Folk fests are Great Big Sea's idea of play.
As the multi-talented fiddle/mandolin/button accordion/tin whistle/bouzouki player in Canada's latest traditional band Great Big Sea, Hallet is quite the charmer. With his deep Newfoundland accent and all the grace he can muster, Hallet takes time to talk to me before hitting the stage with bandmates Darrell Power, Sean McCann and Alan Doyle.
"If there's one thing we never do, it's come to a show this early, 'cause you start thinking about the show. Thinking about the show and getting nervous about the show are only a very small step from one another. And getting nervous about the show and getting scared shitless are an even smaller step."
Great Big Sea is certainly not your average band. They've combined the traditional east coast Canadian music with more modern pop-rock, coming out with a very different type of folk. Their recent CD, Play, and upbeat, energetic performances have won the hearts of Canadians everywhere, and now Great Big Sea is out to conquer the rest of the globe.
The wonderful thing about festivals is they give musicians a chance for their music to appeal to a different type of audience. A more diverse group can be found and, in Great Big Sea's case, many new fans can be too. Because they're typically a pub-type of band, Great Big Sea can only acquire a fraction of the market if they just stick to that scene. However, in the summer, these festivals are almost exclusively the places they play.
However, the idea of playing at a festival, like Calgary's Folk Fest is very different than an average performance. "Whether playing here versus playing at a pub is better or worse is hard to say. One thing is that these festivals are typically what you dream about as a folk musician, to come to an environment where you can perform at a really high level and still enjoy it as an audience member."
With the growing popularity of Celtic music in North America, some people have been left with the feeling that their tradition has been sold out. When asked about this, Hallett responds: "I hate to see something that's so important to us as Newfoundlanders, and for our families, and the people that play this music for us in the community just become a commodity or this huge industry.
"But at the same point and time, the success that us, and others like us have had almost validates the work that the older people in our community did do. And if anything, I they're very pleased to see their music succeed."
Aside from the idea of sticking to one's roots, folk music festivals have taught Hallett that folk is an area of music that makes a lot of sense.
"I'll tell you one thing I've thought about as a performer is that as a folk musician, your career doesn't ever have to end. I mean, if you're the Backstreet Boys, you can't be the Backstreet Boys in 10 years, or you're going to be the Backstreet Middle-aged Geeks, and it's not going to work".
Music has taught Great Big Sea a great deal about life as well. "It fills a void in your life," says Hallett, "you hear a song and you remember a dance in grade 10, or you're sitting in the car and you remember that drive you took with your parents to the ski hill. It's really something that stays with you your whole life."
Aside from things like that, there's something to be said for the universal aspect of music. "The first thing a child learns to do is clap his hands along with music, or tap a beat. Even before children can talk, they appreciate music. It's the most universal of all communication means.
"I can watch some of these really cultural bands here at the festival, and I certainly don't speak Hungarian or anything else, but I will most definitely enjoy their music, and so will most of the people here. It speaks to people at a different level."
With that in mind, Great Big Sea is surely destined for greatness. On stage, they have an undefinable quirkiness that makes them wonderful. The chemistry and energy they display on stage is exciting and unparalleled.
"With most bands, there's always [an excuse], there's always this big thing that prevents the band from getting anywhere. That's the experience of a lot of musicians in Canada. 'Oh, the band would have been great if it weren't for the fact that the singer was a drunk, or the drummer never showed up on time.'"
But, says Hallett, "[In Great Big Sea], we all agreed on what we wanted to do with the music, and we all agreed how we were going to do it. And we all agreed to quit our jobs and play full time. That was helpful."
With another album in their future, Bob says he wishes they could take longer to make the amazing album they all feel they have in themselves somewhere, and learn to really enjoy the recording process. "But I know it's going to be like every other album, which is 'Shit, we got two weeks, ahh!'
"But if our career ended tomorrow, I think we would still say 'Okay, we did most of what we wanted to do.'"
When I ask what else is in the future of Great Big Sea, Hallett says, "I dunno. What do you want to do tomorrow?"
So, taking it one day at a time, this is certainly one band to keep your eyes peeled for in the upcoming year. Their unmistakable traditional sound is one not to be missed at festivals far and wide this year, and I'm sure for many years to come.
August 1998
If you have problems with the e-mail button above, my address is teddy@ukonline.co.uk
U.K.
by Allison Cully
Bob Hallett hates bees. "Excuse me while I just ... run away here for a minute. I guess this isn't very cool rock star behavior is it?" he asks, darting around the picnic table we are so quietly seated upon at this year's Calgary (Alberta) Folk Music Festival.
