Key to the Highway: Jimmy Smith of the Gourds

Jimmy Smith — Key to the Highway interview

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 Jimmy Smith of the Gourds and Smith/McKay All Day.

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

Jimmy Smith: I like Serge to make it with a lemon twist. It’s very nice.

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

JS: Masters Inn, ? Texas. Fat blood kilo carved into bedside table. Too tired to give a shit.

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

JS: Harry Nilsson, Aerial Ballet. Snack dust wonked out the cd machine.

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

JS: Hot plate.

AH: 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)?

JS: Hot plate special. Masters Inn, ? Texas, room 237.

AH: 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?

JS: Can’t pause. Disc player is toast. Only the echos of our minds for us nowowwowwwooowwooo…

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

JS: Never get out of the boat. – Jay “Chef” Hicks

Find all things Jimmy Smith here, including his new duo Smith/McKay All Day and their new album coming out: https://jimmysmithatx.com

See other Key to the Highway interviews here: https://americanahighways.org/category/interviews/key-to-the-highway-series/ (click here for: Ben Nichols Bruce Cockburn Charlie Musselwhite Nicki Bluhm Jim White Danny Barnes Patterson Hood Jerry Joseph BJ Barham Rodney Crowell Todd Snider Elizabeth Cook Tommy Womack Eric Ambel, Dan Baird, Robbie Fulks, Malcolm Holcombe Jon Langford Steve Poltz, Lilly Hiatt Sarah Shook & the Disarmers Sadler Vaden )