Steve Hymowec is a rockinā professor. By day, the 47-year-old South Glens Falls resident teaches English and philosophy and by night heās jamming on his bass on stage at various local venues, usually with the band Dirt Cheap. He chatted Monday about his dual life.
Q. Tell me how your two jobs ā teaching and playing music ā are similar and complement each other?
A. Similar in that theyāre both performative. You have to adapt to the audience. And content. And itās always a challenge to keep people interested. The ways you have to adapt in one sort of help you think about how to deal with the other.
Q. We were talking once and you told me you simply āneedā to play music. What do you get out of playing on stage?
A. Itās the most comfortable place in the world for me. When I play, I donāt think of anything else. Any troubles, and concerns, itās all gone. I canāt imagine not playing every weekend. Itās 9 oāclock on Friday or Saturday night, my body says youāre supposed to be playing somewhere. Itās almost a physiological thing.
People are also reading…
Q. Your New York City accent gives you away as a non-local. You said you lived there until you were about 20. What do you miss most about living there?
A. Food! The diversity of food and of course the authenticity of the ethnic foods. I could walk down the street and if I want Greek food or Thai food or Vietnamese food, I can get it.
Q. Youāve played literally thousands of gigs. Tell me about the epic one that will always stick out.
A. My first one. At the Bayonne (New Jersey) YMCA in 1985. I was 15. We rented a PA system and charged $5 at the door ā and 500 people showed up. We played 20 songs and after that I was a rock star. I even fooled around with the guitar playerās sister she was so impressed. I have others, but that first one Iāll never forget.
Q. I get inspired by students every semester. Tell me about a student who inspired you.
A. One that comes to mind was a student named Cassie. She is now a PhD candidate at Dartmouth. She was just so inquisitive and bright. She took every course I taught and soaked up the material and learned it much quicker than I did. I realized she was going to be at a level higher than Iāll ever be. Sheāll probably teach philosophy at a really prestigious school. She reminded me of the potential in kids.
Q. Your bio on the Fulton-Montgomery Community College website mentions a love for cooking. Where did that come from and whatās your go-to dish when youāre trying to impress?
A. That bio hasnāt been updated in probably seven years. I donāt cook as much any more because I donāt have time with a 3-year-old and everything else, but the love of cooking came from watching cooking shows as a kid. I found them really interesting. And I love food. My go-to dish is probably an Italian seafood pasta dish with wine and garlic and basil and sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes.
Q. If you could play bass in any band in history, which would it be and what song?
A. Are you saying play bass in a band or be in a band, because I have two different answers. On the one hand, the band Iād like to be in the most is The Who. I love their mix of anger and art. Bass lines like in āThe Real Meā off Quadrophenia, just so much energy and so much angst. If I could be a bass player in a band Iād probably pick Yes, because I love Chris Squire and the intricacy of the bass lines. Itās all about the art of the bass.
Q. Your daughter will be 3 on Saturday. What has she done for your life?
A. Given me a totally different perspective. I worry about things I never worried about before ā like this recent election. It troubles me that people can think certain ways ā Iām trying to be delicate here. I worry whether she is going to have the same opportunities. Is she going to live in a compassionate world? And the idea of being home on a Friday night was repulsive to me before. Now sometimes sheās there and I want to be with her.
Q. I often see your wife dancing away at your various gigs. Does she love watching you perform as much as it appears?
A. She does and she always has. She was a tutor at the ACC writing lab when I worked there as an adjunct. I didnāt remember her, but apparently she had come to my house with her kid trick-or-treating, when she was still married to her ex and I was still married to my ex. Apparently she had a crush on me and would come see us play. So yes, she loves it.
Q. Whoās the best Glens Falls area guitar player?
A. Oh God, now Iām going to (tick) somebody off. Aside from Dirt Cheap guitarists Vern Fuss and Mike Howe (smiles), Iām going to say John Eisenhart, because he can play those Yes parts. There are a lot of guys who can play that Ingvar Malmsteen ā80s stuff, but to play the Genesis and Yes guitar parts requires such a knowledge of music and such a different approach.
Q. How far back does the long hair in a ponytail date and why?
A. I started growing it at 14 and by the time I was 17 it was really long. Why? Because all my heroes had long hair. The rock God heroes like Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Paul Jones, they all had long hair.
Q. Iām told you were in a band signed to Sony Records. What happened to the deal?
A. We had a developmental deal for a band called the Moondogs. Itās a deal where they pay to put together an EP to show to the internal people who make a decision on signing acts. The guy who was interested in us was named Jimmy Einer Jr., and his dad was vice president of Sony Records. We thought we made it. We thought we were there. We did the EP and the powers that be didnāt think we were quite ready and he just kinda dropped it ā¦ Our lead singer I think kinda colluded with him, too. He thought he was the whole show and he wasnāt, the guitar player was the one who wrote the music. Within six months we broke up because we couldnāt deal with the lead singer anymore. But we had opened for Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Orleans.
Q. What frustrates you most as a professor?
A. A lack of curiosity and apathy toward knowing things. People donāt simply want to know for knowledgeās sake. I canāt understand that. Why does it have to have a practical application? I find some of the students are there just because they donāt know what else to do or just because they want to get a job. Itās supposed to be higher education. I find that frustrating and disheartening.
Q. Whatās next for you in life? Any major goals ahead?
A. I want to try to make sure I can give my daughter as good a life as possible. Thatās my big goal. If I can maintain my lifestyle as is and give that to her, Iād be happy.
David Blow may be reached at david.blow@castleton.edu