If you frequent Joe’s or Kams’, you probably have listened to Outbound Drive, an area cover band that features one of our own U of I seniors, Tim Bulster. Tim hails from Berwyn, Il and is entering into his last year studying English and Secondary Education. He took time from his busy summer schedule to talk with Her Campus Illinois!
HC: What instruments do you play and when did you first become interested in music?
Bass is my instrument first and foremost, but I have managed to pick up some of the basics of guitar along the way as well. I have been interested in music for as long as I can remember. My parents raised me on the music of classic artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Who, and The Rolling Stones just to name a few, which has very heavily influenced the music I play and listen to today.
HC: How did you get involved with Outbound Drive?
Patrick Sheppard, who is the founding member of the band, lived next door to me on campus during my Sophomore year. He plays rhythm guitar and is one of our two lead singers. One day a friend of mine overheard Patrick casually mention that his band was looking for a bass player. My friend told Patrick about me and before I knew it I was in the band and quickly learning more songs than I thought I ever could.
HC: How do you guys decide what type of music you play and do you have any favorite genres or songs that you play?
Since we are almost always playing in bars, we like our music to generally have a lot of energy and be recognizable to most. Therefore, we like to pick the classic songs that listeners from all age groups would enjoy. Personally I like playing any song that the crowd tends to get into. “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd is one of those. “The Boys Are Back in Town”, by Thin Lizzy is usually a good one, and “Slide” by Goo Goo Dolls is another.
HC: Who are some of your musicals influences? Who do you like to listen to?
Musical artists that influence me are old and new and everywhere in between. I love The Beatles, Patti Smith, and Bob Dylan. Newer artists that I enjoy a lot are My Morning Jacket, Joe Pug, John Mayer, Eddie Vedder, and Tom Morello. The country/folk singer-songwriter Steve Earle, however, would probably top my list of favorite musical artists.
HC: Where is your favorite place or event that Outbound Drive has played?
I absolutely love playing anywhere on campus. The energy is always so high and we can always count on a good crowd of people ready to have a good time. Recently we played at Joes Brewery for Greek Reunion which was an incredible time for everyone.
HC: How is it playing in front of your peers when you are on campus?
Playing in front of a few peers can be even more intimidating than playing in front of a large crowd of strangers. However, I enjoy it a lot. You just have to learn to relax (perhaps with the help of a couple drinks) and have a good time. Whenever I play on campus I can count on all my close friends attending, which is always a good feeling.
HC: How do you handle juggling the band, school, work and your friends?
Playing in the band has taught me a lot about time management and keeping organized. Most weekends we are playing somewhere and we try to practice as much as possible. Always keeping an up to date calendar helps. There is nothing stressful about playing with the band though. We all love it. The time is takes up isn’t unmanageable and it tends to actually counteract the stresses of school, work, and life in general.
HC: Will you still play with the band when you graduate next spring?
I will certainly do my best to try. The nice thing about the band is that we almost always play weekends. So, as long as my Friday nights and Saturdays are free the idea of having a job during the week and playing with the band on weekends is not so unreasonable. Patrick and Paige, our two lead singers, are both out of college with jobs– Paige even has a husband and baby at home. Nevertheless, they both seem to find time to do what they love. I’m sure I will be able to as well.