All three members of The Cadillac Three grew up in Nashville, where fireworks are illegal. But that didn’t stop lap-steel player Kelby Ray from celebrating the Fourth of July. He says, “We always had to drive out of Davidson County to buy fireworks when I was a kid and then take ‘em home and light ‘em like it wasn’t a big deal.”
Lead singer Jaren Johnston faced a sobering reality when he was younger, which kept him away from fireworks for most of his youth. He says, “I never shot any fireworks after I was probably 8 or 9 years old because one of my best friends got hit with one, and so we had to deal with that. It was very scarring, know what I mean? Literally and, whatever, mentally.”
Now that he’s older, Jaren admits he’s gotten into some mischief with fireworks. Talking to Kelby, he says, “We did have a pretty awesome Roman candle fight out at you and Will’s place by the pool. That was dangerous. We were using them as weapons, and it got pretty aggressive.”
TC3 will wrap up the Outlaws and Renegades Tour with Travis Tritt and the Charlie Daniels Band this Sunday, and then they’ll have the first 10 days of July off, so chances are on the Fourth of July, they’ll be somewhere “Crackin’ Cold Ones with the Boys” and their families.
The Cadillac Three – 4th of July :25
Kelby Ray – “We always had to drive out of Davidson County to buy fireworks when I was a kid and then take ‘em home and light ‘em like it wasn’t a big deal.
Jaren Johnston – “I never shot any fireworks after I was probably 8 or 9 years old because one of my best friends got hit with one, and so we had to deal with that. It was very scarring, know what I mean? Literally and, whatever, mentally. Actually, we did have a pretty awesome Roman candle fight out at you and Will’s place by the pool (oh yeah, by the pool). That was dangerous. We were using them as weapons, and it got pretty aggressive.”