Joe Nichols coming to Linn County Fair Grandstand

Joe Nichols is a traditional country recording artist who grew up on rock music and is adding a bit of that genre to his current set.

One of the highlights of Nichols’ show is a mashup of the Alice In Chains classic, “Rooster,” and Hank Williams Jr.’s gem, “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

“I’ve loved Alice in Chains since I was a teenager and I just love playing ‘Rooster,’ ” Nichols said. “So I combined Alice in Chains and Hank Jr., who is so underappreciated, for this song I play and it’s pretty out there.”

Delivering the Alice in Chains classic is an extension of how Nichols prepares his body for the rigors of the road.

“I work out hard to Alice In Chains,” he said by phone from Nashville. “You have to be in shape to go on tour. I get ready with Alice in Chains. That band inspires me and my music, since they’re the most original part of rock ’n’ roll since any band since the ’60s. The way Alice in Chains harmonizes and their guitar work is so different. How can you not appreciate Alice in Chains?”

Nichols, 47, who will perform Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Linn County Fair in Central City, is unique in his own right.

The Arkansas native has a gift for updating honky tonk and has had a number of hits, including “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Gimme That Girl,” “Sunny and 78,” and “Yeah.”

“It’s been a great career, but it’s hard to sustain success in this industry,” he said. “You do your best to evolve.”

Nichols will preview a few tracks from his forthcoming untitled album at the Linn County Fair.

“The new songs sound like good old country music, which is a good thing,” he said. “A lot of what makes these new songs work is in the details. I put a lot into it in the studio. I think this album features some of my best vocals ever.”

Expect to hear plenty of hits.

“I couldn’t ignore the songs that got me here,” he said. “I play the songs that landed on the radio. During the middle of the show, we do a medley of songs, about 10 or 12 of them that people expect to hear. I’m also going to play the semi-hits and some songs people haven’t heard in a while.”

Nichols stands out not just because of the quality of songs, but also courtesy of his warm and deep baritone.

“My voice is part of who I am,” he said. “I love to sing. I think I sound pretty distinctive. I guess that helps, since we live in an era in which technology makes us all good singers. I’m glad I have this voice and I have my songs and the desire to make more music, since it’s so difficult to sustain success in this industry. It’s been a great run that I hope continues for a long time.”

It’s been 28 years since Nichols’ self-titled debut dropped. That was coincidentally around the time Alice in Chains was coming apart because of vocalist/guitarist Layne Staley’s drug addiction.

“It’s not easy being in this business,” Nichols said. “You never know what’s going to happen. But Alice in Chains created some great songs that will last for a long time. I think they created some of the greatest songs in rock history. I revisit those songs when I work out and I hope my songs will last like their songs do.”

The performance element also is strong for Nichols.

“I love getting out there and connecting with the audience,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been about ever since I started out in this business. There’s nothing like getting up there and performing in front of people that enjoy your music. Traveling isn’t fun, but I never get tired of getting up there onstage when it’s time to perform.”