Paul Blake is truly one of the ‘good guys’ in the music scene here in Evansville! He is a genuinely nice, unpretentious guy, and a talented guitar player who currently plays in two bands: The Echo-Plexes, and D C & the 819. In addition to his job as an audio operator for Fox 7 TV, Paul (who only recently turned 21) is a busy guy!
A music fanatic from a very early age, he was encouraged by a chance backstage meet & greet at the age of 4 with Marty Stuart, who recommended that Paul’s folks start him out on a mandolin because of its smaller size. At 10, he got his first guitar and he was off and running.
What gear do you normally use?
My main electric guitar is a Fender Telecaster Nashville B-Bender that I've changed around a little bit by adding locking Keith Banjo tuners to both E strings. I also have a Strat pickup hidden underneath the pick guard of that guitar. My acoustic is a 1977 Martin D-28. I have a silver-face Fender Twin Reverb that Marty Stuart gave me a few years back. As far as pedals, I think less is more. I have an Ibanez Tube Screamer that I've got set really low, mainly to just give me a slight signal boost and a touch of dirt where it sounds like I'm pushing the amp a little more. I also use a Danelectro PB&J delay pedal which I have set pretty much wide open, just to give me some eerie sounds, especially on slower songs where I use the b-bender a lot. I also have my reverb on my amp set around 3-4.
Who have been some of your biggest influences, both nationally known and local players?
I'm influenced by anyone I hear. Some include: Marty Stuart, Tom Bukovac, Jedd Hughes, Kenny Vaughan, Jon Snyder, Tommy Stillwell, Boscoe France and Tony Rothrock.
What is your take on the local music scene?
I feel like the music scene is thriving here, and has the potential to be even better if everyone works together by supporting each other. I've been to some other cities around the same size and bigger that don't have nearly as cool a scene as Evansville. It's pretty awesome when you can play a song you wrote at a bar and people actually listen to it.
What advice do you have for youngsters who think they might want to learn how to play?
Practice, practice, practice! Always try to find ways to play out of your comfort zone by playing with different people, and in different styles. It's easy to find yourself playing the same stuff, and it keeps it fun to explore new windows of music. There's always something new to learn.
Anything about you that might surprise anyone?
Considering I'm 6'7", people are always surprised to find out that I don't play basketball. Miniature golf is my sport of choice. I also love hip-hop music, and I have an obsession with driving stretched out Cadillacs. It's the hillbilly-gangsta I am, I guess.
Do you know an interesting artist who would make a good subject for Soundboard?
Let us know by emailing editor@atoma publishing.com.
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Photo Credit Mark McCoy
