It’s been a couple of months now since the passing of Brad Arnold, the former lead singer of the band, 3 Doors Down.
To family, fans, and bandmates, Brad is no doubt, still very much on their minds.
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While the band’s future appears to be up in the air, two members of 3 Doors Down were together again on stage at the Hondo Rodeo Fest in New Orleans for the very first time since Brad’s death.
Chet Roberts & Justin Biltonen delighted the crowd with some of Justin’s original music, which looked, sounded, and felt like an easy and natural fit in the country music space.
Justin’s music leans more towards classic country, you know, the kind with real soul.
Not one song felt like it was made for the clickbait crowd.
The entire set sounded real, straight from the heart, and refreshing.
Seeing the two on stage again together felt the same way.
Natural.
Easy.
Fans in the crowd couldn’t wait to connect with the duo after the show—and well into the night (or should I say early morning hours) at a nearby hotel bar, where Chet and Justin were chopping it up with fans, friends, and members of Creed after their performance at the Caesars Superdome Sunday night.
Chet & Justin hung out like brothers.
They even had a front row seat at the rodeo to witness some incredibly talented bull riders doing their thing.
Then, just before Bailey Zimmerman (Creed’s warmup band that night) took the stage, the folks at the rodeo surprised everyone with a tribute video featuring Brad Arnold.
The room went still.
The buzz in the arena fell silent.
Until the tribute music started.
Then, fans, young and old, starting singing every song used in the tribute, word for word.
Eyes that had been dry moments before were suddenly filled with tears.
Chet later told me how much the thoughtful tribute moved both him and Justin.
The look in his eyes when he told me, said it all.
This day though, was about the now and perhaps even a sneak peak into the future.
It sounds like Justin could become a regular at future Hondo and similar type events. As for his band, well, don’t be surprised if there are new music videos and certainly concert appearances (among other things) on the horizon.
Justin also has an eye-catching jewelry business (Sacred West Vintage) that has his unique brand all over it.
As for Chet, he’s got more irons in the fire than a southern blacksmith in July.
He’s co-owner of a brand new agency, Fourth Door Media & Entertainment, an organization that provides a wide range of services for musicians and artists of all kinds.
The company logo and name are obviously significant.
The Fourth Door represents what’s next—for Chet and for artists at every stage, whether they’re climbing the ladder or working to stay at the top.
The company offers a fully integrated suite of services, including documentary production with a pathway to major streaming platforms, high-end music production, songwriting, mixing and mastering, music video creation, website development, social media strategy, live events and concerts, merchandise and product development—and more.
In this business, as in life, connections mean everything—and Chet’s built his the old fashion way: on the road, in the studio, and over time.
He’s also got a podcast in the works, is stepping into the comedy circuit alongside established veterans (something that will genuinely surprise people when they see how naturally funny he is), and will soon be launching a swag collection that reflects his personality and brand.
He’ll also be featured in an upcoming episode of Unbreakable—the documentary series currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Spark TV—while planning a series of live events similar in spirit to Daryl’s House, where he and other notable artists from well-known bands come together for acoustic sessions, shared meals, a few drinks, and a dose of Chet’s comedy—starting in Tennessee and expanding nationwide.
But that’s all in the future.
What happened at that rodeo this past weekend was special.
Not only to Chet and Justin, but to their many fans who are rooting for both guys to enjoy the next chapter of their personal and professional lives.