(rock intro music) - [Announcer] "Ocean State Sessions" features performances by local musicians, and brings you the stories behind the songs.

Coming up tonight.

(alternative rock music) ♪ But I guess I'd do it all again ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ When, when it's a live thing ♪ ♪ Almost hear the sound ♪ ♪ When it's beat beat beating like a wild one ♪ ♪ We were wild ♪ ♪ When we'd ride ♪ ♪ Feel the wind between our fingertips ♪ ♪ Engine roaring between our thighs ♪ ♪ We were ♪ ♪ Away with money I'll say ♪ ♪ Oh son you were bound to lose ♪ ♪ My daddy always said I was a slow starter ♪ ♪ Just taking my time in the middle of the limelight ♪ ♪ I like to hit the bottle harder ♪ ♪ Yeah.

I'm feeling like a wild man ♪ ♪ Wrapped up ready til the blowing out my bottle charger ♪ ♪ I'm getting knocked ♪ - Hi, I'm John Larson.

I'm from Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

I am the guitar player, singer, and songwriter for the Providence based band, John Larson and the Silver Fields.

The band is made up of myself.

I sing, play rhythm guitar, and write the songs.

My lead guitarist is Dave Richardson.

He's a longtime fixture on the Providence scene.

Great guitar player.

Bass player is John Simpson and our drummer is Jen Macpherson.

Probably been together now three years and we're actually just started recording our third record.

So pretty much been averaging a record per year.

We actually put a record out last year called "The Great Pause" that we did during the pandemic.

It was little, I wouldn't recommend doing a record during the pandemic, as far as the logistics of, you know could we hardly get in the room at the same time but it ended up coming out great.

And we get a lot of great airplay and people are still playing it all over the country.

♪ Because of a girl I moved to London ♪ ♪ Because of a girl I lost my job ♪ ♪ Because of a girl I learned to plunder ♪ ♪ Dance, beg, borrow, and run ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I saw the ocean ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I punched a wall ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I mixed emotion ♪ ♪ With pure alcohol ♪ ♪ Somethings just weren't made to comprehend ♪ ♪ I guess I'll do it all again ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I tried believing ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I crashed my car ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I saw the evening ♪ ♪ Past mood, wavering storm ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I shook the deep sea ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I shined my shoes ♪ ♪ 'Cause of a girl I follow gladly ♪ ♪ Down dark avenues ♪ ♪ Some things just weren't meant to comprehend ♪ ♪ But I guess I'd do it all again ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ When it's a life signals intertwines ♪ ♪ Short wave interception ♪ ♪ World's unfit for it ♪ ♪ Starts to make more sense ♪ ♪ Static fades away ♪ ♪ Leaving crystal blue reception ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ ♪ All because of a girl ♪ ♪ Oh wow, oh wow ♪ I wouldn't say there's one set way that I come up with songs.

I actually overheard a conversation with the gentleman and talking to somebody else saying they were catching up on life.

And he was saying, "You know what you do because of a girl."

And that was implying like, you know, I kind of of did a lot of crazy things that I didn't think I'd be doing.

So I thought that was just a great title for a potential song.

And from the, this is the truth.

From the time I heard it to the time I actually, I took a walk for about 20 minutes.

I had all the lyrics done.

I had the melody done and I didn't have the music yet but I kind of knew what I wanted to sing.

And so that, that was a rarity by the way, way that one just kind of came through a conversation.

"Glass Full of Sand," I just thought it sounded cool.

So I'd sort of just created a scenario and of somebody that was on a spiritual quest of sorts out in the desert for 40 days, 40 nights.

Looking for something like what, not quite sure what that was.

And unfortunately in this scenario they really didn't find it.

All they came back with was a glass full of sand.

After all this searching.

I think the moral would be you can't always go searching for higher power or spiritual satisfaction.

Sometimes it has to come to you and you can't always go out and find it.

Kind of heavy but it's also lighthearted at the same time.

(upbeat music) ♪ 40 nights and 40 days ♪ ♪ To reflect and reappraise ♪ ♪ Solitary pilgrim will work before ♪ ♪ Painted skies and peeling skin ♪ ♪ Searching for a new Eden ♪ ♪ Staring down the serpent that lives within ♪ ♪ Criticizing impotence ♪ ♪ Guilty of nothing yet but wait ♪ ♪ Traveled through the desert ♪ ♪ Tired, lonely man ♪ ♪ All I brought back was a glass full of sand ♪ ♪ Mirror on the rise ♪ ♪ Help me understand ♪ ♪ Can't quench my thirst with a glass full of sand ♪ ♪ Is is really a wonder ♪ ♪ Why no one wanders anymore ♪ ♪ Traveled through the desert ♪ ♪ Tired, lonely man ♪ ♪ All I brought back was a glass full of sand ♪ ♪ Mirror on the rise ♪ ♪ Help me understand ♪ ♪ Can't quench my thirst with a glass full of sand ♪ - Hi.

I'm Davia with the Sound of Gravity from Providence, Rhode Island.

