This week for Music Monday, we’re turning the tables on columnist Ethan Larsh.
Instead of Ethan writing about the local music scene, we’ve asked him to put down his pen and tell us a little bit about himself ahead of his upcoming concert.
Ethan will perform Friday, Dec. 31, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Music Makers.
During the performance, Ethan will provide catchy piano rock influenced by Harry Nilsson and Paul McCartney.
Music Makers can be entered through Gallery 50, 50 W. Main St., Waynesboro. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Patrons are asked to wear a mask when visiting indoors.
LOCAL NEWS: How did you get started in music?
Ethan Larsh: I started playing piano when I was about seven, then learned drums, guitar, bass, uke, all the ones with strings on them.
LN: At what point/why did you decide to turn that into a career/side hustle?
EL: I played my first gig at 17 in Oklahoma City, and just fell in love with it. I’ve been playing gigs pretty steadily ever since.
LN: Tell us about your music. Do you write your own? Perform the work of others?
EL: I write my own music. I used to play other people’s songs, but found I was getting more of a response from my material, and playing stuff that’s mine as opposed to other artists is a no-brainer.
LN: How do you define your style?
EL: It’s kind of an eclectic mix. As far as my guitar-oriented work, which is mainly what my upcoming album, “The Emperor,” consists of, a friend described it as “The Beatles if they did meth”. I thought that was an amusing description. I have piano work that leans heavy on Randy Newmam/McCartney/Nilsson influence, folk tunes that are reminiscent of Conor Oberst and Bruce Springsteen, and psychedelic jams that are like if Wilco and The White Stripes made music together.
LN: What musician(s) are your inspiration?
EL: So many. The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Pink Floyd, Randy Newman, Nilsson, Beach Boys, and probably way more than that I can’t think of at the moment.
LN: What can people expect to hear if they attend the Dec. 31 show?
EL: There’ll be some more original tunes – I enjoy Music Makers as the crowd really seems to pay attention to original material. But I also take requests for whatever people want to hear.
LN: What’s been your biggest challenge?
EL: I think making albums are time- and money-consuming and is definitely a challenge, but ultimately a rewarding one.
LN: Does performing make you nervous?
EL: Not at all. It’s actually the one place where I have no anxieties and I can be my true, unbridled self.
LN: Describe your perfect gig.
EL: I played a gig at a house show space called Birdhouse in Shippensburg a few years ago with my band. There were about 50 sweaty college students in a hot, cramped basement. I played guitar and would fall back onto the crowd of dancing bodies—they held me up—and as I played my guitar solos, an audience member poured warm Jack Daniels down my throat before I made my way back to the microphone. In heaven, I would play that gig seven days a week, 12 months a year, for eternity.
LN: Anything else you want people to know?
EL: There are so many talented people making original music that are from this area. Jon Ingels, Pale Barn Ghosts, Jerry Rigged, Sam Silbert, and many more are putting out dense, impressive work – it’s refreshing to see so much talent come from this area.
