This week’s guest is Belvedere singer, guitarist, and founding member Steve Rawles. Since staring in 1995, the Calgary, Alberta-based band has shared the stage with many of punk rock’s biggest names, released a number of great EPs and albums, and played over 1,500 shows in more than 40 countries. After spending more than a quarter century traveling the world with Belvedere, This Is A Standoff, and as a solo performer, Rawles has quite a collection of entertaining stories and important lessons he’s learned a lot along the way.
Recently, Rawles spent part of his two-day break between legs of Belvedere’s ongoing Canadian tour speaking to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the band’s new album (Hindsight Is The Sixth Sense), getting back on the road after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the perpetually touring outfit to stay home, and plans he has for 2022 (and beyond). Of course, the interview also touched on Rawles musical start, including taking piano and trumpet lessons as a kid, beginning a label as a teenager, starting Belvedere with little-to-no expectations in college, and some of the best—and weirdest—moments from his decades on stage. Along the way, also talked about his Merit-Based Booking agency, some of his favorite places to perform, and things he still hopes to do before his career as a touring musician is all said and done.
My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Belvedere (“Happily Never After”).