Rob Beaulieu – Interview

Rob Beaulieu – Interview – by John Sachirico.

I had met Rob Beaulieu once before, via Greg Bell, who had booked my band to open for the RBB at The Hollow a little while back.  We only briefly spoke within the flustering of the moments between sound checks, set breaks and equipment setup and breakdown.  Like most musicians he was most definitely in Game mode at the time, but I could tell at once that he took his work not just very seriously, but equally spiritually as well.

I had the pleasure of having Rob visit me at the farm to hang in the studio, drink a couple of IPA’s and talk about his work, musical history and just navigating life in general as the dedicated and lifelong artist that he is. We even got to play a couple of songs together!

Rob has been on the local 518 scene for over 30 years in many different notable, well known configurations, and musical projects…but… He is best known for the use of his last name every year at The National Spelling bee finals!

RRX: When did you start playing music?

RB: I was a hockey player through college and played in Europe for a bit and really began the music journey in my mid to late 20’s. I learned a few tunes in college but really got to it later in life. I was a huge music fan and went to a ton of live shows. I was always wanting to play but never had a guitar when I was a kid. I played trumpet in 5the grade but wasn’t very good at it and was much happier playing outside than practicing. I started taking lessons with David Malachowski and then Chuck D’Aloia so as far as teachers go I certainly was lucky. So I can’t blame them for anything I lack as a player.

I started in a Dead cover band called Padre. I really had no idea what I was doing but I worked very hard at it. I formed my own band in the mid nineties that became Soul Shock and that started a very creative period for me as the two other permanent guys in the band were musicologists and that really opened me to the Americana side of things and so many things I had never heard. We used to listen to the Alan Lomax recordings and all this New Orleans piano stuff. We had a weekly Monday residency at Valentines. We ended up being Kim Buckley’s band and that was just an amazing experience. I loved her music and we had such a ball. She introduced me to the Ani Difranco stuff and all that was happening in that scene. We went from playing Valentines on Monday nights to CBGB’s and headlining Alive at Five – all came fast and furious for a bit. It all eventually ended as Kim left the music business and Soul Shock became Loader and disbanded. Raisinhead grew out of the ashes of that and it has been 22 years since then. A lot of shows and beautiful times with my mates from that band. I learned so much from all of them. We still play just not as much as the early 2000’s when we would do 6-9 shows a month.

RRX: Can you tell which musicians influence your music?

RB: Well I was a very typical suburban child of the 70’s and 80’s and we drank beer on the train tracks and behind grocery stores and listened to classic rock. So I was influenced by all of that stuff. The Who, Zep, Floyd, Neil Young, Allman Brothers all of that stuff. In the eighties the Grateful Dead thing really took over the colleges and I was heavily influenced by the spirit of that. The spontaneity and making it up as you go along. That really resonated with me. I would catch them whenever I could. That pointed me in all kinds of directions. I was deeply interested in The Band for many years. But I really liked everything – always been an issue of mine. I like the Clash and 70’s Genisis. I love the Talking Heads and Miles Davis. Pretenders and P Funk. Velvet Underground and Black Sabbath. I love 70’s pop songs and Chicago blues. Biggie and Snoop. The eighties were a very interesting time The Cars were big and so was Stevie Ray Vaughn – I saw him at JB’s theater and many many times after that. He was influential in his complete investment in every note he played. I still can’t understand how he had that much intensity every night. Of the shows I saw he never mailed it in. I try to remember that when I play. Bring intention to what is happening and stay present. I used to talk to Ralph Spillenger about this and whenever he saw a show of mine and he thought I wasn’t giving it my all he would call me on it. I was always like F U Ralph but driving home I would reflect and say to myself he was right. A little honesty is a good thing. I was also there for the Phish rise – they played at my college in the late eighties so I started catching a lot of their shows and still do. It was a cool time.

RRX: What current band do you enjoy listening to?

RB: Unfortunately the list will be long as my above answer would indicate. My son is a very good guitar player and he has gotten really into Derek and the Dominoes the live album so I have been relistening to that and it is really mind blowing. He also keeps me up to date with the hip hop world and who is beefing with who. HA. I go through stages of listening a ton and sometimes trying to step out of it to keep myself just connected to inspiration. It’s a balance, I think. There is so much content out there and I am glad for it but sometimes a walk in the woods is closer to what I need.

RRX: How did the band, RBB, come together?

RB: It was originally a pandemic thing. But I have known all the people in this band for years. They are all friends of mine. Dave Spadaro, Chad Ploss and I just started jamming during the pandemic and that is where it started. Chad used to do the Monday night Soul Shock shows at Valentines so that is how far back I have known him and Dave and I were in Stone Revival Band together so we have played for 10+ years together. We write songs together and RBB also does some songs he wrote alone. Tony Perino and Sherry Waite have been on all of my solo albums and I recorded my first Raisinhead album at his studio over 20 years ago. So we are all close and it’s a real family type atmosphere. Mike Newman is the only one I haven’t known long but it seems like I have. We can’t forget Jason Townley our sound engineer who goes back almost 30 years with me.

RRX: How would you describe the music that you typically create/perform?

RB: The main ingredient for me is providing a space that things can happen in a unique and spontaneous way. So whatever situation I am in that is what makes it for me. When someone in the band can really express what it is they need to express in that moment. A song can be more joyful or more sorrowful depending on what is happening on a night. I want to offer that space to whoever I play with and whatever audience I play for. Be it 4 people or 400. It’s the same thing. The creative process that everyone can tap into at a live show.

RRX: So, as you do move forward, where do you see yourself and RBB in the next few years?

RB: I don’t spend too much time thinking about that. I just want to continue to create. I have been so blessed to be able to make all this music with all these people along the way. It really is an amazing thing to think about. The more I think about that blessing the better. I was a hockey puck who really wanted play music and I ended up with people like Chuck D’Aloia and Ace Parkhurst in my midst. That blows my mind. All the people in Raisinhead and Soul Shock and Stone Revival and Council Fire, Padre, Slipknot – Kim Buckley and RBB. I am reflecting now to see how incredibly fortunate I have been. It has been a journey filled with creation and a lot of love and kindness. I have learned so much from all these people musically and personally.

RRX: What type of venues are you currently performing at, or do you prefer?

RB: Well I do enjoy playing where I don’t have to set up a PA or lights – haaa. But the opportunity to connect people through music is the same whether its in a small bar or larger venue. So if I keep the focus on that it really doesn’t matter.

RRX: Can you let us know what shows you have coming up?

RB: Memorial Meltdown!…May 25-26 at Charles R Wood Park, Lake George , NY.

John Sachirico…