A Dirty Dozen with ERIC ROEBUCK – May 2021

According to a recent press release: “Eric Roebuck is a 29-year-old singer-songwriter, guitarist, and keyboard player rooted in Huntington Beach, CA. For the past 15 years he has been grinding away in different garage bands, from country to rock to reggae groups, playing in every venue and dive bar in the area. With over a decade of touring, gigging, and recording under his belt, he is ready for something more. Keeping to his blues and rock roots, Eric has started a solo venture teaming up with some of the most talented players gathered over the years. With Ian Foreman (drums) Jeff Livingstone (bass), and Alex Vo (lead guitar) part of the mix, Eric and his band have set out to put together a nostalgic yet fresh and unique take on an old-school rock band.” We get Eric to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

It’s a big time jam. I think anyone who likes guitar will hear those guitar harmonies that kick in later in the song.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I remember being on the school bus with my portable CD player and being confused about how all these kids weren’t singing along to the music in their ears. They were just listening. I must’ve been an annoying kid.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Yes. There are tons, but the first one I remember that really grabbed me was the first time I heard The Band’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. That whole album I stumbled upon when I was 11 or so. I loved and still love how unique and complete those songs are. There’s so much depth to them, and they sound darker than a lot of things I was previously exposed to.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

The Band, Bob Marley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dr. John, and CCR.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

John Fogerty. The dude just gets it. I love how he’s a California boy who does these dirty, swampy, very American songs. Not to mention they’re all hits. His voice was and still is so damn powerful, and his guitar playing is super underrated. I hear he could give me a couple golf tips, too.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Hmm, that’s always tough to answer. I tell people it’s blues, it’s country, it’s just old stuff. We obviously make it our own, but I think it is a throwback in many ways. Some drunk chick said we were like Florida Georgia Line once. That was funny.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

This one’s easy. The other morning, after staying up all night, chef master Jeff (Livingstone; bass) made me a bagel that Gordon Ramsey would salute and bow to. Ian (Foreman; drums) is from Missouri (circa 1930, apparently). That boy loves his moonshine. And for (Alex) Vo (lead guitar) there is not a moment, awake or asleep, where there isn’t a guitar, banjo, pedal steel, or mandolin attached or within arm’s length.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Justin Bieber was at a show we were playing at this club in LA a couple years ago. I kinda didn’t care all that much. The last time I got starstruck was at the Comedy Store when I walked out back to Joe Rogan and Joey Diaz smokin’ a number. Made eye contact. Awkwardly gave a head nod and beelined around the corner. I debated for the next five minutes whether or not to introduce myself and decided not to.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Oh, you mean I can’t be a rockstar? One pipe dream to another. I’d be shortstop on the Dodgers.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

“Do you want to open for Fogerty and Randy Newman next week at the Hollywood Bowl?” My answer: Yes. I did like these questions. But, to be honest, I don’t like when interviews ask me to go in-depth about my lyrics. That’s a major bug.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No regrets.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I think I’d pick to go back with the Stones when they were in France working on Exile on Main Street. I wanna see what those troublemakers were up to back then. That record is so dynamic and all about the party! I throw it on a lot of times when there’s a get-together or a poker game. It hits right the whole way through and for so many occasions.

ERIC ROEBUCK LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

Category: Interviews