Southern Indiana-bred singer-guitarist Reverend Peyton is the bigger-than-life frontman of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards.
The Rev’s newest release, The Front Porch Sessions debuted on March 10th 2017. We sat down with the Rev prior to the show at The Southgate House Revival on Friday, April 7th!
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I’ve seen Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band over a dozen times. I admire the passion you bring each and every time. How do you keep that up show after show?
We just love doing it. It may seem like a dumb answer, but it is the only way this is all possible. Life on the road can really wear people out.
Tell us about your writing process. Do you pull from life experiences?
All of my songs are pulled from life experience. Sometimes melody and words happen together, sometimes one is before the other. I never write fiction songs, always non-fiction.
I have to ask about the shotgun guitar. Did you make it yourself?
It was made for me by request by my buddy Bryan Fleming. I asked for a working, shooting, shotgun guitar. I've been doing stuff like that for years. I don't know how that one is the thing that went so viral. Our new Axe video is way better I think.
Any crazy road stories?
A million!! Listen to our podcast "Hard Times and Weirdness," and you can hear some. It's worth your time.
You seem to be loyal to The Southgate House Revival, what about the venue keeps you coming back?
We used to play the old venue before it changed hands. The new Southgate Revival is even better if you ask me. Morrella is a great friend of music and of us.
What is next for Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band?
We already have a couple things recorded. I'm hoping to mix some of it down and find a home for it somehow. Planning on making another a full length record later this year hopefully.
