Out of our Maine soil, a viable national act is budding. The Jason Spooner Trio has logged its hours, dragged clunky equipment across icy streets and been paid in Geary’s for as long as necessary. Now, out the other side, solid songwriting with folkie street cred is guiding the three hard-working dudes to higher profile gigs and wilder adventures. Before Jason, Reed and Adam cook it up just right in Monument Square at 5 tonight, GO sat down with the busy frontman to gauge the trio’s progress from the horse’s mouth.

Is it fair to say you are blowing up right now? How are you managing with everything accelerating around you?

Hmmm well, if “blowing up” translates to three of us driving around the country in a crowded minivan, then maybe. We’re certainly working harder than ever and will continue to do so but it’s cool to see some of the seeds we’ve planted start to gradually blossom.

We just started to promote our forthcoming new album, “Sea Monster,” to national radio, and we received some great news last week. We had a banner debut and showed up as No. 3 Most Added album in the AAA radio format according to FMQB (the dominant music and radio industry trade publication) amongst some excellent company (Los Lobos at No. 1, Guster at No. 2 and Tom Petty at No. 4).

Other than the Trio, who is most fun to share the stage with?

That’s a tough one we’ve had some great opening slots over the years. Some of my personal favorites include Blues Traveler, Susan Tedeschi, Kathleen Edwards, Amos Lee, Brandi Carlile, Railroad Earth and Dave Mason. Last summer’s Baystock (Guster) and Machigonne (Ray LaMontagne) festivals were definitely highlights as well.

Advertisement

When you want to get away, how and where do you seek refuge?

I like to disappear with a mountain bike, fishing pole or just an acoustic guitar from time to time. There are some great spots right around Portland for that. I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. The more we travel as a band, the more I enjoy getting back to Maine. There’s nothing like that first deep breath of the Atlantic ocean air. Nothing quite like it.

How has Maine’s music scene nurtured you as a songwriter?

Maine certainly has a very diverse scene musically, and the venue options seem to improve by the month. We’re also lucky to have radio programming here that truly supports local music. Stations like WCLZ, WERU and Maine Public radio have been invaluable in helping us get the word out. On the creative side, being able to wander on a deserted beach after a quick 10-minute drive from town is a huge source of energy and inspiration.

Did you anticipate Starbucks picking up “The Flame You Follow?” That’s kind of a big deal, right?

The call from Starbucks was definitely a pleasant surprise and something we never saw coming. In addition to the obvious reach that Starbucks has as a business, they seem fairly dedicated to raising awareness about the artists that they play in their stores. I was just in New York City a few weeks back, and they had a big monitor on the wall displaying the cover art of every song that was being played overhead. It’s a great source of exposure.

Advertisement

Do you like being identified as a folk act? Are you ever going to “go electric at Newport” and dive into other styles?

We jokingly refer to folk as “the F word,” but I suppose that some of our material qualifies for that classification. I tend to think more generally and consider it roots or songwriter material. If there’s ever been a “going electric” moment to point to, it’s this record (“Sea Monster”). I played electric guitar all over the place and a friend of ours, Bucky Baxter (a Nashville studio heavy and Bob Dylan’s touring pedal steel player of 12 years) guests on three tracks on the record.

Mike Olcott is a freelance writer who lives in Portland.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: