Emerson Drive accepts a No. 1 plaque for their song, "Moments," just before performing at the Riverfront Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages at the 2007 CMA Music Festival. Photo by Sarah Conger, GAC Staff.
Emerson Drive's Brad Mates is interviewed by GACTV.com's Wendy Newcomer at the band's fan club party at the Nashville Palace during the 2007 CMA Music Festival. Photo by Sarah Conger, GAC Staff.
June 11, 2007 — Good things come to those who wait — just ask Emerson Drive. After 12 years of putting miles on the road and going through the ups and downs of the music business, the band recently saw their song, "Moments," go to No. 1. And what better moment than CMA Music Fest week to top the charts for the first time?
GACTV.com spent the day with Emerson Drive during CMA Music Fest to witness the busy schedule of one of the hardest-working bands in country music. Click here to see our exclusive photos!
We sat down with lead singer Brad Mates at their fan club party at the Nashville Palace, as the band thanked their dedicated fans for helping them reach this career milestone.
GACTV.com: Tell me about the day you guys found out that "Moments" had gone to No. 1.
Brad: It was a few days before the weekend. We knew we had a shot of slipping into the No. 1 spot but we also knew it was going to be a tight race. We usually don't watch the charts that closely until a song gets into the Top 10, but from about two weeks ago until this past week, we were watching every single day to see the increases that radio stations were giving us throughout the week.
We got the call last Sunday night on the bus, when we were coming back to Nashville. Our record company confirmed that it was going to be No. 1 on Monday morning — officially.
GACTV.com: After that first phone call on the bus, exactly how loud did it get?
Brad: [laughs] It got loud. We were coming back to Nashville from Kansas. We had a bit of a drive ahead of us that night. I can tell you that we were up for most of the trip when we should've been sleeping. We were all just kind of taking it in with our crew guys that have been with us for five years. That means a lot to them, too. It was great to have a chance to celebrate it with the people who help us put on our show every day. They deserve it just as much as we do. It's really a surreal feeling. It didn't sink in until the last couple of days of Music Fest.
We've never been an overnight success. It's always been a lot of work and a building process for our career. There are so many people who have helped us along the way, especially in the last two years, to get this new album out. We're giving them the glory right now.
During the last two days, both fans and artists have come up to us, saying, 'Congratulations on your No. 1.' It's just amazing when you can step onstage and right from the first two notes of the song, they know exactly what's coming up. They sing every single word. Seeing that is an incredible feeling.
GACTV.com: You started the band in 1995. What does it mean to you to finally reach the top?
Brad: You know, this was a fun thing when it started and it still is today. That's the biggest reason why we keep doing what we're doing — we love what we do. It's funny, I look back at when we were struggling to get a record deal, playing 300 dates a year in clubs and bars, still chasing that dream. And now, being a part of the industry over the last five or six years, having singles on the radio and winning some awards — having fans show up at your fan club parties [smiles] — it's hard to digest sometimes.
When we first started this thing, it was six guys in my parents' basement who thought it was a cool thing to maybe play twice a week. And now we get to travel around all year long on a tour bus and we have some hit songs. So many great things have happened. As long as we enjoy what we do and people still want to hear Emerson Drive music, then there's no reason why this band can't carry on and become more successful. And if it ended tomorrow, we would still be happy because of all that's happened so far.
RSS Feeds