David
Shaw & The Round Trip
I was too young to
be able to witness and understand the 80s big hair and sleazy hard rock
movement, but what I know for sure is that it was stamped by an endless
energy and a rebel attitude that were present in all the songs. The bands
were defying and breaking the current rules in music... The creation of
dirty, catchy and unconventional music is what we also find in David Shaw's
latest release, which is an excellent and rather reminiscent piece of material,
bringing in the most part the attitude and sound of the past, through fresh
and modern aesthetics. David has offered us a very informative interview
for the new to know and the old to remember whilst he takes us on a journey
through his musical world... So, are you coming?
1. CONGRATULATIONS ON “WALKIN’ ON A WIRE”!
EXCELLENT PIECE OF MUSIC. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH HOW IT TURNED OUT TO BE
OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?
Thanks for the kind words about the CD. For
the most part, I am very happy with the way the disc turned out. I suppose
like any artist, there are always a few minor things here and there that
I’d adjust in hindsight, but because I had complete creative control of
the disc and I didn’t rush the final product, there was time to tweak things
and get it just right.
2. GIVE US IN BRIEF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS
OF YOUR ENDEAVORS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS… HAVE YOU PLAYED IN OTHER BANDS
BEFORE FOLLOWING A SOLO CAREER?
In 1988 I was a founding member of a band
called Shotgun Annie here in New York City. I remember talking to a friend
and local guitarist at the time named Marc Fox and trying to convince him
to leave the band he was in and play guitar for my new project. I remember
telling him how huge we were going to be. I’d tell him how hard we were
going to work and how we were going to be a sure thing. Well, I know some
people say “almost doesn’t count,” but Marc did join the band and Shotgun
Annie spent four plus years on the local scene carving out a real solid
niche for ourselves. We were staples of the NYC hard rock scene and developed
a large and fantastic fan base. Unfortunately by the early 90s we still
hadn’t gotten to where we wanted to be and the scene began its shift into
flannel-wearing grunge. So the ride ended. But those years were important
years as far as my confidence as a performer and as a songwriter.
From there I wound up in other bands in New
York that did well such as Soul Crunch and Down With The Blonde. I set
music aside for a while as I lived in Los Angeles the last seven years
but I got itchy. I started writing again and “Walkin’ on a Wire” is the
product of that. The response has been so positive and the live shows,
now that I’m back in New York, have been a blast.
3. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU WERE ASKED TO COMMENT
ON “WALKIN’ ON A WIRE” AND ADVERTISE THEM IN A FEW WORDS?
The music is raw, fun and energetic. It’s
what rock and roll should be about. No pretensions, just a good sweaty
time.
4. IS THIS A SOLO PROJECT OR ARE THE GUYS HELPING
YOU FULL TIME MEMBERS?
Well, when I decided it was time to record
something, I turned to my good friend and ex-Soul Crunch bandmate Steve
Cone. He is living in Arizona and remains a prolific guitar player and
songwriter. He owns his own studio and releases his own material independently.
He was glad to help me out and it’s such a quick flight or drive from L.A.
which made it easy. I recorded the CD at his studio with Steve playing
all the guitar tracks and engineering the disc. Shortly after finishing
the disc I wound up moving back to New York. I tapped into some other ex-bandmates,
Rob Mayer from Down with the Blonde and George Giannoulis from Shotgun
Annie, and put a live band together to back me up and do gigs. We found
our drummer Derek Davis through an online classified ad (he’s only 21 and
insanely talented). So the band has been out gigging and while I guess
it’s technically a solo project, we certainly feel more like a band. We
bill ourselves as David Shaw & The Round Trip so the other guys feel
they have an identity here and are not hired guns. These aren’t just backup
musicians but true friends and I appreciate them greatly.
And Steve has not been forgotten. In fact,
we have a summer tour in the works and we’re planning to have Steve join
us on the road in the band as well. It should be a great time.
5. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART OF
YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU?
Tough question. I think I’ve always been influenced
by bands that can blend good, ballsy hard rock riffs with melodic vocals.
I think my CD reflects that influence so I’m very happy about that. As
far as “worst thing,” I’d rather not look at anything as a “worst thing”
but I can say because my influences are so varied, there may be moments
where my music veers off into different directions. That’s not necessarily
bad and I think I avoided that for the most part on “Walkin’ on a Wire.”
But I released a disc in 2000 called “Horizon Lenses.” A friend and well-known
A&R guy told me it had no clear identity because the songs were all
over the place. Part of me took that as a compliment. But again, the new
CD, I think, is pretty focused. It’s a solid hard rock record.
6. WHY DO YOU THINK THE HARD ROCK AND METAL FANS
SHOULD CHECK YOU OUT? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER TO THE SCENE? IS THERE
SOMETHING YOU FEEL THAT SETS YOU APART?
I think since the demise of the 80s and early
90s hard rock scene there have been only a handful of bands that have really
kept alive what that scene was about. Critics often malign that era of
music because they say it was all about the looks and not about substance
but I disagree. Yes, the looks were over the top. But there was plenty
of substance. Songs don’t have to be political and bands don’t have to
stand still on stage and brood into their microphones to have “substance.”
