(gentle theme music) (upbeat country music) ♪ Well, I ain't no alcoholic, I don't know what to call it ♪ ♪ I'm just trying to quench my thirst ♪ - [Narrator] This week on "Expressions," a classic concert featuring Nashville recording artist Kolby Oakley.

♪ Only asking for the worst ♪ ♪ Tell me, is having one little drink really a crime ♪ ♪ I don't care what you think, I'm only here for one drink ♪ ♪ 30 times, yeah ♪ (upbeat country music) - [Narrator] Funding for this program is provided in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(audience clapping) - Hello, and welcome to "Expressions."

I'm your host, Adara Alston.

For tonight's episode, we present a classic concert courtesy of country recording artist Kolby Oakley.

Originally from Whitney Point, New York, Kolby moved to Nashville in 2016 and hasn't looked back since.

He has released numerous singles and has opened for luminaries such as Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line and the Zac Brown Band.

He opens this 2019 performance in front of a raucous hometown crowd with his original song, "Let's Get Country."

(audience clapping) (country rock music) ♪ Around here, we like cold beer on Friday after work ♪ ♪ You can find us in a trail of dust ♪ ♪ Where the paved road turns to dirt ♪ ♪ Yeah, we light the fire when the sun goes down ♪ ♪ We're whiskey bent and hell-bound ♪ ♪ We're the rowdiest group in the whole damn town ♪ ♪ Where you can hear us, we are the sound ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, we get loud ♪ ♪ Living it up and we throw it down ♪ ♪ It gets crazy, well, it's a party ♪ ♪ You think it's over, we're just getting started ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, like it or not ♪ ♪ We don't care, it's all that we got ♪ ♪ Well, it's a way of life, the only way to be ♪ ♪ Go on, let's get, let's get country ♪ (country rock music) ♪ Wait a minute, you wanna know ♪ ♪ Well, this is how we roll ♪ ♪ We don't just sing about hillbilly things ♪ ♪ 'Cause we grew up where the corn grows ♪ ♪ Yeah, a true country song is hard to beat ♪ ♪ We got shotguns, two cans under our seat ♪ ♪ So we live like the rebels 'cause we like to live free ♪ ♪ We're proud to say it, we're proud to be ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, we get loud ♪ ♪ Living it up, we throw it down ♪ ♪ It gets crazy, well, it's a party ♪ ♪ You think it's over, we're just getting started ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, like it or not ♪ ♪ We don't care, it's all that we got ♪ ♪ Well, it's a way of life, the only way to be ♪ ♪ Come on, let's get, let's get country ♪ (country rock music) ♪ Hey, hey, we get loud ♪ ♪ Living it up, we throw it down ♪ ♪ Gets crazy, well, it's a party ♪ ♪ It ain't over, son ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, like it or not ♪ ♪ We don't care, it's all that we got ♪ ♪ Well, it's a way of life, the only way to be ♪ ♪ Come on, let's get, let's get country ♪ ♪ Come on, let's get, let's get country ♪ ♪ Come on, let's get, let's get country ♪ ♪ We getting country tonight ♪ (audience clapping) Thank you.

