Bill Schulz

Bill Schulz is an accomplished guitarist/songwriter from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is currently working on an album of original compositions and performs regularly in Green Bay and Door County. He has up-coming performances at the Landmark Restaurant in Egg Harbor. Bill performs with bass-player Eric Carter

Natural Music - Bill Schulz and Eric Carter Interview

By Roger Kuhns
August 1, 2001

Bill Schulz and Eric Carter are a performing duo from Green Bay, Wisconsin. They play at Kavarna in Green Bay, The Bridge coffee and bookshop and Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor, as well as other venues in the area (see coffee house schedules on www.musictoears.com ). Bill has been playing music all his life, and comes from a musical family. He writes the original music for their performances, and is an accomplished guitar player. Bill’s father owns Dick’s Music in Green Bay (517 South Military St, Green Bay), where Bill also works and gives guitar lessons. Bill is about to become a father, just after his thirtieth birthday (proving the axiom that it is never too late…)! Bill’s wife Carey was present during the interview and added a comment now and then.

Eric Carter has been playing bass for the past eight years; he learned by playing along with records and has written a couple of his own songs. About his own song writings he says, “I want to learn a hundred other songs first, I want to learn by absorbing other peoples influences.” His favorites are John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Eric says, “I figure I can learn from the greats!” Eric is also an artist, a graduate of the Green Bay art school, and operates a picture framing and graphic arts business on the side.

Roger: “What kind of music do you guys play?”

Bill: “Oh, all kinds. Really like the Beatles and 50s tunes. We tinker with jazz – the direction I’d like to go in is a little more jazz – Chet Baker. We do progressive folk, I guess.”

Roger: “You perform mostly original material?”

Bill: “Yeah, a lot of it. I write most of the songs.”

Eric: Eric has written a few songs, but says, “Bill is such a good song writer. I have this high standard to match.”

Roger: “Bill, what were your early days in music like?”

Bill: “I started out trying to rock – we used to have a full blown rock band. But it’s more in our nature to lay-back a little. It’s hard to find a drummer we blend with – a Ringo Starr kinda guy, simple but tasteful; some are too flash or want to rock out. So, until we find that guy we’re a two-piece band!”

Roger: “When did you and Eric start playing together, and how did you meet?”

Bill: “Well, we’re cousins, ah, twins that don’t resemble each other – we were born a day and a year apart. I’m older by a year, but Eric has his birthday the day before mine so he always got his Ewocs first! I was a little jealous about that!” Bill smiles at the joke and ribs Eric a bit. There is a lot of casual easy humor, some unspoken, between these two. Both musicians have an even-keeled temperment. “We started playing together about 8 years ago, about when Eric started bass.

Roger: “What are some of the things you like about performing?”

Bill: “I like getting into the flow, in the zone, a lot of it is getting into it. I just like playing.”

Roger: “Tell me about your song writing.”

Bill: “Ah, well, it’s always a little different, usually I strum out the melody – put it together in a bed of chords that sound good and the find the whole melody. Then I rip my hair out until I find good words. Words are the hardest part for me. I spend a lot of time finding good words. What I like when I buy a record is the lyrics. They’re really important to me, I like plane spoken but still ambiguous lyrics so it kind of lends itself to interpretation so I can put myself into the song. If I buy a record that’s what I like to hear; a little bit surreal.”

Roger: “What do you like to write about?”

Bill: “I just want to write human songs. I like relatable, I guess in a way ordinary lyrics.”

Bill’s wife Carey is sitting with us and adds, “He doesn’t try to be too clever.”

Eric: “About that, I get the impression that it’s not a conscious thing for you (Bill).”

Bill: “I like lyrics to be sort of ambiguous so they can mean other things to different people. But not too vanilla.”

Carey: She turns to Bill, and says, “To me when I hear the words – it’s in your life, it’s about your life.”

Bill has one song he wrote about trying to be happy after an argument where he lived in his van in the driveway for a week or two. Another song thanks his listeners for the evening’s show. The lyrics, which are never forced, are woven into the melodic lines that are defined by interesting and perfectly played chords. Bill is an expert at this and spends a lot of time refining his music, practicing his music, and is a perfectionist in his performance and recording of his songs. His fingers seem to glide effortlessly up and down the fret board of the guitar.

Bill: looking a little shy from the compliment. “I like the ambiguity. I like to take it line by line, and sometimes they’re not related (to each other).”

Eric: “Yeah, Bill’s not trained so he doesn’t know the right way to do it, so they come out kinda quirky.”

Bill: “No rules. I don’t like to have any guidelines. I move my fingers around until it sounds pretty. People tell me it sounds right, but then I’m changing keys a lot.”

Roger: “You were a drummer first, and still play drums in a band sometimes. How does this influence your writing?”

