Off the Charts: Otis Walker

Bud Gambrell

Mar 25, 2025

Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album

The making of this article goes back a few months. I first spoke with Otis Walker in November 2024. Otis had a new album release coming up, and my plans were to be there. Well, as sometimes happens, life steps in and changes your plans.

Our original interview was set to be at the album release party on November 29, 2024, the day after Thanksgiving. The morning of the party, I woke up with a flare-up of vertigo. There go those plans.

Fast-forward to March 17, 2025, where I received a message from Otis, “I would like to personally invite you to our show this Saturday night.” I had been attempting to fill up my schedule for the spring and summer, but it so happens that my Saturday night was open. So, my reply was, “I am going to see about taking you up on this invite. Thank you!”

Saturday Night’s show was to be held at Tangled Strings Studio in Huntsville. I was familiar with the venue by name only. I have seen the shop, but since they specialize in custom guitars, I have never stopped by. Lo and behold, it is a concert venue, too! I am unsure of how I missed out on that news. This is a very special place for live music. It is not too large or too small. It is just right for a songwriter/storyteller-type event. I tell you all that to set the table, as they say, so you can get a better visual for the space.

The Otis Walker band at Tangled Strings Studios March 22, 2025 — Saturday March 22, 2025

As I walked into Tangled Strings Studio, the first person I met was Lisa Chang. She was up front selling tickets. Lisa is also a local musician with a fantastic voice. Otis and Lisa did a vocal duo during Otis’ set. I had never seen either of them perform, so I was mind-blown!

The Otis Walker band performs at Tangled Strings Studios in Huntsville on March 22, 2025 — Credit: Bud Gambrell

The second person I ran into was Otis himself. Sometimes, it’s odd how these things work out. Otis and I began conversing as if we’d known each other for a while. We had just met for the first time. It’s always a bit of a concern with me that an interview will be stale due to no chemistry within the interview. That was not to be a worry tonight.

We quickly realized common ground while talking about the band and stage set-up for the night. Otis added Kim Coffey to the percussion to add that extra beat. At almost the same time, we said, “similar to The Allman Brothers” dual drummers. Otis told me that they are his favorite band. Mine too!

Kim’s husband Donnie Cox is also in the band playing lead guitar. The pair also play in another band I worked with a few months ago. The band is rounded out by Richard Best on drums and Otis’ son Eli Brown on bass. Many moons ago, I worked with Richard, so the band was no stranger to me.

Local songwriter Brett Carlisle opened the show. You will meet Brett and read more about him in an upcoming Off the Charts article. Our second band of the night was The Silver Silos, led by Taylor Burton. The Silver Silos are Taylor on guitar, Jacob Greene on bass, and his brother Brad Greene on saxophone and lap steel. Taylor is a friend of mine, and it is always a pleasure to have a conversation with him and hear his songs.

The following is part of our conversation. For time and space purposes, I cannot include the entire conversation. Our conversation seemed very open-ended and long-winded.

OTC: Otis, it is great to see you! It's nice to meet you finally!

OW: Thanks for having me, man!

OTC: We were first supposed to meet in November at the album release party. I'm sorry I couldn’t make it. So, tell me how the new album is doing.

OW: It's our first time ever doing an album, so, you know, I have no metrics to measure against another album, but the first release did all right. The second single has had over forty streams in less than a month on Spotify. So, I mean, I think that's pretty remarkable. Hardly any of the streams are from my hometown, which is funny. We got lucky to get on a playlist and move forward. This is funny because the album's name is 'Forward', so that's what we're doing. We're just trying to keep one foot in front of the other.

OTC: Where can we find this new album?

OW: You can go on the website at otiswalkerband.com. We've got the full album up for sale there. We're releasing one single every six weeks out to the wild. If you want the entire album, you can go to the website and you can purchase it there.

The Otis Walker Band's new album 'Forward'. — Click picture to purchase

OTC: Where did you find inspiration to write this new album's songs?

OW: Well, you know you're going to find that you came to the right show tonight because we're doing the storytellers type show. I will tell you different stories about the different songs tonight. But, you know, I get a lot of different inspirations. Sometimes, it's a personal experience. Sometimes, I hear a lyric from another song that sends me in another direction. And you know, I feel like I'm an old bird now. I’m in my late 40s now. When I first started songwriting, it all had to be about something I felt. And now, I like to stew on it and get a story. So, in my older years, it's more story based.

