Cris Cohen: When you do cover songs, how much do you try and capture a note-for-note reproduction and how much do you try and just get the feel and let yourself kind of shine through?
Brian Nevin of Big Head Todd and the Monsters: Great question. Actually, it’s a good little timing on that because we released a cover we did with John Popper, the harp player from Blues Traveler. We did a version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Rosalita” with Popper doing the sax part (on harmonica), which is killer. But to respond to your question, so I’m listening to (the original track). It’s some serious drumming on that track. That was Springsteen’s I think first drummer. It was Vini Lopez I think was his name. “Mad Dog” Lopez I think, if I recall. I could be wrong on that, but I think that was his name. I like his drumming. Those first couple of Springsteen records, he plays a lot more like a kid from the block who you know has some Latin roots. I mean he had a feel. Totally different than Max Weinberg. But Max should be the guy. Point is, on that one I actually tried to play his style because I like his style on that song. So I did try and learn his licks and how he’d play them. Push the fills. They rush a little in this section. Keep the groove. But generally, if we’re going to do a cover, I actually try and separate myself from the original part and try and hear it from (the perspective of) our song. How would we play this? So I usually don’t go to the original drum track first. I think it keeps it fresher. I think the idea when you do a cover is it’s us doing that song. -- Watch the full interview Hire Bands To Fans to develop your social media content Cris Cohen: Now earlier you brought up the tune “Round Midnight.” Why did you have Sting do the vocals on that track?
Andy Summers: There's the obvious reason that everyone likes to see him and I connected on something. But also, he does sing this with that husky, non-vibrato quality he's got to his singing that I thought was perfect for this. So it's just a nice thing that everybody would like. But the truth is, he can sing this stuff really well. So, it wasn't difficult to put together. I called and asked if he was interested in doing it. He was very responsive. It was on me then to construct the backing track that he could put the vocal on. I did (that) and then flew to Italy, where he was living, to get him on it. It was a good experience. -- Listen to the full interview Bands To Fans: Anyone can publish a post. We can tell your story. Cris Cohen: When you joined Y&T, what did you learn about this band that you didn't know as an outside fan?
Mike Vanderhule of Y&T: I'd say first off -- just in my audition playing together -- how good they are. They are a really good bunch of musicians. You know how it is when you start playing with other people… how you interact and how it grooves… just incredible. And then what a great singer Dave Meniketti is. The guy's incredible night after night. He's always spot on and sounds better than he did when he was 18 years old. -- Watch the full interview Never miss an interview or an interview excerpt. Subscribe to our newsletter |
Archives
April 2024
|