Tommy Prine is moving out of Dad’s shadow

Since he launched himself into the singer/songwriter universe in 2020, Tommy Prine – son of the late singing/songwriting legend John Prine – has been racking up the accolades. The website Saving Country Music named his “Ships in the Harbor” Song of the Year for 2022.

In June, Prine will release his first album, This Far South. “This will be the last time it is relevant to refer to Tommy Prine as the son of John as anything but an interesting footnote,” the site solemnly announced last month. “If that time hasn’t already passed.”

The first two songs from the album, the title track and “Reach the Sun,” have been made available in advance. Like “Ships of the Harbor,” they show Prine the Younger to be as engaging a song craftsman, guitarist and singer, as his dad was in his scrappy younger days. His voice projects a melancholy, world-weary quality.

Prine performs April 20 at the Palladium Theatre’s Side Door Cafe.

Although he was born in Nashville, Prine and his older brother Jack spent much of their early lives in Gulfport, where John Prine and his wife Fiona purchased a summer-and-school-breaks house in 2005.

We caught up with him, via email, before he left to begin his 2023 tour.

St. Pete Catalyst: “Reach the Sun,” like “Ships in the Harbor,” has a strong Celtic feel to it. It’s like looking across moors and blue skies. What was the inspiration for this one?

Tommy Prine: This song is about a panic attack I had when I was just beginning my first tour in 2021, and my wife had to talk me down and remind me to look at the brighter things, like honoring my calling into being an artist. And I guess my Irish heritage just found its way into the song!

You’ve said: “I feel like I’ve learned more about myself in the last year and a half than I ever have in my life.” What do you mean? Is that personal or professional?

Both. Through making music and doing the work of performing/touring I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin and that allows me to remain open to the learning process professionally.

What inspires you to write? It’s the old Almost Famous question – do you have to be sad to write a sad song? Do you have to be in love to write a love song?

I don’t think any one thing inspires me to write, sometimes it just comes out and I don’t question it. I find that when it’s difficult to write, I just need to live more of my life and in turn that will provide inspiration. Inspiration is a byproduct of experience.

Writing, recording, touring and talking constantly: Has this increased your understanding of what your father’s life was like, when he was away from the family? Maybe not “Man, he worked so damn hard”? but more “Man, he must have really wanted it bad, to put up with this insane pace”?

Absolutely. I feel like I understand him a whole lot more after I’ve been doing what he did. Even just the feeling of returning home from the road and the sort of shell shock that feels like – I get why he was living in his own head most of the time.

What’s the ultimate compliment for you, as a writer and a performer? Is it when they say you remind them of your dad, or when they don’t mention your dad at all?

I think the ultimate compliment that I have received was from a young woman who very bluntly said “I have no clue who your dad is or your family but you were awesome.” It’s not that I don’t find it to be a compliment to be compared to my father, because if anyone is compared to him they are probably doing something special. I think it just means something different to me.

Tell me about the album. What will be unexpected for people? I know you were a guitar shredder in your youth – is there any big-time rock ‘n’ roll on it?

This album is my introduction to the world- it covers who I was, who I am and who I want to be. There are distinct vibes on the album, and one of those is definitely pretty loud and live! 

Tickets for the April 20 performance are here.