so awkward because, because I was talking to these people that were wanting to talk to me and I was wanting to talk to them.

I love people, man. Like I've always loved that. But you know, I just. I could feel like that. I was like thinking so highly of myself. You know what I mean? I was feeling special. You know what I mean? And it just did not feel comfortable. Like I remember coming off stage and just feeling so uncomfortable.

And it was just because of my view of myself is too elevated and it just didn't feel right. And I knew it was wrong. And I just like, you just rationalize stuff and you just, you know, you tell yourself you're doing this for one reason, but you know, you're really doing it for a different reason. You know, we all do that too, you know, in a lot of different ways.

Jared Easley: Well, okay. So, so when, when you realize, okay, it [00:25:00] doesn't make sense to keep hitting the road and, and doing this the same way full time, you put more of the focus into the music management side. And, and, uh, I love that pivot from a business perspective. I think that's really smart. Cause you knew, Hey, I gotta, you know, I gotta be a dad.

I gotta be a husband. I gotta, you know, do these other things and these are my priority. And so you made those choices. And, and so let's talk about that pivot. You already, you know, had this experience and then, you know, you were kind of already doing that and then you just really went all in on that. And let's talk about what that was like for you.

Michael Wright: Okay, so I knew I was transitioning, you know, so I knew I had to figure some way to get some money coming in. And my actual goal was to sell insurance and become a stockbroker. Oh, I didn't know that. Went as far as to get my insurance license. And I actually interviewed with some companies, kind of had a verbal commitment to work with this one company.

And I, and then I was in the process of getting my series seven to be able to, to be a stockbroker. And in the meantime, like I had also like gotten some, was getting some interest from, from other people who knew I'd been in [00:26:00] the music industry about helping with, with like bigger shows, like putting festival together or getting, you know, just getting some access to a bigger name, you know?

And so, uh, I finally decided that there was like, there was an insurance agency on every corner, man. That's like a very saturated industry, you know, everywhere, a lot of competition. And so I just decided, well, maybe I could start booking these bigger bands and helping people with it and then, and make a living out of that.

So I talked with this company, the owner, Martin Brasfield, who owns the music garden, and that's the company that I work with now. And it's been around for a long time. Gosh, like, I don't know, maybe 30, 40 years, but they booked my Coconut Cowboys cover band. And then also a bunch of the Sons of March stuff too.

And so I talked with him and then I ended up like, we ended up coming up with a scenario where I would be in charge of doing all of the bigger national bands because it's a lot of work, man. It's a lot of work to [00:27:00] do those kinds of shows and to work with buyers on those things. And basically that's what I am.

I'm a buyer's agent. Like. Like, you know, like if you're selling a house, you know, you have somebody that's a seller's agent and you have a buyer's agent, you know, looking out for the interest of the buyer. That's what I do. Cause really on the national side of things, these big, big national bands, they all have, they have a booking agent, they have a manager, they have a publicist, they have a record label attorneys.

They have all these people that are advocating their interest in this deal that's happening, you know, and these, a lot of these buyers, they don't have anybody looking out for their And so that's what I do. And then they pay me a fee, the buyers pay me a fee to broker talent and also be a consultant for the shows, you know, 

Jared Easley: And I mean, we're, we're not talking kind of the no name bands that you, you have actually had interaction and work with a number of really, you know, national acts, like people names that people would know.

Oh yeah. Like I've 

Michael Wright: had, I was fortunate enough to be involved with a couple of festivals. I'm not a business guy. [00:28:00] So I disagree, but go ahead. Well, I'm just not like, I'm not like a sales, but I'm not a market. Like I just kind of like operate on the fringe of this realm, you know, like I'm not really like a, a mover, a shaker or something like the industry.

I just kind of like, I'm kind of like a scavenger out on the fringes kind of, but, um, but basically. Like some things just fell on my lap and I had an opportunity to work with some huge festivals. That's great. And, you know, we worked with like, I remember for one festival, I ended up getting Blake Shelton right before he signed on The Voice.

