"Anyone who has ever seen us live is going to hear the first 15 seconds of "Holler Back" and say ‘There’s The Lost Trailers. Those are the guys I saw open for Chesney or open for Sugarland’," says Stokes, tagged on the band’s website as The Writer."
Music is important and has a lasting quality," adds lead vocalist Ryder, aka The Voice. "But music should be fun too, there needs to be a balance. "Holler Back" is a fun song that captures the element of our live show which is really important to us as well.
"Ryder and Stokes both gravitated towards music in high school, where they convinced another student, drummer Jeff Potter, to join them in a band named Ryder Stokes. Soon, Stokes’ younger brother Andrew came on as their bassist, a position now held by the fifth and last member to join the band, Manny Medina (Andrew moved over to keyboards).
The new band caught a break early, as their demo found its way to Willie Nelson, who invited them to perform on his annual Fourth of July picnic. By the time they got to Austin, they had changed the band’s name, thanks to some unfortunate incidents involving successive equipment trailers. The 15,000 fans there that afternoon witnessed the debut of The Lost Trailers, and the response was so enthused that Nelson ended up inviting them to open other dates for him.
"What we learned from that experience was that putting on a great show will build a fan base," remembers Stokes. "If you do it night after night, your fan base will grow. If you earn those fans early on, they will stay fans for life. Even after all these years, Willie puts on a great show every night, and he takes care of his fans, and we strive for that sort of connection with our fans."
The Lost Trailers hit the road, first crammed into an SUV, then a van and ultimately graduating to a bonafide bus, which was the place they called home 300 days a year for five years. "For five years, we were basically living in America," says Ryder. "That experience was the basis of this record. It was being a group of guys with unique personalities who learn to live as a family, who have been there, done that, and tell that story honestly. We learned a lot about ourselves from constant touring, and we were able to define our sound before we got signed.
"The Lost Trailers came to the major label table after SONY/BMG Nashville A&R head Renee Bell introduced them to label chairman Joe Galante, who immediately signed them, seeing in The Lost Trailers that same road-tested talent and passionate drive that Alabama brought to his label 25 years before. "Alabama has always been one of our biggest role models," says Stokes. "It turned out that the first songs Ryder and I ever performed in front of an audience were Alabama songs. It was such a thrill to be on the same label where they spent their career, and signed by the guy who broke them. It just felt like it was meant to be.
"Through 2006, The Lost Trailers maintained their permanent temporary bus residence, headlining clubs like they had always done, and opening dates in massive arenas for established stars like Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and another great teacher, Kenny Chesney.
"What we learned from Kenny was put out great songs, put out songs you believe in, and that your fans believe in," says Stokes. "Deliver to your fans. Give them what they want that’s the best of you. All the years of touring, we’ve learned what we do best. It was time to put that on a record.
"The band found the key to realizing that in producer Brett Beavers, who came into the picture with the same goal: capture the energy and excitement of The Lost Trailers’ live show and put it on a record. He produced several of the tracks, notably the album opener, "Holler Back," and the second cut, "How ‘Bout You Don’t". The wrenching ballad that does a complete emotional and musical 180 from the jacked-up title cut, and relies on Ryder’s resonate, soulful vocals to convey the desperation of a man about to lose everything, piercing the hearts of listeners who have been on either side of that door.
Ryder and Stokes not only share songwriting credits on several tunes, but also took the production reins in the studio on a couple of cuts, not unlike the way they used to do it before they were signed to a recording contract.
"We took six months off to make this record," says Ryder. "We haven’t taken that much time off the road in six years. We poured all of that energy that would have gone into performing live, and put it on this record. Everything we have done for the last seven years has led to this record."
Atlanta
The Lost Trailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all she ever said was get to Atlanta.
The summer's coming and I'm heading home.
So I hung up the phone and looked outside
Turned my head and cleared my mind.
To Atlanta
The summers coming and I'm heading home
Is the way, It's the way
Nobody hears you when you're poor
So I'll shut my mouth some more
Til Atlanta
The summer's coming and I'm heading home
And the hardest part, yeah the hardest part
Is the way, It's the way
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
The Summer's coming and I'm heading home!
The Lost Trailers' song Atlanta tells the story of a person who is leaving his or her hometown and heading to Atlanta. The lyrics portray a sense of longing and anticipation as the singer looks forward to returning home for the summer. The lyrics, "It's getting late and she's in bed. And all she ever said was get to Atlanta," suggest that the singer is leaving someone behind, but their ultimate destination remains Atlanta. As the singer looks out the window, they reflect on the journey ahead, both physically and emotionally. The line, "Nobody hears you when you're poor," alludes to the idea that social status can impact a person's ability to be heard or seen.
One interpretation of the song is that it highlights the struggles of individuals who come from difficult backgrounds and must work hard to succeed. The line, "So I'll shut my mouth some more," suggests that the singer feels silenced or ignored because of their socioeconomic status. However, the lyrics also convey a sense of optimism and determination as the singer heads towards a better future in Atlanta.
Overall, the song Atlanta is a deeply emotional and reflective piece that explores themes of longing, nostalgia, and the pursuit of a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
It's getting late and she's in bed.
It's currently late and the person being referred to is in bed.
And all she ever said was get to Atlanta.
The person being referred to only said to get to Atlanta, without any further explanation.
The summer's coming and I'm heading home.
The summer season is approaching and the person being referred to is traveling back to their hometown.
So I hung up the phone and looked outside
Turned my head and cleared my mind.
The person being referred to ended a phone call and took a moment to look outside and clear their thoughts.
To Atlanta
The person being referred to is heading to Atlanta.
The hardest part, yeah the hardest part
Is the way, It's the way
The most difficult aspect is the journey itself.
Nobody hears you when you're poor
So I'll shut my mouth some more
Til Atlanta
When someone is poor, no one listens to them, so the person being referred to has decided to keep quiet until reaching Atlanta.
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
For Atlanta
Repeating 'For Atlanta' emphasizes the importance and dedication to reaching Atlanta.
The Summer's coming and I'm heading home!
Once again, the person being referred to is excited that summer is approaching and they are heading back to their hometown.
Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.