Meet Tony Red-Horse | Founder: The Rocketz | Writer, Composer, Arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tony Red-Horse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
With any entrepreneurship, at the beginning, you are going to have a work life balance that is heavily leaning towards the work side. You may not feel the stress of that imbalance because you own it, the vision, the goals and the process, all the way. However, your family and your close relations will probably be more affected. Work Life might be work family and you could negatively impact that if not held in check. I didn’t have that at first but I do now. It can be tricky because I feel that I’m nowhere near to achieving my goals with my band and music. I feel I need to perform more and travel more to achieve my goals and it does put a strain on family and relations. I’m more aware now of work Life balance and I do enjoy the moments when I pull back, slow down and spend more time to life, family but I always have that feeling deep inside that I could be doing something more for my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The Rocketz are a national touring act at the grassroots level. I like the nickname, dive bar headliner! This is 100% D.I.Y. I wear all of the hats at the moment. Songwriting, booking, management, social media, promotion. It’s tough but when you achieve milestones, there is a great sense of self worth and pride in accomplishment. To be clear, it takes a village and its extremely difficult to succeed without help and we do have a small village that we try to grow. But today, I can book a national tour on my own and I do. Also, I just booked a U.K. tour with shows in Ireland, Scotland and England coming up in May 2024. We also recently were awarded a No1 song/single for 2023 by a London based music group called London Celtic Punks. We continue to push and we see growth in The Rocketz brand. It’s not easy, it’s never easy and you see in our industry, fewer and fewer touring bands at our level. COVID also changed the landscape of live music. People are reluctant to go out into a crowd of people which then has an affect on the size of the crowd, oh the irony! Also, show goers arrive and leave earlier than before COVID. The Rocketz have a high and positive energy show. I try to perform songs that connect with people. I feel that the smaller shows are also more intimate and that in itself is plus!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well first and foremost you have to have a fried bologna sandwhich, Varallo’s comes to mind! Also, Midtown Cafe is a winner! You have to visit Honky Tonk Highway and The Parthenon as well as the Nashville Zoo! But, my friends would be musicians and we spend most of our time watching and hanging out with bands performing Eastside Bowl and a plethora of honky tonks taverns!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Joe Carducci and Gretsch guitars. Joe is now retired but welcomed me into the Gretsch guitar family. There were key friends, also endorsed by Gretsch that put in the word for me but Joe took me in and helped me. Being endorsed by Gretsch gave validity to The Rocketz and myself as an artist. Joe also allowed me to really wave the Gretsch guitars banner by allowing me to organize Gretsch sponsored shows, bringing in other Gretsch artists to perform and curate a strong community of great artists even further validating and furthering my career.

Website: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therocketz/

Twitter: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therocketz/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC446N6GbhhzAYxxJAHfwyDQ

Other: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yEx1yGhBuiNQKryawu8G4

Image Credits
Francesco_Carucci – cover photo Joe Carducci with white guitar – John Bowers all other photos Tony Red-Horse