Sure, Wheeler Walker Jr. is riding off into the sunset with his latest project – Pullin’ Out – but he wouldn’t mind a parting gift in the form of his own Broadway bar.
The “F**k This Job” singer recently sat down on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast and broke down why now is the right time for him to retire (with all of the AI and algorithms running rampant and what not), how he views his music as truth telling while everyone else in the industry tip toes around what they really want to say, and how he’s felt misunderstood throughout much of his career.
Walker Jr. also gave quite the warning to Florida Georgia Line and their comeback, discussed how he prioritizes making country music and not “laptop music,” why he doesn’t mess with collabs (and how one with Maren Morris really backfired), and how fitting he believes it is that he’ll play his final show at the Ryman Auditorium.
The Mother Church is just steps away from Broadway, and the former rather than the latter means a lot to Wheeler. He actually hates Broadway and what its become (like many others)… but when we mentioned something about his retirement album being “on brand” for him, he did admit that he’d take a Broadway bar if it was offered up:
“I like that you put it as a brand. Why don’t you tell someone on Broadway that it’s a brand? So I can get my own f***ing bar. I think I want to do it just because it would piss people off.
But I don’t actually want a f***ing bar next to Jelly Roll’s, you know? That’s lame. But if they gave it to me, I’d probably take it.”
Just imagine walking down Nashville’s historic Broadway and seeing Wheeler Walker Jr’s name and face up in lights. That would be a sight to see.
And the “F*** This Bar” singer added that, unlike many of the other artist-owned bars in Downtown Nashville, he’d actually frequent his own if he was ever lucky enough to have one:
“I’d go in my f***ing bar. If anyone wants to give me a bar. If you are watching, and you own a bar, just f***ing give it to me.”
@whiskeyriff The man, the myth, the legend. Check out the full Whiskey Riff Raff podcast. #wheelerwalkerjr #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff #nashville #countrymusic ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
Walker Jr. also went into how he’d theme each of the floors of his bar… but you’ll have to tune into the podcast to hear the vulgar theming he’d lay out.
We thought that might be all that Wheeler had to say about potentially owning a Broadway bar, but later in the conversation, when he was talking about how his music is “punk rock,” “anti-authority,” “anti-establishment,” and”anti-f***ing everybody,” he did pitch the idea of having his own Nashville establishment again.
Funny and ironically enough, he thinks the perfect way to stick it to corporate country and the Broadway machine is to plaster his face onto a bar on the very street. However, he said he’s no longer willing to… let’s just say “do a certain act” to make that happen:
“My music will live on, but give me a f***ing bar. That can live on too. I’m done wanting to have a bar, even though I’d love to have it. I don’t want to play this corporate game.”
And that, my friends, is why he’s Pullin’ Out.
You can hear about all of his Broadway thoughts and a whole lot more from Wheeler Walker Jr. by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here.
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
