I had the chance to chat with former Red Sox pitcher–and World Series Champion–Bronson Arroyo. So of course I took advantage.
You see, I interviewed Bronson way back in 2005. Almost 18 years ago! That year, Arroyo released an album of cover songs. It was titled, fittingly, Covering All The Bases. He came by the WBCN studios to promote the album, and I was tasked with hosting him for an interview and performance. Picture this: me and Bronson, in a production studio the size of a closet. He’s singing and strumming his version of Foo Fighters “Everlong.” And he’s literally two feet from my face.
It could have ended up being one of the most awkward experiences I’ve ever had in broadcasting. It certainly started that way! But it didn’t end that way, due largely in part to how down-to-earth, affable, and authentic Bronson was. This wasn’t a guy capitalizing on his newfound Boston baseball stardom. This was a guy who grew up in a musical family, had true passion for rock music, and wanted to share that passion. You gotta respect it.
Flash forward a decade and a half, and Bronson has retired from baseball. And he’s not just playing covers anymore. He’s writing his own songs, and has a new album’s worth of ’em. Bronson Arroyo and the ’04‘s debut album Some Might Say is streaming here.
Red Sox Pitcher Bronson Arroyo: Killer Tunes, Baseball, and Life
I asked Bronson if he remembered our first meeting back in ’05. We talked about his approach to music, which is really his approach to life, and about Boston. Specifically, playing at The Burren in Somerville back in January. You can listen to our chat below, then check out a couple of videos for tracks off the new album Some Might Say.