Trace Adkins’ new movie, The Lincoln Lawyer, opens today (March 18) in theaters nationwide.

Trace puts his tough-guy persona to good use in the film, portraying Eddie Vogel, a biker gang leader who makes a deal with criminal defense lawyer and master manipulator Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) to get one of his gang members out of prison.

“I had to ride a [motorcycle] and be a tough guy, so that didn’t seem like much of a stretch,” Trace tells Country Weekly.

It’s a good thing that Trace can hold his own on a hog—while filming his scenes, he was flanked by two stunt men and a string of real bikers. “They were the real deal, but they were all supernice and I enjoyed hanging out with them,” says Trace.

For more on Trace Adkins’ role in The Lincoln Lawyer, including his off-screen time with friend Matthew McConaughey, pick up the April 11 issue of Country Weekly, on stands April 4.