 Courtesy of the Artist
Nashville-based artist Rocky Bottom is a harmonica blowing, foot stomping, string breaking, story telling one man show who needs nothing more than a suitcase and a stage.
With a cocktail of folk, country, and rock and roll, the singer-songwriter will bring his new rootsy EP, Dive Bars and Tips Jars, to the masses on March 21st 2018. In advance of the release, he kindly took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk the origin of the EP's title, inspiration, his favorite concert, and much more. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? A lot of my songs are usually either painfully true or ridiculously fictional (definitely the case on the new EP) but I think with either one I just draw from a certain emotion I have at the time (which usually strikes at the most inconvenient times) and roll with it from there. What's the story behind your EP's title? I've been playing bars for a living for a long time now, and when you do that there's definitely gonna be some crazy times involved. I've found my self in some strange places and situations over the years. Some people went to college, some learned a trade. I never wanted to do any of that so I learned 100's of songs and played music for drunks. What's the most frustrating thing about being on the road? I'd say right now when ever I leave it's the thought that the run will end and I gotta go back home. I really enjoy being on the road when ever I get to do it, even the bad parts that come with it. Nashville isn't a bad place to come back to at all though so that makes it easier. Favorite concert you have ever attended? From Ashes Rise, Leftover Crack, and The Subhumans back in '05 at B.B. Kings NYC. I was 15 or 16 and that show was insane. I got sick in my friends dads car later that night and blamed it on drinking too much tap water (it wasn't the tap water). One of those times I look back on now and think man I really miss that. What's the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? I moved to Nashville a couple of years ago and I was in an uber with a fellow musician and he said one of the biggest mistakes everyone makes here is getting caught up in other people's sound when trying to create their own, so I've been trying to steer clear of that. It's tough though because there's so much good stuff going on here and it's truly inspiring. What has been your biggest struggle so far? Networking and schmoozing with people is very tough for me. It kinda sucks but it's a big part of it, especially in Nashville. I'm a terrible schmoozer. What song of yours gets the best crowd response? Probably "American Man" off my last full length album. I do feel like sometimes people don't realize it's extremely non-biographical and even kind of satirical at times. But hey, a song is what ever you want it to be I guess. What's your favorite thing to do on a day off? I like to throw hatchets in my back yard if it's nice out. Watching horror movies is up there too, and then of course there's leaving the house which is always interesting. Watch "All My Friends" HERE Website
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