Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Adam Pearce and his band recently dropped a new album called Warbird.

Adam Pearce has released a rarity for former Voice contestants, a post-show album with a classic rock feel.

Of course, what else would you expect from a guy who covered Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” and Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” en route to a Top 20 finish in Season 13?

“Warbird,” an album featuring 10 songs, also represents the first original music Adam has released since Black Magnolia, the band he used to front, released an album called “Fields are Burning” in 2012.

“I’ve grown so much as a musician between then and now,” Adam told Voice Views. “My influences are much more of the classic, timeless rock songs than they were for my last album.

“I think that shows through ‘Warbird.’ I also wrote this album with a wider demographic in mind. It’s a rock album, but I think it has a little of something for everyone on it.”

Adam goes raucous on “Whiskey Morning.” Electric guitars drive the title track. And Adam’s vocals are front and center on the rock ballad “Gotta Mean Something.”

Adam Pearce on Season 13 of The Voice. (NBC Photo)

“They used to play a montage of ‘Free Bird’ and ‘Warpigs’ and they called it ‘Warbird’,” Adam explains.
“We used to always joke that he and I would someday start a band called Warbird.

“Those were really fun and hard times. We were constantly struggling and working to make it. The song — and this album –is a nod to those days. It’s a song about being a warrior in any facet of your life.”

The album also has a touch of The Voice on it. That’s Paul Mirkovich, music director for The Voice, playing keys on “Everything Beautiful.”

“I reached out to him with low expectations that he’d be able to do it,” Adam says. “He responded that ‘He’d love to’ and insisted there would be no charge. I can’t put into words how amazing of a job he did.

“I know he’s beyond busy with his job, but he took my project very seriously. I shipped some local, Louisiana hot sauce to him as a thank you gift, but I’ll never be able to thank him enough.”

As for the album, Adam says he wrote most of the songs before he appeared on The Voice. A highly successful Kickstarter campaign helped fund the album. Adam’s band still includes Shane Wesley and Casey Freitas from Black Magnolia. Drummer Jordan Lewis rounds out his current band.

You can check out their upcoming shows on Adam’s Facebook page or website.

Speaking of gigs, Adam says his Voice experience led to one. He initially landed a spot on Team Adam Levine.

“After The Voice, Adam Levine personally reached out to me,” Adam recalls. “He wanted me to sing AC/DC at his Halloween party while he played drums. It was one of the craziest weekends of my life. Sammy Hagar even jumped on stage and sang with us at one point.

“He’s kept in touch and flew us out to party with him again this past Halloween. I hand delivered the album to him at his house and I’m hoping he takes a listen. I know he’ll love it. He really is an awesome dude.”

Here’s “Gotta Mean Something” from Warbird. You can check out more — even video of that Halloween party performance — on Adam’s YouTube channel.