When country musician Chase Bryant says he grew up in a small Texas town, he isn’t kidding. At a mere 1.1 square miles, Orange Grove, Texas, is home to about 1,300 people (by comparison Bangor is 34.59 square miles and has a population that is more than 25 times greater).
But the 21-year-old has come a long way in his short career. Bryant’s song “Take It On Back” has hit the top 30 on the Billboard Music Country Airplay Chart (as of Wednesday, it was hovering at No. 27).
And next week, he’s coming to the Queen City. On Sept. 28, Bryant will open for chart-topping country artist Brantley Gilbert in a concert at the Cross Insurance Center as part of the “Let It Ride” tour.
“It has been crazy. Growing up in a small town, it was playing to four walls in my bedroom. It was unlikely for me to make it out of a town that small — playing music, at least,” Bryant says, joking that there were 20 guitars in his town and they were all his.
But after graduating high school early, Bryant left Orange Grove and headed west to Los Angeles to write music.
Eventually the road led to Nashville, where Bryant was signed to Red Bow, a division of Broken Bow Records.
“I’ve got a great team and a great label and great management to help that dream become a reality,” says Bryant.
This Texan also has music in the blood. Bryant is the grandson of Jimmy Bryant, who played in Roy Orbison’s first two bands, and later for Waylon Jennings. His uncles Jeff and Junior Bryant were co-founders of the group Ricochet.
“I definitely think it was in my genes. They all influenced me but nobody ever said I had to [play],” says Bryant. “There was always a guitar around … Without them I am not sure I would have known what music was.”
As for Nashville, Bryant calls it home now and says he is a fan of the ABC television show of the same name — though he says that the fictional version of country’s hometown isn’t quite true to life.
“I think there’s spots that compare. It’s a good show,” Bryant says, before laughing that things don’t actually happen in Nashville quite like they are depicted on TV.
But Bryant is focusing on his tour. He has been on the road for about 15 weeks and has tour dates scheduled through December.
As for the concert? Bryant says that attendees can expect “an action-packed thing.”
“It’s like my playground. … I feel like it’s a party and I am there to play it,” Bryant says. “I can’t wait to get there in Bangor.”
But before he does, Bryant has a few days off, which he plans to spend fishing.
“For me, it’s bass fishing, for sure,” Bryant says, joking that he might have to stow a few reels below the tour bus.