MUSIC

Black not killin' time at fair

Clint Black
Clint Black

Clint Black first hit the country charts in 1989 with the excellent debut album Killing Time, which yielded five No. 1 hits and kick-started a career that is still chugging along. The Texas-born singer-songwriter, who was lumped in with Nashville's so-called hat acts -- Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and others -- of the early '90s, will perform Thursday at the Arkansas State Fair.

And, yes, he'll be wearing his trademark black hat.

Clint Black

8 p.m. Thursday, Arkansas State Fair, 2600 Howard St., Little Rock

Admission: $15

(501) 372-8341

arkansasstatefair.c…

Following that impressive debut, Black topped the charts more than 20 times and recorded nine more studio albums, including last year's On Purpose, his first of original songs in a decade. That album also contains the topical "Calling It News," about the frustrations of politics and the constant barrage of media.

Black, who married actress Lisa Hartman in 1991 (the couple have a daughter, Lily), was resting his voice between shows on his current tour when we caught up with him via email.

How has the tour been going?

It's about to be going North! HA!

It's going well. We've been able to space the dates out well enough to keep it all fresh and we're still having fun. And the band is in great shape, playing better today than ever before.

Are you able to get any songwriting done on tour?

Sometimes I jot down an idea, but I don't try to write when I'm touring. In order to write, I have to sing my ideas again and again, and that would wear my vocal cords down and make for bad shows.

Plus, once I start working on songs, the ideas pour out like a radio in my head I can't turn off. I don't get as much sleep because, after only a few hours, the music starts in my head and I have to get up and work it out.

Congratulations on the latest album. I'm curious if you're playing "Still Calling It News" and how the crowd reacts. It seems like a real topical and appropriate track in this election season.

Thanks! We have been playing "Calling It News." It gets a good reaction and the set up for the song always gets a laugh.

Speaking of the new record, are there any tracks from it that you really look forward to playing every night?

I'm only doing a couple of the new songs. I love playing them though. We may add in a third before the tour is up, but we're trying to keep the show packed with the hits.

Looking back on classics like "Killin' Time," "Better Man," "A Good Run of Bad Luck," etc., has your perception or approach to any of them (or any of your other hits) in concert changed over the years?

Yes! When we did the acoustic tour a few years back, we reworked "A Good Run of Bad Luck" and the crowds seemed to like it. We've been doing it that way since then, but at some point we'll have to go back to the single version. I'm starting to miss it!

I know it's only been about a year since On Purpose, but is there a new album on the horizon?

I haven't been able to think about a new album yet. Still too soon for that kind of effort. I may start to write some songs on my next big break in touring and that may lead me to start planning some recording.

Does your family get to come out on tour with you?

Not very often. Our daughter is in high school now. Even when she's not in classes, the extracurricular stuff keeps her busy and her mom, too.

How many black hats do you have?

About four. Not that many. Over the years as they wear out, I'll give them up for charity auctions. Somewhere, someone owns some worn-out old hats!

Style on 10/18/2016

Upcoming Events