Rob being Rob
by craig eddy
Having just returned from a weeklong trip to the Strawberry Music Festival I am once again up against my deadline. I am actually glad I put it off until my return. Having seen four days of great music as well as jamming around the campsites it really reminded me of the great musical talents we have in our little corner of the world. Rob Christian is one of those local players that makes it obvious he absolutely loves playing for people. Rob is one of a few standup bass players in our area. Usually standup players start out on electric bass and eventually try the upright. Rob actually started out on upright bass. Even weirder, at five years old he started learning lapsteel guitar as his first instrument. He took up cello in fourth grade and shortly thereafter took up the upright bass. Rob played in his first band in the 6th grade. He has been in so many groups over the years I won't take up the space trying to name them all. Rob played bass for his church as well as sang in the choir. A few of his early bands included The Push, Full Moon Tan, The Bash and The Davee Bryan Blues Band. Currently he is playing with Claddaugh, Lighthouse, Pel and the Pelicans and Saxyman and the Ladds. Rob just might be the hardest working musician in our area. It is not uncommon to see him playing three gigs a weekend. My favorite Rob gig was at Alice's. I sat at the table closest to him and as be bounced along to the music my pint glass would slowly walk from one edge of the table to the other. Like an old style typewriter I would move it back to the starting edge to watch it walk across the table over and over. The point being Rob is in love with playing the upright and you couldn't get him to calm down and play stationary if you nailed his feet to the floor. "The more I play in front of people the better it all gets!" says Rob. These days Rob is doing more and more singing with his bands. If you want to check out Rob you can catch him at Pescadero Funfest this year with Pel and the Pelicans and at the La Honda Fair with Lighthouse. He will be playing with Pel and the Pelicans on the café patio Saturday night June 15th of the La Honda Fair. This will be a dance party and even though the café is closed the patio will be lit up and happening. The landlord Charlie Catania has completely remodeled the patio and it is now a showplace. Rob promises there will be a Pel and the Pelicans recording project released soon. Oh and as a closing note Rob says he is looking for a string endorsement deal, anyone?
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