(audience clapping) (upbeat country music) ♪ Now, we were playing a show north of New York City ♪ ♪ When a young, blonde-haired beauty caught my eye ♪ ♪ She was standing at the stairs when I played my last song ♪ ♪ Then she gave me her number and gave me a kiss goodbye ♪ ♪ Oh, front row woman ♪ ♪ You sexy lady ♪ ♪ Well, I might not know your name ♪ ♪ But you're a friend of mine, oh ♪ ♪ Little front row woman ♪ ♪ Why you wanna call me, baby ♪ ♪ Don't you know, you front row women get me every time ♪ ♪ Then next week, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ♪ ♪ I gave a ticket to a waitress who looked so fine ♪ ♪ The band started to play when I saw her walk in ♪ ♪ And pretty soon, she was dancing for me ♪ ♪ At the front of the line ♪ ♪ Oh, front row woman ♪ ♪ You sexy lady ♪ ♪ Well, I might not know your name ♪ ♪ But you're a friend of mine, oh ♪ ♪ You little front row woman ♪ ♪ Now, why you wanna call me, baby ♪ ♪ Don't you know, you front row women get me every time ♪ ♪ I think you know what you do to me ♪ ♪ And I think you love playing the game ♪ ♪ You keep leading me on and on ♪ ♪ Now, girl, you're gonna drive me insane, oh ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, come on ♪ ♪ You sexy lady ♪ ♪ Well, I might not know your name ♪ ♪ But you're a friend of mine, oh ♪ ♪ You little front row woman ♪ ♪ Now, why you wanna call me, baby, come on ♪ ♪ Don't you know, you front row women get me every time ♪ ♪ Oh, you front row woman ♪ ♪ You sexy lady ♪ ♪ Well, I might now know your name ♪ ♪ But you're a friend of mine, oh ♪ ♪ You little front row woman ♪ ♪ Why you wanna call me, baby ♪ ♪ Don't you know, you front row women get me every time ♪ ♪ Don't you know, you front row women get me every time ♪ All right, we're gonna sing this song for the front row women tonight.

(upbeat country music) ♪ Little front row, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Front row, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, front row woman in a front row ♪ ♪ Little front row woman, woman ♪ (audience clapping) (melancholy country music) ♪ The humming of these rolling tires ♪ ♪ Makes me think about people I love ♪ ♪ Where I won't be ♪ ♪ I could turn around, follow this white line ♪ ♪ Back to my town ♪ ♪ Take exit eight across the bridge ♪ ♪ And be sitting there right now ♪ ♪ But I've got some things that I must do ♪ ♪ Well, I know they'll be waiting for me ♪ ♪ With that life I always knew ♪ ♪ Mama's walking her dogs around the park ♪ ♪ Dad's in the garage with his tool belt on ♪ ♪ And brother's out doing whatever he wants ♪ ♪ Friday night ♪ ♪ Well, everybody's sitting on the porch ♪ ♪ I wouldn't trade it or ask for more ♪ ♪ Rolling past that 81 South sign ♪ ♪ I'm halfway to Tennessee ♪ ♪ With New York on my mind ♪ (melancholy country music) ♪ Down here, people ask ♪ ♪ How do you sleep with them bright lights in your windows ♪ ♪ And the noise from the busy streets ♪ ♪ Well, I'm not from all that city living life ♪ ♪ I sleep just fine ♪ ♪ Because a dirt road, it don't make much noise at night ♪ ♪ And I often wonder what they're up to ♪ ♪ Well, I know the answer's just the same things ♪ ♪ That they always do ♪ ♪ Mama's walking her dogs around the park ♪ ♪ Dad's in the garage with his tool belt on ♪ ♪ And brother's out doing whatever he wants ♪ ♪ Friday night ♪ ♪ Where everybody's sitting on the porch ♪ ♪ I wouldn't trade it or ask for more ♪ ♪ Blowing past that 440 West sign ♪ ♪ I'm down here in Tennessee ♪ ♪ With New York on my mind ♪ (melancholy country music) ♪ Well, I know it's just a matter of time ♪ ♪ Well, I'll be coming home ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna find ♪ ♪ Mama walking her dogs around the park ♪ ♪ Dad in the garage with his tool belt on ♪ ♪ And brother's out doing whatever he wants ♪ ♪ On Friday nights ♪ ♪ Everybody's sitting on the porch ♪ ♪ I wouldn't trade it or ask for more ♪ ♪ Crossing bridge just past that exit eight sign ♪ ♪ It's been a long trip to Tennessee ♪ ♪ With New York on my mind ♪ ♪ With New York on my mind ♪ (melancholy country music) (audience clapping) - Kolby Oakley, performing his original song, "New York on My Mind" here on "Expressions."

As the song suggests, Kolby's home state remains important to him and he returns annually to perform a welcome home concert at the Broome County Fairgrounds in Whitney Point.

Before his performance, we talked to Kolby about his early musical influences and growing up in the Southern Tier.

