Neon Alley
New England based "Neon Alley" is set to release a debut self titled album and it's sure to light up the airwaves. Guitarist David Vaccaro explains how the songs came together " They are written and recorded in such a way that they were not over produced, and that's why they sound more raw and alive". The band was influenced by the classic rock era and they are carrying the torch with a refreshing new approach, yet still keeping the classic feel. Neon Alley has been packing clubs and halls in the New England and felt the time was right to make a product they can be proud of. The 8 song CD is full of energy with some surprises that will make you want to listen to it over and over. I recently asked David Vaccaro about the history of the band.
R.V.B. - Congratulations on your new debut CD release "Neon Alley". It's a refreshing modern look back to the Classic Rock Era. Was this collection of songs born from your love of the genre?
D.V. - Thank you Rob for calling it refreshing and modern. Especially modern. Like so many other people I do love that era of music, but I don't wanted to sound dated. I try to bring in what modern influences I can, either through production or guitar tones, but I try to do it in a way that I feel is real to me.
Because I grew up basically learning to play guitar and songwrite from those "Classic Rock" era bands, so it would be only natural that I just write that way. My record collection is made up of albums from Tom Petty, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Boston, Aerosmith, Heart, The Who, ELO, Supertramp, AC/DC, Steve Miller Band. They're all pretty much imprinted in my head. (lol)
On the other hand I also have CDs from Green Day, Foo Fighters, Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, and my two sons are always firing new bands and songs at me to listen to as well. It's always good to stay in the loop.
R.V.B. - The songs seem to have that raucous Massachusetts bar room flair with a poppy boost. Did the feel of the songs come the bar scene and gravitate to the recording studio?
D.V. - No not really. They aren't really written from that, but they are written and recorded in such a way that they were not over produced, and that's why they sound more raw and alive. That's one thing I was very aware of when we recorded these. Some of the records that come out these days just seem so over produced and perfectly perfect that they just sound sterilized. After a few listens, there's nothing new to hear.
R.V.B. - What were some of your early influences when you were learning how to rock in the early days?
D.V. - My two biggest influences were Jimmy Page and Joe Perry. Also, Keith Richards, and Pete Townsend. I think one of my early bands could play almost the entire Get Yer Ya, Ya's Out album. (lol)
But before those guys I started learning to play listening to the Ventures. My brother had a guitar, a Silvertone, and a little amplifier, and I just picked it up and starting picking out notes and trying to play the songs. Songs like, "Ghost Riders in the Sky", "Pipeline" and "Walk Don't Run".
R.V.B. - On track 4 "I only want to be with you" and track 5 "Let your Lovin Come Down" I hear a nicely written and produced songs that are reminiscent of the something that George Martin would have produced. Did you have this in mind when adding the accordion and slide work?
D.V. - Thank you, that just made my day!! I didn't have that in mind specifically but I believe that during that time-frame I had been given a remaster or deluxe edition or something of the "Band On The Run" CD for Christmas. I had been listening to that. It must have rubbed off on me, lol! That was for Only Want To Be With You.
Let Your Loving Come Down came to me as a chorus while I was driving. I heard the line in my head and when I got home I turned on the recorder and just did a scratch vocal so I wouldn't forget it. I've got a bunch of those on my phone machine I need to backup now that I'm thinking about it.
R.V.B. - What kind of gear does the band use for live performances? Did you use the same stuff in the recording studio?
D.V. - We're pretty basic. I use a Marshall JVM210 with a 4x12 slant cab. I run an Eventide effects unit that goes through the effects loop for some chorus and delay when I want it, and I also use a Dulop wha-wha pedal. All done. Although it was not my personal amp being used on the recording, the studio we recorded at (Zippah, in Boston) had the exact same model head and cab as mine, so it's the same.
For guitars I used a few Strats for all the recording. My newer one (2012?) has a humbucker that my guitar tech had just put in (I don't know what kind of pickup it is other than it's a DiMmarzio) and the other guitar was a 72 Strat that was my first real guitar. It's a single coil and it's all original except for the center pickup which died sometime in the 90's and had to be replaced.
