EQ August 2004 - Why Rong is Gud

[kylen]

Thanks Craig for this refreshing article about, once again, going outside of the box. To continue my education in the world of audio engineering I have spent the last couple of years cramming my head full of lessons, technique, Mixing Engineers & Mastering Engineers handbooks, blah, blah, blah - re-learning the basics and skills that I need under the uber-microscope of digital audio.

 

Anyway - just when it's time to get some inspiration, chuck the schoolbooks (for a time), get inspired and execute - along comes this cool article. Craig is always coming up with stuff like this but for me, right now I'm receiving this...'Sometimes mistakes are good for you' !

 

Now I can haul out some of my old stomp boxes, space echo, cheap synths, pre-amps, and guitar amps and make some cool sounds ! I always get inspired by the timbre of the sound anyway - one cool sound leads to another, etc.

 

Very timely article for me Craig

 

Following that Mitch has a cool little review on the Radial Engineering X-Amp that fits right into things and sounds like it will re-amp all the cool old junk I've collected over the years

 

Thanks guys - all this DAW in-the-box stuff was starting to make my head explode. Time to get creative with some old neglected friends

[Philip OKeefe]

Yes, that was a really good article - as was the Steve Winwood interview!

 

Well done as usual Craig!

[Lee Flier]

Yeah I was gonna post something about the Steve Winwood interview - great stuff Craig! Good to hear another successful artist "going indie" and how it has affected his creative decisions.

 

I loved the quote about playing to a click track - "it means everybody's playing to someone who's not listening."

[kylen]

Originally posted by Lee Flier:

I loved the quote about playing to a click track - "it means everybody's playing to someone who's not listening."

hehe, I kinda hung my head in shame when I read that one...yikes no safety net & fear of heights !

[Anderton]

Thanks very much for the kind words, it's always good to know when something hits the target. I too found what Steve Winwood said to be inspiring, and have a real "ring of truth."

 

I gotta say something about the Winwood interview -- I met him back in the 60s, he was doing overdubs on Electric Ladyland and my band had sessions booked after Hendrix. One time we were going to the studio and Chris Wood (Traffic's flute player) let us in. We got to see Winwood a few more times after that, he came to Steve Paul's Scene and saw my band play once...and he didn't get up and leave, which was kinda cool .

 

I always felt he was a real down-to-earth, not-impressed-with-himself kind of guy who really cared first and foremost about the music...everything else about fame was secondary. So it was a real treat to be able to talk to him now, after he's been through various artistic mutations, and find that he is as cool a guy as he was way back when...cooler, in fact, because he has that level of maturity and perspective that is one of the few good aspects about getting older .

 

I would highly, highly recommend his new CD. If you found the interview interesting, all I can say is, the music is like the interview -- provocative, smooth, interesting, and human. It's great stuff and although I didn't want to come right out in the magazine and say BUY HIS RECORD, I'll say it now. The guy's a class act and deserves any support he gets. In return, you get a CD with some fantastic musicianship and beautiful songwriting.

 

James Towler, the engineer, was also great to talk with. I am hoping that what Winwood is doing will serve as a prototype of what "musical success" means in the future -- an uncompromised artistic statement, supported by fans, and with none of the trappings of current "manufactured" acts but with a sincere love of music and the emotions it fosters.

 

Oh yes, about "Rong is Gud" -- lighten up and have fun! You won't regret it.

[Lee Flier]

Originally posted by Anderton:

I am hoping that what Winwood is doing will serve as a prototype of what "musical success" means in the future -- an uncompromised artistic statement, supported by fans, and with none of the trappings of current "manufactured" acts but with a sincere love of music and the emotions it fosters.

Amen to that. I'll be sure to pick up the record.

[zeronyne]

The last time I saw Steve Winwood perform, he was with the reformed Traffic opening for the Grateful Dead. I will never forget that concert as long as I live. He was just connecting with the audience (and this was Soldier Field in Chicago) without really doing anything overt.

 

The Dead were lame by comparison. They were definitely having an off day, but Traffic made it seem so much worse.

[Anderton]

<>

 

Very well said, that's exactly the vibe of the album.

[Groovepusher Sly]

FYI Steve Winwood.com

 

Sly

[Wewus432]

Last time I saw Steve play, about 7 years ago, I thought he played way too much guitar. Here's a guy, who can just wail on keys, and he looked, to me, like he was trying to be a guitar hero. I was pretty close to the stage and at one point, I screamed, GIVE IT UP! and he actually stopped and looked at me, as if to say, you mean I'm not a guitar GOD. No Stevie, you're not. Play the hell out of your B3, and leave the guitar playing to others.

[Anderton]

<>

 

On the new CD, he plays B3 and pedal bass only...not one lick of guitar! He did it just for you, Steve

[coyote]

It's a path others have chosen - Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp come to mind.

Originally posted by Anderton:

[QB]I am hoping that what Winwood is doing will serve as a prototype of what "musical success" means in the future -- an uncompromised artistic statement, supported by fans, and with none of the trappings of current "manufactured" acts but with a sincere love of music and the emotions it fosters.[QB]

[GY]

Geeez! I just got my August issue yesterday. They must send then out in alphabetical order.

 

Great Winwood interview Craig. I've always been a Winwood fan. He entered "guru" status when I heard him perform songs with just an acoustic guitar for the Mark & Brian radio show. His performances were truly flawless.

[ernest828]

Yes Bravo to Craig and company!

 

I for one was very happy to see an artist highlighted in EQ.

 

I know, I know, what is art is different for everyone but I think we can all agree, this guys good and we all respect him.

 

Peace,

Ernest

[Stephen Fortner]

I'm a Hammond nut, so Craig, thank you, thank you, thank you, for covering Winwood in EQ. I enjoyed the piece immensely, and I think it's great to expose him to EQ readers who might not read Keyboard. Also wanted to give you props for your thorough review of the Korg Legacy Collection in Keyboard. On its strength, I'm likely going to buy one as soon as there's a few shekels around that aren't already spoken for!

[Anderton]

<>

 

Well I gotta say, if anything, I was too restrained in the review. They really did a fantastic job and it becomes more apparent the more I use it. It's not one of those products where you think it's really cool, and then you find a few holes, and it's still cool, but... Instead, it one of those things where the deeper you go, the better it gets. The signal processors in particular are really a great addition.