Recording with my friend Dave Keys is always a funny experience. We have known each other for years, and it would be fair to say that he was my best friend for a long time. We don’t catch up much now, but today was good excuse to touch base, or actually touch bass.
I remember first meeting him. I was auditioning for a band back in the early 90’s called Larraby’s birthday. He was one of the first bass players I’d seen who used a lot of effects. And me, being quite an effects-orientated guitarist (mainly to hide the fact that I can’t play it very well), I was impressed.
Not to mention that he is a very funny person. Between him and the drummer at the time, Larraby’s Birthday was part rehearsal, part rolling on the floor in hysterics. And no one was spared from his digs!! Years on, and we’ve played in at least one other band, and I have recorded various projects he’s been involved with. I’ve even been part of his wedding.
From the moment this project came into existence, I was keen to have Dave play on the tracks. I’d always harboured this little wish of mine that in some time in the future, Dave, Jarrod and I would play together in the same band. Well this was, for now as close as it was going to get.
He actually can also play bass – unlike me. He’s got a calm and relaxed playing style. He’s not fast, funky or anything particularly solid – he just plays the right notes at the right time.
Now that I’ve talked him up,..
He arrived at the studio today looking a little weary. After a coffee we got straight into the recording. We simply plugged his Fender Precision bass straight into an Avalon 737 Pre Amp, and from there in to Pro Tools.
First track was Change To Survive which was, as it turned out, the only one he had properly prepared for. In a short while we had 3 good takes, and I felt I had enough to get what I needed.
We moved on to Somewhere Else For A Day – a track that he’s started to prepare, but it seemed he lost interest. So there was a little bit of time spent working the song out, and seeing what would fit, Again, he did 3 takes for me to comp a little later on.
Lastly, it was Getting Out, which he basically had to learn from scratch. We did a few more takes of this, as it took a little longer for Dave to feel comfortable with the track.
All the while, there was continual digging being flung from both sides, much to the amusement of Antonia who was assisting for the session.
By 1:00pm, we had it pretty well finished, with the only minor problem being that Dave had locked his keys in the car.
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