Today we’d like to introduce you to Colt Ball
Hi Colt, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well…. I’ve always had music around me. My mom’s side of the family had a lot of musicians and a lot of farmers. We grew up in the cornfields of South Central IL. (Macoupin County). So most weekends involved Hoot-N-Annies that were filled with a community of friends and neighbors. I remember at a very young age watching these folks come together, yielding the harvest from their most recent hunt or from their garden beds, and all working together to provide this huge spread for everyone. We’d all get our bellies full and, like clockwork, the kids would play around the farm, while the adults would bust out the instruments. I think I remember sort of making the connection like, “ohhh this is how the adults play….music.”
They primarily played Bluegrass, Gospel Tunes, and Old Country. That was my introduction into seeing what live music really was, and what it could do for the average person. To them it was like a healing ceremony! They were taking it to church!
At around 10 or so, I was gifted an old acoustic guitar from my Grandma, but as my musical pallet was evolving my mom eventually got me my first electric at around age 12.
Mom (Amy) sang Country, my brother (Chris) dabbled in Punk Rock, Grunge, & Oldschool Hip Hop, and by now I was being heavily influenced by Classic Rock/Blues.
I’d say it was Chris that really opened my eyes to creating music…. not just playing it. I was captivated by his ability to freestyles lyrics for hours until he found the right combination of words. Then he would sing that combination of words until it was embedded into his brain. Chris rarely wrote anything down. It was crazy! And he was a solo bass performer. That in itself was intriguing to me!
I was becoming more impacted by music at this point, with all the influences around me! I started performing out with a buddy in middle school. We did a couple town fair events/school events. From there I was in and out of various projects playing private parties. I was also opening for my mom’s band at dive bars (they’d kick me out right after my set, but I always thought it was cool that they let me in to do my thing for 30-45 minutes!) Those gigs stretched through high school as I started to dabble in styles of Funk and Reggae.
Sublime, Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Cas Haley… these were my inspirations at that time.
By this time I’m 18. I wasn’t sure about going to College yet. I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I sure was digging playing music! So I decided to take a year at home to figure it out. I eventually found my calling in a group called Team Goodvibes (which sort of evolved over time into a family band). Long story short, I had met this gal named Chrysta. She taught me a lot about life but really opened my eyes to being able to perform out, and to do it in a way where we didn’t have to pay to play! You mean I can do this thing that brings me so much joy AND get paid for it? OKAY!!! SIGN ME UP! I just felt in a High Energy State of mind during those years. I felt FREE!
Mom was always encouraging of me and my friends playing music. I remember having jam sessions around our dinning room table until like 1am most summer nights. Time would slip away from us night after night. Mom would be trying to sleep down the hall with work at 5am. But she never told us to stop. She never told us to turn it down or go to bed. (Later on in life she said she knew it would pay off to allow us that freedom to experiment with music… with life… with social settings… the works. And she didn’t want to be the force that threw those experimental days off kilter. LOVE YOU MOM! FOREVER GRATEFUL!)
Fast forward a few years. Team Goodvibes is now playing various small circuit music festivals, along with countless backyard parties and dive bars. We were hungry for it, and I was ready to take music all the way!!! We needed to get out of our hometown and move to a city where they appreciated our sound though. We were some punk kids belting Sublime style Reggae for beer and gas money in those days. The farmers were…. not impressed, lol.
I moved outside of St. Louis in 2015 for better opportunities. I didn’t know a soul here. I didn’t have a job or friends. Just needed that shake me up. I thought music was going to be the constant in that move. Boy was I wrong. The family band ended up breaking up in 2016-ish. Life started to set in. I’m now 23 years old and I’m trying to buy a house in a state I have no ties to. Reality was scary and I decided to hang the guitar up. I was always use to working restaurant and bar gigs when I wasn’t playing music. But no-one was hiring me and I got nervous. I took the first job the Temp Services could find me. A factory gig at Sinclair & Rush. An Injection Molding facility, that I knew ZERO about!
I kind of thought I would just be there long enough to find something better suited. But the paycheck was nice and an old boss of mine ended up taking me under this wing. He taught me a lot about management. How to build a team and help drive that team to success. I worked my way up the ladder rather fast and that industry became my career for the next 7 years or so. I had given up on music and was kind of excited to have a “real job”.
Those years in manufacturing taught me more than my younger self could ever imagine! I was learning important business practices through implementing/maintaining ISO Certifications, Lean Sigma 6, ROI Analysis, and Documentation/Organization. On top of the clerical side of my job, I was in charge of running a shop floor both in Supervision and Technician work. Let me tell you, when you are a 24 year old kid who is in charge of people that have been working at a facility as long as you’ve been alive, it is EXTREMELY hard to earn their respect. I had to prove myself daily that I was a valuable asset. But I never let the chatter slow me down. It was fuel to do better. To be better.
