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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, January 14-17, 2012 C-3 The Park Record Robinson's live shows pays the bills Even with multi degrees, musician would rather sing By SCOTT IWASAKI The Park Record Singer and songwriter Nate Robinson has been a staple of the Utah music scene for more than 20 years. He is the former drummer of the ska and punk bands My Man Friday and Stretch Armstrong and currently the heart of Two and a Half White Guys, a ska band that can have up to six performers, the Nate Robinson Trio and a solo artist who plays the Montage Deer Valley at least three times a week. He's also played 350 Main Brasserie, Easy Street at the Sky Lodge and Westgate at Canyons Resort. Although he graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in history, political science and building and construction management, Robinson said music is his career. "I haven't found a ‘real' job," the Provo-based musician said during an interview with The Park Record. "I added the extra solo gigs because I have a wife and two kids, a house and three cars and the economy has made it difficult for places to pay a seven-piece band as opposed to a one-man solo guy. "I started playing après ski gigs a couple of years ago, so, I learned 100 songs to play anywhere people eat $70 steak," he said with a laugh. "I noticed the market for that was really good, because not a lot of people can play 100 songs." When he was younger, Robinson had lofty goals regarding his music. "I wanted what a lot of young musicians wanted, to be famous," he said. "I used to turn things down because I thought I was too cool to play certain shows when I was young in my 20s and thought I knew everything. "Now, there is no way I can turn anything down," he said with a laugh. "I've done three gigs in a day, starting at noon NAN CHALAT-NOAKER / PARK RECORD Provo-based singer and songwriter Nate Robinson smiles and sings as he plays a solo, acoustic show at the Montage Deer Valley. Robinson, who has performed music in Utah for the past 20 years in bands such as Stretch Armstrong, My Man Friday, Two and a Half White Guys and the Nate Robinson Trio, is seen regularly in Park City at the Sky Lodge, 350 Main Brasserie and Westgate at Canyons Resort. and playing until three, and then playing until seven and then playing until one in the morning." Still, Robinson isn't complaining. He knows he's lucky to be making music for a living. "I love playing music," he said. "I love it when someone comes up to me and asks if I'm in Two and a Half White Guys, and then sit down with me while I'm eating dinner. Even bartenders and sushi chefs have recognized me from the band. "I'm also paying bills," he said. "If I did stop, I know someone would step into my slot and I'd lose that income." Robinson started his musical journey with piano lessons when he was five. "I had to do that every day before school for an hour until I was a teenager," he said. "I started playing drums when I was 11 and played until I was out of high school and attended the U. on a drum scholarship." He joined a band and toured around the country for a year. "When I couldn't stand being around them anymore, I left," Robinson said with a laugh. Before quitting the band, he learned to play guitar. "I figured out a few chords on guitar to write songs and when I got home, I started my own group, after trying to play banjo and percussion in a swing group," Robinson said. Shortly thereafter, Robinson formed a reggae trio, which would eventually become Two and a Half White Guys. "The drummer was half white and half Filipino," he said. "We wanted to call the band Three White Guys, but couldn't because he wouldn't let us." That group blossomed into a six-piece band, signed to Megalith Records and toured the country a few times. "We released our fourth album, ‘Leather Jackets and Mustache Wax,' on Megalith and its still available at Tower Records today," Robinson said. "We just released our fifth album called ‘Gringo,' but we decided not to do with the label." Within the past three years, just as the recession hit, Robinson started the Nate Robinson Trio. "I was playing drums with my feet, a guitar with my hands and a harmonica with my mouth in addition to singing," he said. "I play with a solo guitarist and a bass player." Businesses rent to Sundance The Star Bar, 268 Main St., will be closed and transformed into the Sundance Channel HQ during Film Festival week. Sundance Channel HQ is open to the public from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and features a broadcast studio, lounge, café and party space. The McCarthy Gallery, 449 Main St., will close and become the Grey Goose Vodka Blue Door, an invite-only event space. Park City History Museum, 528 Main St., will close and transform into Acura Studio, an official Sundance Film Festival Venue. The hours will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The museum will reopen Feb. 3. The Claim Jumper Hotel, 573 Main St., will once again become the Bing Bar, a multifaceted event space/bar hosting celebrity interviews, guest speakers, VIP parties, film premiere pre and after-parties and musical performances. This venue is accessible by invitation only. Destiny, 592 Main St., will celebrate past Sundance Film Festivals as Chase Sapphire on Main, a multilevel, fully immersive experience that is open to all festival attendees. It will include a gallery featuring memorabilia from past festival films, to video blogs and photo opportunities. Chase Sapphire on Main will be open throughout the festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, 608 Main St., will turn into the Sundance Festival Co-op from Jan. 20 through Jan. 28. Hours Jan. 20 to Jan. 27 are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Jan. 28. The Festival Co-op allows the public to see offerings and demonstrations from Sundance Film Festival sponsors. The Kimball Art Center, 638 Park Ave., will be closed to make way for the Sundance House presented by HP. The Sundance House will be open Jan. 20 through Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Jan. 28. Sundance House is completely wireless with space featuring HP's interactive technology and music events such as A Celebration of Music in Film and panel discussions. The Rich Haines Gallery, 751 Main St., will house the Sundance ASCAP Music Café that will open to all Sundance Film Festival credential holders. Concerts are held daily beginning at 2 p.m. Park City Municipal Athletic & Recreation Center, 1200 Little Kate Rd., will be called the MARC, which will serve as a theater for Sundance Film Festival Screenings. The Yard, 1251 Kearns Blvd., will be the site of the Sundance Film Festival's New Frontier, a venue that highlights the convergence of film, art, and new media technologies featuring media installations, multimedia performances, transmedia experiences, panel discussions, feature films and more. The Blind Dog Restaurant and Sushi, located adjacent to New Frontier will be open for business as usual to the public ` Other than playing with fewer bandmates, Robinson said the main adjustment was writing solo songs. "I haven't done that before, nor have I released a solo CD, yet," he said. "I have things kind of ready to go for one, but I don't really plan on pushing a solo album that will be all acoustic for at least another year. "If the economy doesn't get better, I'll continue doing solo or trio gigs," he said. Even so, Robinson has also cut down on the touring. "I'm 37 and since I have two kids, traveling is a little more difficult," he said. "The band doesn't go east past Kansas, but we do go west to California and Oregon, and around the region. "The benefits aren't that great," he said. "There is no insurance and I'm away from my family most nights, but I'd be lost if I couldn't play music." For more information about Nate Robinson or his bands, visit www.naterobinsonmusic. com. shabu shabu house Japanese Hot Pot Restaurant park city Buy 2 Entrées & Get a FREE Appetizer or Dessert Not valid with coupon or promotion one coupon per party expires 1.31.12 11:30 am to 10:00 pm 1612 West Ute. Blvd. 106 Park City 84098 45.658.9829 MUSTANG i Restaurant i It's about the food. CHEF/OWNER - BILL HUFFERD OPEN NIGHTLY 5:30 • RESERVATIONS 658-3975 • 890 MAIN STREET - Scott Iwasaki The Park Record. your community newspaper since 1880 Every day, in print, online and by mobile, the Park Record delivers a highly loyal and engaged audience. To put the Park Record to work for you, contact your advertising representative 435.649.9014 |
