Rich Conversations: 007. Collin O’Brien

Show notes from episode 007 of Rich Conversations with Collin O’Brien. Answers are cut down to fit into writing format.

How long have you lived in Chicago?

I’ve lived here—let’s see—since September 2008. It’s safe to say I’ve been here over a decade.

How would you describe your neighborhood?

I’m in Humboldt Park now. It’s been about three years here. Before that I was in Ukrainian Village, right off the Chicago blue line. Humboldt Park is great. I love it. It’s actually the space where I used to have rehearsals for bands, and then a room opened up. We’re right by the park. The neighborhood is really diverse. On our street there’s low income housing next to multi-million dollar development. Gentrification is happening—spilling over. It’s the Puerto Rican neighborhood of Chicago. But it’s very welcoming to other people. I’m aware of that and so I try to support the local businesses and shops. So I have my few spots where I frequent. The summer gets pretty wild in the park. Bands come and play from like noon till two in the morning. People singing—families grilling.

If you have an open Saturday, how would you choose to spend it?

Well, usually I don’t have an open Saturday. Lately I’ve been playing and gigging so much. I play drums. I’m super fortunate to be in the position I’m in to be collaborating with people and freelancing. I’m getting calls. But I really love just meeting up with close friends. Have people over, make some dinner, a few drinks, and catch up. I play in bars and work at a bar, so I’d prefer not to go to a bar on an open day.

When you think of Chicago, what colors do imagine first?

The color that most reminds me of Chicago is the color of the street lamps. That amber yellow glow that it gives off. Chicago seems to have its own hue compared to other cities of been to. That color washes everything into that glow. It’s distinct. It’s especially noticeable downtown. That was a tough one. I was going to say blue.

What’s your proudest moment as a Chicagoan?

When we stopped our Alive One residency. That last night. I started this band called Low Spark in college. I wanted to start this band that was creative and expressive but composed. That was always sort of like my dream project. We played technically hard music but feeling free. The first bar I went to in Chicago was Alive One and there was this jazz-infusion band called Spare Parts. They did every Thursday night. It was so fun. I started going back every week and meeting this community. The staff was great and as I kept going I thought I really want to play here. After three years, Spare Parts stopped and The Herd took over. I think they are my favorite band ever. They brought so much energy—a powerhouse. It was a party every time. You could barely get in on Thursdays.

Low Spark was still going. Touring and getting our name out there. And eventually we took over Thursdays. We played there for four years. We’d always keep the music fresh and plan three hours. It was the biggest challenge and the best learning experience I could ever have. And that last night was so special for me.

What’s your hidden gem in the city?

The California Clipper. It’s got a retro vibe. Jazz music all the time. It’s the Green Mill Lite. People from out of town aren’t going to go there, but people in the know know what’s up.

What sound do you most affiliate with the city?

I want to say the L tracks, but that’s a little too obvious. So I lived with another band member and musicians. I’d wake up in the morning with the sound of someone plucking their guitar or stomping their feet with a beat. That became a new normal for me. It eventually kind of became meditative.

If you were given secret information that Chicago would be destroyed in one week, what’s one quality you’d choose to keep to rebuild it?

There’s some weird camaraderie here. Everyone kind of goes a little crazy in the winter that it brings us together. We have this understanding of each other and everyone’s struggles. And those first days after winter when it’s warm outside, it’s this incredible feeling. And we got each other’s backs. I would keep that sense of camaraderie. That love for our neighbor. In the music scene especially, I don’t know if there’s many other places with such a supportive community. People genuinely want others to do will and get that better gig. So willing to get together and talk about the craft. It’s incredible.

What’s one thing you’d do to improve your neighborhood?

Yeah, I mean there’s a lot. I would love to see more attention given to the rougher struggling neighborhoods of Chicago. More resources allocated for people really struggling or programs for children to keep them off the streets. To help change the cycle of poverty.

When people learn you’re from Chicago, how do they respond?

Some people are like Wow, that’s really cool. That’s awesome. More uninformed people stick to the negative stigma of the city of the danger.

When you feel overwhelmed or need a mental escape but can’t leave the city, where do you go to clear your mind?

I definitely walk in Humboldt Park a bit, but that’s still really close to my house. I ride my bike to the lake. No matter where I live. Sometimes I have these insomnia type of nights where I can’t sleep and I’m stressing and anxious. I want to say I’ve had about 20-30 nights where I just put my headphones in and just ride to the lake. I’ll ride up and down the lake path and just sit on a pier and just look out into the water. If I’m super overwhelmed that’s what I do. I look at nothing of the city. I let my focus drift. Some of those moments have been some of the most special in the city.

Within the past five years of living here, what personal realization has improved your outlook on life the most?

Knowing that I can’t make everyone happy and being okay with that. There was a long time when I first got here when I’d say yes to everything. I was giving so much of myself that I had nothing left for me. I’d get in these really depleted states and mask it with negative coping mechanisms. I feel like now I’m a little bit more focused on what I should be doing myself and what I should commit to. I think it’s honestly opened me to help other people. More capable of taking on more.

What’s something you dream of accomplishing over the next five years?

I want to be part of a band or musical project that tours or gets to travel to another continent. It would be a huge accomplishment to have something I love to do be the reason I get to travel. I’ve been fortunate to be able to play around the U.S. but it’d be really special to have opportunity to travel abroad.