Joe Hermes' music hits that perfect sweet spot between classic rock and traditional country music. He is a seasoned entertainer whose values are rooted in faith, family, and the American Dream.

I met him a few years back at CRS and was instantly drawn to edgy vocals and devil-may-care attitude. With songs like "Stronger Than Whiskey" and "Baptized By The South," I was instantly drawn to his music.

After being introduced to the band Metallica in junior high school, Hermes asked his mom for a guitar. She bought one reluctantly, thinking he would not stick with it. But he and a couple of buddies, along with their older brothers, showed them some things, and they taught themselves to play.

Hermes' love for hard rock continued throughout high school, where he was influenced by groups such as Metallica, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Pantera, and Bon Jovi. They even dabbled in songwriting. But he knew he was on a fast track to nowhere because "the whole sex, drugs, and rock and roll thing is not a lie," he confirmed.

He quit music before it got too far out of hand, and after playing college football, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach for 7 years. Around 2010, he picked up an acoustic guitar and began songwriting.

He explained, "I hadn't played for many years and started writing. I was trying to figure out how to write. I had gotten out of the hard rock world, so to speak, and got introduced to some more songwriter-type guys like John Prine. And I just found it intriguing, and some of the country music started to speak to me."

It was at that time that he and his wife experienced personal tragedy. After several years of therapy, it led him to write "Otherside" as a catharsis for the pain they were dealing with.

It was about a month after writing "Otherside" that he performed his first solo acoustic show in his hometown of Heyworth, Illinois. A guy from Nashville was in the audience, and he asked if Hermes could come and cut a demo of the song.

He recalled, "All of a sudden, it was like I had a new purpose and a new excitement in life, and all that passion from when I was a kid who wanted to chase the rock and roll dream. It just came flooding back."

Another thing that attracts me to Hermes' music is his belief in the American dream. He stated, "My wife is from Brazil, a second-world country. There is no middle class. People have no idea how life is outside of the U.S. A whole lot of people take [living in the U.S.] for granted. Those people [in Brazil] don't even dream of having a better life because they know there isn't even a possibility."  His song "American Muscle" is a rock anthem that heralds his pro-American stance.

Other songs from his "Gunpowder Country" repertoire include the rowdy "Black Label Country," "Devil's In The Details," "Outlaw's Gospel," and "Bury Me With My Boots On." His rock roots are evident in his high-energy, raucous sound.

Yet he is unafraid to show his vulnerability in the song "Hey Son," which Hermes wrote for his son. The words he shares Let your hand stay dirty/ And keep your collar blue/ Work for what you want/ And even if it hurts, you'd better tell the truth/ Say you're sorry when you're wrong/Don't let forgiveness take too long/ Make sure you make some time to have some fun is sound advice for anyone.

Most recently, Hermes released another fun rockin' bar song that backs up "A Honky Tonk Feelin’," (looks like this bar ain't done with me yet) that captures the exact moment in time when you are out with friends, flyin' high on spirits, feeling 10ft tall and bulletproof.  But eventually you recognize maybe you have partied a little too hard, and soon realize that "A Real Good Bad One" is coming on. Either way, these kick-ass honky tonkers will have you ready to dance, chasing all your worries away as you revel in the moment.

In the past few years, Hermes has shared the stage with country music artists Casey Donahue, Ward Davis, Craig Campbell, Kolby Cooper, Myron Elkins, and Kinsey Rose, and has opened acts like Uncle Kracker, Black Stone Cherry, Head East, Hinder, Jackyl, and Lakeview.

Whether you are drawn to his authentic country lyrics or rowdy rock persona, you will be hard-pressed to find a performer who packs a more powerful punch than Joe Hermes. His songs are both intimate and boldly straight-up, exploring the tension between angel and devil as he delivers his stand-out signature sound.

If you like your southern rock music to lean a little more rock than country, then Joe Hermes is the artist for you. Be sure to follow him on his socials and see him live if you can.

Follow Joe Hermes on his website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming services.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.