Lee Brice Is Hoping to Release ‘Beer’ and Writing New Songs With Tourmate Brantley Gilbert

Lee Brice is in the midst of the 2011 Country Throwdown tour with headliner Willie Nelson. Each night, Brice is playing for large amphitheaters packed with rowdy country music fans who know how to have a good time. What better way to test new songs for his next album!

In recent weeks, Brice has been performing a brand-new song he wrote called 'Beer,' and by the sound of the crowd's reaction night after night, the singer has high hopes that it will be the next single.

"It’s been going over awesome," Brice tells Taste of Country. "In fact, [Saturday, June 25] I took a video [from onstage] just to send to my label to make sure that they understand how good it is [laughs]! The first time the [crowds] even hear the song, they’re chanting the song with me before it’s over. That’s a good sign, you know what I mean? I think it’s going to rock on the radio, so I’m hoping that it can be the next single."

Brice will have more opportunities to test 'Beer' out on the Throwdown crowds, as the tour will wrap in July. Although the trek, which also features Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Craig Campbell, Brantley Gilbert and Lukas Nelson, kicked off back in May, Brice still has to pinch himself that he's on tour with one of his musical heroes.

"Being out on tour with someone like Willie is just unbelievable," Brice says with a smile and shake of his head. "Being on tour with Willie is something I would never would even see happening. When I was growing up, I was thinking man, I want to do this … I want to be a singer and a writer and this and that, but I never considered that I would ever be able to have a chance to come tour with Willie! Then, on top of that, my buddies are out here, too, so it’s just the best of all the worlds for me. We’re just enjoying ourselves."

Brice is managing to get a little "work" done while on the tour as well. He's the accomplished songwriter responsible for Garth Brooks' 'More Than a Memory,' Tim McGraw's 'Still,' and the Eli Young Band's 'Crazy Girl,' and he's has been joining forces with Brantley Gilbert, who in his own right has penned Jason Aldean's hits 'My Kinda Party' and 'Dirt Road Anthem.'

"Me and Brantley have started three or four [songs] out here on this thing," notes Brice. "We got about halfway through them. We’re going to meet back up to finish them. Things like that, these days, I don’t like to rush a song, you know? It’s like with ‘Crazy Girl,’ we didn’t rush it, but it came together really quick. We had time to sit there and work it out. Brantley and I have been getting a bunch of inspiration … a bunch of cool starts on things that I think have big potential to be some cool songs. And man, he’s such a great guy. He’s a talented guy. I’m excited to be actually hanging with him a little bit. He’s so hip and so cool. That’s a part of what his talent is. He just knows how to connect with folks, and I love it."

Following the Throwdown Tour, Brice will headline some of his own dates before heading back out on the CMT Tour this fall with Luke Bryan, Josh Thompson and Matt Mason. "That's going to be rockin'!" Brice says of the next tour. "We're excited!"

Watch the Lee Brice 'Love Like Crazy' Video