Alt-Country Rebel: Robbie Fulks Headlines Spirit of Community Concert in Kalkaska

Aug. 4, 2004

Over-priced concert tickets emptying your wallet? Relief is on the way. Kalkaska area resident Grace Beland isn’t running for office but she is on a campaign to create an opportunity for families and others to come together around the concert stage without experiencing a drain on the pocketbook. Beland and others affiliated with the Kalkaska County Fair have created the Spirit of Community Concert Series.
“Our goal is to promote world music to the kids and families in the area,” said Beland. “We wanted to create an affordable musical experience and offer something for everyone.”
The concert series will bookend the Kalkaska County Fair. It will feature traditional country and bluegrass music on Sunday, August 8 for only $5 a ticket and a rock and roll theme on August 15 for only $10.
For Beland, who has three sons, her first experience as a concert promoter has been a real learning experience.
“I certainly have learned a lot– it isn’t easy,” said Beland. “There is just so much to do from the scheduling, finding chairs, reviewing contracts and certainly the band selection.”
As for the music, Beland relied on long-time area promoter Bob Farmer from the Rose Robert Agency in Elk Rapids.
“Bob made several helpful suggestions and sent over several CDs for us to listen to,” said Beland. “With the country acts one really jumped out and of all the CDs we listen to, his was the best and that was Robbie Fulks.”
Robbie who?
“Oh great, my CD was the best of the worst they had to choose from,” said Fulks. “They must have been sent some pretty bad CDs.”
Okay so Fulks has a sense of humor, but who is this guy headlining the country portion of the concert series?
“Well I play country music,” said Fulks. “Some call it alternative country but I simply refer to it as country music.”

ALT-COUNTRY
Oh yeah that confusing category known as alt-country. Hmm... guys that play traditional style country music, you know the stuff Hank Williams, Buck Owens, George Jones and those from Grand Ole Opry made famous, the real country music is now considered alternative. I have always wondered how the real thing can be alternative?
“I call it country music in part to counter the terrible PR that country music has received as a result of videogenic popsters taking it over,” said Fulks. “So alternative-country is fine too. A lot of mediocre talent has gathered under that umbrella, which I guess is to be expected. But just as a designation or an idea there should be an alternative to the country music they are playing on the radio today.”
Fulks obviously doesn’t give much listen to country radio today, nor is he concerned about not getting any airplay.
“I think radio research is more targeted at getting people not to turn off the radio than seeking out what pleases people,” said Fulks. “I think their research has led to a different result. It is cool that it is kind of opening up right now. There is some desperation out there right now in Music City, because the industry has begun to sag. This could be a real good time for weird music to sneak in there to fill the void.”

MAKIN’ IT
Despite a lack of radio airplay the Chicago native has made his mark during the past 10 years; just how has he done that?
“I have no real answer for that. By some standards you can’t define me as being successful,” said Fulks. “I have slogged it through the bar circuit, word of mouth has helped. I get a lot of press.”
Kid Rock has said that press does little to further an artist, so has it really helped you?
“I think the difference is that my fans have the ability to read,” laughs Fulks. “Being on the cover of ‘No Depression,’ and ‘The Journal of Country Music’ has certainly helped. Press isn’t the first go-to-source for people to learn about music but it doesn’t hurt. If I hadn’t had it, I would be a lot worse off.”
Fulks has built a following and his “blank you” attitude to modern Nashville has made him a cult figure with country music traditionalists. He has appeared on the popular PBS show “Austin City Limits,” been photographed for GQ magazine and has been featured by Terry Gross on her NPR show “Fresh Air.”
“All of that has given me a bounce in the Soundscan ratings,” said Fulks “I think the public radio audience is more in tune with me than the commercial country radio audience. I have a tendency to play for a lot of elitist but it doesn’t have to be that way. This isn’t Steven Hawking country music, it is entertaining country music and I feel confident that we can get in front of any audience and be entertaining.”

MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE
Fulks is both entertaining and talented. Besides several television and radio appearances, he has performed at the Grand Ole Opry. He also did a rousing rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Cry, Cry, Cry” for the Cash tribute album “Dressed In Black.” Fulks has a tremendous appreciation for music in general and even recorded a tribute album to pop star Michael Jackson.
“We finished it over a year ago,” said Fulks. “I just got too scared to put it out because he is having all of this trouble. I didn’t want to violate the spirit of the record, which was pretty much, or at least mostly an earnest tribute to Jackson. I didn’t want to hop on the bandwagon and capitalize on his troubles.”
While the Jackson tribute didn’t work, Fulks just finished producing another tribute album that will be released August 10 in honor of country music legend Johnny Paycheck who passed away last year.
“I just produced the album and only sing on one song,” said Fulks. “It is a real strong CD with a lot of great contributors like George Jones and Buck Owens from Paycheck’s period. I also grew up admiring a lot of people who were not country singers like Marshall Crenshaw, Al Anderson and Mavis Staples, who appear. This album is made up of a lot of people that I like as vocal interrupters. I am more proud of it than any of my own records.”
As for Fulks, he has released six recordings in his 10-year solo career. His most recent, “Couples in Trouble,” showcases his songwriting talents. The album blends country, rock, pop and bluegrass as it weaves through relationship challenges with such songs as “Real Money” and the poppy “Mad at a Girl.”

HARD TO DEFINE
Fulks has had a “punky-poppy” side to his music. One minute he seems steeped in country tradition, and the next it seems he could be a member of the Velvet Underground or singing duets with Lou Reed.
“I guess when you really look at my music it really is hard to define. I have had trouble my whole career because I came out of the gates doing all this old fashion country music, but it had an attitude to it and cuss words,” said Fulks. “Then I have done non-country albums as well. So I really have stabbed myself in the foot.”
So what should we expect in Kalkaska?
“Well I would say the set we do today is best described as 90% good old country music,” said Fulks. “People that are fans of Buck Owens and others from that period will like what we are doing. We have Dixie Chicks and Dwight Yoakam fans at our show. I work without a set list and we just try to have fun. I try to tell jokes, keep the music loose and get people up dancing.”
Robbie Fulks shows have been commanding $15 to $30 a ticket all over the country. At five bucks this is a real musical steal. Adding to the value of the ticket is the fact that the Straight Forward Bluegrass Band takes the stage at 2 p.m. followed by the North Carolina bluegrass group, Candlewyck. Fulks will take the stage around 6 p.m.
The following Sunday, August 15, The Spirit of Community Music Festival will feature Freekbass, Black Eyed Susan and the Brian Schram Band. Freekbass is from Ohio and has worked closely with funk bass legend Bootsy Collins. Black Eyed Susan hails from Maryland and has a jazz-rock sound. Schram returns to the area from Toronto where he has been working on a demo for his new CD. The afternoon of music kicks off at 2 p.m.

Tickets for both days are available at the door. Both concerts are at the Kalkaska County Fairgrounds. For additional information about the shows or to help Grace Beland with her vision of affordable entertainment, call her at (231) 258-8829.