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Over the years, some musicians have been so multi-talented, they could play all the instruments on the recording of a disc and put it out as a group effort (Todd Rundgren quickly comes to mind as an example). Rocky River musician Dave Swanson is the latest to pull that feat off via "Saturday's Haze", the first compact disc release of the Rainy Day Saints. OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts traded thoughts not long ago with Swanson over the theme "is it live or is it Memorex?" when it comes to the "band's" initial recording effort.
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| OO: |
How young were you when the music bug bit? |
| DS: |
"I have been listening to music since age 4 and playing an instrument since age 5. I place full blame on the Monkees and the subliminal messages shot through the television at such an early age that got hooked on this whole music thing. Mickey Dolenz was my first drum hero, hence drums being my first instrument of choice. Also, he happens to be one of the most underrated vocalists ever. After the Monkees, my influences were Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick and Nancy Sinatra." |
| OO: |
Interesting mix. What bands were you in before this project?
"I have been in several like the Reactions, Death of Samantha, New Salem Witch Hunters, Speaker/Cranker, Guided By Voices and Cobra Verde. Sometimes I was the drummer, sometimes the guitarist and once the bass player." |
| OO: |
What national artists have influenced your writing? |
| DS: |
"The list of bands I love is way too long to regurgitate here, but life would not be the same were it not for Cheap Trick, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Sparks, Raspberries, Robyn Hitchcock, Blondie, AC/DC, Nick Lowe, the Flamin' Groovies, the New York Dolls and, well, lots more." |
| OO: |
Sounds like a bin at a local cd store. With that in mind, how would you describe your music? |
| DS: |
"It's round and never square. It varies in color and size and is best heard at a louder volume. Kind of like the Poppy Family meets Motorhead. Well, not really, but doesn't that sound like a good combination." |
| OO: |
Where was the new disc cut? |
| DS: |
"It was recorded at the great 609 Recording in beautiful (?) downtown Bedford." |
| OO: |
Did everything go as planned? |
| DS: |
"Oh, I enjoyed the hell out of it. It's really a great place to record and the engineer is the best. He use to play in Status Quo! I played all the instruments on the record, though not all at the same time. The co-ordination involved in something like that is way out of the realm of reality that we are given. My friend Don Depew plays some kick ass leads on a couple of tracks. I do have a live band together to play live shows that includes Don Depew on lead guitar, Brian McCafferty on bass and Tommy Fox on drums." |
| OO: |
What Ohio bands have you run into that you've matched up well with in concert? |
| DS: |
"There are a few bands that would be better to run over than to run across, but that's another story. I'll pick the Bassholes, Tough & Lovely, the Greenhornes, Blue Ash and Ohio Express. Those are all good bands." |
| OO: |
Future plans? |
| DS: |
"Yes." |
| OO: |
Don't be so long winded. Final thoughts? |
| DS: |
"Only that human beings are divided into mind and body. The mind embraces all the nobler aspirations like poetry and philosophy, but the body has all the fun." |
