Bob Sima {thanks, Diane S. Litke}

Bob Sima is an award-winning singer-songwriter based out of Woodbine. He was a member of the band Stereopool but he set out on his own a couple of years ago. He’s released Pour It On on his own, and most recently, Periphery, which comes out this month.

Bob is joined by David Glaser and Rob Thorworth for a special live performance at the 8×10 tonight.

You were part of the band Stereopool for a little while, before you set out on your own. What do you like about being out on your own?

Setting out on my own was really easy, it was just an instinct that I had that I really just wanted to travel around the country playing my songs with my guitar without the concerns of bringing a band and all of the logistics. You know, the drummers are always really loud. It was a pretty easy decision. We had been together for quite a long time and we had done a lot of stuff, so it was like, you know what, it’s time to be a singer-songwriter out on my own.

You went from playing a lot more club gigs to a lot of coffee house gigs, at least at first, right?

At first, yeah I would play a lot of the coffee shops where they have an open-mic where anyone can get up and play or maybe you’re a featured artist at the end of the night; I just kind of followed the songwriter circuit that way.

When you do tours, are you able to bring musicians with you or is it pretty much just you?

Well, I’ve brought Rob here a few times. We went out to California last summer and David hasn’t traveled with me real far yet. So whenever it affords - they call it the “anchor gig” where you know you’re going to get some money, so I bring them along. And frequent flyer miles. The other thing is that every time I go to the airport, they say, “Do you want to fill out a credit card for a free ticket.” I say, “Yes I do.”

When you go by yourself, what’s it like being the only person up on stage and knowing you have to be the one captivating the crowd and there’s no one else?

Horrifying. No, it’s not too bad. I mean, I’ve kind of gotten used to it. There’s a certain freedom that you have, you can start a song and stop and go on to the next one. I tend to talk a little more when I’m by myself because Rob is usually kicking me saying, “Stop, you’re talking too much.” Generally, it works out okay, I actually enjoy it, but halfway through the song when the lead comes in, I can hear this mandolin part and I’m like, “Man, I really miss Dave or Rob or his vocals.” It’s got its ups and downs, I guess.

Bob Sima’s full interview with live music recorded at the 8×10 will air on Baltimore Unsigned at 8 tonight on 89.7 WTMD, listener supported radio from Towson University. For more, go to wtmd.org.

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