Grab a slice of Pie

When the country quartet known as Hot Apple Pie chose its name, band

members said there were many possible interpretations.

In the 2 1/2 years since the group signed with DreamWorks Records,

lead vocalist Brady Seals said the name has come to mean freshness

and authenticity.

“There are so many great studio players in the music industry,”

said Seals, who also plays guitar, keyboards, harmonica and

accordion. “A lot of groups will call themselves groups, but use

other artists on their records.

“We pride ourselves on playing everything -- on the record and in

concert.”

That has meant a dizzying schedule for the Nashville-based band,

which has crisscrossed the country on tour buses and airplanes in an

effort to promote its self-titled debut album released June 28.

Friday, Hot Apple Pie finds itself opening for LeAnn Rimes at the

Orange County Fair Pacific Amphitheatre.

Fueled by the single “Hillbillies” -- in heavy rotation on country

radio stations and playing sporadically on music television channels

-- the band has gained momentum during its current tour. DreamWorks

bumped up the album release date more than a month because of the

buzz, Seals said.

The album sold 18,000 copies in its first week and debuted at No.

6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts, the highest starting

rank by a new country group in the Nielsen Soundscan era, according

to Seals.

“It’s just now starting to happen for us,” Seals said. “People are

starting to get who we are.”

Seals, a music industry veteran who played with country band

Little Texas and who later forged a solo career, decided to start a

new group about three years ago. He called on two former sidemen --

Mark “Sparky” Matejka, a guitarist; and percussionist Trey Landry.

Bassist, guitarist and vocalist Keith Horne was the final piece.

While other band members were on the road fulfilling other music

obligations, Seals wrote most of the songs that appear on the

eclectic album, which was produced by Richard Landis.

The album is grounded in country music, but combines the band

members’ interest in rhythm-and-blues, jazz, bluegrass and gospel.

There are ballads and rock riffs. The band even dips into rap

culture, spoofing Snoop Dogg’s hit single “Drop It Like It’s Hot” in

its music video.

“We’re not your typical country band,” Matejka said. “We hear

people say, ‘I don’t like country music, but we like you guys.’

“A lot of people are asking if we are trying to cross over. If we

do, we aren’t going to complain. But we have a song that’s so country

Willie Nelson can’t even touch it.”

Nelson does appear on one of the tracks, “Slowin’ Down the Fall.”

Hot Apple Pie is scheduled to open for ZZ Top and Tim McGraw later

this summer.

Seals is no stranger to Southern California, having lived in Los

Angeles off and on for years as he navigated his music-industry

career. He went through tough times on the West Coast, and he says he

often felt out of place and he prefers life in the middle of the

country.

With his band, Seals said he always has support.

“When something special happens -- you have people who can share

in the good times,” he said. “It’s like a band of brothers.”

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Hot Apple Pie in concert

* WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

* WHERE: Orange County Fair Pacific Amphitheatre

* COST: $19.99

* TICKETS: (714) 708-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.