Band Spotlight: Delaney Baker

Hey BG Nation…we recently checked in with bassist Delaney Baker and here’s what we found out…

Q: How long have you been a member of BG’s band?
A: Two years ago (October of 2021) I was at home with my wife reading our little girl a bedtime story when my phone rang. It was Jeff (Gossett), Brantley’s former Tour Manager, who had got my number from Corey (Roberson). He said “Hey buddy, would you be interested in subbing for us on bass for a couple shows?” A little backstory, just over a month prior to that call I had parted ways with the last country artist I had played for, and due to the state of the industry in that era, I figured my time as a touring musician had come to an end, at least for the foreseeable future. So to say I was surprised would be an understatement. “Jeff,” I said as I turned on speaker phone so my wife could eavesdrop, “I’m honored you called, man. Of course I’ll fill in! When are the dates?” There was kind of a long pause, “Well, uh, look I understand if you can’t do it, it’s kind of a last minute emergency but… well, uh, the bus leaves in an hour.” As I stood there panicking, thinking about all the music I’d have to learn and all the reasons why I couldn’t do it, my wife started packing my suitcase. 24 hours later I stepped on stage and played my first show with BG when, if memory serves me right, he headlined the Ameris Bank Amphitheater in Alpharetta, GA right there in his own backyard, so to speak. I ended up covering for our friend, Stephen, the rest of the year and officially accepted the position the following January.

Q: Is there one show with BG that stands out for any particular reason in your memory, and why?
A: Aside from that first one which is crazy memorable, there was a run of shows we made down in Florida about a week and a half after I gave myself an awful concussion! Man, I had such a migraine and was super foggy! If you’ve ever seen me up there with shades on looking lost, it’s because I was recovering and trying not to toss my cookies!

Q: Any pre-show rituals?
A: Tons! It’s very routine: Shave the cranium, wax the stache, lace the chucks. Then I join the band in prayer over the show and the audience and we all bust out ten push-ups on Adam’s count. After that it’s time to check the in-ears, adjust my compressor, tune the bass, undo the changes I just made to my compressor, pray again with BG and the crew, which is immediately followed by a crew-wide two claps and a Ric Flair “Whoo!” (or more recently a “Dale Yeah”) and a Macho Man “Oh Yeah!” Fist bumps are given all around then I check my compressor once more. Finally, I jump up and down like a madman to get my heart rate up during “Back in Black,” and go play a show with the most passionate and talented group of folks I know.

Q: Favorite BG song to perform, and why?
A: Country Must Be Country Wide. It was my first introduction to Brantley’s music! In 2011 I had recently graduated and with a degree in hand, I was wrestling with whether to seriously pursue a career as a musician. Around that time I saw the video for Country Wide and I remember thinking, “ah, maybe there is a place in Nashville for guys like me.” Six years later, we were touring on the same bill together, and after another five, on the same stage; it turns out that this is the literal place for me. I’m grateful for good friends and God’s hand of providence throughout this wild career.

Q: Favorite place to perform, and why?
A: Red Rocks. It’s Sublime in a Burkean sense.

Q: Tell us one thing fans may not know about BG.
A: What’s funny is that for as much as I love Brantley, I’m still relatively new to the camp, and I guarantee his core fans know more about him than I do! haha! They’re so loyal and passionate! 

I guess one thing I would want to stress is that if there’s any fan who may not know just how earnestly they are appreciated, take it from me, the gratitude is substantial and genuine! Brantley is magnetic and his work ethic is relentless; he does so much for the people that stop by to visit his orbit.