In It For The Long Haul: An Interview with Bobby Long

I remember the first time I heard Bobby Long. My wife had dragged me out to a show, one of the bands she loved. A fairly unassuming gent took the stage and once I heard that voice I was completely hooked. Heart and emotion through this gruff and grit that really said something even if you spoke a totally different language, you could hear and feel the passion in his voice. His latest release is no different, with a keen focus on the songs at their core and mixing in varying degrees of rock, folk, and something that is all his own. The dude bleeds charisma on stage and it is present in his songs. There is just a vibe that latches on and hooks you in for the long haul.

The vinyl release “Ode” was just released (on March 4), even though Ode to Thinking came out last summer, and Long has plans to publish a second book of poetry in the coming months. The songwriter will be in town at Club Passim on May 7th, and I highly suggest picking up some tickets right now.

RLR: Ode to Thinking seems to be a long awaited record. In the liner notes I read that it was recorded in Austin back in 2014. So why the delay in getting it “out there”?

BL: We were able to make a deal with a label (Compass Records) to release it, so tt was just pushed back to fit in with a tour and to give it the best chance of being successful. I could do a record every year, but with the music industry today you only get one shot to make an impact so timing is essential. I have released three records in the last 6 years so you aim to have one out every 2 years.

RLR: So, what does the songwriting process look like for you? Are you a “sit down with the intention of writing” type, or of the ‘collecting ideas and verses over time and Frankenstein together a song’ methodology? Or something completely different?

BL: It depends. I try to write every day and make it a part of my work routine. I’m starting to change it up and bank ideas and work on them at a later date, which is working well right now.

RLR: Your first record was more of a solo venture, where 2013’s Wishbone was approached with a more “band mentality”, what was the process in arranging for this latest effort? It certainly has some bare and stripped feelings to it, allowing you voice to shine and the acoustic to be the skeleton, but with some added colors and textures in harmonies and full band parts. How did the recording really flesh out over time?

BL: I wanted to make more of a singer-songwriter record so any instrumentation was based around my live performance of me and my guitar. The instrumentation was all about the song, and it supplementing my voice and my acoustic playing. I spent time on harmonies, and we really figured it out the day we recorded the songs.

RLR: Ok, I have to ask this one for my wife…any chances of a Bobby Long and Rob Pattinson duet during this run of shows?

BL: Sure yes if it means more people come to the shows. But no….
RLR: I have a hard time really nailing down a handful of comparisons to your music. Your voice is unique in its texture and tone, but it still feels comfortable and is really nice to listen to. Where do your earliest inspirations come from musically? What made you want to pick up a guitar or write songs?

BL: Thank you. I heard a lot of the Beatles and Bob Dylan growing up so they were big inspirations. Listening to singers like Sam Cooke and Joe Cocker really inspired me and floated my boat when I was first singing.

RLR: Boston and Cambridge have become a breeding ground for musicians and songwriters with the New England Conservatory and Berklee in town. Particularly the roots and folk music community is very strong here in town. How did you find that community aspect when you were cutting your teeth and coming up in the London club circuit? Did you find a strength in your contemporaries, or were there challenges?

BL: I felt the competition and playing within the community was essential to where I am now. It kept me humble, and it pushed me really hard as well. It was tough at times but I always felt better after I played and had to earn my spot.

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Be sure to check the show out and see how Long has truly earned that spot. The gent is fantastic.