Northwest Ohio native Anthony Beck is no stranger to the Toledo music scene, having started his first band when he was 15, and he has been a long time supporter of Acoustics for Autism (AFA). This will be Beck’s fifth year performing at the AFA benefit concert alongside Allen Spencer as acoustic duo cover band Captain Sweet Shoes, and his first year contributing to the charity’s compilation CD.
“This is the first time I’ve done a solo work. I’ve been a part of five albums with three bands, but I have never done anything solo,” said Beck, whose acoustic-style is influenced by artists such as Thom Yorke and Sigur Rós. “It’s a little scary. If you’re part of a band, it’s a group effort and the audience judges the band, but solo is different in that people are judging you directly.”
For the AFA album, Beck is contributing a piece entitled “Iron Soul,” which is about never giving up on one’s dreams and choosing the road less traveled. Beck was inspired to write the song by watching a friend choose the “safe path” in her career and relationships at the expense of her own musical ambitions.
“I saw her walk away from her talents and the abilities she was blessed with to follow the safe path. ‘Iron soul’ is about the dangers of that safe road. The hook is the song is: ‘Safe is an iron soul if you can stay on dry ground.’ It’s a warning that your soul can turn into a cold, hard, impenetrable thing, the weight of which can carry you under.”
For Beck, “Iron Soul” is more personal than just some observations on a friend’s choices. This song, as well as the album he is working on, are his first efforts at song writing in three years. “I wrote ‘Iron Soul’ as a reminder to myself,” he said. “My band had just broke up. I got a 50-hour a week job in corporate America. That seemed like the safe thing to do. This song is a reminder not to give up on what I’m passionate about. Else, the weight will pull me under.”
Beck has worked as a semi-professional musician touring regionally with his band in the past, but this year he made a personal resolution to create a solo album. “I’m no less passionate or serious than before, but now I don’t have to write for anyone’s ears but my own.” Beck has worked on every aspect of this solo work independently from his home, except for bass tracks played by Dave Thatcher.
It means a great deal to Beck to have his first completed solo song appear on the first AFA compilation CD.
“They’re a phenomenal cause. I have a cousin who is autistic so when I heard what they were doing years ago, it immediately piqued my interest. If you can play an awesome show with some of most awesome musicians in the area, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
For more information, visit www.captainsweetshoes.com. Beck is performing at 4 p.m. March 9 on The Village Idiot Main Stage.
