Robert C. Fullerton
Winter Blues Concert Series
State House Square Food Court
Hartford
Jan. 21, 2026
You don’t know you love a song until you hear it for the first time.
For example, I didn’t expect for Robert C. Fullerton’s first original song, titled “Back Again,” to be my favorite of the entire set he played on Monday at the food court. I was taking pictures with my phone on a table far behind me when he let loose with his sandy vocals, granular yet still fine. His voice rolled over the pain and pleasure of ending up right where we started, even though we swore we wouldn’t. I couldn’t get a recording of it, but it’s absolutely worth listening to.
It happened again, when Fullerton began crooning a ballad about love and acceptance called "I'll Ride with You to the Ocean." It’s one of those songs that take a more mature look at love. Instead of the usual songs that promise the sun, the moon and the stars, Fullerton asks to be accepted for what he can do:
I won’t build you an empire
I won’t even build one wall
I don’t have that kind of vision
Those things don’t appeal at all
But I’ll ride with you to the ocean
Towards the boundaries of the sea
Yes I’ll ride with you to the ocean
Way down where there’s only you and me
I wasn’t going to let another gem slip past me. My phone was at my side for the rest of the performance. Fortunately I had a hint about the song that was coming up next. As I heard the first few notes of the intro, at first I was in disbelief. Was Fullerton really going to play one of my favorite songs of all time? And sure enough, he sang the Cyndi Lauper classic "Time After Time." It was the only cover he played during his set, justifying its inclusion by telling the audience that the song’s co-writer, Rob Hyman of the rock band the Hooters, grew up in Meriden.
What I enjoyed the most about Fullerton’s music were his chops as a storyteller. Musician’s catalogues are replete with songs about love and loss. But how often can you go to a performance where you hear a song about a mean-looking dog, the celebration of dignity through difference, and an ode to Emily Dickinson?
Yes, you read that right. Fullerton shared that during the Covid quarantine, he had the idea to put Emily Dickinson’s songs to music. However, when he researched the various copyright laws that would compromise his project, he decided instead to write a hilarious song titled, “To Emily Dickinson, My Sincerest Apologies” where he laments the cost of pursuing his idea.
Fullerton’s affable nature and skillful guitar playing made for a unique and memorable performance. Be sure to check out his album when it drops on Feb. 6.
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