Yeah. By the time Blake did that show, he was huge. I mean, it was like, it doubled the size of the festival from the year before, you know? And then I got, I remember I got Eric Church books to play a show right before he went number one on the Billboard 200 for the first time. And, you know, same thing, man, like he just blew it up even more, you know, so I've had a lot of, you know, several big festivals and I'm now I still work with several, you know, festivals, but some of them are actually quite big.[00:29:00] 

I got one this weekend where I have, uh, Sammy Kershaw and, um, and Aaron Tippett and Colin Ray playing, they have this little thing they do called Roots and Boots and, um, they're playing this festival this weekend. So, but mostly what I do is like, you know, fraternities, colleges, stuff like that. You know, that's, 

Jared Easley: that's fantastic.

Uh, well, I, I love hearing that. I, I, I don't want to downplay, um, you know, you're, you're, you're again, being humble, but man, I think it's, you know, you, the way you transitioned from being a touring, you know, musician and, and now, you know, you're helping festivals and helping colleges and different things, you know, book these gigs and stuff.

I, I think that is very business savvy and, uh, you know, I'm impressed that you were able to make that transition and a lot of, uh, musicians who are, Not able to do that. So I'm impressed that you were able to do that and proud of you, but your family is a big deal to you. And you've mentioned this and you know, I know you have kids, I know you're married and you know, I just want to talk about what, how do you wrestle?

What are some ways that you wrestle with the pride and the things that it's like, okay, I need to be, you know, in front of people, I need to be doing this stuff. And then you go from, [00:30:00] well, now I'm at home and I, you know, and that, that's such a big difference. And like, what was that like for you? You said you kind of, you know, wrestled with it a little bit and you're getting more accustomed to it, but you know, that is a massive change.

What was that like? 

Michael Wright: Well, I mean, you know, you have to, I mean, you, like, you have to learn to set priorities and, you know, you have to kind of figure out, like, what's really important, you know, I guess, which is saying the same thing, but I guess, man, like, you know, I'm a kind of person that I'm like, I'm very stubborn.

And I have to make some mistakes to like, people could tell me stuff, but then I have to just go like, make the mistakes, you know, and so basically, I guess over, you know, I was very, I had a marriage for about 5, 6 years before that's where both of my children were from that marriage. And then now I'm on my second marriage, and my wife had two children from a previous marriage, so we have four kids together.

So, you know, man, on this marriage, you know, I just feel like I'm, I'm just trying to, uh, get the priorities right and follow them. [00:31:00] And, um, whereas maybe on my first marriage, I had some priorities wrong. That one, you know, I definitely contributed to that not working out. So, but yeah, I mean, you just like, I mean, like when my wife, when my wife and I finally have some time together, you know, I mean, I try to just shut down and just like really focus on her.

And of course with the kids, man, we, you know, both of us do a really good job of putting our kids first. Before I work and that sort of thing, so, yeah, we go to all their events and try to, you know, try to facilitate them being, you know, successful and all that they do. And with 4 kids, I mean, you know, she's focuses a lot on her too.

I focus a lot on helping mine. And then we kind of help each other to, you know what I mean? She does a much better job of that than I do. 

Jared Easley: Well, I appreciate Christie. She, she kind of helped us coordinate this interview. So I appreciate her being involved with that. Definitely am proud of you, Michael, and I'm glad to see, you know, you and your family.

It seems like from the outside anyway, doing really well and happy about that. Yeah, I'm very 

Michael Wright: [00:32:00] blessed, man. I'm very blessed. 

Jared Easley: Absolutely. So I'll ask a couple of closing questions. We try to keep this, you know, around 30 minutes or so. But one other question that I thought of was, who is somebody, it doesn't have to be music related, but who's somebody, whether it's in your personal life or just somebody in general that is doing something that interests you?

Michael Wright: Somebody that I know, is 

Jared Easley: that 

Michael Wright: right? 

Jared Easley: It can be someone you know, or actually it can be anybody. Just anybody that's doing something that 

Michael Wright: interests me. Okay, I'll tell you, I mean, we're gonna go there, I don't know this guy, and I can't even tell you what his name is right now. That's alright. Man, there is a, right now I'm gonna tell you what my focus is, man.

It's about being obedient and the things that God has, you know, has commanded us to do. And when I say that, you know, I'm not talking about like the Ten Commandments, you know, I'm talking about loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and soul and loving others, you know, as we love ourselves. Those are the two commandments that He gave us.

