We are in the midst of two big food events - the start of college football season and Labor Day. The former of course brings all-day tailgating and the latter means backyard cookouts. We caught up and chatted with rising country artist, Lloyd Carter, to talk about what he has coming up musically and to find out his go-to recipes for cookouts or tailgates.
Thanks for talking with us! What was life like growing up in South Georgia? I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else! Aside from blistering heat and gnats in the summer, I would say it’s the perfect place for me. I was born in Valdosta, Georgia, but I grew up in the small town of Lakeland about twenty miles out of town. Lakeland is a super small town and to this day still doesn’t have a traffic light.
So how did you get into music? As long as I can remember, I have always had a love for it. My dad’s side of the family had a gospel quartet called the Carter Family. They would travel up and down the road and played at any church that would open the doors and welcome them. My mom was in radio for thirteen years, but she never really had any musical talent. She would always say, “Son all I could ever play was Hell.”
How would you describe your band's sound? I would say our music is strongly influenced by classic country. We’ve worked really hard to focus on keeping a story in every song. We want to really bring the romance back to country music. Every song on this album has a story or a piece of my writing partner’s Gary DiBenedetto, Henry Mcgill, or myself on it.
Tell us about your awesome new song and video “Nothing to Lose.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories of fellas that have met that one female that would make them drop everything just to be with her. This song is about a good old boy from Tennessee that gave it all up for a awesome girl down in the Louisiana bayou.
Here at Grubs and Grooves we are gearing up for Labor Day Weekend and the start of football and want to impress our guests, could you share with us a killer recipe we can try?Well Labor Day weekend is a special weekend for myself. My wife and I my both have birthdays on September 4. One of my favorite dishes that I love to cook in the Fall, especially in football season, is “Poor Mans Burnt Ends.”
1. Fire up your Smoker and set the temperature to 275°F.
2. Season your chuck roast liberally on all sides with your favorite Rub. Insert a temperature probe into the thickest part of the chuck roast and place the roast on the smoker.
3. Smoke the roast until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Wrap the chuck roast in aluminum foil and return to the smoker until the internal temperature is 195°F, about 1 hour.
4. Remove the wrapped roast from the smoker and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes. Cut into 3/4 inch cubes and transfer to a disposable aluminum pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup brown sugar and drizzle with most of the BBQ sauce, reserving a couple of tablespoons for later. Toss to coat all the burnt ends with the sauce.
5. Place the pan on the grill, close the lid and cook for an additional 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the sauce is thickened and the burnt ends are tender. Remove from the smoker and serve.
What do you like to jam out to while cooking or grilling? Depends on where I am listening. If I’m on Spotify it’s classic country playlist. If it's Pandora, TG Sheppard radio is always hard to beat!
Favorite football team? I love college football and always been a University of Georgia fan “Go Dawgs!"
What makes the perfect dish for tailgating at a game? Chips and salsa is one of my absolute favorite foods whether it’s on a tailgate, at home at the dinner table, or an awesome local Mexican restaurant with a nice cold Cerveza.
Let’s talk beverages, what’s your must have holiday weekend or football tailgating drink? If there’s a nip in the air there’s nothing finer than taking my little double-wall stainless steel cup and mixing a little Captain Morgan and Diet Coke with a lime. Sometimes I think I’m part pirate. Lol
Do you have a guilty food pleasure? I’m just a big boy from South Georgia, so I do love country cookin’ and barbecue. I said for years I’ve got a weight problem, I can’t wait to eat.
What’s your favorite southern meal? On a Sunday's I love some good home fried chicken, homemade mac & cheese with crust on top, chased with a nice corner piece of cracklin’ cornbread.
Aside from your passion for food and music, what’s the one thing that really keeps you ticking? Without a doubt my precious wife. She seems to know what I love more than I do myself. I have to admit I took a long break from music. My wife knows how much I really love performing in front of a crowd and singing a song from the heart. She gave me a swift kick in the butt to get going to get this record out.
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? I would say Captain Morgan. That rum is one of my favorites. As I mentioned earlier sometimes I think I am part pirate. Lol. As far as food goes, barbecue is my absolute favorite. Most of the sauces I’m partial to are vinegar or mustard-based, but every now and then I do love a good sweet molasses.
Website: https://www.lloydcartermusic.com/
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