An interview with Meagin Donovan

An interview with Dave Lambert

1.  Describe the early years of your musical roots and how your talent was nurtured.

Well, I started playing music later in life at the age of twenty (I'm still in my twenties).  I knew right away when I picked up my first guitar that it would be a lifelong relationship.  I taught myself how to play and after about two or three years of improvised jamming I started to sing and hone my songs.

2.  Were there any events, people or catalysts that were musically influential?

Music has always been important to me even when I wasn't playing yet.  It was a constant amid a constantly changing life.  I had a close friend in college who played guitar who definitely influenced me to get my own guitar and rock!  Plus, we were both in love with the Dave Matthew's band at the
time... They were definitely an inspiration.

3.  How would you describe your sound?

Hmmm...this is a hard one.  First, I truly believe I have an original sound but, if I had to put a label on it I would say folk/punk/rock.

4.  Describe the creative process that went into your debut EP, Meet My Monster

All of the songs on Meet my Monster were already written before I recorded them.  I had a good amount of songs to choose from so I guess the hardest part was choosing which ones to record.  Once I decided which songs I was going to record I went through them over and over again to see if I needed to make any subtle changes to make the songs better.  After I did that it was on to recording!

5.  Where did you record your latest CD and who was involved in the recording and production of it?

I recorded at my producer's Electron Love Theory's studio.  He was my producer and he played bass guitar on 'Time' and 'Play'.  He also did all the beats.   I played all the instruments on the other songs except for the drums on "The Owner".  Donn Gunn rocked out on the drums for that track.

6.  Who are the current members of your band?

I've jammed with lots of people but currently just me!  I also have a backup singer who is a close friend of mine.  I am, of course, open to playing with others.

7.  How do you feel about playing to a live audience?

I like it!  I get 'all jazzed up and hyper".  I come alive in front of an audience and I know they can feel my passion and love for the music when I perform.

8.  Who does your booking? Are you under management?

 I am currently without but am looking.  So if you know of anyone give them my number.

9.  What are your plans for the summer of 2007?

I'm going to play out this summer and I just bought a good computer so I'm gonna start doing my own recordings.

10.  What music organizations are you affiliated with?

 I'm a member of Indiegrrl and Just Plain folks.

11.  What are your musical goals for the next five years?

First and foremost, I want to keep becoming a better and better songwriter.   If I can continue to do that I believe things will fall into place.  I want to record again soon and eventually I would like to work with a record label.

For more info on Meagin Donovan visit:

www.meagindonovan.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1.  Describe the early years of your musical roots and how your talent was
nurtured.
 
Well, I guess in my early years I spent my time spinning LP's of Alvin Lee, Grand Funk, Santana, Al DiMeola, Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery, Johnny Winter, James Gang, Allman Bro's, Eric Clapton and of course Jimi Hendrix. I also listened hard to Leslie West, Robin Trower and then ZZ Top came along. I lived in Michigan so I was bombarded with the Detroit Scene at the time which was people like Catfish Hodge, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger System, Mitch Ryder, Alice Cooper and Brownsville Station.

It wasn't until I was in Texas and sat down with some guy I didn't know that made me dig the blues. We played back and forth sharing cool licks but never spoke. It was in a guitar shop called Charley's in Dallas owned by the late Charley Wirtz. so after the guy left I asked "Who was that?'. Charley replied "Oh that's a local guy named Stevie Ray Vaughan and he has a band called Double Trouble and they play every week down at Nicks. So I went and was one of four people that was blown away by the SRV phenomenon. I got to know Stevie through after hour parties and such and we would recall that day as we laughed. At that time I also met some other Texas influences. I was introduced by my late wife to Smokin' Joe Kubek and Benois King who, incidentally played our wedding reception at Mother Blues. Rocky Athis (Black Oak Arkansas) still holds a spot in my playing technique and my general vocal influence was John O'Daniels (Point Blank).

I toured for several years after that and didn't have a lot of contact with blues players.

Then settled in Minneapolis I met Lee Tedrow (MPLS Barking Ducks). He single handedly changed my playing career and I became a slide player who had become fully enamoured with the blues. From there I studied Tampa Red, BBQ Bob, Elmore James, Blind Willie Johnson, Muddy, The Wolf, Albert King, Albert Collins, Robert Belfour, Chalie Patton, Blind Boy Fuller, Duke Robillard and...well...you get the idea.

In the last twenty years it has been a mixture of influences from slide players like Sonny Landreth, Dave Hole, Roy Rogers, Eric Sardinas and more recently from shows I've done with guys like Joe Bonomassa, Chris Duarte and good friend Paul Mayasich.

2.  Were there any events, people or catalysts that were musically influential?
 
Yeah, mostly hard times, divorce, breakups, death, and heartbreak. I've also written some party tunes about having good times, and living life in general.

3.  How would you describe your sound?
 
Acoustically, I am all Delta Blues and unplugged styles. Electrically, it is more energetic with very electric sounds. Not without dynamics but with lots different combinations of electronic effects. At other times I am straight out of the amp. It depends what the song needs. If you listen it will tell you.

4. What pick ups do you prefer?
 
It really depends on the guitar. Mostly I use Dimarzio Paf's and 151 pro's for dual coils but I also use some Cool Rails in telecasters and alnico's in certain other strats and such. Some have the Lace Sensor's and one of my Dobro guitars has an old Gibson pickup in it. I also use Highlands in my National. I love it. Lately, I find that the pickup is just a part of the real equation which to me is making music with whatever you have.

