The Tonight Show features local musician

The Tonight Show has been a staple of late night TV for decades. You can think of Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. It has been a very important showcase for artists of many different media from singers, celebrities, comedians. Really, anybody whose anybody has been featured on the show from Sinatra to Seinfeld to Springsteen. Add a new local to the list.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is the current seat holder of the franchise and in the middle of this pandemic has featured recording artists and their videos. Last Thursday, March 18, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians were featured with their video of the song, “Stubborn Love,” written by Edie Brikell and Kyle Crusham.

Name sound familiar? Not Edie, wife of Paul Simon, but Crusham. He is the son of Mike Crusham or DJ Crush Daddy, who is featured every morning and Saturdays on Wimberley Valley Radio 94.3 FM.

Kyle is also the band’s producer and the video that was played on The Tonight Show was produced in Fischer, Texas, keeping the now Central Texas-based band on the national scene. “Between Wimberley, Blanco and North Austin… Now it’s about once a month or so, I guess, I’m seeing more of the band.”

He’s been somewhat in awe being with a band formed in 1985. “Playing with a band, 30 years of hard work put in, it’s and an honor to play with them. They’re a tight family.”

Kyle’s philosophy when it comes to music is “I’m not great at anything, but I can do a lot of things, like a utility player. There are no small jobs in music but being part of the music, no matter what. I’ll even get the food.”

Growing up in a radio executive’s family, moving was not unusual. “I grew up in the WKRP lifestyle… All over the place to bigger markets, St. Louis, Tulsa, Pittsburgh then the move to Austin in high school in 1995. His dad became manager of KLBJ AM and FM.

The change in culture was a paradigm shift, in a good way.

Kyle went to audio engineering school and still considers him self as one by trade, and “not a musician.” In fact he wrote TV commercials and “as a radio intern wrote jingles.” He would write music and “if the client liked it, they bring in the players.” But he has played with other bands around Central Texas.

“Charlie Sexton, the day I met him changed everything. He taught me everything about music, top to bottom. He’s my biggest influence, teacher. He’s it for me.” Kyle saw Sexton as an intern in a commercial.

“We were editing a commercial and became friends, best friends ever since. There’s nobody better as a teacher for record making.” Sexton has toured with the best, such as Bob Dylan as a member of his backing band from 1999- 2002 and was the singer/ guitarist in the Arc Angels with Doyle Bramhall II and Stevie Ray Vaughn’s band, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. He also lived in Wimberley for a time as a child.

Sexton was touring when Edie Brikell and the New Bohemians wanted to record, so Crusham stepped in as producer and remained with the band. In fact the song’s video that was featured on the Tonight Show, was written by both Edie Brikell and Crusham.

“The song “Stubborn Love,” I wrote the chords 13 or 15 years ago. I showed it to Edie and she went with it. Same arrangement… (I told Edie) I wrote chords, you brought magic, which she tends to do.” The band is hoping to tour after the current situation passes.

“I’ve been with the band four years as their producer and then a band mate. There are times I don’t play at all. When I’m an engineer I don’t pick up an instrument, I capture the lightning.”

“The work can be challenging but always fun. Any day you work with Edie Brikell is a great one… She’s probably the most creative person I’ve ever met and the most talented.”

Living and working in the Central Texas area with numerous recording and video studios, moving to Dripping Springs was a no-brainer. Familiar with the community and with twins arriving, the school system and Belterra were the perfect choice. There is also the added benefit of having grandparents close by, but it is also a place where he can work on his own music with the band at close hand.

“I wanted a place where there’s a community pool they can walk to, kids can ride their bikes, exploring, getting in trouble (but not too much). I like the idea of kids having fun and having the opportunity to have fun.”