SJM Feature - RobThomas - FINAL_Profile ( Dept . ) 6 / 28 / 19 1 : 15 PM Page 3 own right , that must be fun for you to watch . Yeah , it really has . It’s funny ; he just sent me a new song he wrote that he wasn’t ever . You just keep writing the way you sure about . I listened to it and gave him did that feels true . my advice . But I also sent it to my label and didn’t tell them who it was , just to You are playing several shows in the get feedback . I’m trying to be there for Philadelphia area as well as at the Bor - any info , but unsolicited . I want to let gata in Atlantic City , a place you regu - him make the mistakes he needs to larly visit . Do you have to change your So you have the new album and this make and find out things in the same approach to the show when performing tour ; how excited are you to get back way I did . for the casino crowd ? out on the road and play some of these The only thing that sucks about a new songs ? A few years back , your wife had a health casino is that sometimes the front seats I can’t wait . Touring is always my scare and had to have brain surgery . are given to high rollers and they are not favorite part . You do everything to get How did that experience strengthen the fans . But part of the fun , even after all out there and play and share this bond between you two ? these years , is the people in the front moment with people . I was out on the We met 21 years ago today . So a couple row are these people with their arms road four of the last five years — every of years ago , when she had brain crossed waiting to be impressed . So if summer — and last year I didn’t go out surgery , that was a separate thing from you can get them to put their hands up and I felt like I hadn’t done anything . everything else she has . She has a cou - in the air , then you’ve accomplished And my wife said , “ You know , you’re ple of tick - borne diseases and an something . crazy . You made a record , that’s what autoimmune problem , so it’s a life - you did . ” And I was like , oh , I forgot , I long thing of ups and downs . But did work this year . we appreciate the good days and understand how special they are . You were staying busy . Always . “ Smooth ” is 20 years old now . Looking back , did you ever envi - What can fans expect at the shows ? sion the song blowing up the way What kind of experience are you hoping that it did ? to give them ? No . My wife knew , she told me I think a show is only dictated to be as immediately this is going to be good as whatever the music is . We are really big . But neither Carlos nor I lucky ; we have essentially 20 years of knew that . The funny thing is last music . We play a little Matchbox night Carlos texted me out of Twenty , but this is my first solo record nowhere — he’ll send me a review since 2015 , and so there are different [ of his ] and I’ll text back , “ What , are styles of music . Each night can be a lit - you bragging ? ” And he’ll say , tle bit different for people who are com - “ Yeah . ” It’s a great friendship that ing to multiple shows . THOMAS ’ NEW ALBUM , CHIP TOOTH SMILE came out of it . And this band , with the exception of I don’t think “ Smooth ” is the a couple people , has been the core best song I’ve ever written or the best band since 2004 . These guys are mon - song he’s ever done , but it was the right You and your wife started your own sters , just great players . If we don’t feel song and the right time . Obviously it charitable foundation , Sidewalk like the night was 100 percent joy , we was a big help for me and a big help for Angels.Why does the cause mean so didn’t do our job ; we are in the service Carlos to help him connect with a new much to you ? industry . audience . [ The song ] is very special for It’s just because it’s all homegrown , all those reasons . in - house . It’s me , my wife , and her Your new record has a great balance of mother and we’ve raised millions of dol - upbeat tunes with sort of triumphant Over the course of your career , you’ve not lars and saved hundreds of thousands lyrics interspersed with more melodic only worked with Santana , but other of animals . We’ve built shelters , created numbers that have a sort of vulnerabil - heavyweights like Mick Jagger and medical assistance and rescues all over . ity to them . How has your creative Willie Nelson . Is there anyone you And it’s my family’s passion for it that process changed over the years when it haven’t had the opportunity to work has kept everything going . comes to making new music ? with that is on your wish list ? And it’s the fans . Every year , to do I think with the writing process , very lit - I don’t know , after Willie it would just be those three nights at the Borgata , the tle has changed . If anything , the times I greedy to ask for anyone else . I love my fans , they show up . And we see just as feel like I’m doing it right , I’m doing it first solo record because I got to work many in Sidewalk Angels T - shirts as we the same exact way as when I did our with my musician idols … [ people like ] do in Matchbox Twenty or Rob Thomas first Matchbox record . The information Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the T - shirts . is so much broader now and I’m 47 , not Heartbreakers . For me , that’s what it’s 25 , so my craft has gotten better and the more about now . I don’t want to work Your son is sort of following in your foot - things I’m writing about are more suc - with Bono , I want to work with The steps and becoming a musician in his cinct and not that ’ 90s angst or what - 4 2 | S O U T H J E R S E Y M A G A Z I N E | V O L U M E 1 6 • I S S U E 4 | S O U T H J E R S E Y M A G A Z I N E . C O M