From telling jokes to an empty bar in downtown Nashville to selling out Madison Square Garden, Steve tells stories of life on the road with Dierks Bentley. He dishes on how he met Dierks, the early days of playing in the band and how Dierks inspired him to get his pilots license. Tune in to hear great stories and lots of laughs.
Meet Steve Misamore
Pilot, drummer, and loving husband. Steve has been drumming since he was 11 years old. He has been the drummer in Dierks Bentley’s band for over 20 years. He has seen it all, been everywhere and done everything. He has been through health scares with his wife and lives to smile about almost everything.
What Bart has to say
I met Steve years ago when our publishers at the time set us up on a co-write (aka blind date for songwriters). We had drumming and aviation in common (I used to drum and my dad is a pilot). He spends a lot of days on the road drumming for Dierks Bentley, so when he was off the road for a few days recently I was able to get him out to the house for a Cathead Vodka Mississippi Mule and a little chat.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Stories from on the road, and in the air, with Dierks Bentley
Steve tells about his wife’s battle with Polycystic Kidney Disease
Born and raised in Houston Texas, Steve fell in love with drums at a young age. Steve began drumming when he was around 11 years old. Mowing yards, his dad would match the money he made in order for him to be able to purchase his first drum set. Having influences such as Phil Collins, Alex Van Halen, and Herman Matthews, Steve grew up staying up past his bedtime listening to the radio so that he could record his favorite songs to create a mixtape. He would then use that mixtape to practice the drums the next day. He would go on to attend Stephen F. Austin where he received a degree in Percussion Performance. After graduation, he would end up moving to Nashville. Not long after moving he would begin working in downtown doing small gigs and playing weddings. During the day he would work at Sony archiving the tape room once he got off he would head to a gig to play. One day he happened to be by the phone and noticed someone name Dierks Bentley was calling him. He answered and Dierks told him that he needed a drummer for a gig. Steve wasn’t too sure about the gig until Dierks told him that they would mostly be playing 50’s & 60’s shuffles. They hit it off immediately. They begin playing at Woofies where after 9 pm the crowd would pretty much be non-existent and they would get on the mic telling jokes. One night Dierks told them he wanted to play a new song he had written for them. The song was “What Was I Thinkin” they knew it would be a hit. Steve goes on to tell the story of what lead to Dierks signing a deal with Capitol Records. Steve and Bart talk about the difference in playing live at shows verses in the studio for records and which Steve prefers. Steves wife, CarryAnn, suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease where she had to receive a kidney transplant. Steve talks on how wonderful the Vanderbilt Team was in making the transplant happen despite the rare obstacles they faced in the process. CarryAnn’s brother was able to be her donor but before they were positive it was going to work out CarryAnn recorded a video asking for people to get tested to see if they would be a match. Because of that video, they were able to give 3 other people a kidney. Each year Steve and CarryAnn participate in a hike at Fiery Gizzard Trial hosted by the Donate Life organization. Which encourages you to become an organ donor. During that time Steve stopped fly. Dierks and Steve have always connected and shared a deep love for aviation. Dierks inspired Steve to get his license. Steve hopes to get his license current again. Because of Dierks’ love for flying instead of riding a bus to each show Dierks usually flies the band to and from shows with the help of pilot Austin Stevens. Tune in to this episode of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ to hear Steve talk about playing shows in Europe, what it is like on stage during a show and his favorite parts of being on the road. Bart and Steve chat about the differences in the resources available to kids these days to learn how instruments and joke about where they would be if they had been born later. Steve ends the show by answering Bart’s Lightning Round questions. This episode is full of great stories and lots of laughs. If you loved the show make sure to tell your friends on social media and tag up @thinkinanddrinkinpod on Instagram
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