Photo by Zoe Adler
Three words: Red. Dirt. Metal.
Red-the color of blood
Dirt- earth
Metal- high-energy rock music
Texas Hippie Coalition hails from the land of blood-colored earth, the land notorious for its country music and twangy guitar sound, and combines the sounds of the South with high-energy rock music. The result of a marriage of two genres, Texas Hippie Coalition is a lovechild of incredible volume and force.
In their latest record Dark Side of Black, released April 22, THC chose to explore the metal side of their custom-made genre. Take track two, called “Angel Fall,” which has less of a Southern feel than prior albums. Beautiful arpeggios and a soft drumbeat will lull you into a comfortable, dreamlike state, before bass and drums scream, “HAHA JUST KIDDING!” Big Dad Ritch himself, blasting full force, follows this wonderful introduction, balls out and guns blazing, ready to slam your ears with a voice made of liquefied steel and Texas dirt.
Red-the color of blood
Dirt- earth
Metal- high-energy rock music
Texas Hippie Coalition hails from the land of blood-colored earth, the land notorious for its country music and twangy guitar sound, and combines the sounds of the South with high-energy rock music. The result of a marriage of two genres, Texas Hippie Coalition is a lovechild of incredible volume and force.
In their latest record Dark Side of Black, released April 22, THC chose to explore the metal side of their custom-made genre. Take track two, called “Angel Fall,” which has less of a Southern feel than prior albums. Beautiful arpeggios and a soft drumbeat will lull you into a comfortable, dreamlike state, before bass and drums scream, “HAHA JUST KIDDING!” Big Dad Ritch himself, blasting full force, follows this wonderful introduction, balls out and guns blazing, ready to slam your ears with a voice made of liquefied steel and Texas dirt.
After listening to Dark Side of Black, I was struck by just how awesome bassist John Exall is. He provides the roots that keep THC grounded as they thrash in “Into the Wall” and “Gods Are Angry” and as they serenade and even take a turn for the funk (1:40) in “Knee Deep.” And this is all without mentioning his stereotype-shattering stage presence. Exall does not stand still, staring at the frets of his bass; instead, he head bangs, whipping his hair vigorously, and still manages to make eye contact with fans.
Despite his talent and awesome hair, Exall is a shockingly normal dude, willing to chat about Smoke Hollow, food, the new THC album, Sons of Texas, and his family.
Despite his talent and awesome hair, Exall is a shockingly normal dude, willing to chat about Smoke Hollow, food, the new THC album, Sons of Texas, and his family.
Photo by Zoe Adler
We started with his side project Smoke Hollow, a heavy-hitting group that’s just kicking off, fronted by Kill Devil Hill’s vocalist Dewey Bragg.
“We got together with these cats named Jason Williams and Ralf Mueggler and we started churning out some music and it really turned into something,” started Exall. Set to release in early June, their debut album is still being eagerly awaited.
“We wanted to make sure it didn’t sound like Texas Hippie Coalition and it didn’t sound like Kill Devil Hill,” Exall said of the upcoming album. “It’s got its own legs, man. It’s going to be awesome. It’s hard to describe because I get all excited! I get all tongue-tied about it!”
Exall also mentioned the exciting news of a Smoke Hollow tour after THC’s summer on the road, so keep all eyes peeled for some fall dates from SH.
“We got together with these cats named Jason Williams and Ralf Mueggler and we started churning out some music and it really turned into something,” started Exall. Set to release in early June, their debut album is still being eagerly awaited.
“We wanted to make sure it didn’t sound like Texas Hippie Coalition and it didn’t sound like Kill Devil Hill,” Exall said of the upcoming album. “It’s got its own legs, man. It’s going to be awesome. It’s hard to describe because I get all excited! I get all tongue-tied about it!”
Exall also mentioned the exciting news of a Smoke Hollow tour after THC’s summer on the road, so keep all eyes peeled for some fall dates from SH.
Photo by Zoe Adler
Big Dad Ritch is a fairly big dude, yet is known for his affinity for pho and sushi, fairly light foods that call for consuming large amounts to satiate a full appetite.
