Gary Allan on iLike

Fans: 115,224

- Bio

Gary Allan

I think the fans are gonna feel that this record is different," he says, "but the most important thing is that what I do is authentic. I've never pushed for a certain image. I've just always done my own thing." This time around, Allan says, that includes letting listeners ride along through his personal landscape over the past year. "The record has taken about a year to make," he says, "and I think the whole thing reflects change. I think every record sort of reflects where I'm at, and I've made a ton of changes this year, just mentally and in how I'm approaching everything. "Oh," he adds with a grin, "and I think it's much more rockin' than anything I've done." Allan decided to crank it up musically. "I just felt like I was growing so much and wanted the music to reflect that. I think the result has more of an edge." More edge, from the man who's already got a reputation as a bit of a Nashville outsider? "Hopefully country music feels like they need somebody like me in the fold just to shake things up," he laughs. Not that this was all his idea - Allan feels some of the changes come from the fans themselves. "It's not like I was trying for a new direction, it's almost audience driven, too. l feel like I've got this young crowd with me now, I've got these rocker kids in my audience. And I grew up with that music, too," says the California-bred singer, "so to me that stuff is right alongside Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. The people really dictate the music, too. I feed off the audience, whatever they're really wanting is what they drag out of me. I've got the edgy side of the country crowd -- and I want to keep them." No danger of losing them - "Living Hard" is an all-out rocker with a heavy Rolling Stones influence, and in "Like It's a Bad Thing" he lets it rip with a song that reads like a Gary Allan bad boy manifesto. "That song does sound like me, doesn't it" he says. "I think if anything that sort of renegade spirit is even more prevalent on this album. We've always danced to our own tune." Allan, whose life is a whirlwind of hard-driving touring, also made a conscious decision to carve out more songwriting time for this album than ever before. "It's the most I've written on any album," he says. "I usually only write on my time off because I'm going so much that I hardly have time to ponder and sit around enough to want to write. Last year I sort of forced myself into it early so that I could write more for the record." He was pleased with the result: "I'm usually more critical on my stuff," he says, "but I feel like I'm writing better, and obviously the more you've been through, the more you've got to say and the deeper you can express those emotions." If you've been to his shows, Allan says, you know that when he sings about "baring my soul for the price of your ticket," he's not just blowing smoke. Since his last studio album, 2005's TOUGH ALL OVER, which drew on his experiences coping with the death-by-suicide of his wife, Angela, in 2004, Allan has become known for putting all his emotions on the line in his songs. "I'm exactly the same on the stage as I am off the stage," he says, "and what I found is, the bigger the arena, the more you're standing in the middle of those people, the more transparent you are. You can tell when somebody's not authentic or they're trying to be something they're not." In songs like "Learning How to Bend," he admits he's still exploring some rough terrain as he makes his way back into everyday life and the possibility of a new relationship. "I think my favorite song that I wrote on this album is 'Learning How to Bend'," he says. "I woke up one day with that title. And it's me, you know -- I'm still learning, learning how to bend." And in "We Touched the Sun" he moves forward while looking back at the beautiful times he shared with Angela. "There's a small circle of us that write songs together, and it's like group therapy," he says with a chuckle. "And the result is it's real. We rented a house in Costa Rica just to write, and 'We Touched the Sun' is one of the songs that came out of that session. It's a very reflective song, looking back at Angela. But it could be anybody you loved, just all the fond memories." Thanks in part to all of that musical therapy, says Allan, these days "I'm in a good place, definitely happy." And, he assures his fans, if you've been through tough times yourself, or you're just wondering how he's coping these days, all you have to do is listen to his music. "I don't really talk to people about my situation," he says, "but I feel like since I do write about my life and where I am, you can watch me heal through my music. It's lots easier on me, and I do hope that the music speaks to you." With LIVING HARD, Allan is sure to find his music speaking to an ever-growing number of fans. "I want to reach even bigger audiences," he says. "I feel like I've got so much to say and so much to do right now and things are moving so fast. It's great to have something new to throw at people." Most of all, he says, he just wants people to come along for the ride -- and hear the sounds of a life in progress. "It's a good listen, I think," he says. "I'm excited for people to hear it. It'll take you through a whole range of emotions, and I think it's going to take you on a journey. That's my goal."

Twitter Updates

BE THE FIRST TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE GARY ALLAN IN SAULT SAINTE MARIE, MI http://ow.ly/KMxE
about 4 hours ago

Gary wants YOU to Be The First To See The Cover of His Upcoming Album!

Gary wants his fans to be the FIRST to see the cover of his new album GET OFF ON THE PAIN. So he is going to send the cover directly to his fans through twitter! Visit http://twitter.com to join and follow @garyallan to be one of the first to see the cover of his upcoming album on Monday December 7th at 1PM EST!

