NICK WATERHOUSE at Burgerama4 Sunday, March 29; photo by James Christopher
Nick Waterhouse will play his blend of rhythm & blues, jazz and soul for Burgerama 4 at The Observatory on March 29.
Waterhouse has a pool of L.A. people that he draws from when playing live, as opposed to having his own group.
“I just pull from various packs of folks,” he confirmed.
He will mix up his set with songs from his most recent album, “Holly”, and his debut album, “Time’s All Gone.”
“It’s always a lot of fun to play the title track off the record live,” Waterhouse said.
The last few years have felt like one long day to Waterhouse. He’s toured Europe and North America multiple times and worked on several full-length albums.
“Making records was something I never expected that I’d have the privilege to do. I feel very fortunate.”
In addition to making records, highlights that come to mind are playing Primavera, playing on German National television, and a tour he did with some friends of his, the Allah-Las, a couple of years ago.
“We finished the tour together with a sold out show at the El Rey and I remember the energy being really amazing that night,” Waterhouse recalled.
He’s also had the opportunity to appear on Darryl Hall’s show “Darryl’s House”.
“It was really surreal. I didn’t think too much about it going in and when I was doing it, it just felt like fun,” Waterhouse said.
“I try not to over think situations like those, otherwise I’ll get the yips, you know? But, it was a lot of fun and actually I ended up hanging out and talking music and life with Darryl and his family for several hours after we shot the show. That’s a warm memory for me.”
His early years were full of music by Them, The Animals, John Lee Hooker and Aretha Franklin that his mom played around the house. And the Rolling Stones’ first three LPs his Uncle Greg gave him.
“Those things aren’t direct (influences) but they lead you, when you’re a curious kid, in another direction.”
Growing up in southern California and being around punk rock culture played its part, too.
“I think that was the cultural response to suburban life for young people,” Waterhouse contemplates.
“Those people really influenced me because you’re kind of a product of your environment in one way or another. I had a lot of friends that were kind of into the independent music scene, punk rock, rock-n-roll and whatever but I just didn’t share their tastes.”
NICK WATERHOUSE at Burgerama4 Sunday, March 29; photo by James Christopher