MUSIC

Sugarland embraces country and Steve Earle

Duo, just back from European tour that included military bases, plays Austin

By Brian T. Atkinson
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sugarland's crisp songwriting deftly unites art and commerce. Makes sense: Before exploding into mainstream country five years ago, the Grammy-winning duo individually rose through Georgia's fertile folk-rock ranks. 'Whether it's Austin or Nashville, L.A. or Atlanta, it's all just people working as songwriters,' mandolinist Kristian Bush says. 'At whatever level of art you want to accomplish, at least you're able to do it.' Bush and singer Jennifer Nettles support 'Love on the Inside' tonight at the Erwin Center.

Austin360: How did your first European tour go last month?

Kristian Bush: We started over in Europe. We played clubs, and it was awesome.

Seems like country music keeps getting more popular overseas.

Well, I think the nomenclature that's used is a little off. We went over advertising country music, and they were expecting maybe Tift Merritt. We don't associate subculture with genre here anymore, but it's still a part of it in Europe. So, we just had to redefine ourselves really quickly. The flavors that we use, though, are pretty universally relatable right now. What we're calling country is very melodic. Melody translates across cultures — and even any language barrier — no matter what.

Why did you decide to incorporate military bases into that tour?

To get an opportunity to play for folks who miss home. I think that matters. When you go to work that day, it means more than just going to work. We played in Germany for the largest base outside the United States. There were 60,000 people. Whoa! We played for the head of NATO.

Now you're coming to Austin. You know, there are a lot of hardcore Steve Earle fans here.

Bring it on, man! I'm one of them. I had a band before this called Billy Pilgrim. When we recorded our second record for Atlantic, all the musicians stayed in the studio because Steve Earle was about to come in and record 'I Feel Alright.' I met him in the hallway and didn't know him from Adam. I bought ('I Feel Alright') when it came out and just became an ?ber-fan — like a stupid, silly, we-just-wrote-a-song-about-him fan.

And, of course, you did. Has Steve heard your song 'Steve Earle'?

We sent it to his management. They said, 'Steve doesn't read anything that's written about him, so why on Earth would he listen to a song that's about him?' But apparently they told him the gist of it and it made him giggle a little (laughs).

How do you balance being an entertainer and a serious songwriter?

I think that there's a lot of pop culture in the last 20 years that has taught me that those are supposed to be mutually exclusive. I don't believe it. The goal of a songwriter is to express the opinion and hopefully connect that emotion to as many people as possible. In our case, we're saying we can have it both ways. The reality is that country radio is the biggest marketing arm that we have to get our music out to people.

But that comes with strict rules.

So, we work within some boundaries. That sometimes makes for interesting and good art. How can you say it so it's emotionally true? That's been my focus for the last three years.

Sugarland performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Erwin Center. Advance tickets are $45, $35. 1701 Red River St., on the UT campus. 477-6060, texasboxoffice.com.