Editor’s note: The following is the second of a two- part series that Daily staff writer Corey Moss wrote while on the road with The Nadas.

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Georgia on their minds

The Nadas began its show opening for America with the new tune “Ghost,” and continued into the concert-friendly “Parrot Song.” “Hatman” and “Dancing Lucinda” (with trumpet) brought some “Not A Sound” flavor to the show.

A cover of Jackopierce’s “Vineyard” opened a new door, as the band began to feel more comfortable talking to the carefully listening crowd.

Phenomenal versions of “White” and “New Start” prepared the crowd for what would be the favorite of the night, “Georgia.” The primarily 40 something crowd quickly learned the chorus to the “Not A Sound” favorite and were singing and clapping as the song came to an end.

The Nadas closed with the up-beat “Knockin’ On Devon’s Door,” which left the crowd amazed and begging for more.

“I was overwhelmed by the applause,” Nelson explained. “I was like whoa and that’s when it hit me. It totally caught me off guard.”

“I was walking to the other side of the stage to start taking my drums off and all the sudden the other guys were comin’ back on to the stage and I turned around and looked and all the crowd was up on its feet,” Bohnenkamp said. “I just stood there and I didn’t know what the hell to do. I was so into the moment at that point, I was just standing there dumb-founded. It was one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me.”

Although the band was not expecting to do an encore, it managed to squeeze out a great version of “Persuasion.” “There was some sort of standing ovation, I can’t believe that,” Butterworth said.

The Getaway

After The Nadas performance, the band members went into the crowd and sat with their families to watch the America show, which to no surprise, ended with the ’70s anthem “A Horse With No Name.”

After loading up, collecting merchandise money and even signing autographs, the band headed to the Captain’s Getaway for a post-show celebration.

“If we don’t have anywhere to drive to right away, we usually end up closing out the bar and hanging out with the bartender and waitresses,” Nelson said.

But talking with waitresses was the last thing on Bohnenkamp’s mind. The 25-year-old Iowa State graduate could not stop thinking about what had just happened.

“Just to see a crowd response like that was incredible,” he said. “Getting to be on the other side of a larger concert setting was so cool for me.”

Bohnenkamp explained how the show was a perfect one for his family to see.

“People that don’t understand what goes on with a grass roots operation with a band; they say ‘why would you want to do that when you have a good job and already make enough money,'” he said. “For them to be there and not only see me and the three other guys having such a great time playing our music, but to see how well the crowd responded and to see that there is a possibility that this is going to work out was perfect.”

Bohnenkamp said his parents thought he was crazy when he first quit his job to join The Nadas. “I don’t want to make it sound like I’m some big stud or hero because I quit my job and throw everything in the wind,” he said. “Playing music is all I’ve ever wanted to do since I can remember and it really means a lot for my parents to be able to support me in what I do.”

Butterworth agreed that it was nice to play in front of his parents. “They always hear about ‘oh I need to borrow some money,’ so it’s nice when they get to see a performance like that,” he said.

On the road again

A VH1 movie about the Jackson Five entertained band members as they woke-up Sunday morning. A Spirit Lake Beacon reporter arrived around noon to interview both Butterworth and his parents.

The Nadas van, minus Lyle and Walsmith, left Spirit Lake just after 2 p.m. Bohnenkamp again shuffled through 8-tracks, this time landing on John Denver.

Talk in the van was still focused on the America show.

“I was nervous for the first time in two years,” Butterworth said.

Because of the bright lights on stage, Butterworth said it was difficult to see the reaction of the crowd.

“Last night, there was people sitting down listening to the words and listening to the music,” he explained. “When you play in a bar, you get maybe a table here and a table there doing that, but everyone else is talking to friends or dancing. There’s a lot less pressure. [Playing in a bar] is easier to deal with, but it’s not better.”

Butterworth said he would rather play in front of 2,000 than 20, if they are sitting down and listening. “If there’s 20 you have to look them in the eyes,” he said.

Although it may be easier for listeners to get the message of a song in an intimate setting, Butterworth said he is more concerned about people hearing the singing.

“What makes our songs good is the melodies, not so much the lyrics,” Butterworth said. “I am not some political junkie up there, I just tell stories.”

One thing Butterworth did observe from the night before was how well the crowd responded to America’s cover of “California Dreamin’.”

“Not very many bands say we need to learn more covers, but we need to learn more covers,” he said. “When we play a town for a first time, in order to get first time listeners, we have to keep their attention with something they know.”

But will The Nadas ever stray from its folk rock roots?