- So, I grew up in Whitney Point, New York.

My background in music goes all the way back as far as I can remember.

My parents had a modern rock band.

Their drummer one time couldn't make it to a rehearsal.

So, I was probably seven, maybe, and I used to jam on drums a little bit.

And I heard all these songs over and over and over from their rehearsals.

And they said, "Well, why don't you just play a song?

You know, let him play a song or something."

I jumped in and started playing, and they basically hired me to take over the spot.

It was just easier, and so, by the time I was eight, I was gigging with them live.

Even in videos, you could barely see my head.

The cymbals would block my head.

And so, I think some people were wondering who was even playing.

I was in the band called Smokehouse Blues.

I was playing drums for them.

My dad was singing for them and playing harmonica.

And then, Gary Ellis, who actually has made my custom guitar that I use today and have for years, him and his brother were the bassist and guitarist and he plays a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughn stuff and just awesome blues music.

So, I was watching him night after night, playing drums with the band.

And I was like, man, I'd really like to play guitar.

So, I started just from watching him and just kind of teaching myself to play.

I started writing songs a little bit at that time.

My great-grandmother had passed away and it just kind of triggered, like, that was kind of like my outlet or whatever, you know, like that's kind of just drove me to write a song and then, since then, I just kind of stuck with it.

But yeah, I would say I was probably 13 or 14 when I started really getting into country music and kind of the rest is just history, I guess.

(audience clapping) (country rock music) ♪ Where I grew up ♪ ♪ Trying to make a buck would either break your back ♪ ♪ Or it would make you tough ♪ ♪ Well, my brother and I, we made our plan ♪ ♪ We'd make our money with a moonshine stand ♪ ♪ So we found a spot on our parents' land ♪ ♪ Where we'd build and hide that moonshine stand ♪ ♪ Well, in the thick green shrubs ♪ ♪ That's where we dug a hole to stand ♪ ♪ So we were hidden from above ♪ ♪ Ain't gonna see us in there ♪ ♪ We saved pickle jars just to store the goods ♪ ♪ And made dummy trails all through them woods ♪ ♪ Well, if the cops are gonna catch us ♪ ♪ They'll be all night long ♪ ♪ If they ever find the still, we'd be long, long gone ♪ ♪ Gone ♪ (country rock music) ♪ Well, after a run, when we ran low ♪ ♪ To that moonshine still is where we'd go ♪ ♪ One day, our uncle, he found our spot ♪ ♪ He took it over, growing his pot ♪ ♪ Well, me and my brother had to get in the game ♪ ♪ If he could do that to us, we could do the same ♪ ♪ Maybe even a little worse ♪ ♪ So I told my brother ♪ ♪ Put the sheriff on the line and tell him ♪ ♪ That our uncle's selling pickle jars of 'shine ♪ ♪ Well, the cops showed up and they hauled him to jail ♪ ♪ But only me and my brother could afford the bail ♪ ♪ I don't think we gonna pay it ♪ ♪ The cops followed trails all across that land ♪ ♪ But they never did find our moonshine stand ♪ ♪ Well, if you ever come to town ♪ ♪ And moonshine is what you need ♪ ♪ Well, we'd really love to help you, but we only sell weed ♪ (audience cheering) (country rock music) ♪ Give them those cops, boys ♪ (country rock music) (audience cheering) (steady contemplative music) ♪ Well, I've been holding down this bar stool ♪ ♪ Since you hit the road ♪ ♪ Now that my heart's been broken ♪ ♪ My liver seems to carry the load ♪ ♪ There's always one thing weighing on my mind ♪ ♪ An answer that I'm hoping to find ♪ ♪ Do you ever drink about me ♪ ♪ You know, I drink a lot about you ♪ ♪ I drink about what you've been doing ♪ ♪ All the places you could be ♪ ♪ I drink about whether you ever drink about me ♪ (slow country music) ♪ Maybe you're all alone ♪ ♪ Sipping on a glass of wine ♪ ♪ Maybe you're out with a friend ♪ ♪ While I'm without mine ♪ ♪ Maybe you wake up in the morning ♪ ♪ And your head is in pain ♪ ♪ I do when I'm wracking my brain ♪ ♪ Do you ever drink about me ♪ ♪ You know, I drink a lot about you ♪ ♪ I drink about what you've been doing ♪ ♪ All the places you could be ♪ ♪ I drink about whether you ever drink about me ♪ (slow country music) ♪ I sober to my senses ♪ ♪ And stop talking to this empty glass ♪ ♪ But before they close the doors ♪ ♪ I'm gonna do one more ♪ ♪ But do you ever drink about me ♪ ♪ Know I drink a lot about you ♪ ♪ I drink about what you've been doing ♪ ♪ Places you could be ♪ ♪ I drink about whether you ever ♪ ♪ Drink about me ♪ ♪ You know I drink a lot about you ♪ ♪ I drink about what you've been doing ♪ ♪ The places you could be ♪ ♪ I drink about whether you ever ♪ ♪ Drink about me ♪ ♪ I drink a lot about you, baby ♪ ♪ Do you drink about me ♪ ♪ When you're drinking ♪ ♪ When you're drinking ♪ ♪ Do you drink about me ♪ ♪ You know I drink a lot about you ♪ ♪ Do you drink about me ♪ (slow country music) (audience clapping) - Kolby Oakley bringing down the house here on "Expressions."

If you want to learn more about this talented singer-songwriter or to see when he's touring, then visit his website at kolbyoakley.com.

For more from "Expressions," please visit our website at wskg.org/expressions.

We leave you with one more song from Kolby and the band.

Thanks for watching.

I'm Adara Alston.

Good night.

(upbeat country music) ♪ I'm just a simple, hardworking ♪ ♪ Rusty little truck driving guy ♪ ♪ And you can find me at the end of the day ♪ ♪ At my favorite local dive ♪ ♪ They got my name on a bar stool, coasters and all ♪ ♪ I won most valuable (indistinct) ♪ ♪ My cap is on the wall ♪ ♪ Supporting local business ♪ ♪ With each and every can ♪ ♪ Well, I ain't no alcoholic ♪ ♪ I don't know what you call it ♪ ♪ I'm just trying to quench my thirst ♪ ♪ If I stay on this path, they say I'll never last ♪ ♪ And I'm only asking for the worst ♪ ♪ Tell me, is having one little drink really a crime ♪ ♪ I don't care what you think, I'm only here for one drink ♪ ♪ Come on, 30 times, yeah ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ Well, my tab comes in the mail like a regular bill ♪ ♪ With a beer chip and a free koozie ♪ ♪ So my drinks don't lose no chill ♪ ♪ Doctors say I'll lose my liver ♪ ♪ But they're outta their minds ♪ ♪ I've been slowing it down to one drink at a time ♪ ♪ I wasn't born no quitter ♪ ♪ I'm not about to try ♪ ♪ Well, I ain't no alcoholic ♪ ♪ I don't know what you call it ♪ ♪ I'm just trying to quench my thirst ♪ ♪ If I stay on this path, they say I'll never last ♪ ♪ And I'm only asking for the worst ♪ ♪ Tell me, is having one little drink really a crime ♪ ♪ I don't care what you think, I'm only here for one drink ♪ ♪ 30 times, yeah ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ Well, I ain't no alcoholic ♪ ♪ I don't know what you call it ♪ ♪ I'm just trying to quench my thirst ♪ ♪ If I stay on this path, they say I'll never last ♪ ♪ That I'm only asking for the worst ♪ ♪ But tell me, is having one little drink really a crime ♪ ♪ I don't care what you think, I'm only here for one drink ♪ ♪ 30 times ♪ ♪ I don't care what you think, I'm only here for one drink ♪ ♪ Oh, 30 times ♪ (slow rock music) (audience cheering) (slow rock music) (Kolby cheers) (audience clapping) ♪ I can't see ♪ ♪ That the things that got me here today ♪ ♪ Don't know where I'd be ♪ (gentle country music) (audience cheering)