Live from the Boom Room is a new 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.
About this week’s artist:
Neil Salsich is a St. Louis-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and teacher. His musical journey began at age six when he learned how to operate his dad’s stereo so he could listen to “Ramblin’ Man” on repeat. He was born and raised in South St. Louis and remembers clearly the first time he performed live (at Hartford Coffee Company) at the age of 16. After returning from college in 2012 he formed a band with aspirations of maybe playing around a bit, calling themselves Acoustics Anonymous. Four years later they’ve traversed the country a handful of times, changed their name to The Mighty Pines, and even sold out The Old Rock House in St. Louis. He specializes in country, folk, and bluegrass but incorporates many elements of funk, soul, and jazz into his singing and playing. When he’s not on the open road with his band, he’s often found crooning at restaurants, cafes, and wine bars around town. Neil is passionate about the St. Louis music scene and never dreamed he’d meet so many world class players and songwriters in his city. He recently experienced a successful run on TV’s The Voice.
What is the song about?
This song is about…being alive. It just started happening one day. I took the feeling and ran with it.
What led you to creating music in the first place?
Hearing music, and falling in love with it. Great songs, great singers, great players…all captured in time and discoverable on the CDs and iTunes files of my youth.
Are you in a band? What makes it unique?
I am in a band: The Mighty Pines! Our instrumentation is really unique. We’ve got the rhythm section of the Gods and then two instrumentalists who present acoustically but play electrically.
What’s next for you?
Slowing down. Trying to fend off then so-called “real world” while I hole up in my house to work on my craft and write new music.
Who else in STL is inspiring you right now?
Musicians that I meet and play with for the first time are always inspiring. I just did a gig with Adam Maness (piano), Rob Woodie (drums) and Logan Miller (guitar)—three musicians who I’d never met or even seen perform—we found ourselves onstage together thanks to Brian Owens—and BOOM, just like that, I was refreshed and inspired to keep getting better. Also—the food scene really inspires me. Just to see all these amazing creative people—in a scene I am not a part of—just to observe that and feel that it’s analogous to the music scene, to watch people work their asses off and bring old buildings to life and fill them with warmth and energy and taste and scent and life, and create an electric moment in time. It’s so similar to making music, and it’s nice to witness it as an observer, and be proud of and grateful for them as a St. Louisan.
Links:
The Mighty Pines on Facebook | Instagram
This season of Live from the Boom Room has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Regional Arts Commission. Help keep Live from the Boom Room an absolutely free service for musical artists by supporting the project with your donation here: https://paypal.me/blipblap
