I can safely say I would never had started playing music if not for the influence of Tony Acquarelli.
He's been my big brother since I was 10 years old. Tony introduced me to the world of punk rock music and my life was never the same. He was the first person I knew that had a band and rode a skateboard. I looked up to him like no other. Still do. Tony Acquarelli is a wonderfully talented and kind hearted man. Like most of our team, he's as humble as they come. Hopefully, in the following interview, you can get to know the guy that influenced a lot of Poway musicians of the past, present and future.
1. What is Barefoot Hockey Goalie up to these days?
Thanks for the question. We are working on a new opera. The story is about a kid growing up in Clairemont, California in the late 1970’s. It’s the sad tale of a kid who grows up too fast, broken family, drugs and alcohol, gains fame early, hits rock bottom shortly there after, finds love and turns his life around. We have about 5 or 6 songs at this point. The working title is F you, I’m From Clairemont.
2. Are you writing new songs right now?
I have been writing since the shutdown. I haven’t really written much in the past couple of years. I want to put together 19 songs of recordings by the end of the year. I’ve been writing birthday and graduation songs while we’ve been shut down. My writing partner lives in San Diego, and we only get together a couple times a year. I’m starting to write alone and with my family. I talk over lyrics with my sons and we end up writing a lot together. They also tell me if my new song sounds just like my last song which they typically do. They are great producers.
3. Where does the inspiration come for songwriting?
I get ideas from things I read about. I like to think about a character and go from there. Since I am sober now, coffee certainly helps.
4. Do you have a specific process when you write? Routine?
I like to come up with a line or idea and go from there. I have a hard time writing the music and then adding words. The music and the words for me have to be put together. I like to write when everyone goes to sleep and I have to be a little quiet. It seems to focus me.
5. What are some of the artists that inspired you to start playing music?
The first 45 I bought was Cheech and Chong “I’ve been Framed”. Who knew how influential that would be. I got my first guitar when I got into the punk rock, but I didn’t really play it until college. After going to see bands like Social Distortion, Channel Three, The Descendents, etc it just seemed like so much fun. Then, when I moved into a house with musicians I was inspired to give it a shot. When I went to college at Humboldt State there were a lot of great bands that inspired me to try it myself.
6. You've been doing this for many years now. Have you had to re-invent ways to enjoy playing in a band this long?
Never. The band is always fresh as a daisy. We have played our operas hundreds of times and it is still as fun as it was when we started. Being a loose band also helps. We all enjoy improvising and not taking ourselves too seriously.
7. What are some of your favorite San Diego bands of all-time?
I thought The Dragons were amazing. They put on a great show. I loved the Rugburns, Three Mile Pilot, Lucy’s Fur Coat, The Macananys, Uncle Joes Big Old Driver, Rocket from the Cript, Outrage. El Vez. My favorite of all time would have to be Convoy. I loved their sound and they wrote great songs. Their Pineapple Sessions is one of my all time favorite albums. They were a great live band too.
8. How does the Bay Area differ in terms of places to play, scene, local bands than San Diego?
I don’t really get to go out much these days and Barefoot Hockey Goalie has not played in SF in years. There are some amazing musicians and bands here.
9. Do you prefer Flipside or Maximum Rock and Roll? Why?
I always liked Flipside. I thought Maximum Rock and Roll always had some shit to talk about the bands they covered. I thought Flipside was more supportive and probably covered the bands that I like more. (agreed - ed.)
10. Best Mexican food near you?
We have a Peruvian spot by us called El Toro Loco. He makes a mean burrito as well as Peruvian food like guillena and seafood. There is nothing like the San Diego Mexican food. My spot was Los Dos in Pacific Beach. There is world class Mexican food on almost every corner in San Diego. I miss that.
11. How does being a Dad influence your music and songwriting?
Well, now that my son Milo is playing piano and guitar, I like to write and play as much as I can. I want to model for him how I practice and write songs. We have started recording songs together which has been super fun. He picks things up really quickly. The only downside is finding the time and space to be alone to write and record. The boys have also been an audience I have never had before which has allowed me to gain confidence in my singing and playing.
12. What music are you listening to currently that you really dig?
I just finished a Warren Zevon biography so I am listening to all of his stuff. I never really knew his music or knew what he was about. Amazing songwriter. I guess I’m listening to a lot of singer songwriters; Chuck Prophet, Blaze Foley, Steve Earl, Brian Fallon. I am loving this band The Shivers from Wisconsin. New stuff would be Coriky.
13. BHG has has a lot of members over the years, what was it like having a drummer like Danny Heifetz(Mr. Bungle, Dieselhed) in the band?
I was living with Danny when his friend and ex bandmate Blair Hatch came up to visit him. Blair went to Humboldt State too, but I didn’t know him. Blair and I hit it off immediately, so Danny has a lot to do with the creation of Barefoot Hockey Goalie. Danny is the most talented and humble musician I know. Why else would he play with Mr Bungle, Link Wray and Dieselhed and then play with us and our three chord simple songs. He has always been so supportive of us. We went on a tour with him once and he brought along a kid’s toy drum kit. He could make that thing sound so good. I guess that explains why how he helped Barefoot Hockey Goalie. He played on Darius and One Part Thomas Edison.
14. What's the best record you guys have made?
Looking back I really liked Fediks Butcher Shop. We had a lot of fun doing that and I think the recording came out strong. 15. Are there any plans to record new material any time soon? We would love to record the new opera.
16. What bands do your sons like?
They are like me. They like it all. They go through phases like we all do. The Clash is their favorite right now. They love The Descendents, No Means No, The Fratellis. Then they like John Prine and Brian Fallon, singer songwriters. They also like Hamilton and musicals.
17. Most memorable punk show(s) from the early San Diego days?
First show I saw at the North Park Elks Club(?) It was TSOL and Battalion of Saints. It was a tiny hall with no stage. The bands were right there on the same levels with the audience. I thought that was so cool. And Jack Grissom was such a strong front man. It was so different than anything I had ever seen. There were just a bunch of kids and an older guy who was Marc Rude running the whole show. It was before the TSOL shows got super violent, so we got to see the whole show. The Adams Ave shows were all amazing as well.
