The first words that come to drummer Steve Gorman's mind when asked to describe why he thinks the current lineup of Trigger Hippy and their new album "Full Circle & Then Some" works are "patience" and "trust."
Experience has given Gorman the right to offer such an opinion. He spent 15 years as the drummer for the Black Crowes, where he found himself all too often in the middle of fights between brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, then did a turn with Stereophonics and most recently with Trigger Hippy.
The first Trigger Hippy lineup featured co-founder Nick Govrik on bass, Joan Osborne on vocals and Jackie Greene on guitar. They released their self-titled debut in 2014, but something wasn't right.
"The band was great," he said. "At first it was fantastic, and we all enjoyed it, but it didn't feel like a band. Nick and I wanted that to work in whatever capacity it wanted to grow; but for whatever reason, that band seemed to splinter as soon as it got started. It seemed like a side project to them, but it wasn't for Nick and me.
If you go
› What: Trigger Hippy with Ashley and the Xs› When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12› Where: Songbirds North, 41 Station St.› Admission: $15› For more information: 423-531-2473› Online: events.songbirds.rocks
"It didn't dissolve with any anger or anything. We really like these people."
Determined to keep the band going, they joined with Amber Woodhouse and Ed Jurdi. Gorman says it's been a natural fit.
He can't say that his time with the Crowes was anywhere close to that. Robinson fights are fairly legendary in music circles, especially after Gorman wrote about them in "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes - A Memoir."
Gorman said in a phone interview that the experience has greatly colored who he is and how he handles business today.
"Patience is a huge thing. I think it is better than to do nothing. What I learned from the experience with the Black Crowes was how to treat people, that chemistry is so important and it is so vital to have trust. "
He said it is important for grown-ups to realize that fighting and arguing should not be misconstrued as passion. Just because something good, like a hit song or record, came out of it, doesn't mean that art and creativity can't be found without that misguided passion.
"It is like when high school couples fight and think they are so in love. It's easy to equate immaturity and insecurity with passion," he said.
Six years removed from "having the Black Crowes in my life," he said writing the book was not a catharsis.
"The scab was already peeled off," but the death of Crowes' keyboard player Ed Harsch changed how he looked at things.
"Whatever his story was, we will never know. He will never have the chance, and to have former bandmates spin the narrative was pure horse---- and was not going to happen to me."
The band performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Songbirds North, 41 Station St., in Chattanooga.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.