The Riff Report Interview with Steve Harris of Hillbilly Vegas

🎸🤘 A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO STEVE HARRIS OF HILLBILLY VEGAS 🤘🎸

Everyone here at The Riff Report would like to send a huge thank you to Steve Harris from Hillbilly Vegas for taking the time to sit down and chat with us.

It’s always a privilege to speak with musicians who are keeping the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll alive, and Steve was an absolute legend throughout the interview. From discussing the band’s journey and music to sharing stories from the road, it was a brilliant conversation packed with passion, honesty, and plenty of rock ‘n’ roll energy.

Hillbilly Vegas continue to fly the flag for Southern rock with their own unique style, and it was fantastic to get an inside look at what drives the band and what fans can expect next.

Independent music journalism only works because artists are willing to give their time, and we’re incredibly grateful that Steve took some out of his busy schedule to speak with our team.

From all of us at The Riff Report — thank you, Steve. We wish you and the rest of Hillbilly Vegas nothing but success, packed venues, roaring crowds, and plenty more miles down the highway ahead.

Stay loud, stay proud, and keep those riffs coming! 🎸🔥

“A La Mode” sounds like pure southern rock chaos in the best possible way — what was the mindset going into this record?

Steve: I don’t really like going into anything creative with a firm mindset. I think it’s important to let songs take on their own personality. For me, I like to watch them evolve naturally and then react to where the songs want to go.

Did you know early on that this album was going to hit harder than previous releases?

Steve: Nope. I knew we potentially had some really good songs, but for me it’s a mistake to start thinking about what a record might do or how it might be received. I don’t really think about any of that stuff while we’re making it. I’m afraid if I did, it would affect the way we approach the work.

What keeps the Hillbilly Vegas fire burning all these years later?

Steve: Well, just like everything in life, we’re forever evolving, changing, learning and bringing in new vision. It’s stayed fun and creative for us. As long as it keeps feeling that way, we’ll keep going.

How would you describe the band to someone who’s never heard you before?

Steve: I don’t think we sound like anybody, but at the same time there’s a familiarity to our music. I think if you haven’t heard us before, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised and hopefully become a fan.

Why the title “A La Mode”?

Steve: It’s nothing deep. When I was a kid, it was Sunday dinner at my grandparents’ house. I used to love hearing my grandmother say, “Save your fork, there’s pie.” And nothing made that pie better than when Grandma came around with ice cream to put on top. When you’re a kid, you spend your time thinking about candy, ice cream and good times, not heavy things. So that’s kind of what this record is to me. Just enjoying the pie and ice cream for a little while.

What does this album represent for the band creatively?

Steve: It was definitely a collective effort – everybody brought music to the table. We all worked those songs together, and this album is really a snapshot of the work we created together at that moment in time.

Was there a particular track that really unlocked the direction of the record?

Steve: Not really, because I’d actually hate that. I’d much rather every song have its own personality, its own story and almost its own genre. I love when one of our albums feels like three different albums all living together. That makes me feel like we did something right.

Which song best captures the spirit of Hillbilly Vegas right now?

Steve: I’d say “Feels Good” because that song has elements of everything we are, including just having a really good time. There’s groove, attitude, energy and a little bit of danger to it, too.

Your music carries that proper southern rock grit — what drew you to this style originally?

Steve: I like to think of music like a big pot of soup. Everybody throws in the basic ingredients, but the seasoning is where it really becomes yours. That’s where it becomes original and unique. Not everybody can be southern. A lot of people try and a lot of people pretend, but when you grow up where we grew up, that seasoning just naturally gets into everything. There’s country, rock ’n’ roll, blues, gospel… just a little bit of everything. When you throw all that together, you naturally create the kind of music we make without really trying to.

How important is storytelling in your songwriting?

Steve: I wouldn’t have any songs if it wasn’t for storytelling. Even the funny or silly songs, I still like them to have some kind of story. I like songs to be about something. Even if it’s about nothing, that’s still something. I’ve always loved the way people like Will Rogers, Jerry Clower or Andy Griffith could tell stories in a way where you didn’t even realize you were learning something or taking something from it because you were entertained the whole time. That’s really what I want too. I want people to enjoy it, find their own joy in it and hopefully be entertained for a little while.

Are the lyrics rooted in real-life experiences, or do you enjoy building larger-than-life characters too?

Steve: Real life, for sure. I think there’s always a little bit of yourself in everything you write, even when you didn’t intend for it to be there. But I also love observing other people and trying to imagine what’s really going on with them. When the guys send me music, it usually paints a picture in my head before I even know the lyrics. It’s almost like seeing a movie before I know the story yet. Once I see that picture, I start crafting around it. Sometimes my own life finds its way into it, and other times it’s about somebody I know or maybe just somebody I’ve seen somewhere along the way.

What’s more important to Hillbilly Vegas: the riff, the groove, or the attitude?

Steve: If you’re doing your job right, every song should have all three of those things. For me, the most important thing is that the people listening find their groove, find their attitude and find their story in it. I want people to hear something they can remember and hold onto. That’s what’s most important to me.

“Mr. Midnight” features the legendary Paul Rodgers — how did that collaboration come about?

Steve: There are a lot of connections between us and Paul. It really starts with our bassist Todd Ronning, who was the second longest-tenured bassist in Bad Company history. Todd brought in a rehearsal recording of Paul and the band working on music for Paul’s last solo album. “Mr. Midnight” was one of those songs, but it didn’t make the final record because they worked on so much material. Paul had honestly kind of forgotten about it. I guess only somebody as great as Paul Rodgers can forget they wrote a song as good as “Mr. Midnight”.  Todd brought it to the band, we listened to it and immediately loved it! We asked Paul about recording it, and he was really happy Todd had rediscovered the song. Then the next obvious question was, “Hey Paul… would you sing on it too?” Thankfully, he said yes. And here we are.