"Only the Wild" at its core is about freedom but actually about peace as well.

And about somebody's journey, whether it's my journey or people's journeys around me that have found their way to peace through this concept of freedom.

And I do this for myself.

When I write is just ask myself, fill in the blank.

So if you say some thinking about a song this is a blank song.

This is a blank song.

I wanna fill in that one word.

So the song structure and the idea of the song is very lock solid.

(gentle music) ♪ Hey, babe it's me ♪ ♪ Been a long time since I saw ya' ♪ ♪ Since I've come around ♪ ♪ But this world's been standing still ♪ ♪ Sometimes throws me for a loop ♪ ♪ And turns all it upside-down ♪ ♪ Still got holes in my pockets ♪ ♪ When that money's coming down ♪ ♪ Kept that two cent to myself ♪ ♪ When everybody said ya' found that somebody special ♪ ♪ Someone who would see ya' through ♪ ♪ The thick and thin ♪ ♪ Don't ya know that ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones they run free ♪ ♪ You're a wild one just like me ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones hear the sound ♪ ♪ When it's beat beat beating ♪ ♪ Like a wild one ♪ ♪ We were wild ♪ ♪ When we'd ride ♪ ♪ Felt the wind between our fingertips ♪ ♪ Engine roaring between our thighs ♪ ♪ We were so alive ♪ ♪ Just two kids in the wilderness ♪ ♪ Like angels in flight ♪ ♪ Always mama's middle child ♪ ♪ With daddy's freaky style ♪ ♪ Wouldn't change it if I wanted ♪ ♪ Don't even make me try ♪ ♪ But you thought 'cha needed something ♪ ♪ Shiny and new ♪ ♪ But the wild in you ♪ ♪ It kept running ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones they run free ♪ ♪ You're a wild one just like me ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones hear the sound ♪ ♪ When it's beat beat beating ♪ ♪ Like a wild one ♪ ♪ If we can only turn back the time ♪ ♪ When we were young and we didn't care why ♪ ♪ We just danced to the beat ♪ ♪ Of the wild ones ♪ ♪ Can you hear it ♪ ♪ It's calling your name ♪ ♪ Are you listening to what it is saying ♪ ♪ It says this is the call of the wild ones ♪ ♪ Of the wild ones ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones they run free ♪ ♪ You're a wild one just like me ♪ ♪ Only the wild ♪ ♪ The wild ones ♪ ♪ Only the wild ones they run free ♪ ♪ Only the wild ♪ ♪ Can you hear the sound ♪ ♪ When it's beat beat beating ♪ ♪ Like a wild one ♪ ♪ Hey, babe it's me ♪ ♪ Been a long time since I saw you ♪ ♪ Since I come around ♪ Since recording my first full length album was titled "The Sound of Gravity," was a self-titled LP, 10 songs.

I've recorded a series of singles but now I'm working on an EP.

That particular collection of this new collection is really inspired by a lot of the craziness I think the whole world has been living through the last couple of years but also I've done a cross country trip from Rhode Island to Los Angeles, living there in Santa Monica in Southern California and recording in Southern California last winter slash spring.

And that is happening again this year.

So with all of that inspiration from the road and from experience Southern California which in my heart and soul I feel like I was born in Southern California.

Although I was born in Rhode Island in Providence I think that's because all of the music I was influenced by really came outta Southern California and Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, you know I grew up with the stuff and I loved it.

So I often say I'm born in Rhode Island, but made in LA.

So yeah, the next project is all gonna be focused on the music that I created while in LA but also in Rhode Island.

(gentle music) ♪ Dear rain, it's been a while ♪ ♪ I feel you pouring on my face again ♪ ♪ Then you heal me with your perfect smile ♪ ♪ Where've you been all this time ♪ ♪ It's a question I hoped I never ask again ♪ ♪ I wanna witness your perfect crime ♪ ♪ Dear rain ♪ ♪ I hope it's the last time ♪ ♪ That I fall asleep in the same dreams ♪ ♪ Only to catch myself in the same place ♪ ♪ I hoped I never see you again ♪ ♪ Dear rain, I hope I never see you again ♪ ♪ See you again ♪ ♪ Dear rain ♪ ♪ Sorry to tell you that the clouds have gone ♪ ♪ And the suns come home ♪ ♪ So go find someone else that you can fall on ♪ ♪ And when your find them ♪ ♪ I hope that they are strong enough to know ♪ ♪ That your sweet smile is the devil in disguise ♪ ♪ Or I swear, I'll tell them why ♪ ♪ So they'll never have to cry ♪ ♪ Again ♪ ♪ Na na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Dear rain ♪ - I'm T. Bloodhound.

I'm a songwriter and I'm from Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Music in so many ways is like a dopamine rush when you create music in that it is drug-like in that way.

So, you know, when I'm drive driving here today singing practicing my song in my head and I get like a tingly, you know, rush just from doing it because it helps me identify like who I am or where my place is in the world when I'm really just communicating with myself.