View all (33)

Photos posted by Gary Allan

View (3)

Blog posts

Watch Gary Allan's New Video ~ "Today" Dec 3
Gary Allan Still Playing With Borrowed Gear Sep 23
Only You Can Make Gary Country's Sexiest Man! Aug 31

Link to this artist page

on iLike.com:

on Facebook:

1 2

Blog posts

Dec 03, 12:43 PM

Watch Gary Allan's New Video ~ "Today"
Sep 23, 11:25 AM

Gary Allan Still Playing With Borrowed Gear

by Vernell Hackett - The Boot
Gary Allan and his band members may have new guitars, but they're not happy about it. The singer and his crew lost all their equipment in the tornado that hit the Big Valley Jamboree in Alberta, Canada on Aug. 1.
"It's been really weird lately [because] everybody's got new stuff," says Gary. "We're replacing every guitar, and some we had since we were 10 or 11. Even our bus got totaled. We came out of Canada that weekend as just a bunch of dudes with dreams."
Gary says that thanks to friends such as LeAnn Rimes and Rascal Flatts, his band was loaned drum sets and other equipment, adding "It's amazing the things you don't think about, like cables and stuff. All of our equipment, including the bus, is in a warehouse in Nashville waiting to see what the insurance company is going to pay for it."

more at www.garyallan.com or http://www.theboot.com
Aug 31, 10:24 AM

Only You Can Make Gary Country's Sexiest Man!

VOTE DAILY @ http://bit.ly/4yxWo or http://www.countryweekly.com/vote/surveys/617

Last year, we asked our sharp-eyed Country Weekly readers to cast their votes for Country’s Sexiest Man. Trace Adkins was your choice for the 2008 title, but can he claim the crown again? The choice is up to you! ONLY YOUR VOTES CAN MAKE GARY COUNTRY’S SEXIEST MAN! Take a look at these candidates and make your pick. Remember to spread the word to your friends and family to vote daily! Vote Aug. 31 through Sept. 14. We’ll publish the results of Country’s Sexiest Man in the Oct. 26 issue of Country Weekly, on sale Oct. 19.
Aug 24, 02:57 PM

Gary Allan Announces Get Off On The Pain Tour

GARY ALLAN ANNOUNCES GET OFF ON THE PAIN TOUR

SPONSORED BY HOUSE OF BLUES

Multi platinum artist Gary Allan announces the GET OFF ON THE PAIN TOUR. Sponsored by House Of Blues, the tour will stop in 25 cities across the country before the end of 2009. Allan will headline the tour and include special guests Jack Ingram and Eli Young Band on select dates as well as openers Stoney LaRue and Justin Moore on select Texas dates.

Allan has recently finished recording a new studio album with long-time producer Mark Wright, and looks forward to trying the music out on his loyal fans across the nation. The first single off of the new album "Today," is currently climbing the charts and is spinning on stations across the country now.

A limited number of advance tickets to each concert will be available to Gary Allan Fan Club members. Check the tour page at http://www.GaryAllan.com for Advantage Ticket details.

GET OFF ON THE PAIN TOUR DATES at GaryAllan.com
Jul 23, 10:52 AM

Vote Gary For GAC's Top 20 My Frist Time Video Countdown

Ask any country star and they'll tell you with a twinkle in their eye about their first time...making a music video! So to honor the inaugural, the debut, the first videos ever shot by some of country's biggest stars, we're asking you to help decide the Top 20 best of the best. Gary's video for "Her Man" is nominated! Vote Daily!
Jul 13, 09:00 AM

Keep Up With Gary While You're On The Go!

GET APP HERE

Get your Official Gary Allan App for Iphone or Ipod touch! This app is a must have for Gary Allan fans. Keep up with Gary while you're on the go! Get this FREE app now and watch it change and grow!
Jul 08, 02:34 PM

Get "Today" On Itunes Now!

Don't forget to download Gary's new single "Today" now available at Itunes! Check out what the fans are saying about the new single on Itunes:
By WKrobers -July 7, 2009
Great song! Cannot wait for the full album later this year!

by bamalady08 - July 7, 2009
Great song, fantastic artist, the long wait is finally over, Gary Allan is on of country music's best. Can't wait for the rest of the album.

By TVo99 0 July 7, 2009
One of his best songs ever. Just a masterpiece!

Don't forget to spread the word! Click here for the widget!
Jun 30, 09:28 AM

All Access Reviews "Today"

A powerful song about missed opportunity, lost love and losing the thing that mattered most, sung in a way that Gary does better than anyone else out there today. The production for "Today" is simple, as it should be, letting his soulful vocal be the centerpiece. "Today," seems to be another career record from an artist who seems to get stronger with every release. Impacting now.
Jun 30, 09:28 AM

Fans Party With Gary Allan

Fans and friends alike came together for Gary's official 2009 fan club party. Some of these dedicated Gary Allan fans came from as far away as Australia just to be a part of the festivities.

The event included a nacho bar, ice cold drinks, an intimate show as well as a chance to get your picture taken with Gary! The event kicked off with a few giveaways worn and signed by Gary. One lucky fan club member even one 2 tickets to any Gary show for the rest of the year. The fan club then had a live auction which raised over $9000.00 for the Harley Herzberg Memorial fund.

Gary then kicked off a rocking show that included hits and his upcoming single "Today" that will officially be added to radio June 29th. He answered questions from the stage and even sang happy birthday to a fan club member in the balcony. Make sure to check out a few pictures from the show.
Jun 30, 09:27 AM

Gary Asks The Fans What They Wanted To Hear During CMA Music Fest '09

Tell Gary what song you want to Hear!
You call the shots at the party! Fan Club members can log into the fan club section and send their song request for the show!
Each person can submit up to 2 song choices. Submission ends Monday Night. Gary's sold out Fan Club party will be held at Rocket Town, Tuesday June 9th.

1 2

Existing users:

New users:

Gary Allan

Twitter Updates

Latest bulletin 12.03.09

Photos posted by Gary Allan

Blog posts

Link to this artist page

Blog posts