Howdy folks. I'm your host, Tony Neely.

When I was a kid, our home was always filled with the strum of my dad's guitar and the timeless tunes of Harry Chapin, The Beatles, and other classic artists. My dad was a compulsive vinyl buyer, so I was quite literally never more than an arm's length away from a stack of records.

Some of my earliest and most vivid memories are of concerts. Picture this: an infant getting their diaper changed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, or a three-year-old getting pulled out of the crowd to do the Twist with Chubby Checker. These are the foundations of my love for live music.

Growing up as an absolute music nerd, I've attended hundreds, maybe even over a thousand concerts. From flying around the country to see my favorite band (Phish) to pilgrimaging to numerous music festivals, some of my most formative experiences have been in the crowd at shows...but even more than attending shows as a spectator, I love being the one on stage.

My musical journey took a serious turn at age eleven when I started playing bass. By age twelve I was gigging around town and serving on my church's youth group worship team. Most weekends of my teens were spent sneaking through backdoors to get on stage at bars and venues I was too young to enter legally. Throughout high school and college, I honed my craft, working as a gigging and session bassist with artists like Little Sara's Orchestra, Patrick Mayberry, Crimson:Keepsake, Jimmy Thorpe, The Barefoot Sensation, Blue Eyed Grass, and The Algood Potato Association, cutting my teeth on stages and studios around the Southeast.

Post-undergrad, I moved to Texas, where I pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It was there I joined forces with Matt Adler and collaborated with Austin worship leaders Craig Rigney and Jason Johnson as their go to bassist. This chapter of my life was marked by playing on large festival stages, leading worship at camps/conferences, and headlining incredible venues from Texas all the way to Pennsylvania.

Returning to Chattanooga, Tennessee with a doctorate in hand, I became the bassist for Americana trio The Foothills (who has released three albums to date). I also joined the worship team at Silverdale Baptist Church. My wife (Andy) and I settled into careers, got a dog, bought a house, and now have two sons, Avett and Townes - whose names are a nod to The Avett Brothers and Justin Townes Earle. #DadLife. #BoyDad.

Although my days of marathon gigging and touring are likely behind me, my happy place is still being surrounded by live music.

So...with over twenty-five years of gigging experience, a passion for mentoring young musicians, and a slew of connections in the music industry, I decided to launch the Book Your Band Podcast.

I’m in my 30s, have a beard, and know how to use a microphone – it’s pretty much a requirement that I start a podcast.

On the Book Your Band Podcast, it is my aim to help those who are intrigued by the world of gigging and touring learn how to navigate the process like a seasoned veteran. Through this podcast, I share insights from artists and industry professionals at the pinnacle of their careers, hoping to inspire and educate the next generation of musicians.

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

-Tony