Brantley Gilbert is going to be putting on a unique show this Friday in Nashville, when he takes the stage with a symphony orchestra, which will accompany him for most of his set. While Brantley and an orchestra might seem like a strange combination, he says, “It’s something we’ve talked about doing for years … (and it’s) something I’m really excited about. It’s an aspect that we’ve used in the studio but it’s not anything we’ve ever done live before. I got a couple of guys that play string instruments very well and we do use that but not an entire orchestra.”
Brantley joked that he would even be trying his hand at the flute that night, but for anyone who didn’t get that he was totally joking, he clarified, “It’s not true at all. That’s not gonna happen.”
Another thing that isn’t going to happen is Brantley getting really dressed up for the show. When he mentioned maybe wearing a tux he said, “Y’all know I’m lying.” Pointing to the black t-shirt and black jeans he was wearing he said, “I mean this is dressed well for me. I’m the reigning worst dressed champ at the country music award shows.” Not to mention, most of Brantley’s clothes were burned up in his recent bus fire, so he says he’ll just wear what he has.
One other aspect of this Friday’s show, besides the orchestra, is that Brantley will be selling a t-shirt featuring the phrase, “I BELIEVE IN HEROISM,” to honor the everyday heroes in our lives like the military and first responders, but specifically, James Shaw, the man who disarmed the gunman who killed four people in the recent Waffle House shooting in Nashville. The proceeds from the t-shirt will benefit the victims of that shooting, and Brantley invited James to be part of the unveiling of the t-shirts and the announcement of the fundraiser. “The Ones That Like Me” singer said, “I think it’s really easy for people to stand around and talk and say, ‘Man I’d have done this if I’d have been there.’ And truthfully you never really know until you’re in that place. And I know he says he’s not a hero, but I kind of told him, ‘Hey man, you did what you did. You got hero in you, for sure.’” And Brantley says, “I don’t know that anybody can accurately say what they would do. You got hopes that if you’re in that situation, I hope I would do this. You don’t really know till after it’s over and the dust clears and when heroes emerge, they emerge.”
To learn more about the I BELIEVE IN HEROISM campaign and to purchase a t-shirt, visit ibelieveinnashville.com.
Brantley Gilbert – orchestra show :38
“We’re doing something a little bit different, May 4th. We’ve got to show at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville and we’ve actually brought in an orchestra to join us for the show. Originally it was an idea to do three or four songs and it’s something we’ve talked about doing for years. But we’ve got them coming to the table and instead of playing three or four songs they’re actually going to play the majority of the set with us, which is really cool, something I’m really excited about. It’s an aspect that we’ve used in the studio but it’s not anything we’ve ever done live before. I got a couple of guys that play string instruments very well and we do use that but not an entire orchestra. So I’m trying my hand at the flute. It’s not true at all. That’s not gonna happen.”
Brantley Gilbert – orchestra outfit :25
“Yeah, I’m gonna wear a tux. Y’all know I’m lying. I mean this is dressed well for me. I’m the reigning worst dressed champ at the country music award shows. No, I’ll wear something maybe hopefully a little nicer than I usually wear but then I might be uncomfortable. I’ll probably be in a cut off and these jeans actually, these are my favorite. I had most of my other clothes burn up in my bus fire, so I’m wearing what I got.”
Brantley Gilbert – honoring heroes :46
“I think it’s really easy for people to stand around and talk and say, ‘Man I’d have done this if I’d have been there.’ And truthfully you never really know until you’re in that place. And I know he says he’s not a hero, but I kind of told him, ‘Hey man, you did what you did. You got hero in you, for sure.’ When I think of a hero I do think of Superman and Batman, but you know, I also think about our veterans and our active duty people and first responders and feel like all of those people are kind of putting it out there on the line. In extraordinary cases like this of course, is not something he’s trained to do. That’s all heart and soul. That’s probably a little bit of instinct and a lot of heart. I mean I don’t know that anybody can accurately say what they would do. You got hopes that if you’re in that situation, I hope I would do this. You don’t really know till after it’s over and the dust clears and when heroes emerge, they emerge.”