Mat Kearney Takes the Stage at Wolf Trap

Folk rocker Mat Kearney and rock band NEEDTOBREATHE played small shows together 10 years ago, and now they’re taking the stage at Wolf Trap tomorrow night as part of their Tour de Compadres. On Tap chatted with Kearney about his return to the DMV, country music in Nashville, his TV show bucket list and becoming a dad.

On Tap: Do you have any special DC shows that stick out in your memory since you started touring 10 years ago?
Mat Kearney: Absolutely. We love coming to DC. 9:30 Club is one of my favorite venues to perform at in the country. They just know how to do it right. They have an amazing staff and gear, and you can always count on the best fans there. People go there knowing it is going to be a special night since the atmosphere is so special. We’ve also opened for John Mayer at Wolf Trap, which was pretty fun. I am excited to play [at Wolf Trap] tomorrow.

OT: Have you spent any off time in DC between shows? What fun things have you done?
MK: I love museums. We spend a lot of off days in DC visiting museums. I love the National Portrait Gallery. We spend so much time on the bus eating pizza and drinking beer – it is refreshing to hop off and do “sophisticated” things every once in awhile.

OT: You live in Nashville, which is known as quite the music hub. Do you enjoy country music?
MK: As a songwriter, you have to appreciate country music. Some of the best songwriters in the world live in Nashville. I like visiting Honky Tonk and grabbing some beers. I get out there about [every] six months.

OT: Can you tell us the story behind writing “Ships In The Night”?
MK: Oh, this is a good one. We had a really great beat on the piano and we had the chorus written, but I was having a hard time with the rest of the song.  I was getting on a plane after having a huge argument with my wife, and I couldn’t leave without resolving things with her. As I hung up the phone after apologizing, I knew exactly what the song was going to be about. It turned out to be a song about two people connecting. I literally opened my laptop and started writing the rest of the song as we were getting off the phone.

OT: A lot of your songs have been featured in popular television shows such asScrubs, One Tree Hill and Friday Night Lights. Do you have a favorite show that you would love to write a song for?
MK: So, I actually already had my emotional bucket list song on a show that I loved. I really love the Braverman family on Parenthood, and the show used my song “Hey Mama.” I thought that was really awesome. Recently, I’ve gotten into the show Stranger Things on Netflix. I would love to write a Phil Collins, 80s-type ballad for them.

OT: You are way more than a musician – you have a wine label! How did that happen?
MK: It started out as a little side project with some friends in Napa. We just wanted to make a nice red blend that fans could drink while jamming out to our music. Fast forward a few years and we’ve sold 7,000 cases of wine, and our product is sold in Whole Foods as well as some other stores across the country.

OT: Are you excited for the new addition to your family?
MK: YES! I am scared in the best way and I cannot wait for our little girl. My wife and I have gotten into a rhythm of making sure we see each other when I’m out on tour. She’ll join me for awhile, and then I’ll go home for a bit. We’re excited to add a little one to our family. I have become much more in tune with women’s issues since finding out we are having a girl, which is probably a good thing.

Catch Kearney with NEEDTOBREATHE, John Mark McMillan and Welshly Arms at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on August 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $27-$55.

Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; 703-255-1800; www.wolftrap.org