Bill: “Yeah, I fill in for a band now and then when they need a drummer. Sometimes I write songs with a drum beat first, and then layer it (with other instruments; Bill has a home digital studio where he refines his songs).”

Roger: “Your dad is a musician too. Tell me about that.”

Bill: “He plays everything too. Dad was in the group “The Shy Guys”. I remember we used to dress up in raisin suits to help him out in his show – got paid really well. They opened for the Beach Boys and were in a show band doing cover stuff.”

Roger: “You were in the String Beans, a group that had some success about ten years ago.”

Bill: “Yeah. I was nineteen and we played for three or four years. That got Eric interested in bass. We sold a few thousand albums, sold a lot of t-shirts and opened for some big name acts, like the Bodeens, Violent Femmes, we did Summerfest a couple times, festivals stuff like that. We recorded our record with Butch Fig in Madison, at Smart Studios (where Nirvana, Smashing Pumkins andGarbage have produced album cuts or whole albums).”

Roger: “Why did the String Beans break up?”

Bill: “We were playing so much to cover CD costs. We spent too much making the CD, and always were trying to catch up. That is kinda what broke us up.”

Roger: “But out of that you started playing with Eric?”

Bill: “Yeah, after the breakup I was laying in bed depressed and Eric popped into my head. Then Eric was planning to move to Eau Claire. Then at a family reunion I learned he was still in town, which was in 1994. So we got together later on.”

Roger: “You guys have a pretty tight act now.”

Bill: “Its fun. We’ve played with a few good bands, like the Poseys, Beachwood Sparks, Martin Zeller from the Gear Daddys, and Teddy Morgan, a rockabilly guy from Texas.”

Roger: “So what are your ambitions?”

Eric: “None! Just kidding!”

Bill: He laughs at that and nods, and says, “In a perfect world I just want to play music and sell records. No delusions of fame and fortune, just carve out a career. It’d be ideal to put out a record once a year and sell them – maybe a few thousand a year kind of thing, have a mailing list and raise babies (Carey is expecting on September 2). We’re moving along at our own pace. We have goals but are enjoying this. We want there to be a lot of substance. Our journey is a good way to get this substance. We don’t live in a booming musical economy (Green Bay), and we’re not terribly anxious to achieve things that aren’t real (or don’t last). Once you put the business pressure on it, then the art suffers.”

Eric: “I want to become the best I can be and whatever happens - happens.”

Roger: “That’s very John Lennon.”

Eric: “I’ve read a lot of his interviews, so I’m just quoting – good philosophy. Bill and I talk philosophy a lot.”

Bill: “Yeah, I think the Ramdass school of thought is a kind of connecting thing for Eric and me.”

Roger: Bill, you’ve been working on an album of your songs. How is that progressing?

Bill: “It’s coming along. I’ve got about eight songs going. Pecking away at them. It’s an inspirational thing. I don’t always feel like going down there (to his home studio in the basement). If I force it, well it’s not as good then as when I feel I’m taking my own sweet time.”

Roger: “Are you a perfectionist?”

Bill: “Yes.”

Eric: Eric nods his agreement to this, saying, “High standards.”

Bill: “We always feel we can do better.”

Carey adds, “From my point of view they’re more happy when the mood is there.”

Bill: “I want people to feel something (in my music).”

Eric: “Hopefully something good!” (Bill nods his agreement).

Bill: “We’re always pushing our selves to be better, always exploring new music for inspiration.”

Roger: “You’re playing a lot, do you enjoy the gigs?”

Bill: “We’re kinda going with it.”

During performances Bill will joke lightly and maybe tell a short story to introduce a song. While he sings, though, he closes his eyes and seems to get lost in the performance of the musical tale (in fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bill open his eyes when he was singing). The performances are measured, laid-back and pleasing to the ear. Even when Bill gets into the Everly Brother’s hit By By Love, the two of them seem relaxed and just having some fun with the music; never too wild. This kind of performance is in keeping with Bill and Eric’s nature, they are both easy going, considerate men who happen to be great musical artists.

Eric: “Yeah, we’re pretty busy right now.”

Roger: “What’s your favorite venue?”

Bill: “Kavarna in Green Bay is our favorite, our base. We’ve got a loyal group of friends. I like the Bridge (in Egg Harbor).”

Roger: “It’s encouraging that you like the coffee houses.”

Bill: “For our style of music the coffee house setting is ideal. We’re not a bar band. Dylan made it through the coffee houses, ya know, he didn’t do too many bars.”

The easy-going dynamics of Bill’s songs and how he and Eric perform them begs the audience to listen to the words and appreciate the melodies. It is fortunate there enough coffee house style venues in the region to keep Bill and Eric busy; don’t miss their shows in Green Bay and Door County.