Inspired by people overcoming tough times, Craig Gerdes’ new “Tough as Nails” is universal and timeless. But current circumstances in the novel coronavirus pandemic have given the track, premiering on Billboard below from the country singer’s sophomore album of the same name, even more relevance than Gerdes could have imagined.
“That song] was written from actual stories of things people have gone through, troubles and struggle and overcoming those struggles,” Gerdes tells Billboard. “Tough as Nails” integrates conversations Gerdes had with a longtime steel mill worker in Pennsylvania, a coal miner in Alabama and a fan suffering with heroin addiction. Gerdes also weaves in a bit about his younger brother’s military service in Afghanistan. “It’s their stories put into words and music. And it’s really about the American people in general.”
Gerdes says that after writing “Tough as Nails,” the rest of the album “just fell into place.” The 10-song set — due April 3 as the follow-up to 2018’s Smokin’ Drinkin’ & Gamblin’ — was recorded with producer David Beeman at Native Sound Studio in St. Louis, and features Gerdes’ regular touring band.
“The majority of the record was inspired by people I’ve met up and down the highways and byways of America,” Gerdes says. “I’m always interested in hearing people’s stories, so I always make time to talk to them about their lives and what they do. There’s a lot of songs on the album] about struggles and hard times. I really didn’t have any preconceived notion about what I wanted the record to be; These stories just came to me and then became the songs.”
Like everyone else now, Gerdes is waiting for the music industry to reactivate so he can be back on the road playing and promoting Tough as Nails. After previous tours with Aaron Lewis, Jamey Johnson, Cody Jinks and others, he lined up dates with Trace Adkins and Whitey Morgan, as well as a variety of festivals and fairs. “I just want to hit more audiences, big audiences and spread the message,” he says. “We’re playing it by ear, day to day, got our fingers crossed. We have more songs now, more to say, so we’re hoping to get out there as soon as we can.”
Listen to “Tough as Nails” below.
