Brad Paisley Brings ‘Love and War’ Collaborators to Tootsie’s for Popup Show
It was a night of the unexpected at Tootsie’s in downtown Nashville on Sunday (April 23), when Brad Paisley held his album release show for Love and War, featuring three of the collaborators from the record: John Fogerty, Timbaland and Bill Anderson.
It’s probably safe to say that the iconic honky tonk doesn’t host a lot of rapper/hip hop producers like Timbaland, and having the legendary Fogerty and Anderson in tow on top of that certainly made for a unique night.
“There are 500 bands covering John Fogerty songs tonight,” Paisley told the crowd, according to the Tennessean. “but we’re the only one doing it with John Fogerty.”
The 90-minute set included several of Paisley’s hits from over the year, including “Water,” “Alcohol,” and “Mud on the Tires.” Fogerty brought a few of his classics as well, including “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son” and “Proud Mary.” The guys also teamed up on a cover of “Johnny B. Goode” and the title track to the new record, which they wrote and recorded together.
“The thing I love about John Fogerty is that, two notes in, you know it’s him,” Paisley said onstage. “With me, it’s like 45.”
Timbaland reportedly acted as a music director for the tune “Grey Goose Chase,” which he co-wrote and produced for the album.
“The way we got this groove in the studio is that Tim’s girlfriend and a bunch of other people started beating on a bunch of stuff and made this bluegrass beat,” Paisley remembered, “and here we are.”
Anderson provided his song “City Lights” for the set. Absent from the performance was Mick Jagger, who collaborates with Paisley on a track. One of the tunes also credits Johnny Cash as co-writer.
"“He’s actually one of the more pleasant co-writes I’ve had. He’s a lot more fun to be in a room with than Bill Anderson,” he joked.
Paisley had shared a visual version of the record with country radio programmers and industry executives earlier in the day at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Love and War is available now. Paisley had been releasing a few videos in advance of its release, including an '80s-inspired, Stranger-Things-esque video for “Last Time for Everything” and a tribute to veterans with “Love and War.” He also enlisted fans to help him film in Franklin, Tenn.’s downtown square for the “Heaven South” music video.
Mick Jagger Collaborates With Brad Paisley on New Album