And [00:33:00] then also, the third thing is like, I guess, commandment like 2A would be go make disciples. Go make disciples. And, man, there's this guy that pastors this church in Texas, and he came up with this workbook called Project 52. And it has like a little Bible that goes with it. But this guy, man, is, he is so focused on Christians making disciples.

And man, it really has struck a chord with me because I've been, you know, I've been guilty of not making that an intentional thing in my life. And if I'm going to be a follower of Jesus, you know, like, that's what Jesus did. He made disciples. You know, that's what, I mean, yeah, he gave some big talks and everything, but most of what he did was pouring his life into 12 men.

You know what I mean? All the time. And so this guy came up with this material, and I mean, I just, I just think this guy's amazing. He has a little thing on Netflix, like a little reality thing where he was just trying to go out and really, really just try to follow what he felt like God was telling him each day, [00:34:00] meeting people, just making himself available to go have interactions with the people that God Brought across this pathway.

And, um, I can't remember that pastor's name. Is it Kyle Lance Martin? Is that it? Could be. 

Jared Easley: Yeah, I think that's it. I looked it up while we were talking and I see a book called Project 52 written by a pastor here. And I think that might be the 

Michael Wright: one. Yeah. And I've been using that now with the people that I'm meeting with.

And I mean, Jared, like we all go to church and we sit there and we hear these lessons. And we're trying to be better Christians and all that man, but like, how many of us are making disciples or even how many of us get up in the morning and before we start our day, we walk out our door, we go, you know, we intentionally pray, God, show me somebody today who you would like me to disciple.

You know what I mean? Yeah. I mean, it's like mammoth. So I admire that guy, man. I admire what he's doing. And like this workbook is awesome. Like I highly recommend it if anybody's interested in, you know, trying to really [00:35:00] make a focus in that in their life, you can order them online. It's easy to find. 

Jared Easley: Well, yeah, from what I've found, it's Kyle Lance Martin, time to revive.

com. And, uh, yeah, he's got, got the book project 52. I'm gonna have to look at Netflix show up. That sounds pretty interesting. Okay, so you mentioned Sons of March and people can check that out. Uh, where, where can people check out? They can just look up Sons of March on any, uh, any audio player really, right?

And, and find some of your music. 

Michael Wright: Yeah, we, and I just go to sons of march. com, like, and it's S U N S, like sons. Yeah. That's a link tree. You know, it's not a link tree. It's called like a hop link or something like that. Right. And that's got all the links to social 

Jared Easley: channels and, uh, you know, YouTube and 

Michael Wright: modify 

Jared Easley: all that stuff's on there.

It's awesome. Uh, and I did check that out recently and, and, uh, you had, you know, some songs I didn't know, and then you had some songs that were kind of, you know, the classics that I remembered from a long time ago, so that was pretty cool. That was a nice little, uh, trip down amnesia lane for me. Yeah. Good [00:36:00] tunes, man.

I can see why you guys, uh, had success. So congrats on that. I do hope people will check that out. Yeah, it is sons of March. com so they can check that out. And, uh, we always like to close out with a final thought. So Michael, we kind of chatted a lot about, uh, you know, where you've been and what you're up to and, uh, you know, what's a final thought?

Maybe, maybe something you could share with people who are listening. 

Michael Wright: Well, I'll just say this man, love like God is love. He loved us enough to go to the cross, send his son to the cross for us and die for us so that he could come and possess us when we finally realized we need him. And so, you know, man, he wants us to love, man.

He wants us to receive his love and he wants us to share his love. And that's what I would just say, like, man, let's go out all of us tonight, tomorrow, and let's look at people and let's intentionally make a point in our mind to say, Hey, I'm going to love that person. Well said. 

Jared Easley: Well, Michael, you've been a, a, a huge influence in my life.

In the past and, and it's so good to reconnect [00:37:00] and I'm really honored to be your friend and proud of you. And I definitely look forward to bringing you back on the show. Maybe, maybe we'll get you on the acoustic guitar and you could, uh, jam out a little bit for us in our next, uh, chat. So 

Michael Wright: I'd love to.

Thanks for having me, man. I appreciate it, buddy. It's so good to catch up with you. 

Jared Easley: All right, thanks Mike.