Key to the Highway: Sadler Vaden

Americana Highways’ Key to the Highway series photo by Chad Cochran

Fans always clamor to learn more about their favorite, most beloved musicians and those who travel with them. There’s such an allure to the road, with its serendipity, inevitable surprises, and sometimes unexpected discomforts. This interview series is a set of questions we are asking some of our favorite roots rock Americana artists to get to know more about them and what they’ve learned and experienced on the road. We are sure they have key insights to share and stories to tell. Here’s one from Sadler Vaden. (Sadler will soon be on tour with Jason Isbell and the 400 unit on a co-headlining tour with Father John Misty; the new album that he produced for the High Divers will be out June 7th.)

How do you like your coffee or other morning wake-up beverage?

When I’m at home I brew Dunkin’ Donuts medium put a little bit of half and half in there. Very smooth.

What’s the most interesting or strangest motel/hotel or place you have stayed (while on the road?)

I’d have to say the Ace hotel in Palm Springs. Interesting in the sense that they renovated an old Howard Johnson Motel. Renovated the restaurant into a California highway style diner. They also had an amazing swimming pool and grill. I opened the door to my room and the radio was on playing “Runnin’ Down A Dream.”

If one CD is stuck in the player in the van for the entire tour, what do you hope it is? And why?

I’d have to say Best of Bill Withers. Why? Because you can’t listen to Bill Withers and have a bad day

What’s one personal item you must have with you on your road trip?

Gold Bond Body Powder

What is your relationship with food? How do you handle this on the road, and what’s your favorite dish on the road, (or restaurant, and what do you order there)?

My relationship with food is that I have to have it in order to survive. I try not to stress out about food on the road. Eat when you’re hungry and try not to eat too much before you play. Choose healthy options when available. My go-to indulgent road dish is probably Pasta Bolognese.

If you could pause your life for a few weeks and spend some time living in a place you only have passed through, which would you choose, and why?

Big Sur. Well, because it’s Big Sur and it just has an off the grid feeling. There’s something special about that place.

What quote or piece of advice have you gotten from someone on the road that has really stuck with you?

Start on time, end on time. And be on time

Find all things Sadler Vaden here: https://m.facebook.com/sadlervaden/

See other Key to the Highway interviews here: https://americanahighways.org/category/interviews/key-to-the-highway-series/ (click here for: Elizabeth Cook Tommy Womack Eric Ambel, Dan Baird, Robbie Fulks, Malcolm Holcombe) Sign up for our weekly newsletter here for your Friday reminder for this series and more: