Chris Sanders – an Xperience Interview

Chris Sanders – an Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: You started seriously playing guitar and singing when you were 49. Most people start off in their teens or twenties. You did play when you were young, but you kind of dropped it. What made you pick music back up at 49?

CS: I picked up a guitar for the first time in high school in Waynesboro, PA. My best friend back then was Terry Kerns, and he was a talented guitar player. He gave me my first guitar and taught me how to play the riff to the Scorpions’ “Rock You Like A Hurricane.” All I ever really played were metal riffs like that. I never took the time to learn to actually play, so I’m just a rhythm guitarist. I feel I’m just adequate enough to only rarely embarrass myself on stage!
Terry is no longer with us, but I like to think that, finally, part of his legacy continues to live on in me and continues into the people I inspire.
I joined the Army right out of high school, and long story short, during my time in the Army and for years beyond, I played off and on, but mostly off.
Then in 2018, I picked up the guitar again. I bought myself my first acoustic guitar, and listening to country music, I heard the song “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs, and I decided I wanted to learn how to play it. So I practiced playing it, and for some reason, I started trying to sing it while playing the guitar. My entire life, I had never tried to actually sing. I would tell you that I can’t sing, much less sing and play the guitar to this song, yet here I was.
So I started recording myself. I’d play the song a bunch of times and then record it. I made 17 recordings before comparing the first and seventeenth, and the difference was huge. So I took the recording to a friend of mine, Adam Reider (another local musician), and asked him if he would listen and give me his opinion. He did so and told me, “Well, you’re no Freddie Mercury, but your voice has a good tone, and you have good pitch.” I can’t find those recordings anymore. A lot has happened since 2018, but that was the push that kept me going and saw me head to my first open mic at the Rustic Barn in May 2018.

RRX: You may have started playing late, but I assume you’ve been listening your whole life. Do you see your music differently, coming from a more “grown up” construction? Do you feel you have a deeper well to draw from now?

CS: Yes, for sure. I was your typical ’80s metalhead in my teens. I’d say, “My holy trinity is Ozzy, Priest, and Maiden!” They’re still my favorites, but time has certainly broadened my tastes. And I keep finding – if not inspiration – then more energy to keep going, with every artist and performance I experience. Jamey Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zakk Wylde, Metallica, Sirsy, Rob Ruark (formerly of Whiskey Highway and now performing in Nashville), Skeeter Creek, and so many more are all recent influences on every aspect of what I am doing. Is any of it “grown up”? I have no idea, but it has certainly evolved, and continues to evolve. If change is growth, then I suppose I’m growing quickly indeed.

RRX: You won “Favorite Country Artist” in the Listen Up 2025 Awards. Your acceptance speech was short, but very powerful. How was that moment for you? And before and after; that whole day?

CS: Holy crap! Headed to the show, I was talking to my girlfriend Jessica, and was pretty sure I was going to celebrate the win of one of my friends. They have the social media followers, the full bands backing them, the networks that come from all that, so I was not at all thinking I would win.
I was not prepared to hear my name, and it took me a moment to really process it.
So I had no speech, and I don’t know about anyone else, but there’s a huge difference between performing and singing behind a guitar, and actual public speaking. My mind went absolutely blank! When I finished, I couldn’t even remember what I said, and had to watch a video of it after! Apologies to Rob Smittix for almost bowling him over with the hug!
Everyone was so kind to me, assuring me that the speech was great, so that was great to hear. I felt like I was taking too long, and as soon as I was walking away, worried that I didn’t say enough, or thank enough people, because that is a MASSIVE list of people!
I was, and am, so grateful and humbled that I was nominated, as I was in very talented and deserving company. How I, of all people, was one of four nominations … well, thank you to every single person who submitted my name as your nomination, and for every vote everyone cast, regardless of who it was for.
Hanging at the after party was such a good time. Mainly because it’s so rare that so many of my friends are all in the same place! Everyone was so congratulatory, and it was so overwhelming, but in a very positive way. I just tried to hold on to that moment for as long as I could. I never thought that I would be this person, with these experiences.
I’m grateful and lucky. I felt that way the day of the show, and I still feel that way now, weeks later.

RRX: Country is a very “rootsy” music. It calls out against the clusterf*ck of the high-tech times we live in; kind of kicks out the extraneous stuff. As we get more high-tech, more overrun by everything, how do you think the genre will hold up? What does it offer in an AI world?

CS: The genre questions always give me such angst. It’s all so very subjective, right? My song “Ain’t the Life” … what genre is that? I didn’t write it as anything except what it is, and I’ve been told it’s country, rock, folk, and Americana.
So I can’t even predict what genre my songs are, and you want me to wax prophetic on the country genre specifically? Oof! Ok let’s see …
A lot of the newer country songs have elements of pop and hip hop. Some country fans are so put off by it, to them it’s not country, while others embrace it. There’s no arguing that Shaboozey has hit a nerve, and there are country artists like Jamey Johnson, Tyler Childers, and Cody Jinks out there putting out incredible, more “traditional” country music.
So, for the future as far as I can see, the genre will always hold up. How long before we hear some country electronica, or some other combination? The old guard will hate it, but many will like it, and the genre will continue to evolve.

RRX: I read on your bio about you and your bass player, Eric Roberts, getting together for basement jams, and it hit home because the greatest times of my life were spent in a basement jamming with people. Do you have any fun tales about the ubiquitous basement jam?

CS: I haven’t been doing this a lot to have any real fun tales, beyond the fact that every jam and band practice we have is such a good time. We all look forward to Monday night!
I’ve managed to put together a pretty solid space in my basement. Jessica convinced me to pick up a used drum kit, I picked up a nice digital mixer, and I have it all wired up so everyone can just show up, plug in, and go!
The most incredible thing is that I found three other people who have listened to my original songs, and want to be a part of “Chris Sanders and the Better Days” band. They have taken my songs, and added so much depth and feel to them. My lead guitar player, Brian Clayton, is a wizard.

Everyone needs to come to Empire Underground on May 17 and see us play! Tickets are only $20!

Photo by Stephanie K. Bartik.

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