What was it like hearing Paul Rodgers on a Hillbilly Vegas track for the first time?

Steve: Well, it actually started with the rehearsal recording. The crazy thing was, Paul made an iPhone rehearsal recording sound better than most people’s albums. His voice is just incredible, as everybody already knows.  When we finally sent the song to Paul and got his vocal back, I think we listened to his section 20 or 30 times in a row. It was exciting and honestly pretty surreal hearing that voice alongside us. It’s definitely been one of the highlights of our careers.

Did working with someone so iconic add pressure to the process?

Steve: No. You can’t let yourself worry about that stuff. If I started worrying about things like that, I probably wouldn’t have recorded it in the first place. You just have to trust that what you’re doing is good and trust that it’s going to pass the test. You can’t let outside noise get in your head. You just create it.

Is there a moment on that song where you still stop and think, “bloody hell, this is actually happening”?

Steve: Not really a specific moment like that, but it definitely brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

Describe a Hillbilly Vegas live show in three words.

Steve: A good time.

What’s the wildest crowd moment you’ve experienced so far?

Steve: I could say 60,000 people at a NASCAR event, or all the touring and festival stuff – but instead I’m gonna tell you about an 80-year-old great-grandmother at a bike rally in Texas. She was right at the front of the stage and suddenly stripped 100% completely naked. The crowd parted around her like the Red Sea. I finally asked her, “Honey… what are you doing?” She said, “I’m an 80-year-old great-grandmother and I still got it.” Whether I agreed with her or not, I loved her spunk and attitude!

Which song always causes the biggest reaction live?

Steve: The one we’re playing at that moment… then the next one, and the next one, and so on and so on. 😉

Have there been any gigs where absolutely everything went wrong but somehow became legendary?

Steve: One time we got fired from the Nashville Palace in the middle of the gig. The thing about that place is it’s all country music history, everywhere you look. Jackets, hats, autographs, guitars… all framed and hanging on the walls. But one thing in particular caught my eye: Conway Twitty’s white polyester bellbottom pants hanging in a frame on the wall as big as life.  Well, being the curious person that I am, I had to know the story. So right in the middle of the set I asked the crowd, “I can understand donating a guitar or a jacket… but how exactly did Conway Twitty end up leaving his pants here?”  That’s all it took. They did not find that funny at all and threw us right out of the place. But I’ll always have the Conway Twitty pants story!

How much has Oklahoma shaped the sound and attitude of the band?

Steve: I love Oklahoma, but you’ve gotta be tough to live here: the weather alone is a killer. It’s hot and humid like a jungle in the summer…  Then you get ice storms, tornadoes and crazy wind in the winter. And the bugs… the mosquitoes are as big as birds here! The climate is probably comparable to living on Mars.
But I love it here. So yeah, growing up in Oklahoma definitely gives you an attitude. You become tough, resilient, you better have a sense of humor… and you better love ranch dressing.

Do you think southern rock still gets the respect it deserves in modern rock circles?

Steve: I don’t know, and honestly, I’ve never really thought about it that much. In my opinion, good songs get respect. That’s what I keep my eye on.

What’s the best thing about being a road-tested southern rock band?

Steve: Being road tested really just means you’ve settled into your routine and learned how to operate out there. After a while, parts of it almost go on autopilot.

What’s the hardest part of life on the road?

Steve: Missing your family, missing holidays and missing milestones… that’s the hardest part. The moment I leave for a tour, my goal becomes getting home safely to my family.

Rock music keeps changing — where does Hillbilly Vegas fit into the modern scene?

Steve: Other than the fact that we are here, I don’t know. That’s really for people like you, the fans, the people who come to shows, the people who decide to play our music on the radio or decide to pass on it. That’s for everybody but us to decide. When all of you figure it out, let me know too.

Do you ever feel pressure to chase trends, or is it all about staying authentic?

Steve: Absolutely not. We wouldn’t even know how to chase trends. If you asked each one of us what’s trendy right now, we probably wouldn’t have a clue.

What frustrates you most about today’s music industry?

Steve: I’m sure it’s the same stuff that’s frustrated artists since the beginning of the music business… all of it.

What gives you hope for the future of rock music?

Steve: Rock music is kind of like investing in utility stocks. They’re not always flashy. There’s always some hot stock out there gaining faster for a while, but utility stocks just keep growing slow and steady and they’re always there. Rock ’n’ Roll is the same way: It just keeps on cranking along.

Pre-show drink?

Steve: Room temperature water.

Post-show food order?

Steve: It’s different everywhere. If we’re in America on the tour bus, it’s usually a bowl of cereal. Overseas, it’s whatever’s still open and whatever you can get your hands on.

Who’s the biggest menace after midnight?

Steve: Man, it’s been a long time since any of us were a menace at any time of day or night!

Who’s most likely to disappear at a truck stop?

Steve: Nobody disappears. That goes back to being road tested and settling into routines. After a while, you can practically set your watch by everybody’s movements and habits at truck stops, hotels, backstage, restaurants… everywhere. Nobody’s worried about losing anybody.

Dive bar or festival field?

Steve: Festival field.

Southern swagger or hard rock punch?

Steve: Why do I have to choose?  😂

Studio recording or live chaos?

Steve: Both. Sometimes at the same time.

One word that describes Hillbilly Vegas in 2026.

Steve:Hungry.

Why should people crank “A La Mode” immediately?

Steve: Well, if you feel like cranking something, why not us?

What do you hope fans feel when they hear this album?

Steve: Their own feelings.  We want everyone to interpret the songs in their own way.

Finish this sentence: “Hillbilly Vegas are…”

Steve: Unfinished business.

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