Tyler Hilton is not one to take the easy way out. Signed right after high school, the 26-year-old pop rocker has been gaining a following ever since. After the success of his first two albums, Hilton snagged acting roles in the CW’s “One Tree Hill” and the Academy-Award winning film Walk the Line. Now the double-threat is working on releasing his third album and taking time out of his busy schedule to perform as the opening act at “Rap, Rock, and Rawhide,” christening the new Chaifetz Arena.

How do you think tonight went?
I was amazing. Just kidding … I think it was good. My voice was kind of scratchy … I went to the Landing last night and tried to talk my way onto the bar and failed … but the band was tight, and the sound was great.

Do you feel that performing for a diverse group of crowds has changed your performance style at all?
Yeah, definitely … I think it solidified the idea that you play for yourself … I mean, I do a show with Chingy, and I don’t know that audience or what they’ll think of me … You kind of just have to do what you do and let people watch.

Do you prefer playing in the larger arenas, or the smaller, more low-key venues?
It honestly depends on what I’ve been doing recently … I haven’t played [in an arena] in awhile, so right now I would much rather be playing larger arenas … [but] you get to tell stories in the smaller ones, so it’s really whether I want to tell stories or [just] play music.

What are your thoughts on entering into the music industry at such a young age?
The longer you wait, the better … [but] you never know with the industry. Is 26 the new 40, or the new 14? … It probably would have been better to start at an older age … You have to find yourself in the spotlight.

You’ve done a lot of covers that have gotten recognition, such as “That’s All Right” by Elvis, “When the Stars Go Blue” by Ryan Adams and “Missing You” by John Waite. Do you have a favorite that you’ve done?
My favorite song that I’ve performed but never recorded is “It Ain’t Me Babe” [by Bob Dylan] … My favorite that I’ve recorded is definitely “That’s All Right” … We recorded it the old fashioned way … It was all live, and just very loose.

If you could take one song and claim it as your own, what would it be?
“Boots of Spanish Leather” by Bob Dylan. I’d love for people to come up to me and be like, “T, play me something,” and I’d be like “Ok, here’s this one I just wrote,” and play that for them.

Which songs that you’ve written are closer to you: the happier ones regarding life, love and everything good, or the sadder ones about the negative side of life?
I think the sadder ones hit closer to home, and I think that’s true for most artists … But, at the same time, they’re kind of the easy thing to do. I mean, you don’t hear people say, “God damnit, I’m so happy, I’m gonna go paint something.” … With this record, I’m trying to do that … I’m squeezing all of the juice from my happy feelings and making a song cocktail out of that.