Music is supposed to be an escape and I think that’s the most important
lesson to learn from the big hair era. Have fun, get dirty, be bigger than
life! Why not? There’s a lot of “substance” in that too. So I listen to
bands like Buckcherry, The Wildhearts, Beautiful Creatures and even Nickelback
and these are bands that seem to get it. Just play rock and roll and have
a great time. Nothing wrong with a hooky riff, a guitar solo, a little
flash and a street-wise lyric here or there. I think that’s the attitude
that comes through on my CD as well.
7. ARE THERE ANY ELEMENTS YOU’D LIKE TO ADD OR
EXPERIMENT WITH IN THE FUTURE?
I’m not sure. I feel that I have done some
of that experimentation with previous projects such as Down with the Blonde
or my other solo CD “Horizon Lenses.” I think now I’m back to basics and
that works. However, you never know what’s around the corner. One of my
guitarists, Rob Mayer, is not a traditional hard rock guitar player. He
comes from a more roots rock, alternative, noise rock place. He likes this
music but it’s not his first love. In a way, I think that actually enhances
the songs because on stage he’s able to add things that make the songs
sound really distinctive. Don’t get me wrong, he rocks as hard as anybody,
but he’s a unique talent who adds a lot and helps set us apart a bit. His
contributions could have a fun and interesting effect on future recordings.
8. WHICH ARE YOUR MAIN INFLUENCES AND WHO ARE
THOSE MUSICIANS THAT MADE YOU REALIZE THIS IS THE KIND OF MUSIC YOU LOVE
AND WANT TO FOLLOW?
The first rock and roll record I ever bought
was “Get The Knack” in 1979. It absolutely changed my life. Most people
look at The Knack as one-hit wonders with “My Sharona” but to this day,
and they’re still out there kicking ass, I have rarely seen such an assembly
of amazing musicians. Yes, they’re more of a power-pop band but they also
get it, like I said before. They just write amazing rock songs. Add to
that mix Cheap Trick and you’ve got my two main influences. For my money,
Robin Zander is the greatest singer ever to get near a microphone, hands
down. That band blows me away every time I see them or listen to them.
After hearing those bands I knew that music was something I’d pursue.
As the years went on, I got in heavy metal
and hard rock. My favorite bands, the ones that had the greatest influence
on me, were bands like Kix, Zebra, Dirty Looks, D:A:D, Cinderella and Great
White. You’ll notice that most of those bands kind of have that AC/DC-infused
sound. Then again, I also appreciate Dio-era Black Sabbath, Metallica,
Obsession and other heavier bands.
This is what my music is all about. Take the
aggressive, crunchy energy of those bands and fuse them with the best elements
of power-pop bands like Cheap Trick, The Knack, The Posies and The Cars
and hopefully I’ve created something accessible to all kinds of music fans.
9. WHAT KIND OF PROCEDURE DO YOU FOLLOW WHILST
WRITING SONGS? DO THE OTHER MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE? AREN’T YOU AFRAID YOU MIGHT
START REPEATING YOURSELF FROM SOME POINT ON IF YOU COMPOSE EVERYTHING ON
YOUR OWN?
No particular procedure. Sometimes I’ll write
a riff and it’ll sit forever until it’s used and sometimes I can write
an entire song in minutes. It’s all about inspiration. Whatever’s moving
me at that minute or hour can often result in a new song. And yes, I love
to bring the skeletons of my songs to other talented musicians and have
them give these skeletons life with their ideas.
10. I’D LIKE YOU TO COMMENT A BIT ON THE LYRICS…
WHICH ARE YOUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION?
For the most part I consider myself a fiction
writer. Lots of songwriters write very personal lyrics about things that
they’ve experienced directly. I think most of my lyrics do that but it’s
more subconscious. I just like to write stories.
That said, the CD’s lead track “From Now”
was inspired by a tough time I was having with a boss at a job and I decided
it was time to move on. That’s what that song is about. Plus, the song
“Make It Through The Day” opens with the line “Will you call me in the
morning just to see if I’m awake.” My mother laughed when she heard that
because many years ago when I moved out of my parents’ home, I used to
ask her to do that once in a while because me and alarm clocks don’t get
along very well. So those little pieces of real life find their ways into
the songs I write even if it’s not intentional.
But the comedian Jerry Seinfeld has always
said his hit TV show was about nothing. Some of my songs are definitely
about nothing. I just have fun with words and see where they take me.
11. IS THERE SOMETHING IN SPECIFIC YOU’RE IMPLYING
WITH THE TITLE OF THE ALBUM? IS IT ABOUT YOUR LIFE OR PEOPLE’S LIVES IN
GENERAL?
The title “Walkin’ on a Wire” is a line from
the song “Keep Up With You.” I think life is a balancing act sometimes.
We try to get from Point A to Point B without stumbling over the various
obstacles we have to face. I think there’s an urgency in a lot of my lyrics
and melodies that reflect that thought. Get where you need to go, avoid
the pitfalls, focus and get what you want, need or deserve. Again, my lyrics
probably aren’t all that serious, but there is a bit of that attitude in
them. We all walk on that wire now and then.