And sometimes I can't even like fathom my life.

I don't even think about it during my day.

You know, things that happen during the day that are so crazy.

And then I'm able to kind of communicate myself.

It's very self soothing.

And I realize I've been doing this since I was a kid.

And it's like, really the only thing that helped me get through a number of different hardships.

I've had Tourettes syndrome since I was very young.

And you know, kids are, can be really mean, you know?

And so I, you know, I had a hard time with that at certain points.

And it's like that self soothing concept of music that is like, it's invaluable.

It's not even has no, like it's so paramount to like my whole existence.

So like, I couldn't even imagine like survival without that.

(upbeat music) ♪ My mama always said it was a fast learner ♪ ♪ I used to have a nickel now I got at least 11 ♪ ♪ Can't put me on the back burner ♪ ♪ I'm the raw fire shining in the diner off 95 ♪ ♪ Tickets in my tax folder ♪ ♪ I've been betting all day ♪ ♪ Can't seem to turn a debt ♪ ♪ Into a dollar worth the under over ♪ ♪ A dollar worth the under over ♪ ♪ I've facing my way through a dark hallway ♪ ♪ I don't like your attitude ♪ ♪ And if you play it way with the money, I'll say ♪ ♪ Son, you were bound to lose ♪ ♪ I've been pacing my way through a dark hallway ♪ ♪ I don't like your attitude ♪ ♪ If you play that way with your money, I'll say ♪ ♪ Son you were bound lose ♪ ♪ My dad always said I was a slow starter ♪ ♪ Just taking my time in the middle of the limelight ♪ ♪ Like to hit the ball harder ♪ ♪ Yeah.

I'm feeling like a wild man ♪ ♪ Wrapped up ready til the blowing out my throttle charger ♪ ♪ I'm getting knocked down ♪ ♪ Gonna get back up in the race, go a little farther ♪ ♪ This time, I'll get a little farther ♪ ♪ Yeah my mama always said I was such a fast learner ♪ ♪ You can't put me on the back burner ♪ ♪ My mama always said I was a fast learner ♪ ♪ I used to have a nickel ♪ ♪ Now I got least 11 ♪ ♪ Can't put me on the back burner ♪ ♪ I'm the raw fire shining in the diner off 95 ♪ ♪ Tickets in my tax folder ♪ ♪ I've been betting all day ♪ ♪ Can't seem to turn a debt into a dollar ♪ ♪ With the under over ♪ ♪ Have a problem when the day is over ♪ Songs are sometimes just a feeling that you know about.

So when you write a really good song and my, like it's just, it comes from a place in my brain.

And you know, people will ask me, be like, "Hey like that sounded like really, you sound really upset or you sound like you're dealing with something."

And it's like just a feeling that I know about.

And I figured out a way to show how I feel about that feeling.

And so "Back Burner" it's a song about you having these little problems but it's like approaching it in a way where you refuse to be second best at something.

You can't put me on the back burner.

That's, you know, just that idea of like, who am I?

You know I'm the bright fire shining in the diner off 95, who am I?

And as a way to be confident about it as opposed to kind of this introverted way of writing songs which I do a lot of.

I just want to put my songs in anywhere that, you know, we talk about those feelings being people trying to communicate with themselves.

And I feel like some of the music that's changed my life the most has been songs of other folks trying to communicate with themselves.

And I end up hearing and feeling the same thing that they're feeling or hearing.

And I, that's kind of my goal is to try to be one of those artists that, you know, without all of the kind of flashy things and kind of overselling myself if I could just, my songs could just be helpful to someone.

(gentle music) ♪ Feeling dead to the world ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard just to feel a thing ♪ ♪ I've been following on my sword ♪ ♪ Keep falling over and over again ♪ ♪ And I'm bleeding at the top ♪ ♪ Of this hill I was supposed to die on ♪ ♪ But now I'm reading in the dark ♪ ♪ Wish somebody turn that light on ♪ ♪ I wish somebody turn the light on ♪ ♪ Done my dollar bills ♪ ♪ It's slipping through like sand now ♪ ♪ I'm wishing I could still ♪ ♪ The shaking of my hands some ♪ ♪ I can't stop the weight ♪ ♪ From pressing down my shoulders ♪ ♪ And I'm thinking its too late ♪ ♪ And I thought I already told you ♪ ♪ I'm feeling dead to the world ♪ ♪ And I've been trying so hard just to feel a thing ♪ ♪ I've falling on my sword ♪ ♪ Keep falling over and over again ♪ ♪ And I'm bleeding at the top ♪ ♪ Of this hill I was supposed to die on ♪ ♪ Now I'm reading in the dark ♪ ♪ Somebody turn the light on ♪ ♪ I wish somebody turned the light on ♪ ♪ Somebody turn the light on ♪ ♪ I wish somebody turned the light on ♪ ♪ Oh yes ♪ (upbeat rock music) - [Announcer] Go online to hear more music, meet the artists and more.

Visit RIPBS.org.