Live from the Boom Room is a live music video series featuring live performances recorded in the Blip Blap Video HQ bunker in St. Louis, Mo. Learn more about Blip Blap Video at blipblapvideo.com, or follow them on Instagram and YouTube.
This week’s episode features Alex Huck performing his original, “Perfect Shade of Blue.”
About this week’s artist:
Alex Huck is a singer/songwriter who currently resides in St. Louis. Alex’s music focuses themes of heartbreak, mental illness, and substance abuse. Currently, Alex is working on an album and performs regularly around St. Louis.
What brought you to this point in your life as a working St. Louis artist?
To make an extremely long story a bit less long…
I grew up in Ste. Genevieve. I am lucky enough to have a father who loved singer/songwriters. So, I was exposed to people like Guy Clark, John Prine, and Iris Dement at birth.
I started as a drummer in school band when I was 11 because I did not want to make my parents pay for a saxophone. I saved up enough money to buy a $400.00 drum set and started a nu metal band with some friends before nu metal existed. As kids, we were all learning together. I ended up learning about eight guitar chords. To this day, my knowledge does not go much further than that.
Anyway, high school band broke up after having moderate success. We played at the old Creepy Crawl and a few other places. I moved to St. Louis for college. I went through an awful break up with my high school sweetheart and became a horrible alcoholic. I drank all day, every day for almost 10 years. After trying to stop on my own for years, I went to rehab in 2018.
When I left rehab, I was in significant legal trouble, had no money, no license, and nowhere to live. So, I moved back to Ste. Genevieve to live with my parents. I knew I had to have some therapeutic outlet, or I was going to go nuts. So, I decided to go to grad school and start taking songwriting more seriously.
I started several songs before I went to rehab. They were just stories about my experiences or the experiences of others I met on the road to recovery. I ended up finishing several of them and writing several more.
I moved back to St. Louis when I finished grad school and had three years without alcohol. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to meet people. So, I started going to open mics around St. Louis and playing these songs I had written. Tyler King and Mark Hewkin were two of the first people I met at an open mic when I moved up here and we still play together all the time.
Honestly, he will say this is not how it happened, but it is. I played an open mic at Venice Cafe, and one of the hosts, Neil C. Luke, approached me about doing some recording at his studio, Extra Plus Productions. I saw Neil play with the Hamilton brothers and Old Souls Revival, and I could not believe he was even talking to me. I admired the guy that much. I took him up on the offer, started recording, and we just instantly became friends. It was like I had known him my whole life. I honestly cannot thank him enough. He has introduced me to so many people, helped me get gigs, and continues dispense invaluable advice. Without him, I would not be here. So, blame Neil.
What does this song in particular mean to you?
This song is called “Perfect Shade of Blue.” Another long story that I’ll keep short.
I met a girl in rehab, and we had a very odd relationship. This song is the result of that. It’s a bit difficult to talk about because I am no longer on speaking terms with the girl, and she was a very good friend of mine. However, I consider this to be the best song I have written to date. I worked very hard to construct the lyrics and it says everything I wanted to say. It is also all very factual. Even the “fat guy in a t-shirt” line is real. I have gone on a bit of a weight loss journey the past two years, but I wrote this about 60 pounds ago.
Who in St. Louis are you inspired by right now?
I am a huge fan of St. Louis music. I find what my peers are doing to be more interesting than anything else. My current obsession is Early Worm. So, if you are reading this, Josiah Joyce, start writing again!
What bands are you performing with lately?
Lately, I have been playing with Evan Farris. Evan plays every instrument on the planet, I believe. We have a show on January 24 at Venice Cafe. Jakob Baxter, from Yard Eagle, is going to play with us. Jake is, quite literally, one of the best guitar players I have ever heard. I am really looking forward to it. Everyone in Yard Eagle has been very, very welcoming and helpful. When my album comes out, I’m going to have to give 5% publishing to Matt Maher for everything he did.
San Loo announced they were closing in late November, Nick Gusman and the Coyotes were nice enough to have me play a farewell show. Garret Rongey, who plays guitar with Nick, has become a good friend and we play quite a bit together. He’s another one of the best guitar players I’ve ever heard and quite a songwriter.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
I honestly have no idea where I will be in five years. While I love playing music and am still amazed that anyone cares about mine, I can’t imagine doing this at 42 years old. At least not as often as I am now. I have other goals and aspirations in life that don’t involve music. For now, I am just trying to soak it in and have fun. I know this won’t last forever. So, I am going to enjoy it while I can.
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