Local 506 co-owner and Bitter Resolve member Rob Walsh talks performing at his bar

Bitter Resolve, an earthbound space rock group from Carrboro, is performing at Local 506 on April 28. Staff writer Marin Herold spoke with band member Rob Walsh about performing in his own bar and how the band's sound has changed since its inception. 

The Daily Tar Heel: How has Bitter Resolve’s sound changed since you originated in 2010?

Rob Walsh: I think things moved a little more out of the heavy metal realm into the more heavy rock. It used to be a lot more aggressive. We’ve leveled it out as far as the message. Lyrically, the songs have been very hopeful and inclusive as opposed to being about death and all the typical metal themes. Now we sing about flowers and stuff.

DTH: Where outside Carrboro has your group performed?

RW: All over — we have played New York, Florida, Philadelphia, all over. We haven’t been on a good tour because this record has taken a couple years to make. So there are plans in the works to go back out there soon. Corey Dial and Mike Glass both have kids, so that made it a little bit difficult. So we’ve been concentrating on writing some stuff. There have been plans to go play some shows outside of town again now.

DTH: How does it feel to be back performing at Local 506?

RW: It feels great. Want to know what feels even better? I just bought this place. That is a fact, I own this place. Me and my buddy, Stephen Mooneyhan. The ink is still kind of wet on the contract, but myself and Stephen Mooneyhan just bought it. But yeah, this will be my first time playing in a place that I actually own. So that is pretty exciting. We are very excited to play.

DTH: Your Facebook page describes your sound as “earthbound space rock.” What does that mean to you?

RW: Well, it’s higher-conscience stuff, you know? We all like to smoke weed. We all like to think about things. We are dudes that really enjoy reading science-based stuff, not science fiction, but stuff based in fact. It’s weird when you’re in a band, you always have to struggle to describe yourself and everything always sounds stupid. You want to stay a little out-of-the-box. Just earthbound — some folks just laying around in a field, smoking weed, looking up at the sky — kind of hippie stuff. 

DTH: What are some of your musical influences as a band?

RW: For myself, I love Black Sabbath. I love Jimi Hendrix and Fairport Convention. I like a lot of local music. I like the bands we're playing with, MAKE and The Lantern. They are really awesome. Solar Halos are great. I sing all the time, and listen to music often. I am very open-minded. I enjoy all genres of music. I can find beauty in just about anything. 

DTH: What advice do you have for bands starting out in Chapel Hill or Carrboro?

RW: I would just say stick to your guns and stay with it. Keep your nose to the grindstone. Definitely hook up with folks that are like-minded and try to listen to each other. Try to take everybody’s input and work together. It’s amazing what you can do when a few people put their heads together. I think it’s very important for everyone to listen to each other.

DTH: What do want your audience to take away from your performance at Local 506?

RW: Oh, man, I would love for them to take away one of our records. But other than that, really I just want them to sit with a sense of well-being and have a good time. I think a lot of heavy music gets a bad rap for not being inclusive and hopeful. No matter how bad things are, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And sometimes just zoning out and listening to some music will help you get there faster.

@marinkherold

arts@dailytarheel.com