keep AllGood Caf\u00e9\u2019s doors open<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWill you step up to support Dallas Observer this year?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAt the Dallas Observer, we\u2019re small and scrappy \u2014 and we make the most of every dollar from our supporters. Right now, we\u2019re $14,000 away from reaching our December 31 goal of $30,000. If you\u2019ve ever learned something new, stayed informed, or felt more connected because of the Dallas Observer, now\u2019s the time to give back.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
With so much on his plate, you might expect the musician to radiate frantic, alpha energy. In truth, when he discusses his accomplishments and responsibilities, he is laid-back, proud of his achievements and enjoys success as it comes to him, both personally and professionally, as well as creatively. Yoga seems to be working.<\/p>\n
Richmond\u2019s new album is a delightful mishmash of genres. He draws inspiration from a variety of artists he admires, fusing styles to create something that has strands of rock, folk, pop and punk music.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the 18 months Richmond spent piecing together the tracks for Big Addict Energy, he says he was responding to artists like Joshua Ray Walker, NOFX and Bowling For Soup. He tends to work in creative bursts, writing a song quickly and then heading into the studio with his friend and producer John Pedigo to record. He and Pedigo toured and played together in their 20s; they have a longstanding bond that enables them to work quickly and effectively when it\u2019s time to lay down a track.<\/p>\n
The 11 songs on Big Addict Energy resonate with joie de vivre, balancing upbeat melodies with lyrics that tackle heavy subject matter stemming from Richmond\u2019s personal experiences with addiction and sobriety. Thematically weighty, yet never bogged down by the darkness it confronts, the album acknowledges the highs and lows of recovery and the road that leads to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time that I\u2019ve [recorded] totally sober from everything and feeling really stable in my sobriety,\u201d Richmond says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Addiction Can Be Fun<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond felt that many people\u2019s struggles with addiction had been amplified in key ways. Friends of his died, leaving a profound effect on him and, by extension, the songs on Big Addict Energy. Even so, he wanted to acknowledge the reality of addiction; it can have devastating consequences, but he knows firsthand that, in the moment, it can be fun giving in to your vices.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to talk about the joys of sobriety,\u201d Richmond says. \u201cBut \u2026 the dark side of addiction can also be kind of fun. And \u2026 it\u2019s complicated, because I don\u2019t look back on when I drank as this horrible thing. It\u2019s something I\u2019m glad I no longer do, but I had so much fun doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
This album is his attempt to reckon with those feelings in an honest way.<\/p>\n
The show at AllGood Caf\u00e9 will be the first time Richmond performs\u00a0Big Addict Energy\u00a0live with a\u00a0band. There is no charge to attend, and no RSVP is required. The band plans to play for about 90 minutes, and then Richmond will slip out early. His 3:30 a.m. wakeup time could sneak up on him if he does not stay on top of things.<\/p>\n
Richmond wants the evening to be lighthearted and fun, an opportunity for people to get out of their houses, mingle and hear the work he and his collaborators have made. Making connections through events like this, using his art, is what makes it all worthwhile for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve met lots of people through the podcast,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cAnd, of course, music\u2019s like that too, and always has been. It just expands your community. \u2026 I\u2019m doing what I love in both of those things, so that just puts me in a good mood.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ward Richmond is releasing a new album that looks at the dark and light sides of addiction. Ward…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":461489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,132130,1596,24726,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-461488","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-concert-previews","10":"tag-dallas","11":"tag-deep-ellum","12":"tag-texas","13":"tag-tx","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-united-states-of-america","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","18":"tag-us","19":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115755689747274201","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ward-Richmond-by-Will-Von-Bolton.jpg\")
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