Contributing writer and Belmont student Matt Reynolds chats with Rites of Spring performer Keller Williams. Williams is known throughout the music community for his unique one-man-jam-band style and energetic performances. Now, with only three weeks before Vanderbilt’s annual music festival, Williams discusses everything from his small-town upbringing to the direction of his music and how he feels about playing at Rites for the third time in his career.
Vanderbilt Hustler: Tell me a little about your music and the sound you are trying to achieve.
Keller Williams: My sound and my lyrics all stay on the positive side. The sound is on the lighter, happy side away from the dark, mean side.
My show is deeply rooted in solo acoustic guitar and singing, and I incorporate electronics to become somewhat of a (disc jockey) - but instead of a turntables I'm using instruments to create a dance vibe.
VH: How did you first get involved in music?
KW: As a child I just loved music and dancing and wanting to create music in any way I could. Most of my family really just plays the stereo, but they all have an appreciation for music.
VH: You are from the small town of Fredericksburg, Va. Do you find that some of your songwriting is reflective of being from Fredericksburg and your time spent living there?
KW: Fredericksburg used to be a lot smaller than it is now. But generally, it's still considered a small town, and I think that carries a certain mentality as opposed to being from New York City or San Francisco.
There have been some songs that I've written about the town and experiences I've had in the town. Most of my songs though come from conversations as well as fiction that I've imagined.
VH: Being from such a small town, how did you get your start and get your name out there?
KW: Well, I never got signed. But I started out playing restaurants and small bars and did that for many years.
I moved out to Colorado where I was playing five to seven nights a week in the little bars and restaurants in the ski towns and whatnot.
I met up with The String Cheese Incident and was able to open up with them on a couple of national tours. That's what jump-started my career - playing before them in front of audiences and getting the exposure that I desperately needed at the time.
VH: Tell me a little about your experience at Bonnaroo.
KW: I think it's bigger than life. It's really an amazing thing. It's way beyond the jam-band scene, but the jam-band scene has a lot to do with the success of that festival - that's kind of where it originated and started from; it kind of blossomed from there.
It went a little more alternative rock, and now, it's this really interesting festival with all different types of music. I think we are all really lucky to have that around.
VH: You are scheduled in a slot at Vanderbilt's Rites of Spring this month. Have you played in Nashville before, and what is your impression of the city?
KW: I've played in Nashville at least 12 times over the years. This will be my third time playing the Rites of Spring show.
The Exit/In has always been good to me; I have fun there. I remember a great show I played with Bela Fleck and Yonder Mountain String Band down by the river, one of those big, outdoor, "by the river" shows. I've had a great time in Nashville and love going there.
VH: Where do you want to be in the next several years, and when your career is said and done?
KW: I hope to be able to sell enough tickets so that I can take my family all over the world. I'd like to be able to play where and when I want to whenever I want to.
I would like people to remember me as a music lover first, performer second and as a songwriter third.
