Leslie Rich and the Rocket Soul Choir Videos
Videos by Leslie Rich and the Rocket Soul Choir. Minneapolis based, Belfast born singer/songwriter and independent musician fronting a three-piece rock band.
I have this annoying (to me) habit of when I’m in the stress/hustle/planning of a big show or event, of writing new songs. It’s not planned, but it’s kind of like the universe saying, “oh, maybe you don’t have enough material yet!”. This one happened, as always, noodling while I was waiting on a video exporting, or Dropbox syncing, or my computer in general taking its damn time! It completely fits everything that I’ve been writing for this year.
My dad gave me a handheld CB radio when I was about 9. The premise was that he would contact me on it no matter where he was. It wasn’t a complete lie, but the reach of that handheld was incredibly limited. He taught me how to find other users and got me to come up with my own call sign. At the time I was reading the book Shane by Jack Schaefer and so my handle was simply, Shane. My dad was the Deer Stalker (from his poaching days). I’d wait sometimes just to see if he’d show up and occasionally he did.
Opposite my house was an area called Downpatrick Green and between the houses I could see the bridge that my dad would have to cross before coming around the bend into Tynan Drive. The nature of the handheld CB meant I would see him before I’d hear him!
But to a 9 year old with a regularly absent dad, it was unbelievably cool.
This will be recorded this year as part of the whole Jumpstart series, and it has made it on to the set list for the release show at Icehouse MPLS on May 21.
If you haven’t bought tickets yet, think about getting them ahead. There are a couple of seats still left in front of the stage and a few good ones still up in the balcony.
See you there.
Leslie Rich // Call Sign
to enable soundOther Leslie Rich and the Rocket Soul Choir videos
I have this annoying (to me) habit of when I’m in the stress/hustle/planning of a big show or event, of writing new songs. It’s not planned, but it’s kind of like the universe saying, “oh, maybe you don’t have enough material yet!”. This one happened, as always, noodling while I was waiting on a video exporting, or Dropbox syncing, or my computer in general taking its damn time! It completely fits everything that I’ve been writing for this year. My dad gave me a handheld CB radio when I was about 9. The premise was that he would contact me on it no matter where he was. It wasn’t a complete lie, but the reach of that handheld was incredibly limited. He taught me how to find other users and got me to come up with my own call sign. At the time I was reading the book Shane by Jack Schaefer and so my handle was simply, Shane. My dad was the Deer Stalker (from his poaching days). I’d wait sometimes just to see if he’d show up and occasionally he did. Opposite my house was an area called Downpatrick Green and between the houses I could see the bridge that my dad would have to cross before coming around the bend into Tynan Drive. The nature of the handheld CB meant I would see him before I’d hear him! But to a 9 year old with a regularly absent dad, it was unbelievably cool. This will be recorded this year as part of the whole Jumpstart series, and it has made it on to the set list for the release show at Icehouse MPLS on May 21. If you haven’t bought tickets yet, think about getting them ahead. There are a couple of seats still left in front of the stage and a few good ones still up in the balcony. See you there. Leslie Rich // Call Sign
I have a new solo EP coming out on May 21st and Heck&Away is the lead track. My 9, 11, or maybe 15 year old self trying to navigate romance and heartbreak and trying to figure out the point of it all, but, like always, "Heck, and away I go again!" Release at Icehouse, Minneapolis May 21 7pm. Stream the full song, watch the lyric video, read about the writing and recording process and buy tickets at leslierichmusic.com/heck
Guys. We are, and have been, playing lots of shows this summer, but quite honestly, tomortow night at Como is certainly one of the highlights of our year. The weather will be beyond perfect. Come sit in the lawn, eat some hot dogs and listen to the music we have for you. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory at 6pm. I can’t express enough how lovely it is to sit there and listen to music and hang out. It’d be great to see you.
