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Alright..You knew eventually I'd find another |
check out the REVIEW of the MANIFEST DESTINY CD by Big Block Dodge f/ Bill Altman |
Hokey:
First of all, I loved the Manifold destiny CD. Your playing
definitely seemed the most diverse of the three guys. The way you shift between
styles keeps me on my toes. So much, that at first I had a hard time remembering
the track titles. First I'd be thinking yea I love that rock tune. And that
Bluesy jazz tune rocks too. When they were one in the same. Bill: Wow, that's very cool, and really the reason why we recorded it, to make our little statement of fun to the world. I'm pretty scitzo when it comes to playing, I really improvise all the time, for better or worse LOL, so I just kind of let the music happen. Hokey: OK, Ready? Here we goooooooo!!! Hokey: A lot of the music on the CD felt almost as though it was being created on the spot. It didn't have that pre planned, pre destined feel. How much of the CD was improvised? Bill: Lots. The track Wang Bar Jam has never been played other than what you hear on the CD, I just started and they picked up, out of respect we have never tried to duplicate it. Many of the melodies were born of improv, and all the solo's are 100% spontaneous. Hokey: I have to say then, that I'm amazed what's going through your mind! Bill: yeah , so am I......amazed that is..... Hokey: Your style is so much your own that I'm having a hard time picking out the big influences. Could you name a couple? Robin Ford? Bill: Ford is one, he plays in a sassy style that I love. All my favorites have a fun ,swagger in their playing. Jimmy Page was my first real influence. I remember when I heard the first 5 notes of Since I've been Lovin you, I was transfixed! I was a big Dixie Dregs fan early on, I was lucky enough to have some older musicians turn me onto all kinds of great stuff.I'd say Page, Hendrix, Tommy Bolin, Danny Gatton, Scofield, man, I rip from everything I've ever heard........Oh and Jeff Beck, how can I leave him off.
Hokey:
As
for ripping everything you've ever heard. Stravinsky
said A good composer does not imitate; he steals. So your in good company.
Dude those are my heroes. I guess I have a few years on you. I remember seeing
Danny Gatton (r.i.p.) on Austin City Limits and he was playing slide with
a beer bottle and all kinds of wizardry. I became an instant fan
then. Bill: Danny Gatton is someone who I really dug, he had a spark about him that you don't hear often. I was sitting w/ Warren Haynes when he got the call about Danny, tragic :( .......smoother than Beck, I don't know, his latest CD's are insanely cool. Hokey: Point taken....Beck is definitely maturing. Bill: That's what I love about him, he plays what he thinks is cool, that's the way it should be. Hokey: No question, he's done it all on his own terms. Playing and selling non-commercial instrumental music on commercial radio for years. .......anyway back to the Big Block Dodge CD. Bill: cool Hokey: The Miles song all blues was so intoxicating it should be illegal! Do you guys play that live? I mean from genius to madman...You cover than entire spectrum in 7 1/2 minutes. Man that song just left me in awe!!! I think I wrote in the review that seeing it live would be worth the price of a bus ticket. But hell, I'd even walk..... Bill: We do play it live. Lately we've been doing a mellow version, sort of a slow burn as opposed to the right out of the gate approach that's on the CD, it's one of my fav's cause it's a standard that I think we stamped with our sound, just like the old jazz cats !.....It's also in more of a 4/4 groove than the original 6/8. Hokey: I can just hear it brother! Everything on the CD feels so free. Do you guys just get together and jam until something come up? Or does someone come in with a song, then everyone works it out? Bill: Some of the tunes are written by me in advance, the ones that are credited to me on the album were like that, the rest were born out of taping jams and putting the cool parts together. Not to implie edits, just composing by listening to the tapes and rearranging. Erik Johnson is one of the best of these jam tape tunes in my opinion. Hokey: I love that song (Erik's Johnson). I wrote in my review "That song alone could have sold me the CD"....I sense a strong rock influence in your playing. Were the two previous bands you were in, Crystal Zoo and Rattlesnakes both rock bands? Bill: Yeah, they were rock. Rattlesnakes was a really cool band, kind in a GnR meets Black Crowes vein. We had some really good songs, but we were young and drunk and couldn't keep it together. Crystal Zoo was kinda like a bluesy Zep/Cult vibe. We recorded an album at the Power Station in NYC. And one in Memphis at Beal St Studios ( I may be the last guy to ever have recorded in a studio on Beale st! ) and the House of Blues, Memphis. Very cool experience, SRV recorded both at The Power Station and HOB ( Kiva , same place ) so there was a cool vibe! Jimmy Page heard a mix of the Zoo stuff and commented " that's the real stuff " so I was happy to get his approval, to say the least Hokey: No Way! Jimmy Page heard your stuff. Could have been very crushing if his comments weren't so positive. But he really dug it. How did that make you feel? I mean Whoooaaaa!!! Bill: It came at a time when I realized why I played music and what I was all about. I had just quit the Zoo, I was feeling really weird cause I had spent alot of time on that group and things were not panning out. It was told to me, as a dig at me, kinda like "see how you screwed up". And I just realized, that that was all I really wanted. I started playing guitar to make cool music like Page did, it was the ultimate validation for me and it's the spirit that helped me launch BBD. Hokey: Well it worked, because you formed a totally freestyle rock band. With a unique style, vibe and sound. The ground work as it would be, for things to come. Did you actually meet him? Bill: It did work, and it's an odd feeling , I am still blown away by it to this day. The worst thing is that I did not meet him. The other guys all have pics w/ Page and Plant, in fact it was in Metal