Josh Flagg and The Obligations is performing at Howard’s Club H with Matt Truman Ego Trip and Bravado as the openers. The show will begin on Friday night at 9 p.m. with a $4 cover fee.
Scott Campbell, drummer of Josh Flagg and The Obligations, talks about traveling to long distance shows from New York, City, playing music and the band’s love for small town shows like Bowling Green.
Reporter: How do you have so much time in your life to perform at places far away from New York like Bowling Green?
Campbell: I don’t. I am fortunate that I have a wife that understands. When I met her I was doing 200 gigs a year on the road. I was a professional tour guy for many years, I finally got to know Bowling Green by meeting Matt Truman and me and Josh became friends over the years and so we kind of have this affinity to go back to Bowling Green and play and we love going there to perform.
Reporter: How did you guys end up meeting in Bowling Green?
Campbell: Matt Truman from the Matt Truman Ego Trip. Josh and I were side men for this girl named L.P., who used to perform in Bowling Green and Matt opened for her a few times and we got to know her pretty well and the people at Howard’s Club H. There aren’t a lot of towns where you roll through and you get a warm reception every time you come through. Everyone there have been super supportive of us and we love going there. It’s going to be our fifth time coming back and it’s a great routing point to get through the midwest. It’s always a great place to stop. Bowling Green is this great little college town that has a great music scene. The people there are pssionate about music and love to talk about it and love to hang out. You don’t see that everywhere you go. We’re fans of the town.
Reporter: As far as creating music, what kind of certain sound do you strive to make and how do you go about developing it?
Campbell: Josh is the primary songwriter for the all of the material. The whole band contributes and the great thing about Josh is that he’s very collaboartive and I’ve been doing this with him going on 10 years. There’s no plan that we want this to sound like x, y or z. He has an idea and he wants to make a verse or chorus and we’ll just collaborate together. It’s a really collaborative effort.
Reporter: Do you ever see the life you live of being in a band and traveling all over the place affecting your personal life?
Campbell: My wife and I, we’re honest with each other and we have a functional relationship. She understood when we first started dating that I’m a working musican and you know that comes with working odd hours and going on tour and living the lifestyle the job brings. I don’t perform nearly as much as I used to since I’ve gotten married and had a couple kids. I do between maybe 50 to 60 shows a year on the road and the remainder of my work is in [New York, City] either playing shows backing up other artists or doing session work. Josh and I are working musicians and part of that is getting on the road. It’s what we thrive.
Reporter: It seems like a pretty unique lifestyle for you.
Campbell: There are bad days and tough weeks and when I am on these tours I do miss my family but I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I like playing and Josh is my brother and does a good job of creating quality music for the people.
Reporter: Between you and Josh it seems like there is a lot of chemistry to make things happen. Have there ever been any rough patches between you guys before?
Campbell: It’s just like any type of relationship. It can get tense on the road and the next thing you know you want to put your fist through their face (laughs). But that’s what happens when you’re in a relationship, ya know? We’re very close.
