Joe Hermes’ “Whiskey Fixer Upper”
“… an anthem for hard working men and women everywhere …”
Playing air guitar and singing along to Bon Jovi songs at family gatherings. Your father taught you business while your mom instilled faith and compassion in your lives. The decision to make music your career came when you heard Metallica come on the jukebox. Your parents bought your first guitar when you were in the sixth grade. Which model did you get and did you teach yourself how to play it?
First guitar was a black and white Peavey Raptor. I used to spend overnights at my best friend Johnny’s house watching Metallica videos and trying to learn their riffs. I would watch “The Making of the Black Album” almost every weekend for months and imagine how incredible it would be to spend your time in a studio and then rockin’ out live. I took lessons for about 2 months and then just stuck to learning from friends and jamming out after that.
High school football standout. What skill sets did you learn on the field that you now use in your music career?
The importance of a team and how all the roles need to come together to have any level of success. Play by play and game by game to try and stack successful efforts for a winning season. The discipline to have humility and confidence dancing together to create a little magic. In other words, “know your role,” and do it to the best of your ability. These are all great lessons that I’ve learned over the years.
Southern Rock. Playing in the Peoria, IL area. Can you share a story from your hometown fanbase on how your music has impacted their lives?
My hometown is Heyworth, IL near Bloomington-Normal, IL. Normal is home to a current American Idol contestant this season, Leah Marlene. I have a song on my debut EP called “Otherside.” I have, on more than one occasion, been told how this song hits home, and stays there after losing a close loved one. When people reach out to you unsolicited and tell you how a song gives words to a time in their life when nothing else could say it better… that is the gas that drives you. I have always said my only goal in music is to channel what I’m going through at the time, send the music out into the world and see if it relates. There is something so special about that connection. It is like I know the person and they know me instantly.
Debut EP release, 2019’s Souls With Stones. Your music tackles difficult topics like spirituality, addiction, and loss. How hard has it been to write about subjects that many find too heavy to talk about?
I was at a breaking point in my life late in 2017. My marriage was on the rocks with my two-year-old son at home, my company was going through enormous growing pains, my drinking was through the roof — stress on another level — and I was searching…hard! So, with the help of my parents (whom I wrote “Better Than I Deserve” for) nudging me along, we sought a counselor for me to start to try and figure things out.
I walked out of the first session with this guy and he said something that triggered me. He told me I had never dealt with the death of my baby girl, whom we lost in the last month of pregnancy. I told him he was wrong and that all I had been doing for the last five years was dealing with that. But, I went home and thought about what he said, and I asked myself to be completely honest about how I felt about losing Bella. I also asked myself what would she want to say to me in return. In 15 minutes or so, I wrote “Otherside.” After that, my life literally just started getting better — a month later, a door opened in the music business and I started working with a producer in Nashville building demos. That song has been the catalyst. So, to answer your question, the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done is go straight to the bone with some of these songs.
“Stronger Than Whiskey” showcases your baritone voice and outlaw country influences. It was the follow-up to Souls With Stones. Which other outlaw country artists would you suggest a new fan listen to?
I am a huge fan of guys like Cody Jinks and Aaron Lewis. Even though Cody Cannon is not a baritone per se, I’m a real big fan of Whiskey Myers. Of course, you’ve got to visit the Cash, Waylon and Hank catalogs to understand where a lot of this is coming from in my opinion.
“Whiskey Fixer Upper.” Working with Grammy-award winning producer Dale Oliver and Bucky Covington on the song co-written by Dan Couch and Oliver. The tune is described as “an anthem for hard working men and women everywhere.” What most attracted you to record the song?
This song just says it best, in my opinion. It describes my daily life and what I feel is relatable to the daily life of other hard-working men and women. This is a title I spouted out after leaving a long day in the studio working with the ultra-talented Dale Oliver and he asked if I was headed back to the hotel. I responded, “Man, I just need to stop in for a Whiskey Fixer Upper,” and it stuck around until we sat down and wrote it. Even the structure of the song just resembles the outline of some of my days — takes a minute to get going, then it’s off and running and winds down with a good ole Whiskey Fixer Upper at the end of a long, hard day. It is funny because the chorus jumps into my head often as I’m crankin’ along at work. Thanks to the magic touch of Dan Couch, it is pretty sticky!
Playing with your band, Sundown Renegade, June 5, as the opening act for Jackyl at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois. Performing at the venue and with this rock band were two goals of yours. What else is on your goals list for 2022?
The band Sundown Renegade had a pretty stellar 2021 and, while off to a slow start in 2022, my friend Jesse James Dupree came out of nowhere and was gracious enough to gift me and the guys a shot to knock out two of my music goals at once on June 5th. The iconic Castle Theatre has been on my list for years, as well as sharing a stage with Jackyl. While we are not the same genre, my rock background and edgier live performance style will compliment nicely.
The rest of my goals this year include getting “Whiskey Fixer Upper” into the top 80 on the Music Row charts, having a successful radio tour to support the single, releasing another great one in the fall and setting up an action packed spring and summer for 2023…with big new shows with the band!
Away from the stage you enjoy family time, riding dirt bikes, watching UFC matches, and drinking whiskey with your buddies. Favorite whiskeys?
Jack Daniels and Jesse James’ American Outlaw Whiskey are my day-to-day go-to. If I’m feeling like a change, Bulleit Bourbon Old Fashioned is always solid with block ice. However, it never hurts for neat shot of Hillrock to start off the evening!