By Ryan Gueningsman
Herald Journal

To put it simply, Phil Vassar’s songs tell stories.

That’s the way Winstock Country Music Festival co-founder and committee member Tom Ollig describes Vassar’s music – and it’s also what makes Vassar one of Ollig’s favorites.

“I like his music, and think a lot of people like his music because it always tells a story,” Ollig said. “It always has a good rhythm and beat and he has a great voice.”

Vassar will be returning to Winsted Saturday for his third performance on the Winstock stage, set for 6 p.m. Several weeks back, he was down in Nashville preparing to hit the road to Minnesota for a show at the University of St. Thomas University in St. Paul.

“We’ve just been cruisin’ along,” Vassar said in the midst of packing his bags. “We’ve been touring all over. We started out in Europe this year, been to Australia. We’ve been all over the place.”

More recently, Vassar had been doing some songwriting and also cleaning up flood damage in and around Nashville.

“It’s in the billions of dollars of damage now,” Vassar said. In between touring, flood cleanup, and songwriting, Vassar has also been dealing with a record label merger. His life right now could be classified as being similar to the title of his latest album – a “Traveling Circus.”

“As soon as my record came out, my label merged with another label,” Vassar said. “It lost momentum and doesn’t have a single on the radio right now.”

Vassar’s label, Universal South Records, merged with Toby Keith’s Showdog Records around the first of the year. Right now, Vassar admitted he’s not fully sure what will happen as a result of the merger, but said he “has a lot in the works.”

“This is the third merger I’ve been through,” he said. “All I do is keep moving forward. I keep writing songs and I keep recording them and that’s all I can do. Record labels are come and go.”

Trying to see the positive in the situation, Vassar said this may be a way for him to focus more on the music.

“Now we can maybe focus on the music instead of accountants telling people what to do and what not to do,” Vassar added.

One thing Vassar did differently with “Traveling Circus” from what many other artists do is have his road band record on the album.

“Different producers like to do it with their own bands,” Vassar said. “I wanted my band and the guys I play with – they’re just awesome. They’re just a great bunch.”

He’s looking forward to spending plenty of time with his band and crew this summer on a full tour schedule.

“We’re rocking – Winstock’s rockin.’ It’s so much fun there,” Vassar said. “I’m excited about summer – it’s going to be a lot of fun. You never know what you’re going to get in the summertime. You play fairs, festivals – it gets you in a good mood it seems like. We’re in a good mood and the crowd is in a good mood – everyone has fun.”

Known not only for his songwriting, Vassar has also become well-known for his high-energy live performances.

“He’s kind of like Neal McCoy,” Ollig said. “He (Vassar) just puts on a great show. He’s just an honest country guy out there trying to make a living, and he does a great job. He’s a good representative of country music and good for Winstock.”

“I love it – I really do,” Vassar said about being on stage. “It helps me stay in shape and keeps me working out, eating right, and staying healthy.

“When I get up there after about two weeks off and a lot of food, I can feel it, boy,” Vassar added with a laugh.

Vassar was excited to learn another of country music’s piano men Ronnie Milsap will be joining him in the Winstock lineup this year.

“He’s amazing – he really is,” Vassar said of Milsap. “He’s definitely one of the reasons why I do what I do. He’s amazing . . . he just goes on and on and on. He’s a fine wine, that guy.”

Some of Vassar’s standards like “Love Is A Beautiful Thing,” “Just Another Day in Paradise,” “Six-Pack Summer,” “In A Real Love,” and “Last Day Of My Life” are also like a fine wine and seem to get better each time one hears them.

“Every song has a special meaning because it was written about something in a certain place and time,” Vassar said. “It’s sort of a snapshot of a moment. It’s a lot of moments that were hard. ‘Rose Bouquet’ is a hard song to sing or think about, but it’s still one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. ‘Carlene’ was my first single, so that first set the tone and then ‘Paradise’ came out right behind it – every time you have a big hit, it’s important. ‘I’m Alright’ is just fun.”

“I’m Alright” was a top hit for Jo Dee Messina, who has performed at Winstock in 1997, 1999, and 2002. Vassar has also written top songs for Collin Raye – “Little Red Rodeo,” Tim McGraw – “My Next Thirty Years” and “For A Little While,” and Winstock ‘10 headliner Alan Jackson – “Right on The Money.”

“I keep hearing some stuff about people cutting some things, but I really don’t keep up with it that much,” Vassar admitted. “You focus on what you’re doing, on your own records, and you just keep working on the next one.”

Vassar also said he doesn’t listen or keep up with much of the music that’s being made today.

“To be honest, I don’t listen to a lot of new stuff,” Vassar said. “I don’t listen to anything new. I just find that I never want to cloud my vision of what I want to write, and I find if you start diving into other people’s music, you might do that.”

He does, however, still listen to the standards, and has a wide range of musical taste.

“I still listen to Merle Haggard,” Vassar said. “I listen to a lot of different music. I find that it sort of expands my mind – it’s like anybody that loves music, I like to listen to all of it.”

Despite the merger and uncertainty of the future, Vassar said he’s just going to keep doing what he knows to do best.

“I wrote two songs yesterday,” Vassar said. “Every day this week I wrote a song. Every Day last week I wrote a song and we’re going in and recording Monday. I really keep it going as much as I can. It keeps my mind going.”

Ryan Gueningsman is at ryan@heraldjournal.com.