OTC: We will stop talking about how old we are at this point in the interview.

(laughter)

OTC: Did you write the songs on the new album, or did you have any interesting collaborations?

OW: Out of the ten songs, one song was co-written by a buddy from college. The other nine songs were 100% mine, and then as far as the way that we did in the studio, you know, we all sat down at Clear Wave Studio and came up with how we wanted to produce the songs. They were all 100% mine, minus 'Southern Twist'.

OTC: Do you have any future plans for any collaborations?

OW: I've talked with a few guys. Taylor Burton and me, who we're playing the show with tonight. We've talked about that. We're gonna get together. I have also talked to Brett Carlisle, who's opening up tonight. He is a young songwriter, and we're also looking at it. My life hero is Barry Billings; he's a great songwriter. Hopefully, we'll get to sit down and write a song together one day.

OTC: As spring and summer are here, you've got new show dates. Do you have any particular dates or venues that you're looking forward to playing?

OW: Well, tonight is! Here in Huntsville is our ticketed advance show. We're playing many shows where I’m solo and with the whole band. I love coming out and playing at a Tangled String Studio show where we get to have such an intimate chance to be with the audience because you're four feet from the first row. I love that!

Otis Walker of the Otis Walker Band for Mixed Alternative Magazine — Credit: Bud Gambrell

OTC: Do you have any goals for 2025?

OW: Man, I would love to get to the part where we become a regional act. That is my goal! My dream is to be able to start playing some festivals and take out on the road what we're doing here in Huntsville and take it out to the people not here. The Huntsville music scene is intense. We could take it out to the rest of the southeast.

OTC: What got you into music?

OW: Well, I'm going to tell that story tonight. When I was growing up, we had a Ford Falcon, and it had a tape deck in it, and in that tape deck, there was a Roger Miller tape. I heard a song from Roger Miller and all those stories he tells. Man, it just lit a fire under me. Now, the other side of it is that my uncle, Bo Jack Killingsworth, is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and so growing up with him, I got to see people and be around people that not everyone would get to be around and experience. My uncle is my hero. Roger Miller lit the flame, and going to see Uncle Bo at a show. I thought he walked on water.

OTC: So, Roger Miller lit the flame, and Uncle Bo fanned that flame?

OW: He sure did!

OTC: Are there any past or present instructors that you look up to, and what qualities do they have that you admire?

OW: I went to college and got a degree. But while in college, I got to play with the Iguana Party, which had Barry Billings, Danny Kirsch, and Joey Flippen. Those three men were my age now, and I was in college. They taught me everything I know about music. From how to roll up a cord to knowing the right song to play at the right time and how to play with dynamics. I mean, all those boys are my heroes. No guitar player can outdo Barry Billings. I'm sorry. I know some great players are around, but Barry hung the moon!

OTC: What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?

OW: (laughs) That's a great question! I think that I was told once that I can't play everything in the first song. I get very emotional. One of my band mentors told me I had to leave something for the third set. When I first got up there, I just started trying to play everything simultaneously.

OTC: What is it about music that makes you so emotional and feel passionate?

OW: Man, you hear that bass drum, and then you hear that snare, and that's my heartbeat! And then my emotions kick in as soon as I hear the drums, and the passion comes out! Because I get to do something that is very much, honestly, my drug! I mean. I love music! It's not about money. It's not about fame. It is as if there's none of that. I'm still playing music in my basement on a Saturday night because I cannot live without getting the music out of me!

The recommendation from this music lover to the music lover reading this is to get to an Otis Walker show if you are in the North Alabama area. Otis Walker's music, a unique blend of styles, is something you won't want to miss. You will want to grab the LP or CD from the merch table while you are there, too. I know you will want to hear the songs repeatedly because the album is good but hearing them live is even better!

For those not in the North Alabama area, let’s all hope that Otis Walker becomes a regional touring band so you will also get the chance to experience him live. One way that you can help make that happen is to support local original music in your scene wherever you may be. Show up for shows and let these musicians know you appreciate what they are doing.

Until next time,

Keep your diamond down in the groove!