“I’m more of a meat-eater myself,” laughed Exall. But Big Dad Ritch, Exall recalled, “goes and gets this big thing of soup. I don’t know how he does it, but my boy can put it down. The raw fish stuff—if it’s not cooked, I’m not eating it.”
He will, however, eat food that’s still alive, but if it’s dead, it’s got to be cooked.
Big Dad Ritch also has Red River Red’s hot sauce line, including his ‘Buckin Crazy Bar B Que Sauce,’ which is dubbed ‘sauce for outlaws’ and is ‘BDR approved.’
Exall said about Big Dad Ritch’s spicy sauce, “I don’t do very hot stuff, but I tried it one time. I dipped a little piece of chip in there and I thought I was going to die!” He laughed, saying, “I can’t eat that hot stuff. He’ll just sit there and eat it and sweat. I’ll sit there and shoot fire out and freak out.”
It turns out that THC stays very well fed because BDR is quite a cook.
“The dude can cook. Every time we go over, he’s got something new going on,” said Exall. “His steaks are awesome. We’re from Texas so we know how to cook pretty cool.”
Since THC is from Texas, and Texans do know how to cook pretty cool, I had to ask Exall the best place to get barbeque in his hometown of Sherman.
“There’s this little roadside stand, and there’s this old retired cop who makes us barbeque and that’s where I go.”
All this talk about food made me pretty hungry, and I assumed Exall would be, too, so I offered him some goldfish. However, he had to refuse on the grounds that he has a severe goldfish addiction and didn’t think it’d be right to eat all of them.
“I’m more of a meat-eater myself,” laughed Exall. But Big Dad Ritch, Exall recalled, “goes and gets this big thing of soup. I don’t know how he does it, but my boy can put it down. The raw fish stuff—if it’s not cooked, I’m not eating it.”
He will, however, eat food that’s still alive, but if it’s dead, it’s got to be cooked.
Big Dad Ritch also has Red River Red’s hot sauce line, including his ‘Buckin Crazy Bar B Que Sauce,’ which is dubbed ‘sauce for outlaws’ and is ‘BDR approved.’
Exall said about Big Dad Ritch’s spicy sauce, “I don’t do very hot stuff, but I tried it one time. I dipped a little piece of chip in there and I thought I was going to die!” He laughed, saying, “I can’t eat that hot stuff. He’ll just sit there and eat it and sweat. I’ll sit there and shoot fire out and freak out.”
It turns out that THC stays very well fed because BDR is quite a cook.
“The dude can cook. Every time we go over, he’s got something new going on,” said Exall. “His steaks are awesome. We’re from Texas so we know how to cook pretty cool.”
Since THC is from Texas, and Texans do know how to cook pretty cool, I had to ask Exall the best place to get barbeque in his hometown of Sherman.
“There’s this little roadside stand, and there’s this old retired cop who makes us barbeque and that’s where I go.”
All this talk about food made me pretty hungry, and I assumed Exall would be, too, so I offered him some goldfish. However, he had to refuse on the grounds that he has a severe goldfish addiction and didn’t think it’d be right to eat all of them.
Photo by Zoe Adler
As I mentioned, Dark Side of Black is a bit harder than before, and from what Exall said, that was in fact intentional.
“[We] went back to our roots… There’s still some Southern rock on it, but we stepped it up. You can go from ‘Knee Deep,’ who’s got that slow Southern feel, and then you bust out on something like ‘Angel Fall,’ which is just more metal,” he said. “We really wanted to spread our wings, man. And that had a lot to do with getting to work with Sterling Winfield. He’s worked with the great Pantera, he’s done Damageplan, he’s done Hellyeah… He’s really opened up the doors for us and made us focus on this album. I’ve got much love for him.”
I asked Exall what song he’s most proud of on the album, but he says he’s proud of the whole album, that he can’t pick just one song.
“Cord Pool, our guitar player, really stepped up his game, and just killed it,” said Exall. This led to one of at least two Cord Pool cheerleading sessions, where Exall and I both gushed fangirlingly about Pool’s incredible guitar skills.
