By Erin Shultz
If you go
WHAT: LoCash Cowboys, Josh Mast & The Nervous Habits and Buzz Cola
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, with Guitar Hero contest at midnight
WHERE: Tail-Gators Bar & Grill, 1833 S. Plate St.
COST: Minimum $10 donation to Special Olympics
INFO: 765-452-8300
His career has taken him to shows throughout Music City and to the Big Apple, but this week, Preston Brust will play an equally important gig — in his hometown.
The Kokomo native, one half of the country duo LoCash Cowboys, said he’s always wanted to come home and do a local show. And it will all come together with Wednesday’s show at Tail-Gators Bar & Grill, 1833 S. Plate St.
All proceeds from the show — which features Josh Mast & the Nervous Habits and Buzz Cola — go to the Howard County Special Olympics.
“It’s crazy going from Kokomo to Times Square and then back to Kokomo — full circle,” he said in a phone interview from Nashville last week.
It’s been a surreal journey, Brust says.
In 2002, Brust left Kokomo and moved to Nashville where be met Chris Lucas, his LoCash partner in crime.
Together the two have performed on CMT, MTV, VH1 and more and have recorded with country music’s legendary producers, such as Jeffrey Steele, the man behind such groups as Rascal Flatts.
Recently, the pair wrote about 40 songs with Steele, whittled it down to 20 and recorded 11 for the upcoming “This Is How We Do It.”
Brust said Steele really helped define the LoCash sound, which seems to stand in the middle of Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry.
“We were taking our live attitude and putting it on records and people weren’t understanding,” said Brust. “They were saying this is wild, this isn’t county. Jeffrey, he just put his arms around that music.”
But through it all, Brust said, the subject matter of LoCash’s songs remains homegrown.
“I think when you’re just real with people, they sense it off the bat,” he said. “We’re just down home, real people.”
Take, for example, the duo’s upcoming single “Keep in Mind,” which reminds kids and parents about simple, loving don’t-forget-your-jacket-style reminders.
“When I heard that song, I thought no one is going to expect us to sing that song,” said Brust. “But this really is us. We want to be able to pull those heart strings on people and have people relate to that. We don’t want to just be the party guys.”
But don’t get them wrong. LoCash is a group that came to have a good time as well.
The first single off the upcoming album, “Here Comes Summer,” is a playful break from the blustery Indiana winters Brust remembers from growing up. (“Ain’t nothing hotter than three months of women and water,” he sings into the phone.)
Brust said he doesn’t quite know what the future holds for LoCash but said he was optimistic. He was coy when he said there’s rumors a certain Australian country sensation may record a song that LoCash Cowboys wrote.
Tongue planted firmly in cheek, he said he couldn’t confirm or deny the identity of the musician.
“I don’t want to jinx it because it’s never cut until it’s on the radio and on the album, but he played it for Nicole, I guess,” he said with a laugh.
For Brust, one of the most important parts of his musical future happens on Wednesday night, where he’ll get to see family and friends and raise some money for Special Olympics.
“That’s what it’s all about — keeping your roots and remembering where you come from.”
• Erin Shultz is the Kokomo Tribune Life & Style editor. She may be reached at 765-454-8587 or erin.shultz@kokomotribune.com.
