Sundance Head

WASILLA — In spite of — or maybe because of — growing up in a musical family, Jason ‘Sundance’ Head was somewhat of a late bloomer when it came to growing his career.

But in the six years since he set his mind to making it big, Sundance Head has made up ground in a hurry. His path — competitive reality TV.

After narrowly missing out on the finals of American Idol six years ago, finishing one spot out of the top 12, which would have earned him a track on the show’s anthology CD and requisite summer tour, he got on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ in 2016 and not only made the finals, he won the whole thing representing team Blake Shelton.

Since then, it’s been a nonstop, whirlwind ride for the Texas musician, touring with Shelton, and now on his own. He recently recorded his latest album and this week, he makes his first trip to Alaska, playing at Spurs Bar at Four Corners in Palmer on Thursday and the Last Pioneer Bar in Anchorage on Friday. Head’s tour is the fourth of four shows on the Northern Lights Concert Tour, which has already brought the likes of Daryl Worley, Jeffrey Steele and Love and Theft to the Last Frontier.

Head said everyone he knew growing up was a musician, most notably his father — legendary country artist Roy Head.

“I didn’t really pursue it as anything until I was 33. I’m not sure why it took so long,” Sundance said. “I was always playing music, writing songs and playing as many different instruments as I could. My dad would have rehearsals and I would find time watching them and when they’d go on breaks I’d find a way to get my hands on one of those instruments. A lot of those guys were polite and took time to show me the right way to play. I’m really fortunate, thinking about the success I’ve had now… I always thought I’d end up doing this, I just didn’t know how to attain.”

That’s when his wife Misty talked him into trying out for season six of American Idol in 2007.

“I didn’t know enough about the business — I was really naïve, actually, and I think I had an ego problem back then, which is why I don’t think I was as successful on the show,” Sundance recalled. “I didn’t really think I would get on the show. It was awesome, but then, I didn’t have a plan like everyone else did. I didn’t realize it was such a game. I got voted off No. 13 — missed the summer tour by one. That was a guaranteed $250k back then.”

So close, yet so far away, Head went back to the drawing board and came back for season 11 of The Voice having worked on his covers, finding his distinctive voice with them that enabled him to make those standards uniquely his.

“I learned a whole lote. I really started learning a bunch of cover songs,” he said. “I used to carry a big binder on the road that we called ‘The Bible’. I didn’t want anyone to see me read lyrics or hear me reading off monitors. It’s weird now, people just have their iPhones on the mic stand — totally cheating. I always thought, if I did that we’d get laughed at. Now, it’s pretty common.”

Head stepped to the stage on The Voice and began singing ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’, by Otis Redding, hoping at least one of the celebrity coaches would turn their chairs around.

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Shelton took the bait, and with his clear country roots it was a no-brainer that Head would wind up on Team Blake.

“Me and my wife danced to that song at our wedding, but now we both kind of laugh about it because we realized the whole song is about him having an affair,” Head said.

Once in the competition, Head turned his attention to performing covers originally sung by female artists, also his wife Misty’s idea.

“I thought of songs I’d love to hear done different ways,” Head said. “Chick songs with a different arrangement with a guy’s vocal.”

Etta James’ classic ‘At Last’ likely stood out the most for the judges and the voters at home.

“The only male song I did was ‘Blue Aint Your Color’ and the only reason I did that song was that it was fixin’ to go to No. 1 that week. It was a super-hot song and that was a strategy my wife came up with,” Head said. “I was just joking around at the ACMAs and said, ‘man, I did your song on The Voice and it went to No. 1’ and Keith Urban looks at me and goes, ‘well, thanks, mate.’ That was great.”

At his core, though, Sundance Head is a singer/songwriter with personal lyrics best embodied in his highest charting song to date, ‘Darling, Don’t Go’.

“It’s not just that that’s song is about my wife, melodically it felt like (the character) was such an old soul — it’s such a great tune,” Head said.

A younger Sundance Head might have thought it somewhat repugnant to find he’d made his name doing covers, but the experience of it all taught him not just about the necessities of the business, but the importance of being an all-around musician.

“I would have had a different opinion if I hadn’t gone through the process myself,” he said. “Originality is originality… Just taking someone else’s song and when I hear it that’s Sundance Head — that’s the rhythm you want to find when you’re trying to be an artist. It took me a long time to find it, and then one day, everything was clicking. I can finally play the guitar and sing good. I can talk to a crowd without feeling timid in any way — all that stuff lined up at the very same time. If I hadn’t been forced to play those cover songs, to play chords I didn’t know, to sing all those different patterns and melodies, I don’t believe I would’ve grown so much. It’s a double-edged sword. If you’re an artist doing covers, no one hears your music and that pretty much sucks. But that time will pass.”

Head flies into Alaska on Monday for a Tuesday show in Juneau before making his way to Southcentral Alaska for a pair of gigs. Whatever time he finds for tourist stuff will be determined by Misty.

“I’m not sure what we’re doing; my wife takes care of that. All I know is I’m flying to Alaska on Monday,” Sundance said. “I’m usually real chill. I got my guitar — is it time to play yet?”