12. WHO CREATED THE COVER ARTWORK AND HOW COME
IT’S SO SIMPLE? WHAT’S THE IDEA BEHIND IT?
The cover art was created by me and a wonderful
graphic artist and friend named Robin Yang. I had no idea what I wanted
on the cover. It was a solo album with a title that was a bit hard to convey.
I didn’t want it to be silly but I wanted it to be noticeable. I think
we achieved that. Sometimes less is more. Truthfully, once we came up with
this I think I just said, “this looks cool, let’s go with this.” And there
you have it!
13. IF YOU HAD A BIG BUDGET TO SHOOT A VIDEO CLIP,
WHICH SONG OF YOURS WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND HOW DO YOU IMAGINE IT TO BE?
The first video I’d shoot is for the song
“From Now.” It’s one of the last songs I wrote for the disc but it’s one
of my favorites. Edgy and simple yet insanely catchy. It is the CD’s first
song and our live opener as well. A very good friend of mine named Rick
Ernst who is a producer at MTV and has recently finished a documentary
about thrash metal called “Get Thrashed” is going to help us film a video
for that song this summer. So keep your eyes peeled.
As far as how I imagine it, I think it would
be mostly a performance piece but all the guys in my band, including myself,
are comedians. Well, at least WE think so. We crack each other up. So there
could very well be some goofy moments in it. But we’ll see.
14. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PROMOTE YOUR WORK? HAVE
YOU GOT ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
If you’re reading this then you know how I
plan to promote my work! The goal is to get the word out there and get
in the press and get people to buy the CD and come to the gigs. Any promotion
is positive promotion.
My band has been playing gigs since January
and they’ve been a blast. We’ve shared bills with bands like Bang Tango,
House of Lords, Enuff Z’Nuff, Britny Fox and Dirty Rig. In addition, we’ve
headlined some in and around New York City. A U.S. tour is in the works
for this summer. People should keep their eyes open for dates and updates
on our websites, either www.roundtripmusic.com
or www.myspace.com/roundtripmusic.
15. IF I’M NOT MISTAKE ROUND TRIP MUSIC IS YOUR
OWN LABEL. RIGHT? DO YOU RELEASE WORKS FROM OTHERS BANDS OR ARE YOU PLANNING
TO DO SO?
Round Trip Music is my own label, that’s right.
Right now, I am its only artist. It was named after the third album from
The Knack which I think is one of the greatest complete albums of all time.
When I got the band together, I said, “well,
I’ve already got the website and the email address under the Round Trip
name, why don’t we use it for the band name?” And so David Shaw & The
Round Trip was born.
16. BY THE WAY HOW COME AND YOU HAVEN’T TRIED
LOOKING FOR A LABEL TO RELEASE “WALKIN’ ON A WIRE”, BUT INSTEAD YOU DO
THE PROMOTION AND EVERYTHING FROM YOUR OWN LABEL? WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE
DISTRIBUTION?
It’s not that I’m NOT looking for a label.
I certainly am. The CD is relatively new and I guess now I’m doing this
grass roots thing to get the word out. So far, so good. I did catch the
attention of Perris Records which is a great indie label and they’ve distributed
my CD internationally and put one of the tracks on a sampler disc. So in
addition to being able to buy the CD from CDBaby (www.cdbaby.com/cd/davidshaw)
you can also get it from www.Perrisrecords.com.
17. IS THERE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO BE ASKED
AND NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED YOU SO FAR?
Yes, here’s a question I’d like to be asked:
“David, would you record music for our label and in return we’ll give you
unlimited money forever?” I simply cannot figure out why I have not been
asked that question. :))
18. WHAT’S THE STRANGEST OR FUNNIEST INCIDENT
THAT HAS OCCURRED TO THE BAND?
Well, let’s see, a misunderstanding almost
got my guitarist’s ass kicked by a Hell’s Angel recently. In addition,
I’ve knocked the guys in the head with the headstock of my bass once or
twice when I didn’t know they were right behind me. Nothing too out of
the ordinary just yet but give us time, gigs and alcohol and I’m sure I’ll
have stories for you. Ask me again after the tour this summer!
19. WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS DO YOU THINK YOUR MUSIC
IS ABLE TO CREATE OR TRANSMIT TO YOUR LISTENERS?
Emotions? I’m not sure. I just hope when people
listen to my songs they want to grab a beer and have fun. Music is an escape,
a release of energy. If people are having fun seeing us live or listening
to my disc, then that’s all that matters.
20. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD
IT SHOW?
Something simple yet colorful. Something you
can’t take your eyes off of. Something that doesn’t require too much thought
yet still demands your attention.
21. THANK YOU! IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE
TO MENTION?
Just a quick thank you to Behind the Veil
and everyone else who has supported my efforts with the new CD. Come on
over to our site at www.roundtripmusic.com
and keep in touch with us. I know people aren’t buying CDs the way they
used to but independent artists depend on that. So come by the site, rock
with us, come to a show if we’re in your town and pick up a CD online.
Thanks again for all of the support! It truly means a lot.
Christine Parastatidou
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