05-01-2007, 12:51 PM
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* The NIGHTLIFE Rock Report had the privilege to speak with HIP guitar great ROB BAKER, as the band is “On the Verge” of their biggest North American trek to date. The “Fireworks” began last week in Phoenix, AZ, as the HIP shared the bill with legendary rockers the WHO for the first five shows. They’ve also been invited to perform at this year’s prestigious South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, TX on March 17th.
Ross CAT- Thanks for the time, congrats on the new disc and tour. Last time we spoke you had just begun laying down the first four tracks with Bob Rock, what was it like sharing the studio with such a celebrated producer?
ROB BAKER- Thanks so much; it’s been a great process right from the beginning working with Bob. It was especially a treat for me, he certainly knows the guitar not just as a producer, more importantly as a player. He knows how to create a sound from the guitar.
*Even more then that watching Bob work with Gord Downie on the vocal tracks was exciting, seeing talented people forge ahead in the creative process made all of us better musicians.
*I also think far and away nothing even comes close, this is Johnny Fay’s best album on the drums. Bob really freed him up, he wanted all of us to bring the live performance aura into the studio, I think we accomplished that.
Ross CAT- Also kudos on the Juno nods. We know this is old hat for TTH is this a first for Bob Rock?
ROB BAKER- Thanks we are really proud. The people of Canada have been imperative to the success of this band from the start. As for Bob believe it or not I think he may have won a Juno Award as a player with the PAYOLAS or ROCK & HYDE.
Ross CAT- When you began putting together this record was Bob involved from the infancy of the songs or did you present him with ideas and take it from there?
ROB BAKER- When we decided to move forward with Bob we sent over about 20 or 25 songs that we had already written, everyone in the band is a writer so we had plenty of material from the onset. He worked with that and came to the initial sessions with a pared down list and we proceeded from there.
*The first week is a feeling out process for everyone to make sure that the collaboration is a good fit. What looks good on paper doesn’t always translate in the studio. Needless to say things went real well we had four songs completed in one week, that’s pretty productive studio time. We basically finished the record with three separate one week sessions so things went smoothly.
Ross CAT- How familiar was Bob with the bands previous catalog of music, and how important was that in deciding which direction to take these new songs?
ROB BAKER- Funny you mention that; it is Bob’s claim (chuckle) that he went out bought everyone of our records on his own dime. He told us he has always been a fan of the band but never felt that we made a great record. He said that on two or three occasions we came really close and he thought he could be the person to help us get there. That was the attitude that we wanted to bring to the studio with us this time out.
Ross CAT- He really laid the challenge out there to you guys how did that go over in the room?
ROB BAKER- We kind of gave it right back to him, we said if you think you can do it your welcome to give it your best shot. As for our other work I think you make the best record you can for the time you’re making it. It’s always easy to look back on songs and wonder what could have been done different. I’m proud of every record we’ve ever made, each record helped define us as a band and as people. We’ve never had a throw away song or record.
What Bob did for “World Container” was help bring focus to it. The fact is the band consists of five contributing songwriters so that really leaves us with a wide variety of ideas, Bob helped us find a focal point.
Ross CAT- Will the relationship you’ve developed with Bob and the unquestionable success of the record bring this group back together again in the future?
ROB BAKER- I think we’d love to record with Bob again and I’m pretty sure he feels the same. I think we all would like to take this experience to another level. He’s not an easy guy to track down he’s in high demand these days.
The NIGHTLIFE Rock Report would like to thank ROB BAKER for his valuable time as well as Jenn Pressey of Bernie Breen Management for making it happen.
One last liner note ROB did mention that there is a distinct possibility the Western New York area will be on the tour map later this summer.
**************PEACE and HARMONIES***********
* The NIGHTLIFE Rock Report had the privilege to speak with HIP guitar great ROB BAKER, as the band is “On the Verge” of their biggest North American trek to date. The “Fireworks” began last week in Phoenix, AZ, as the HIP shared the bill with legendary rockers the WHO for the first five shows. They’ve also been invited to perform at this year’s prestigious South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, TX on March 17th.
Ross CAT- Thanks for the time, congrats on the new disc and tour. Last time we spoke you had just begun laying down the first four tracks with Bob Rock, what was it like sharing the studio with such a celebrated producer?
ROB BAKER- Thanks so much; it’s been a great process right from the beginning working with Bob. It was especially a treat for me, he certainly knows the guitar not just as a producer, more importantly as a player. He knows how to create a sound from the guitar.
*Even more then that watching Bob work with Gord Downie on the vocal tracks was exciting, seeing talented people forge ahead in the creative process made all of us better musicians.
*I also think far and away nothing even comes close, this is Johnny Fay’s best album on the drums. Bob really freed him up, he wanted all of us to bring the live performance aura into the studio, I think we accomplished that.
Ross CAT- Also kudos on the Juno nods. We know this is old hat for TTH is this a first for Bob Rock?
ROB BAKER- Thanks we are really proud. The people of Canada have been imperative to the success of this band from the start. As for Bob believe it or not I think he may have won a Juno Award as a player with the PAYOLAS or ROCK & HYDE.
Ross CAT- When you began putting together this record was Bob involved from the infancy of the songs or did you present him with ideas and take it from there?
ROB BAKER- When we decided to move forward with Bob we sent over about 20 or 25 songs that we had already written, everyone in the band is a writer so we had plenty of material from the onset. He worked with that and came to the initial sessions with a pared down list and we proceeded from there.
*The first week is a feeling out process for everyone to make sure that the collaboration is a good fit. What looks good on paper doesn’t always translate in the studio. Needless to say things went real well we had four songs completed in one week, that’s pretty productive studio time. We basically finished the record with three separate one week sessions so things went smoothly.
Ross CAT- How familiar was Bob with the bands previous catalog of music, and how important was that in deciding which direction to take these new songs?
ROB BAKER- Funny you mention that; it is Bob’s claim (chuckle) that he went out bought everyone of our records on his own dime. He told us he has always been a fan of the band but never felt that we made a great record. He said that on two or three occasions we came really close and he thought he could be the person to help us get there. That was the attitude that we wanted to bring to the studio with us this time out.
Ross CAT- He really laid the challenge out there to you guys how did that go over in the room?
ROB BAKER- We kind of gave it right back to him, we said if you think you can do it your welcome to give it your best shot. As for our other work I think you make the best record you can for the time you’re making it. It’s always easy to look back on songs and wonder what could have been done different. I’m proud of every record we’ve ever made, each record helped define us as a band and as people. We’ve never had a throw away song or record.
What Bob did for “World Container” was help bring focus to it. The fact is the band consists of five contributing songwriters so that really leaves us with a wide variety of ideas, Bob helped us find a focal point.
Ross CAT- Will the relationship you’ve developed with Bob and the unquestionable success of the record bring this group back together again in the future?
ROB BAKER- I think we’d love to record with Bob again and I’m pretty sure he feels the same. I think we all would like to take this experience to another level. He’s not an easy guy to track down he’s in high demand these days.
The NIGHTLIFE Rock Report would like to thank ROB BAKER for his valuable time as well as Jenn Pressey of Bernie Breen Management for making it happen.
One last liner note ROB did mention that there is a distinct possibility the Western New York area will be on the tour map later this summer.
**************PEACE and HARMONIES***********
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
