Rising Star Joe Fletcher
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Since beginning his music career in 2005, Providence musician Joe Fletcher has emerged as one of the preeminent local artists in a city that already includes the likes of Deer Tick and The Low Anthem. Fletcher’s unique ability to fuse folk, country and blues has made him a live favorite both locally and across the US.
GoLocal wanted to know more about this local up-and-comer.
You were born in St. Louis, what brought you to RI?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJust a divorce, a remarrying, and an aeroplane. I arrived for the first time when I was three and have lived in RI for all but four or five years since. I was lucky to spend my summers in St. Louis for many, many years. That city and my family and friends there, are a very important part of me. Go Cardinals!
Providence seems to be a hot bed for great folk artists like yourself, The Low Anthem, Deer Tick and Brown Bird among others. Is there something about the Providence music scene that helps facilitate this or is it just a coincidence?
I think what is important is that we are talking about four exceptionally different kinds of bands and the title "folk music" would not give anybody an accurate picture of what any of these bands do. I think the leanings towards acoustic instruments welcome that categorization, but I don't think it's accurate. I am a huge Deer Tick fan, and I think they are about as close to straight ahead folk act as Led Zeppelin ever was.
Although folk acts are now commonplace in Providence, was there ever a time when you were looked strangely upon for playing "Americana" music in the Northeast?
I travel all over the country playing and people down south are often genuinely surprised that I've lived in RI nearly all my life. That makes me feel like I'm doing a good job. The American South has such a rich musical history and that just happens to be where much of the music I love comes from. The music I play is much more directly influenced by what I listen to than where I live.
Do you like being called a "folk act" or is that a limiting title?
I love a lot of folk music, but I do not feel like it comes close to completely describing what we do. There is a great deal of Honky Tonk, Country Blues, and Rock N' Roll in there, too. It's a blending of all the things I love about American music.
You've performed as a solo artist and apart of The Wrong Reasons throughout the country; how do Providence fans compare to others around the US?
Providence has been very good to us. In general, northeastern audiences can be a little harder to impress. I often get the feeling that there is some understanding and quantifying that needs to be done before people up here allow themselves to enjoy the music. When I play in a town in Tennessee I've never played before, people are much more likely to be dancing by the end of the first song than when I play a new town in Massachusetts. Up here, people are much more likely to come up to you after the show and tell you your music is cross between this and that with a little of hint of this. That being said, I think Providence is a wonderful place to call home. I have never seen a town quite like it.
Your lyrics seem to draw inspiration from nearly anything and everything; how important is originality in your songwriting?
It is the most important thing to me. I try to write about things that interest me in a way I have not heard them before and I try to never repeat myself. These are the essentials to me.
Fletcher and his band The Wrong Reasons will be playing Friday, November 4 at 9 pm at The Brick House Pub in Housatonic, Massachusetts, then November 6-7 at the Providence Social Club. For a full list of upcoming tour dates check out facebook.com/
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