"The talent has always been here, but I think people are starting to get hip to it all over again. especially the younger generation. Once you get a little Texas music knowledge, you want to keep acquiring more of it."

Ole Lonesome: Lone Star Rockin' Boogie

“Tejas Motel” titled the new 10-tracks album from South Texas-based Ole Lonesome on Gulf Coast Records (July 2023). Born in the oil swamps of Beaumont, Texas, and raised on the blues, Ole Lonesome is a blue-collar swamp rock band with its ear tuned to the past and boots to the future. With their love of tone and electric live performances, Zachary Feemster (vocals and guitar), J. Wesley Hardin (bass), Gregory Mosley (keys), Jimmy Devers (drums), and Greg Achord (guitar) look to recreate the colors of decades gone and take their music through the stratosphere. Ole Lonesome joined label head/co-producer Mike Zito at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana, to record the new album.                                      (Ole Lonesome, Beaumont TX / Photo by Emily Martindale)

“After a gig in Deep Ellum, something caught my eye just outside the city off of the highway, an old sign that read ‘Tejas Motel,” explains Zachary Feemster about the album’s title origin. “Instantly, I knew this was my inspiration for the album and I had to describe this place with the titles and lyrics. As we started writing, the songs were coming effortlessly and each one was becoming a player in the story of Tejas Motel. The riffs were tuff, the vibe was gritty, and they were sitting comfortably in that grungy motel chair. When you listen to the title track, I think you’ll really grasp the vision we were trying to convey. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a concept album, but I can definitely say that if each song was a character, they would be well acquainted with each other. The energy between the songs strengthens the vision and brings to life the story of Tejas Motel.”

Interview by Michael Limnios                         Special Thanks: Mark Pucci Media

How has the Blues/Rock music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Playing music in general has lead me to the most amazing people. I consider myself the luckiest fellas on the face of the earth. I couldn’t fathom doing anything else.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

1970’s Texas is a big inspiration for us.

Our city is very small and there’s not a lot to do these days like there was back then. So we just set out to make biggest noise we possibly can & try turn some heads

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

Meeting Jack White in Nashville at Sputnik Sound during the “Turn It On” sessions or meeting Buddy Guy at l’Auberge Casino. Shaking both those men’s hands had an electric feeling to it that I can’t explain.

I also had a gig in Dallas years back and I had this restless urge to leave around 4am and set off to find the grave of Blind Lemon Jefferson. That was an unforgettable morning.

"I can’t say I really miss much. Beaumont has never really had any permanent music venue. We’ve always had to make our own fun. But I think it’s really shaped us into the band we are." (Ole Lonesome: Zachary Feemster on vocals and guitar, J. Wesley Hardin on bass, Gregory Mosley on keys, Jimmy Devers on drums, and Greg Achord on guitar / Photo by Emily Martindale)
You’ve one release with Gulf Coast Records. How did that relationship come about?

I’ve known Mike Zito about 20 years or so. He’s brought me on tours with his band or just come along on whatever he’s got going on.

Ole Lonesome had been doing our thing for a while and after we released our first record in 2019 Mike said to me “Ok, what are we doing?”

He made us an offer, we shook hands, he told us where to be and when to be there. The rest is history. I’ve always loved working with Mike and learning anything I can from him. The fact he loves the band makes it that much more special.

Why do you think that Texas Blues/Rock continues to generate such a devoted following?

The gulf coast or “3rd Coast” as I like to call it, has a very very special thing happening at the moment.

The talent has always been here, but I think people are starting to get hip to it all over again. especially the younger generation. Once you get a little Texas music knowledge, you want to keep acquiring more of it.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I can’t say I really miss much. Beaumont has never really had any permanent music venue. We’ve always had to make our own fun. But I think it’s really shaped us into the band we are.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

There’s a handful of quotes I live by from doing this for so long…

1. “Stay dumb enough to have fun”

2. “Once you stop it’s over”

3. “Aim small, miss small”

"Meeting Jack White in Nashville at Sputnik Sound during the “Turn It On” sessions or meeting Buddy Guy at l’Auberge Casino. Shaking both those men’s hands had an electric feeling to it that I can’t explain. I also had a gig in Dallas years back and I had this restless urge to leave around 4am and set off to find the grave of Blind Lemon Jefferson. That was an unforgettable morning."

(Zachary Feemster / Photo by Blane Bourgeois)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Well, as long as it’s relatable we’re happy. Whether it be thru the lyrics, the guitar riffs, the vocal Inflections, whatever as long as we can move ya.

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