Rick Bolton – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Rick Bolton – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

RB: I wrote my first song when I was 13 and recorded it a couple years later! It was raw and pretty bad but it was a thrill to discover this new canvas and the possibilities that went with it even if it was 60 years ago. Everything has changed so much in the recording world but the thrill remains. Back in the day unless you had a ton of money it was tough to get exactly what you wanted. Strings, Choir, Keyboard sounds were non existent and unless you were solo, regardless of how good the musicians and engineers were, it could be tough to convey to them exactly what you wanted! Everything was on the clock which could get pricey. I did my last one at home using GarageBand. That allowed me to get an unadulterated, no compromise recording of my vision. All at the pace I wanted go and I could try a ton of different beats, bass lines, and assorted instrumentation for free! I love audio painting! Then with what I had, I brought it to the studio and it was easy to convey to the musicians and engineer what I was after!

RRX: Like songs, every artist has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

RB: I don’t think this counts but my first show was when I was 13 playing with 3 of my buddies trying to knock out songs by the Kinks, Paul Revere and the Raiders Etc. For a school dance. It was awesome…..we were badass….haha!

My first show as a single songwriter was terrifying! There were maybe 16-18 people in a dank little coffee house in St Johnsbury Vt. I remember feeling super lonely till I heard applause. I don’t know that I can single out a best show but the ones where people have laughed, cried and stood at the end, all in the same night certainly stand out in my mind. I’ve been lucky to have experienced that and when it happens there’s no greater feeling. . Oh, and a check that clears is a good show as well!

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

RB: I really admire those performers who aren’t as concerned about what music can do for them but what they can do for music! Those performers who have been out there for a long time and still don’t “mail it in”! Those who have given up a “normal life” for music! People don’t realize all the hard work that happens off stage!

Promotion, Travel, Rehearsal , Etc to make $100! Locally some I really admire are Erin Harkes, Sirsy, Garland Nelson, Michael Eck (my apologies to those I’ve forgotten)and all those performers who have been out there doing it for 20 plus years!

RRX: My singer punched my drummer out. Memorable moment, though nothing to brag about. But we have these things that, when summing up your endeavor, an incident comes to mind. What do you got?

RB: I was playing in a dive bar, honkey tonk band in the mid-seventies out west! Texas, Wyoming, Utah etc in the days of chicken wire and mechanical bulls. So my very first gig with the band was Ogden, Utah and the place we were playing held maybe 400-500 with the aforementioned chicken wire. We started the night with what I thought was a smoking tune but after we finished it was a scene from The Blues Brothers, people throwing beer cans at us! I turned to the pedal steel player to ask what we did wrong and he said “wrong, hell, these people love us”! I was unaware of the band affection tradition of the west! I was smiling till I thought of what might happen if they didn’t like you!

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?

RB: I’ve always liked the “there’s no money past the 5th fret” or “you can play a thousand chords for three people or three chords for thousands of people” quotes! I feel for jazz guys! So much talent so few ears!

RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?

RB: A few of many might be Brown Eyed Girl, Mustang Sally, Wagon Wheel and of course Free Bird.

You probably wouldn’t want your musician friends hearing you do these. I kind of disagree with musicians who refuse to do certain songs! First, you’re getting paid to sing other people’s songs in the restaurants, clubs and bars! Basically you’re an employee playing to make people enjoy themselves! It’s tough in those venues to go all original! Also, they’re probably pretty good songs originally that were overplayed to the point of nausea! Listen to Richard Thompson doing Britney Spears “Oops I Did It Again” ! I actually heard the tune for the first time after hearing his rendition! I’ve always liked a good cover done differently that might open you up to the lyrics!

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