So here I am feeling more confident than ever in the modern world. I own a house, I have polished some skillsets that have provided a level of independence. I was good at money management and learned how to interact with people in a business setting. I felt like I was going to make a name for myself, as being a leader in the Manufacturing Industry. Then COVID hit…..
2020 rolled around and the world stopped. I was still working full time but my social life was scarce. No-one wanted to hang out. No-one was hitting the town and catching live music. Everyone was sheltering in place.
That loneliness started setting in after a while I guess. I reached for my guitar on the wall, more and more. I felt comfort in getting lost in the music again. It felt like years since I had been connected to this ole hunk of wood and strings! During that same time, a friend of mine added me to this Facebook group. It was a place for folks to live stream shows since no-one was gigging anymore. I started sharing my afterwork tunes with the people in this Group Page. It was called BIO-HAZARD Open Mic Stream. They were all from the Central IL area for the most part. About 3.6k folks total. I didn’t know any of them, but I got a good response when I would post! Folks for the first time in a long time were encouraging me to do music. It felt nice. I started flooding that page with 3-4 songs a day if I could squeeze em in!
I got back into writing and came up with some new tunes. My old buddy Brandon Elliott (Guitarist for Team Goodvibes) was now doing Music Production. He called me up one day and mentioned recording an album at my place. We worked on some tracks for a week or so and soon after that I released my first album ‘All Mixed Up’. I handmade all the CD’s. I included all my lyrics in a little booklet and everything! It was time consuming but I cared about it that much. Sold over 200 copies of physical CDs in 2021!
I was still working factory at the time but had moved to a smaller outfit closer to home. Four Process was the name of the company and Brett Richardet was my boss. He was a younger kat that had a lot of charisma and passion for life! We connected on a lot of topics. He was also a farm boy and was a touring musician for a while. He was a go-getter and had these catch phrases. He would tell me all the time “If you have the CAPABILITY to do something, then you have the RESPONSIBILITY to get it done!” He gave me a the freedom to explore music again while still having financial stability of a “real job”.
I was working four 10 hour shifts while going out to open mic nights every Tuesday-Thursday around St. Louis. (Thank you Hollie Schultz! You are an amazing artist and friend! Your encouragement to attend those open mics really helped me get my music out there!)
In the Spring of 2021 I landed on a festival bill called Bicycle Days. It was just outside of Peoria IL. I was greeted by strangers that all knew my name. It was really weird and slightly overwhelming. Turns out all those folks were apart of the BIO-HAZARD Group! Peoria IL became my new home away from home!
I started gigging every weekend, still did the open mics during the week, and worked a full time job. I was mainly traveling to Peoria for all my gigs but started landing some around the city at places like Broadway Oyster Bar. (This was a HUGE milestone for me! I’d seen so many shows there! It felt surreal to be on the stage looking out.) By the start of 2022 I had somehow managed to land a gig playing at The Enterprise Center for a SOLD OUT Blues Hockey Game. I remember the sound tech sorta softly talking to me after the set. He said “Good job man! Not sure what this means to you…. but you do know you just played to about 18K people right?? Your set was streamed all over the building!” Wow!!! CRAZY!!! I could hardly believe it was real. Getting back into music after a 4-5 year break made me feel like I was learning to walk again. And within the first 6 months I’m playing at a Sports Arena?!?!?
After playing that gig I started to get booked all the time. Even during the week. It became hard to juggle the full time job and the music. I was giving music my all. I bought my own equipment to make merch so I could be a One Stop Shop. I invested in better sound equipment for my live performances. I felt REALLY good about life! I felt in control again. I was feeling a taste of that familiar freedom I spoke of earlier. but felt like I now had the knowledge to approach it in a more successful way. I ended up doing a 2 week long run out in CO. Shortly after getting back, Brett and I had the tough talk to part ways. I remember him saying something along the lines of, “If you don’t try now you’ll always wonder if you could make it.” I got off the phone with him both excited and nervous. OKAYYYY!!!! No fall back! Music full time! better start landing more gigs!!!
I kid you not. I had that thought and felt my phone vibrate. It was Broadway Oyster Bar saying they had a last minute cancellation and asked if I would like to take over the night gig! I was FLOORED! The night gig was for folks like Aaron Kamm and The One Drops in my opinion. For me to be offered that, especially moments after committing to doing this full time! Wow… I felt like the universe was speaking to me. Saying “GO FOR IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! WORK HARD!!! SEE THE RESULTS!!!”