5. How is your live set up wired up?
 
At the present I am using a Tubeworks Preamp to warm and split the signal. The High end goes into a '64 Fender Deluxe which feeds a 4x10 Marshall cabinet. The Low end is sent to an early '70's Marshall JMP with a 4 x 12 cab under it. Crunch is maintained by a Marshall JCM 900 with 4x12's under it as well I also use a Rustec variable typoe channel switcher. It's class A and B channels are inputted through a foot controlled device that will choose how much of either channel to send to the amplifier stage. My guitar goes directly into a Fullerton Deja Vu Roto Vibe to one of three vintage wahs and on to a number of echo  devices and  then a Maxon 808's and/or tube screamers and an Fullertone Octave box. The entire system is subject to a 16 space rack full of toys and  effects controlled by midi interface.

6. What advice would you give with regards to improvising a guitar solo?
 
Listen to what the song needs. Neal Schoen had the abilities of Eddie Van Halen but the Journey songs didn't need that style of playing so he did what it needed. He became tasteful and successful.

7. How many CD’s have you released as a solo artist? Which CD has been the most successful?

I have released two as a solo artist (9 total) the first is no longer available. The second, Live at Piggy Blues, is a solo compilation of my favorite blues tunes.
It was recorded a Piggy Blues BBQ in Austin, MN .  The BBQ there is world famous! My next effort, Squared Away on Circle Street, will be larger but it has taken considerably more effort to produce. It has a number of people on it that contribute to it's over all success (implied). Sweet Paulie T from Corey Stevens band laid all the Hammond tracks while Bleak the drum guy from Train did a couple of the drum tracks for us and Heath Allen a very talented Sax player from the Des Moines area laid in the horn work.
 
8. What was it like to work with producer Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)?
 
The band I was with recorded some tracks at "the Swamp" GFR's studio named after it's location in a swamp. The studio was state of the art by standards then. Mark, Donny, and Mel were all great people and not too cool to share themselves with others. Their success had not affected them adversely.

9. Your bio states that you were sharing licks with Stevie Ray Vaughan. Did you meet Stevie and if so, describe your relationship with him.
 
Well, I started to see Stevie on and off over a five year period at parties and such but never was really in his circle nor he in mine. We knew each other and were quick to say hello but that really was the extent of it.

10. How did you get the opportunity to play with Eric Johnson, Buddy Rich,  and the Crickets?
 
Buddy Rich as with The Crickets (Buddy Holly's band) were both at the Hungry Bear in Albequerque, NM. We happened to be opening for them on both dates. It allowed us to meet and ask cool questions and then jam a bit with them after hours. I don't think anybody does that any more.
 
I met Eric  at a soundcheck of his while I had the guitar shop and was involved with tour support. We really didn't jam (so to speak) but, handed his guitar back and forth as we talked music and guitars.
 
Rick Danko (The  Band) was in the hotel I was staying (Indianapolis IN) and I helped bring Geno (his bandmate)  home after he had over indulged at the bar. Rick answered the door and invited me in. We began playing and played until daylight the next day. We stayed in touch for years but in the last five or six I have lost contact with him.
 
11. Do you have a manager and booking agent? If so, describe how they have helped your career.

I am the booking agent for our band but, work with other band's agents and managers whenever the occasion arises. Networking is very important in this business. I like to touch base with a number of managers throughout the US.

12. When did you start building guitars? Is this a business or hobby?
 
I started building guitars as a young teenager at home growing up. I worked on my own guitars for years. I received some instruction from Rene Martinez over the Dallas years. Rene was an accomplished classical guitarist and became SRV's gtr tech later on. I started my business on a shoestring and it grew through advertising until I began to ship internationally. At that time I joined the MTO (Minnesota Trade Offices) to learn how to ship using letters of credit and such.  I worked at all hours of the day and night to stay up with orders and modification requests. It was a hard schedule but I loved working with guitars. Now I have given it all up to focus on writing, playing and making recordings.

13. What is unique about your custom guitars?
 
When I was building a guy would come in and order this or that to customize his guitar or even order a new guitar custom made. Now you can buy nearly every  modification built into a host of new guitars and basses. It's a different market than it used to be. I did do a lot of custom paint and graphics work. I keep a stack of pictures of the work I did back then. It's fun to look back from time to time.

14. What and where are your favorite venues to play in the US?
 
I love outdoor shows. Town festivals, fairs, music festivals and anything else outdoors!

15. What and where are your favorite venues to play in Europe?
 
I haven't been to Europe touring but, I would say that the general interest in CD Sales and  airplay would put me favorable to the Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland and that general area of Europe. England and Spain are also hot spots for the CD Sales as well as Japan.

16. Have you ever insured your music equipment?  If so, with what company and would you recommend them to other musicians?
 
I had insurance years ago but do not now. I have lost a number of instruments over the years and have not recovered any of the 7 stolen. It's a big problem. I know Chris Duarte has had some gear stolen as well as Derek Trucks. My experience with most insurance companies does not lend itself to maintaining a policy. However if one wanted I am sure you could go to Lloyd's of London or somebody like that.

17. What advice would you give touring musicians?
 
It's a long road and a little wheel. Just keep on turning it. Do it cause you love it Any thing less could be a heartache.

18. Do you own your own label and publishing company?
 
I have a publishing company called Holy Joe Productions but my next CD will be on an indie called New Folk Records.

19. Will you be playing any summer festivals this year?
 
Yes. I will appear again at the Hambone Bluesjam in Austin, MN over the 4th of July weekend. I also have a half a dozen town fests booked and recently booked a benefit for Help on the Homefront with the Patriot Guard. I have a number of pending dates and am always looking to get back on large outdoor stages.

20. When your not on tour is there a venue that you play regularly at?
 
When in the area we stay busy in a 150 to 200 mile area that lets us work up new songs and field test them with the public.

For more info on Dave Lambert visit:

www.davelambertband.com