Hillyer, Stalling share reverance for and opening slot for latest Threadgill Series concert

By Lance Martin Special for the Kenneth Threadgill Concert Series

When Don Williams plays Greenville’s Municipal Auditorium on June 19, two particularly significant fans will have some of the best seats in the house. They’ll be right on stage opening the show with a song swap.

Matt Hillyer, lead singer for the popular honky‐tonk band, Eleven Hundred Springs, and Max Stalling, a noted Texas singer‐, will trade songs and stories to open the latest Kenneth Threadgill Concert Series.

Both Hillyer and Stalling have established themselves as respected and have each appeared on the Threadgill Series stage before: Stalling twice and Hillyer once.

The two are no strangers to each other or Don Williams’ music. While Hillyer’s outlaw‐style music tends to contrast the fairly conservative storytelling songs from Stalling, they have known each other for years and enjoy getting the chance to play together.

Threadgill fans will be seeing Hillyer appearing without his trademark ponytail. Hillyer’s 8‐year‐old daughter saw a documentary about Locks of Love, a non‐profit that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children who need them. He posted a photo for fans and friends on Facebook with a comment about how his daughter said, “’Dad, we should give them our hair.’ Well, I was inspired by her sense of charity.”

Both artists answered the same set of questions about the upcoming Greenville show.

Q: Do you have a favorite Don Williams song?

Matt: “I Believe In You”

Max: Wow…that’s tough…I love me some Don Williams. I guess if you are going to hold my feet to the fire I’m going to say “Good Ol’ Boys Like Me.” But that’s not taking anything away from any of the other songs in his repertoire!

Q: Has Don Williams influenced you?

Matt: I love his songs. The arrangements are always so good. Each time we do a recording, I make sure to listen to his music. It reminds me that the song should do the heavy lifting in any recording.

Max: I would have to say yes, though I’ve never overtly patterned myself after him (or anyone for that matter). I just like his songs and really love the production on his recordings. I can remember studying them very closely when I was just getting into making records. If you listen really, really closely to his recordings…particularly the big hit classic stuff, it seems really simply produced. Yet, upon closer study, you realize that there are all kinds of instruments woven together very subtly to create the textures of those songs.

Q: I know you've played at least one song swap together before ‐ what was it like or what do you look forward to from playing again with Matt/Max?

Matt: Max is one of my oldest and truest friends in this scene. Whenever we do these things it's just like a couple of friends catching up on old times. That's what I enjoy most. That and listening to his songs. They're great.

Max: Song swaps with Matt are always fun. We are really good buddies and it’s just flat out fun. There are no egos and no pomp or circumstance. Just two guys swapping songs. Plus, I’m such a big fan of what Matt does. Great singer/songwriter! I’m always honored to get to share the stage with him.

Q: What should your own fans expect from your own catalog – any surprises?

Matt: I think they can expect me to play what I consider to be the favorites. However, I'm sure I will pick some of the songs I think Don Williams fans would like. I have a handful of love songs I've written that we don't always do on full band shows that are some I'm most proud of writing. I look forward to dusting them off.

Max: I will probably not pull out any real surprises…I will stick to things that I feel really comfortable playing and that I think are appropriate for a Don Williams crowd. Plus, I will have my wife, Heather, backing Matt and I up on fiddle.

Q: Have you ever played a Don Williams cover live and if so, which song(s)? And Max, will you be playing your song “Goodnight Never Meant Goodbye“ that includes the line “Here it is 1 a.m., Don Williams on my radio; You know 'Some Broken Hearts Never Mend' reminds me of you;" and have you ever heard from him about it?

Matt: We play “I Believe In You.” Go figure. As soon as I hit the first notes, people file onto the dance floor in mass. It's such a good song.

Max: Hmm….seems I used to play “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” back in the day….a day a long time ago! I can tell you – it’s tough to do a Don Williams song justice. Yes, I will probably try and squeeze (“Goodnight Never Meant Goodbye”) in there. I have not ever heard from Mr. Williams regarding the name drop and, quite honestly, I bet he doesn’t even know of the song. When you have Bob McDill writing hit after hit for you, why would you listen to anything else? Ha. Funny story on that lyric….I was interviewing producers for that Topaz City project and was sitting down with Rich Brotherton ( player for Robert Earl Keen) about him doing the job. He had listened to the tracks and it was Rich who suggested that I put the “Some Broken Hearts” line in there. Before his suggestion, I had something like “His songs always remind me of you.” Thank you, Rich!

Tickets for the June 19th concert are on sale at the Greenville Cavender’s, the Municipal Auditorium office, online through the Auditorium’s website: www.ShowtimeAtTheGMA.com, or by calling 877‐4‐ FLYTIX.