David Karl Roberts — 29 July 2020 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour
David Karl Roberts joined guest host Geneviéve Rossi on ‘Rocket Shop‘, Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator. Check out his current happenings at facebook.com/davidkarlroberts
On Wednesday, July 29, a real northeaster’ stormed into the studio in the form of David Karl Roberts. A musician who carries his guitar case like a hobo’s bindle, Roberts is the aged version of the quintessential traveling musician. He spent most of his early career traveling New England highways in his van, but has begun the process of settling, purchasing a farmhouse in Stowe in order to fashion it into an Airbnb (and FYI for any Haley Jane fans, you may spy this farmhouse in the background of an upcoming music video).
Likewise his music has undergone a host of evolutions, beginning with an “acoustic punk” which appealed to both the hippie and punk ends of the counterculture spectrum. That was back in the early 80s. At some point he switched to an electric sound, found a band, then another one, hit the road, peddled his music to bookers and magazine editors, served at bars and clubs, saw Soundgarden play to tens of fans on some Portland stage, and wrote the whole time.
On this particular evening, he came with a new song to promote: “Walking in the Rain.” He composed and performed the song alongside Molly Ladd. The song released on Bandcamp on the 28, but releases on all platforms August 1. In his solo performance of the song, Roberts croons like a wanderer. The song bounces around hot and sultry topics: the late summer heat, love and devotion, and taught tension.
Like most of Roberts’ songs, “Walking in the Rain” avoids turning itself into an anachronism. It avoids details, opting for general relatability over timely specifics, but the line “God’s run off and he’s left us with the devil’s due” certainly points to the unrest, frustration, and general sufferings we’ve witnessed this summer. This is the song of the summer, if there could be one.
Over the years, Roberts has amassed a wide collection of original music, as well as bands and inspirations. The latter he attributes to artists like The Replacements, Wilco, and old blues from the 30s and 40s. If that’s not eclectic enough for you, I’m not sure what is. At the moment, Roberts sound is rooted in varying forms of americana, but he has historically performed in a wide range of genres, including rock, jazz, and psychedelic folk. Goes to show that when you perform for nearly forty years you’re bound to break out of whatever boxes you find yourself in.
The three most memorable bands of Roberts career are Crazy Moonbeam, Killer Greens, and Love Cactus. Not much info is available on these bands outside of Roberts’ anecdotes, but if you want to hear them you check out his YouTube channel. This vintage performance by Love Cactus features a long(er) haired Roberts on lead guitar and vocals.
As Roberts said, “I’m not a one style of music kind of person.” His wide range of muses and genres indicates this. What’s continuous across his interests, however, is a passion. A passion for music, and passion for supporting others with similar penchants.
“Every song has its own merits,” he said, whether its a quality of voice, a single riff, or a beat that draws you into the song. The reason why you enjoy something is always unique, and is always valid regardless of a musician’s talent. What’s important, Roberts seemed to imply, is the passion of the artist. This, of course, coming from someone who’s kept his own flame alive for almost four decades; so I would listen to him on the subject of passion.
These days, Roberts is bouncing around open mics, hoping to play a song or two, but mostly hoping to hear someone else's passion coming through the microphone. While he’ll trickle out a new single or EP every so often, he’s more interested in mentoring young artists. The scenes going to change following COVID: venues will shutter for good, and others will change hands, and few things will be reliable as they once were. Roberts’ experiences with the mercurial music scene as a traveling artist who’d move from town to town in search of a booker or magazine editor with music connections has prepped him to handle the changes to the scene, but this knowledge doesn’t help him as much as it used to:
“I’m at the point now where my hands don’t always work…I’m not going to be able to play forever and I realize that.”
He recognizes the hoard of information he carries, and hopes to share it with young artists who can make use of it.
So for the foreseeable future, Roberts plans on frequenting the quiet clubs like Radio Bean and Light Club Lamp Shop (as soon as it’s safe). A place to enjoy music and contemplate. A place very unlike the clubs he headlined in his youth, with their shoe-sticking floors and loud music. He’d prefer a sausage, a beer, and a song.
Roberts isn’t dying, and I apologize if there were morbid undertones in my writing. But what he is, is a bird that’s migrated north and south enough times to appreciate and prefer sitting in a tranquil nest. A wanderer who’s wandered enough for ten lifetimes—who’s found and traveled the “Lost Highway,” as his penultimate song notes.
If you want to hear more of David Karl Roberts, you can find him on all streaming platforms, including Spotify. And you can listen to his new single, “Walking in the Rain” with Molly Ladd this Friday on all platforms!
Text by Luke Vidic.
Photo by James Lockridge.
