Biography

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Antsy McClain and The Trailer Park Troubadours
Living and Writing Trailercana

Antsy McClain and Trailercana were featured on NPR's All Things Considered on May 19, 2007. We have also appeared on the nationally syndicated John Boy and Billy Big Show two times in August and September 2007.

TRAILERCANA DEBUTED AT #40 ON AMERICANA MUSIC CHARTS on June 11, 2007 Trailercana reached the Top 2- in the Americana Charts and hit #1 on the XM Satellite X-Country Chart in September 2007.

America's Old West was tamed by rugged visionaries who crossed the fruited plains in covered wagons, carrying with them everything they owned, and rolling away in search of new horizons. These pioneers fiercely independent and wildly creative carved out a lifestyle still evident in America today... in our nations trailer parks.

Emerging from one of these truly American neighborhoods is songwriter and humorist Antsy McClain. Growing up the son of an Avon-selling mother and truck-driving father in a small Kentucky trailer park called Pine View Heights, McClain had what he calls a memorable and idyllic childhood, filled with colorful characters and extraordinary events. Life in Pine View Heights has given McClain a wealth of experience from which to write. Penning the lyrics and music to seven Trailer Park Troubadour albums, as well as his own critically-acclaimed solo record, Time-Sweetened Lies, McClain is fast becoming one of the most respected songwriters in American roots music today.

Antsy (nicknamed by a junior high football coach) grew up listening to his mothers record collection, absorbing a wide influence of music, from Aretha Franklin and Steely Dan to Bill Monroe and Buck Owens. Seventies folk rock found him as a teenager and hasnt let go since. One of his earliest influences was Jim Croce, who died when McClain was a kid, only months after he had learned to play Bad, Bad Leroy Brown on his $70 Sears guitar (which he still owns). Late nights listening to diverse radio programs like the Grand Ole Opry and Dr. Demento further cemented his unique outlook toward music and entertainment.

Having co-produced the past 6 Trailer Park Troubadour albums and his own solo album, McClain enjoyed his first role as producer on his current collection of songs, called Trailercana. The album features Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Bobby Cochran of Steppenwolf, Tommy Smothers, Bonnie Bramlett, and a host of other gifted musicians. Antsy McClain's 2005 solo release titled Time-Sweetened Lies, received critical acclaim and featured several celebrity guest appearances such as Australian guitar legend and Grammy Nominee Tommy Emmanuel.

Antsys 5-piece band, The Trailer Park Troubadours, are a skilled assortment of musicians who play in the rootsy, rock and roll tradition of their hard-working, blue collar forefathers. McClain calls the music folkabilly, and their live shows are a unique mix of masterful musicianship and intelligent, self-deprecating humor. The Troubs, as they are called by fans, are committed to taking their unique blend of music around the globe, showing up where ever theyre invited and then some.

As an author, McClain recently published his third book entitled, It Takes A Trailer Park. This humorous and thoughtful reflection of his childhood blends the wit of Garrison Keillors Lake Wobegon with the wry insight of David Sedaris. Like in his songs, McClain mixes a healthy dose of humor with poignant lessons of growing up blue-collar in a changing American culture.

Antsy McClain is also a visual artist, whose drawings and paintings have appeared nationally in magazines and books. Friend and guitar player, Jimmy Jackson, says, "It's not surprising that Antsy is also a visual artist when you hear his lyrics. It's like the rest of us are looking at the wall, and he'll say something that lets you in on his thought process, and you realize he's not just looking at the wall; he's looking through the wall.

McClain has worked on farms, factories, restaurants and classrooms. He's been an artist, a teacher, a tour guide, and a Japanese interpreter. He started taking his guitar with him on the road when he worked for the Japanese auto industry in the late 1980's. It was then that he first began writing about life as he knew it; in a small American trailer park.

Having been called a Renaissance Man, Antsy takes on the songwriting and producing duties for The Troubs' projects as well as designing the CD packaging. "I've always drawn," says McClain, "And I first started doing all the artwork for our merchandise to save us money. I've probably saved us thousands of dollars over the years, and I had a fun time doing it." Regarding the moniker of Renaissance Man, McClain just laughs, "A Renaissance Man would probably be able to work on his car and balance a check book -- two tasks I have a difficult time doing. No, I just draw pictures and make up songs. He now lives with his family near Nashville, Tennessee.