Clayton Colvin's songwriting switches direction

When Clayton Colvin moved from the Shoals to Austin, Texas, it wasn't to play music.

Colvin put his Entertainment Publicity and Promotion classes at The University of North Alabama on hold to work as the tour manager for the rock band Papa Mali.

But after spending about a year in a city that's known for its eclectic music scene, he decided to stay.

"It was really a great experience," the singer/guitarist said. "Once I got to Austin and saw all the opportunities for musicians, I felt like I needed to stay."

Colvin, 26, was born in Shreveport, La., but grew up in Florence.

Followers of the Shoals music scene will remember him as a member of Fuzzy Jupiter and The Dick Cheneys, along with drummer Ryan Tillery, guitarist Browan Lollar and bassist Jimbo Hart. Lollar and Hart are currently members of Jason Isbell's 400 Unit. Tillery toured with the band for about a year before leaving The 400 Unit in January.

Colvin said he was attending UNA in 2005 when he received a call from Hart, who told him Papa Mali needed a tour manager.

"He put in a good word for me, and I got the job," Colvin said. "I moved to Austin and did that for about a year."

Colvin said he has been playing guitar for about 13 years.

"I grew up in the church," he said. "My dad's a song leader at Wood Avenue Church of Christ. I always grew up around singing."

Colvin said he took guitar lessons from Lyndon Smith at Alabama Music and his father would sing along.

"He only taught '60s and '70s music," Colvin said. "I had a hard time learning the songs, so dad would sing them."

About the time Colvin was a member of local rock band Fuzzy Jupiter and playing solo acoustic shows, he became acquainted with singer/songwriter Gary Nichols.

"He brought me into FAME (Recording Studios) to do some demo work," Colvin said. "He's been a pretty big influence."

Colvin said he has been impressed with Nichols' career.

Colvin also said he has been heavily influenced by the Drive-By Truckers and former Trucker and solo artist Jason Isbell.

Isbell, Truckers' founders Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley and Truckers' bassist Shonna Tucker all grew up in the Shoals.

About two years ago after he stint as Papa Mali's tour manager ended, Colvin formed Dertybird with some musicians from the Dallas area.

The band's primary songwriter, Colvin said Dertybird's earlier songs are mostly about girls, specifically "girls I dated back in Alabama."

Those songs will be featured on the band's upcoming album, which they will begin working on in April.

Recently, his song writing has switched directions.

"Nowadays, I'm trying to write more about the world and life in general," he said. "It's more about life and less about love. The stuff we're playing right now is more about love and breaking up. Mainly, I was just wanting to do something different."

To Colvin, the Dertybird sound is more Southern rock than Muscle Shoals, but he admits, "it's hard to have a front man from that area that doesn't sound like he's from there."

"When we play in this region, people say it sounds like Muscle Shoals rock," Colvin said. "I love it when that happens. It puts a smile on my face."

It helped that his guitar player, J.T. Holt, was familiar with the Muscle Shoals sound.

"He already knew where I was coming from," Colvin said. "The rest of the band just picked it up."

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.