“Right now that sound of music is at a pretty big pinnacle,” Butterworth explained. “Then I look back and it’s not really a trendy style or a passing fad as far as I can tell.”

“You can break down almost any song to its acoustic guitar or piano and singer roots. If you wanted to take one of our songs and turn it into a techno hip-hop thing you could.”

In fact, Paul Wright, the Cedar Falls musician who is producing The Nadas second CD, did just that. According to Butterworth, Wright has created a dance-mix version of “Georgia.” “It’s going to be awesome,” he said.

A “New Start”

The Nadas second record is slated to be released in mid-October with a CD release party possibly scheduled for October 11 at People’s Bar & Grill.

The band has spent more than six months recording the disc and is currently laying down the final tracks. Wright, who frequently plays solo shows in Ames and has been known to pop up on stage with The Nadas, is producing the record in his home studio.

“Jason asked me when we were planning this if we wanted to have a producer and I said ‘if he can do a better job than we can,'” Butterworth said. “Paul is freaking amazing. I can’t even say enough about him. He thinks so far ahead as to how every change is going to affect the song and the whole record.”

The disc will include 14 songs, including different versions of two “Not A Sound” tracks: “Dancing Lucinda” and “Night and Day.”

The disc will also include new songs “Daisy,” “Run In Place,” “New Start,” “Last Word,” “White,” “Storm,” “Ghost,” “So Sad,” “Walking Home Alone,” and “Where I’m Going.”

“Parrot Song,” a staple in The Nadas live set and the first song Walsmith ever wrote, will also be on the disc, which is rumored to have a hidden track.

Similar to “Not A Sound,” Butterworth and Jason have each written an equal number of songs for the record. Butterworth also collaborated with Nelson on a song which may or may not make the cut.

Butterworth said “New Start” will be similar to “Not A Sound” in that it will have an equal mix of ballads and fast songs.

The record will feature a number of guest musicians, including Wright, who will play guitar, organ, piano and mandolin as well as sing back-up vocals and score an orchestral movement for one of the songs.

“Paul has put in all the hours that all of us have collectively put in, times two, so he’s working his ass off,” Butterworth said. “We’re all good friends. He knows when its time to quit — when we’re not going to get anything done.”

Butterworth’s brother Tony, High and Lonesome guitarist David Zoho and ex-Lunchbox drummer Chad Johnson are among other musicians who will appear on the record.

Another contributor to “New Start” has been Haldin, who is also managing the band’s own label, Nomad Records. “He’s quality control. He knows what it takes to have a radio-friendly record,” Butterworth said.

While having a producer and manager working on the record is a new experience for The Nadas, the time element is by far the biggest difference from “Not A Sound.”

“On the first record we cut all the tracks in 17 hours and mixed down in six,” Butterworth said. “The whole project is going to take six months. We worked more in two days than we did on [all of ‘Not A Sound’].”

Butterworth said one of the songs that made “New Start” was the fourth version the band recorded in its entirety. “It’s been really nice to have the freedom to do stuff like that,” he said. “There won’t be all these little mistakes.”

Not being rushed for time is also a new experience for Bohnenkamp, who recorded both Lunchbox discs in weekend blocks. “We were forced to go with the stuff that was good enough because we didn’t have the time to rehash,” he said.

“Every angle has been brought out and discussed,” Butterworth added. “Every nuance has been discussed and was a conscious decision. It’s going to be almost exactly what we want.”

Once the record is finished and released locally, the search for a distributor will begin. The band has been talking to independent labels for the past year, but a deal has not been confirmed as of press time.

“Its too big of job to do by yourself,” Butterworth said. “They take a pretty big cut, but it’s so worth it.”

Although a single has not yet been chosen, The Nadas hope to expand into radio with the release of “New Start.” Butterworth said he would not be able to single out one song until he heard the finished version of the entire record.

“I think it will probably be a decision where everybody says this is the one,” Bohnenkamp added. “My favorite song, ever since I’ve been listening to these guys, was ‘White.’ I’d always ask Brett ‘where did you put ‘White’?'”

Bohnenkamp, who was the primary song writer for Lunchbox, said he is not written any material with The Nadas and probably will not in the immediate future.

“To throw another song in by somebody in the band that is not by one of the chief songwriters seems like it would be …”

“What do you mean cheap?” Butterworth interrupted.

“Every song you write is a rip-off,” Nelson joked.

The Nadas van pulled into the parking lot before Bohnenkamp was able to finish his thought, leaving the question and the option of him writing with the band open.

As far as his final words about the new record.

“I couldn’t be more excited if I was two people.”