“He’s 26 and doesn’t even know how good he is yet,” boasted Exall like a proud father. “I keep telling him, ‘I don’t know when you’re going to get with a real band, but when you do, you’re going to be BADASS!’”
“[We] went back to our roots… There’s still some Southern rock on it, but we stepped it up. You can go from ‘Knee Deep,’ who’s got that slow Southern feel, and then you bust out on something like ‘Angel Fall,’ which is just more metal,” he said. “We really wanted to spread our wings, man. And that had a lot to do with getting to work with Sterling Winfield. He’s worked with the great Pantera, he’s done Damageplan, he’s done Hellyeah… He’s really opened up the doors for us and made us focus on this album. I’ve got much love for him.”
I asked Exall what song he’s most proud of on the album, but he says he’s proud of the whole album, that he can’t pick just one song.
“Cord Pool, our guitar player, really stepped up his game, and just killed it,” said Exall. This led to one of at least two Cord Pool cheerleading sessions, where Exall and I both gushed fangirlingly about Pool’s incredible guitar skills.
“He’s 26 and doesn’t even know how good he is yet,” boasted Exall like a proud father. “I keep telling him, ‘I don’t know when you’re going to get with a real band, but when you do, you’re going to be BADASS!’”
 Photo by Zoe Adler | The familial adoration Exall has for Cord Pool reminded me of THC’s ‘younger brother,’ who hails from McAllen, Texas: Sons of Texas. Having toured with THC and playing a similar Southern rock style, Sons of Texas easily appears like THC’s baby brother (which does mean THC is Big Brother, but I wouldn’t worry too much about that). From electrifying guitar riffs in “Bury the Hatchet” to soothing yet heart-wrenching vocals in “September,” Sons of Texas demonstrates promise on every musical front. “We just got off tour with those guys last night, and I was sad to see them go,” said Exall. |
“They are the best up-and-coming band. Keep your eyes on these cats because they’re going to be the next big thing, I promise you.”
Exall recalled the final night on the tour when everyone from Sons of Texas jumped on stage for the final song, “Pissed Off And Mad About It,” and ran around with THC.
“I am going to miss watching them every night,” said Exall. “I learned something every day.”
Exall recalled the final night on the tour when everyone from Sons of Texas jumped on stage for the final song, “Pissed Off And Mad About It,” and ran around with THC.
“I am going to miss watching them every night,” said Exall. “I learned something every day.”
In addition to touring rigorously with THC and working with his side project, Exall has a family. He has seven children, six daughters and one son (talk about being outnumbered!), with his 17-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son still living at home.
“They’re all musically inclined,” Exall said happily. “They all like to sing and play, and my son likes to act. He’s in all the drama classes at school.”
It is a known difficulty, having a family and being a touring musician. “I get to do something I love, but I’m always away from my family. It’s the way I keep a roof over their heads and shoes on their feet, so it’s an even trade,” he explained.
But when it comes time to head home after a long tour, Exall said he can’t wait to come home.
“I’m ready to hug my kids, kiss my wife, play with my dogs, and go to sleep. All at one time,” Exall said.
“They’re all musically inclined,” Exall said happily. “They all like to sing and play, and my son likes to act. He’s in all the drama classes at school.”
It is a known difficulty, having a family and being a touring musician. “I get to do something I love, but I’m always away from my family. It’s the way I keep a roof over their heads and shoes on their feet, so it’s an even trade,” he explained.
But when it comes time to head home after a long tour, Exall said he can’t wait to come home.
“I’m ready to hug my kids, kiss my wife, play with my dogs, and go to sleep. All at one time,” Exall said.
All in all, Exall is an amazing dude, the coolest cat on the Southern rock block. He is incredibly humble and never runs out of positive comments for any and every person you mention. Enthusiastic about music like a young child entering an ice cream factory, Exall is the past, the present, and the future of music. As he told me, he doesn’t fit within any musical generation.
“I like to think of myself as timeless.”
--John Exall, 2016
 | Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. She is the editor and founder of TeenView Music and editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper, as well as a dedicated musician. As principal flutist of her school’s orchestra and band as well as a bass trombonist in jazz, she believes that she would not have a life if it weren’t for music. |
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