Edge mag. I'm over it now, but that did bite pretty hard. Hokey: Dude that's a bummer. But where you are now, is far closer to the pinnacle! Bill: Well, it's where I should be. Part of that good vibe you feel on the CD is a reaction to the dark that was around the Zoo Hokey: Speaking of those bands, on your site I read that you, along with both bands were instrumental in the formation of the Asheville music scene and the famous Warren Haynes Christmas Jams. And that you were another product of the rich NC guitar tradition, spawn of many of the world's hottest players!" OK 2 questions: Has BBD had the pleasure to play the jam? and Forgive my ignorance but, name a couple of other players from NC. If this is indeed a fact. I need to be hip to it! Thanks... Bill: Well, NC has tons of killer players, Haynes, Jimmy Herring ( the best EVER! ) Audley Freed, Brian Sutton, some of the local guys will blow your mind. Rob and I were at the jam last year. The schedule is pretty much name acts right now, hopefully cool stuff like this interview will help us get there soon! We just hung w/ Col Bruce backstage Hokey: Very cool indeed! Bill: Col Bruce is the coolest, no doubt! Rob stole Bob Weirs seat! Hokey: Did Bob come to claim it? Bill: No , he was busy playing LOL, the Xmas Jam is always a cool time. Hokey: Man! that must be a great experience. Even from the listener point of view! So you pretty much live the life of a rock star. Just minus the Rolls, and the Millions of dollars! Bill: I wouldn't say that! Meeting famous people is always a little strained for everyone, I just try and be myself. Hokey: Next question: You told me that the Manifold Destiny CD was recorded straight to 2 track. With no overdubs or retakes and the like. I think this gives it a real live feel and crystal clear sound. Was this for financial reasons? Did you think "that's it man"? Or were you just following the true jazz/blues formula: over sanitized = no body/no soul? Bill: It was done out of financial reasons mainly, but I do believe in the old style approach. The next record will have overdubs and instruments that we don't play live, but we felt it was important to just document the band for our first release Hokey: Well, I have to say I love the production! Sounds almost as though I'm in the club. Bill: It does sound good, totally raw so there's no room to hide anything! Hokey: Exactly Man!.......Just curious, do any of you guys own that 67/68 Charger on the CD cover pic? Bill: No, we are not car guys at all. LOL Our bassist Jeff knows alot about cars and is into a little, but he likes small imported cars. Hokey: Is it just an old classic photo then? Bill: Our friend Rick Weissinger did the layout, he's a pro ad man, and a great musician too, it's a great cover. Hokey: Almost done....You told me that that "Larry Spears" the title of track 2 on the CD was actually a local exterminator. Tell me, how does an exterminator go about getting immortalized in a Big Block Dodge song? Bill: Larry Spears is a good man, a great gospel/country guitarist that I got to know through my teaching at Tempo Music in NC. It started out as a more EVH Satch Boogie kind of thing, and one day I put it into the country beat and it worked, I thought, ahh, one for Larry Spears and that was it, he loves it BTW. That track has the only overdub Hokey: Very cool gesture and a smokin' tune. Here's a question I'll ask everyone. Dream Gig? If you could jam with anyone living or dead, who and why? Bill: Jam? Man I don't know, this may surprise you but, John Bonham Hokey: No not at all. I'm always curious. That's why I ask. Great choice. Logical too, knowing your such a Page fan! Bill: I got the guitar parts covered LOL. And the guy was a force of nature. Can I have JP Jones too Hokey: Agreed! Now there's a mad band. Sure why not!! Oh! man You, Jones and Bonham! That would be something. Bill: Have you heard NC boy Audley Freed w/ Page and the Crowes, awesome, Steve Gorman needs a medal for that drumming Hokey: No believe it or not I haven't heard the Page/Crows in it's entirety. As big of a Jimmy Page fan as you are, you must have played Zeppelin tunes in a band as a kid? Bill: Yeah, I played my share of Zep, nobody can ever sing it though. Hokey: Yea! I heard more kids kill Zeppelin songs with trying to cover the vocal. Hard dude to cover in his early daze. Bill: Well, it ain't easy , not even Plant can do it any more. Hokey: Another point well taken.Well, it's winding down..Looks like that's the last question....Is there anything you'd like to add or mention before we end? Maybe give a shout out, or a little self promotion? Bill: I'd like to thank you for doing this. I am always truly happy and humbled that people are digging what I'm playing. There are tons of truly gifted players out there, I'm just trying to be myself, and believe we all have something to say through music, you don't have to be famous to be creating something exiting and wonderful Hokey: Bonus Question: Is there anywhere we can hear more Bill Altman? Earlier recordings that are still available?
Bill:
Not at the moment, but the next BBD record is in the works and
who know's, I'm always messing around w/ tunes, maybe I'll put out a weird
solo record.
Hokey: Thanks for taking the time, and most of all for sharing
it with me. When I say that I'm a HUGE fan, I'm speaking from the soul. Best
of luck. I'll be stopping by your site and keeping an eye out. It's creative,
original and talented players like yourself that keep people coming back
to my site. Thanks!!! You Da Man! Hokey: peace! Please check out the latest release "MANIFOLD DESTINY" by Big Block Dodge. Details at the web site www.bigblockdodge.com!
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| Hey! did you know that I did a review of the Manifold Destiny CD by Big Block Dodge. Including samples of all the songs and 2 complete songs. I Command You! You Must Get This CD!!!!! |
DAVID HENDERSON - David Henderson is a versatile blues guitarist with an impressive, huuuge vocabulary that keeps it fresh and always interesting. With an original style that's modern blues with a classic blues/rock attitude. And better chops than Jackie Chan.............check it out |
