MSM 90s: Hard to Handle, Trey Nichols
9/30/26
By Monica Collier
Hello, MSM family and happy Trey Day!
How about we applaud the rising generation of rock ‘n’ roll stars, y’all? I’m telling you what, they deserve a standing ovation, and we can start with giving it up for Trey Nichols’ MSM 90s rendition of the Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle.”
That’s right, next up is one of my favorite pairings of Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s. I invite you to think back to that Saturday night in August when Trey took the stage at Renaissance Shoals. Y’all, let’s get for real. Trey didn’t just sing “Hard to Handle,” he made the song his own, but he did it in a way that honored its legacy. Impressive.
Friends, let’s give credit where credit is due: “Hard to Handle” is one of the most iconic songs of all time. It’s just so dang good, y’all, and the Otis Redding original version is sheer, Memphis-infused perfection. You can’t improve upon that perfection, MSM fam. Quite frankly, it took some Georgia-seasoned bravado for those Robinson brothers to take on “Hard to Handle” back in 1990.
You know what? True rockstars lead with their hearts and follow the music. I’m fully aware this seems all melodramatic but I’m just going to say it: Trey is true to the music and it’s his destiny to follow the music’s lead. It’s so obvious that music is Trey’s destiny and he happily heeds that call. I love that about Trey, friends.
Make no mistake, Trey was born a rock ‘n’ roll star NOT born to BE a rockstar, MSM fam. Notice what I said there. Trust me, there's a BIG difference. Do you hear what I’m saying? You feel me, right? You saw Trey take the rock ‘n’ roll star stance, right? That’s where he belongs -- in that stance (or holding his guitar) on a stage. It's his natural habitat.
In case you don’t know, I am a huge OG Trey Nichols fan. Duh. Way back when, in a land not so far away, a geeky local journalist interviewed an impressive local band of teenagers called Electric Zen. Lord help us all, even as a freshman in high school, Trey was rock ‘n’ roll star goals. I’ll never forget how he was so on fire for music. Trey’s passion for music couldn’t be contained then, and it’s grown even more over the past 10 years.
The thing that struck me about Trey back in 2016 is the same thing that’s super obvious to me today: Music is life for Trey. Period. Not up for discussion.
Whoa. I’m feeling all proud memaw again.
I’m also experiencing some mixed emotions because we're in the homestretch of our celebratory recap of the 2026 edition of Muscle Shoals Meets. Only six more MSM 90s rewinds to go, friends. They’re doozies, too.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