Since then I’ve been able to work with one of my biggest inspirations! Mr. Cas Haley and I cut a 5 track EP in Summer of 2022, at his farm in Paris TX. (Big Hope Studio). I also got to open up for the legendary Wailers! (Bob Marley’s old band) in the Spring of 2023 at a joint called Kenny’s Westside in Peoria IL!. I’ve been on a wild ride these past 3 years! I’ve toured IL, MO, AR, CO, KS, TX, OH, and NY. With BIG plans to increase that reach across the states in 2025 and beyond! I work with a band now (Colt Ball & Friends) which consists of an incredible lineup of talent! Alex Maurer (Drums), Kevin Myers (Lead Guitar), and Ken Keller (Bass).
We have been fortunate to work more with venues like: Old Rock House, City Foundry, Broadway Oyster Bar, and even the popular festival ReKinection @ Astral Valley, for the STL Region! We have also been featured on well known festivals such as: Grateful Fest (MO), Backwoods (AR), SolShine: formerly known as: SUMMER CAMP (IL), Hillberry (AR), and more! It all seems to be happening so fast now too. Taking the time to even do this interview is sparking gratitude for the journey and all those involved!
I remember texting Cas the news about me opening for The Wailers. He said, “Success is a mindset. Stay on it!”
And he is SO right! No matter what it is that you do. If you are disciplined enough to keep it in your daily routines, you will without a doubt see positive results. There is no magic pill. It’s all about the work you put in. How can you maintain the mindset even when the bills are due? How can you stay driven when the emails aren’t getting responses? You stay on it! You grind harder! You network more! You follow up! You put yourself out there! You stay IN MOTION! Failure comes from doing nothing and success can come from doing anything!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No it hasn’t been the smoothest, but I think that’s what gives the experience texture!
There are all sorts of obstacles when it comes to running a small business in the entertainment industry.
Getting steady gigs is a tough one! It requires a lot of time and effort. You have to learn how to consistently stay relevant. You know that stress of getting a new job? Hunting for the right fit. Sending over your resume. Setting up the interview. Hashing out terms and agreements while simultaneously showcasing your value. Imagine having to do all that on a weekly basis, lol. Let’s just say I send a lot of emails daily!
Maintaining your Digital Presence is a time consuming struggle for sure! Someone once told me “You gotta put yourself out there to the point where you make people curious! Who is this Colt Ball?? I see his name everywhere!” It’s a reminder to engage with people. Share your art with them freely.
I’d say another struggle is finding balance on the road. It’s expensive to travel so much for work. You got to make some sacrifices to make it make sense financially sometimes. I once hiked 30 minutes out into the woods and slept in a hammock to save on hotel costs. You really learn how to live minimalistic as a touring artist! But hey at least most venues will feed ya!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a touring musician who specializes in Feel Good Music! I play primarily as a One Man Band but I lead a 4 piece group as well. I’ve been referred to as a “Mad Scientist.” at my solo shows. I utilize a bunch of gadgets including an old Casio Keyboard that I chopped up and modded into a Drum Module.
I guess I’m mostly known for my feet, LOL! I’ve been rocking that Barefoot lifestyle for the past 3 years. Rain, Sleet, or Snow… there’s no shoes at a Colt Ball Show! I also use my toes to control some of my gear settings on the fly. So I’d say they are as crucial as my hands at this point. It’s always been a funny aspect at my shows that people latch on to. I always hear “Hey! Aren’t you that guy that plays barefoot on a grass rug?” …. Why yes… yes I am lol
You know, I’m probably most proud of where I’ve been able to take myself so far! And maybe that also answers your next question about what sets me apart. I feel like my head’s in the right spot to be successful at this. I have a high work drive! And I know when you put in the work you see results.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Well for starters I’m lucky to be alive! I was born with major respiratory issues. I spent the first part of my life being quarantined at the hospital I was born at. I was like a real life Bubble Boy. Contact with outside elements could have been fatal. My family was told on more than one occasion that I wouldn’t live much past a toddler. But I miraculously “outgrew” my rare case of asthma as well as my other medical issues throughout my youth. (One being a bone disease in my hips)
There was some sort of magic intention surrounding those experiences. Having so many moments in my life where one goes “okay, so we don’t know how to explain this but…”. It allowed me to see there’s a force of nature out there, and it seemed to engage with creative thought. Our intentions create our reality. And throughout my life it seemed the intention was to keep moving! Keep growing! Keep learning! And always remain grateful!
I try to practice this intentional gratitude in my daily business habits. I’d say I’m very lucky to have made that connection early on in my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coltballmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coltballmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coltballmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coltballmusic
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coltballmusic