Last night I played a private party. I don’t do many, to be fair. Maybe it’s imposter syndrome, but I rarely feel that what I have to offer (especially solo, or as background music) is really what the client is expecting. I don’t do a lot of covers (and certainly rarely play a faithful-to-the-record version), and I can be a little schizophrenic, jumping between classic rock, Celtic, originals, punk, and pop. Last night, right after my first song, the host asked me to turn down. The part of me that feels like an imposter thinks that’s because they must hate what I’m playing (and in last nights case, my volume was certainly less than the house music that HAD been playing). But instead of it hitting me they way these comments usually do, I just sunk myself into the music. I was playing to myself, playing to God, and maybe that one bartender that kept smiling. I didn’t speak, or tell stories (WHAT?? You exclaim!), or introduce anything. I just played. I started at 6pm and suddenly after a while looked at my watch and it was 8:57! Sometimes the gigs can be crappy (last night’s turned out to NOT be one of them), or the audience just isn’t into what you’re doing, or maybe you’re just not on form and FEELING crappy about it. But sometimes, they grab you in very unexpected ways and you find you’ve been playing for three hours, and you’re not an imposter, and you just love playing music. Can I hear an amen? I’m hoping my fellow singer songwriters get a lot of those shows this year!
Although the last time I was there was 2015, @the_dubliner_pub_and_cafe holds a special place in my heart. Between 2007 and 2015 I played there solo and with the Damn Few, A Little of the Ready and of course, Hounds of Finn, which were formed there. The night that Pete McCauley and I were scheduled to play and he called just hours before the show to say he wouldn’t make it, because his son Finn was about to be born (25 weeks early!!), is one that sticks out to me. I honored the gig and did the whole thing solo. I was surrounded by good people and it ended up being a great night. Well, as it happens, this year for my birthday show, I’ll be back at the Dubliner! I’ll be joined by the RSC and any old musical pals that happen to be available. Let’s call it “Friends and Family night”! Plan to come and enjoy the craic and the music that night. May 28 8pm. Come as you are!
Do we play rock and roll? Yes we do. We get up there, turn up amps, shake off a few cobwebs, and Pete counts us in. But what keeps us getting up on stage together is the banter and the little surprises that come with each show. Although some of the stories are the same, we don’t know what we’re going to say ahead of time. We don’t know what’s been on our minds and we sometimes crack ourselves up at whatever stupid thing we’ve just shared on stage for the first time. The place we learned that’s just how the RSC rolls, is @charliesirishpub. We get to strip the music back to its basic shape with acoustic guitars and Pete’s suitcase kick drum, and share stories and riff off each other and the people that come watch us play. It’s a great place to see live music and get some cracking food. Friday and Saturday 7-11pm. Hope to see you there.
The culmination of a very satisfying process comes this Saturday, April 22nd... fittingly on Record Store Day Kidder's Son on limited edition white vinyl will be released at Acadia with our friends Rich Yarges and The Pop Mechanics and Pocketful 'A' Change. Music at 8pm | no cover | full menu | parking
Our new EP Kidder's Son arrived today... Still waiting on the vinyl, but there will be limited CD's available at upcoming shows.
Fill The Ocean With A Hose. Don't let anyone tell you what to do. I do it all the time to others. I'll start a sentence with, "You know what you should do...?" And actually what you should go is what ever the hell you want. I should too... Beautiful things happen when other people don't water down what you're doing with your music, art, fish and chip shop... Whatever it is. Stay true and it'll always be the right thing. We add up the numbers Divide all the problems Build a few mountains Lay down on the floor Paint the stars above us Fill the ocean with a hose Boy, could we do something With no one to tell us no.
The daily run through... This is our set for The Red Herring in Duluth next month Kidders Son Keep Off The Rain When Fear Wasn't A Word Kind Of A Love Song Book Of Rules Blindly Moving Anyway Long Line Of Fools Wouldn't It Be Good Raging Sea If Love Is Nothing Wrong Does She Knowa