This week for the local musician spotlight, we talked to Nathan Coker, frontman and founder of the group, Bobby Rocknrolls.
Coker formed the group when he was attending Auburn.
The band is composed of Nathan Coker on vocals and guitar, Alex Horn on bass guitar and Abby Anderson on drums.
A: It’s really funny, the Bobby Rocknrolls thing was never meant to be me, Bobby Rock N Roll is like the spirit of rock n roll, we are Bobby Rocknrolls, it’s like Power Rangers, you can’t have Voltron without all the pieces.
Q: How long have you been involved in the Auburn and Opelika music scene?
A: Well I picked up music about six years ago. I picked up guitar when I was 19. I’m 25 now, so I’ve been playing for six years but I’ve only been gigging for the last three and a half. I’ve been putting in the time. It’s been a high priority for me.
Q: If you could describe your genre, what would you say it is?
A: I’m still trying to figure that out honestly. My guitar playing has grown with my writing and along the way the style has kind of changed. I started out in the blues which is kind of my first love and I’ve been drifting more into indie rock, soul music would be the best way to describe it, I like to think I have soul.
Q: What would you say are your main inspirations?
A: "Well I had like an epiphany that I wanted to play piano, I worked on playing piano for like a month but it wasn’t going very well, then I heard this John Mayer song and I thought, ‘Wow this is really really nice, I want to do that.’
Q: What John Mayor song was it?
A: It was "Why Georgia." There’s this little guitar riff and it’s so bubbly and awesome.I bought a used guitar and had no idea what I was doing. I just started playing that riff over and over again. John Mayer kind of set me off in a certain direction as far as jazz and blues.
Beyond that Jimi Hendrix is probably my greatest inspiration of all time. Stevie Wonder and James Brown too. Those are probably my three biggest inspirations.
Q: What is your favorite venue in the Auburn and Opelika area?
A: I love Eighth and Rail, that was one of the first places I really played. I know the owner there and he's a really nice guy. Eighth and Rail is just where I got my start.
Q: What is your goal in music?
A: It’s always changing. When I first picked up guitar I set off like a bullet from a gun and I had three goals.
I want to learn how to write, sing and play really well. I’ve gotten to a point where I know I can stand my ground with those three things. I’ve definitely gotten better.
I want to get even better, but as I’ve gotten older - I’m 25 now - I’ve seen more of what the music business is like. I’m in a really unsure place about where I want to go. But if I could find a way to keep making my own music that is authentic and personal to me, and also find financial support somehow, like through a record deal, that would be pretty sweet.
I just want to keep playing man, as long as I find a way to keep playing that’s about as good a plan as I’ve got right now.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