My Bass player (Mike McDonald) uses an Acoustic 600 watt head and, depending where we're playing, may use either a V4-B cab with 6, 10 inch speakers, or he may use this little Fender speaker with a 15". It's a new model and he just got it a few months ago and I have to say, it sounds awesome. The speaker is good for 1000 watts and it's really small and compact but it's pretty amazing how it sounds and what it will handle.
The drummer that plays on the CD is Scott Marion and he was using a Gretsch 57 set. They sound great and they have this 57 Chevy vibe about them so they look pretty cool too. Of course having them look cool in rock in roll is always better. (lol)
Scotty is no longer working with us since recording the CD. Our current drummer is Mike Bangrazi and I believe he uses a set of Slingerlands.
R.V.B. - You had an interesting take on "Jailhouse Rock" with alt chorus formats. I enjoyed the refreshing new look on it. Was this just a classic that you guys like to perform?
D.V. - Jailhouse seems to be a favorite off the CD. It's funny how it came about. I came up with the guitar chord riff in my head (again while driving) and I started working it into a song. It was going to be an original song, not a cover. For whatever reason I started using the lyrics and melody for Jailhouse Rock as a placeholder. Okay, verse here, pre-chorus here, etc. I arranged the whole "new" song like that. Then, when I had the arrangement down and it was time to write new words and melody, I started thinking; Should I write new words? Do I want to go through all that? I mean, I'd already written the song and it was working with the Jailhouse lyrics, and it sounded pretty cool too, why not just do the cover. So that's it. Taking the path of least resistance. I did a demo on my home studio and then brought it to the band.
R.V.B. - What were some of your favorite live performances up to this point?
D.V. - There's been a few that have been pretty cool. The night before Thanksgiving is always great. The clubs always get packed and people are ready to have a good time. Another fun gig was at a place called Michael's Cigar Bar. We play there often and one time we opened up for an L.A. band called Mycah. It was a small gig but the Mycah band was very cool and fun to hang out with.
R.V.B. - Can you give me a brief bio on the band members and what they bring to the power trio?
D.V. - Mike McDonald, the Bass Player is a Berklee Alumni and played in bands in High School just like I did. I first met Mike when he answered an ad I had out for a Bass player in a band that ended up being called Capital Gain.
Scott Marion is from Detroit and played in bands there before moving to Massachusetts. He was in the band for a couple years and recorded the tracks with us however he moved too far away and it made it difficult for him to get to practice and to gigs. We replaced Scott with Mike Bangrazi, a drummer out of Central Massachusetts. Mike teaches drums and has a steady stream of students. As you probably know well, it is very hard to find musician's who are not only into the same music, but play how you'd like them to play and have the chemistry for the band. It's more than just technical ability that makes for the right person.
R.V.B. - Track 7 seems to have that audience participation, just let loose and get out and rock feel. Everyone has to feel this way at one time or another... right?
D.V. - You got that right. It's like Boston's track Smokin from their 1st album. Sometimes you just need to turn it up and rock out. It was also a good excuse to play my best Jimmy Page riffs...as best I can.
R.V.B. - What are your plans on supporting the album?
D.V. - We are trying to get as much exposure as we can here in the U.S. and abroad. Joining forces with Glass Onyon PR has been a tremendous help.
We have also teamed up with director Vladimir Minuty and have completed two videos. One is for the opening track That's How It Is, which has a bit of a sci-fi virtual reality thing going on. And the other is for the semi-ballad I Only Want To Be With You. That one is a light-hearted love story in today's cell phone world.
The goal for the CD is to get it out there in front of as many people as possible and turn them into Neon Alley fans. I've got more tracks just waiting in the wings for another CD and the more fans we can get to support the band through CD downloads and purchases the sooner I can get a new CD out to everybody.
R.V.B. - Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions.
Thank you very much for the interview and for compliments on the songs. It's great to be at this point that other people are hearing the CD, rather than just me, the band and my family at home.
Interview conducted by Robert von Bernewitz
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