Beefing Bros: Making Sense of Gavin Adcock and the Fightin' Side of Country Music

What’re you looking at, son? You wanna go? Well, it seems like Gavin Adcock can’t get enough of the fightin’ side of country music, and the media (The Dads included) can’t get enough of his bologna. This week, we dive into the beefs, why country music seems to foster this kind of violent rhetoric, what dads should do about it and how the media landscape makes it all worse.

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Show Notes:

00:58 - Who is Gavin Adcock and why is country music (and its tabloids) so obsessed with him? The Dads get into his origin story, his approach and why he’s the perfect foil. He’s either a marketing genius or an idiot savant.

6:21 - Donnie outlines why he doesn’t like him, but Dave jumps in to say he totally gets his appeal, that vibe and that stupidity. There is something to be said about acting a fool. But it needs to be safe for everyone involved.

10:31 - Beefs, it’s what’s for dinner. The Dads outline the wild number of beefs that Adcock either instigated or accelerated. Up first, we talk about Braxton Keith and Adcock.

13:28 - Next, we cover the swing Adcock took at Beyoncé. His take was loaded and unneeded.

16:53 - Now we get to the good stuff: Zach Bryan vs Adcock. They came into it with the same energy, and this one is wonderfully messy. They both looked like fools because neither chose to de-escalate.

21:10 - On to Charley Crockett and his master class in narrative control. Adcock put himself back into the conversation, ego and all. And boy did he miss. The allegations of “Cosplay Cowboy” against Crockett fall so flat. All stage performers put on an act -- including Adcock.

27:46 - The fight and beef drives streaming revenues, but it’s not going to establish Adcock for the long term.

29:16 - Benjamin Tod, the $75 a night beef and the outlaw version of puka shells.

34:14 - How do these beefs stand up to the history of country music beefs? They are similar, but the social media system exacerbates the situation.

36:10 - What role do violence and male bravado play in country music -- it’s all about the storytelling. From Johnny Cash to Jason Aldean, country uses violence to tell a story and foster the image of power and control. And this music provides an escape. Understanding the line between violence as an escape vs a solution is critical.

45:19 - How do dads help their kids deal with this kind of trash talk or bullying? Be a better person: don’t let yourself be hurt, and find a better way to fix the problems that will always arise. And this isn’t just about dumb beefs or little kids. This is about how society solves its problems.

54:29 - Dad Life Sound Check for meeting the bully in the parking lot.

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Mentioned in this Episode:

1. Gavin Adcock bus surfing and shotgunning a beer (Source: Adcock’s social channels)
2. Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast with Gavin Adcock
3. Braxton Keith calling out Adcock
4. Adcock comments on Beyoncé
5. Zach Bryan's reaction to young fan
6. Adcock reaction to Zach Bryan's young fan interaction
7. Charley Crockett video on the subway
8. Crockett on the Nashville Now podcast with Rolling Stone
9. Country Cutler article on crafting personas in country music
10. Kat Hasty tweet about Morgan Wallen's authenticity
11. Clip from Benjamin Tod's socials screaming at people about Nashville
12. Interview with Benjamin Tod for Saddle Mountain Post
13. Interview with Benjamin Tod about making $75/night

References:

1. Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by Moodmode
2. Run Your Mouth - Gavin Adcock
3. Need To - Gavin Adcock
4. SOLD OUT - HARDY
5. February 28, 2016 - Koe Wetzel
6. Settle for a Beer - Braxton Keith
7. 16 Carriages - Beyonce
8. Nine Ball - Zach Bryan
9. Crucified Son - Charley Crockett
10. War Inside of Me - Lost Dog Street Band