them because all of us can struggle with pride spotless. There are no coffee grounds or stains [WM] When you buy a new piece of gear, are
or comparison, and I think it says a lot from the or anything, you know, I wipe that counter you thinking more about using it on the road
beginning when we start out saying, “Hey, this down a hundred times a day just to make sure versus just having something new to explore
is bigger than just one person”, and I think that that the common space on the bus is clean for that you keep at home?
has been really effective. everybody. We all have to exist there. Honestly that is as important as knowing the songs and [Daniel] Any piece of gear I’m looking at, I’m
[WM] One of the things we’re being missional learning to play your guitar parts. It’s learning always looking at for the purpose of using in the
about is speaking to the next generation of how to exist as a human being (laughs) and studio or live. Now that I have a family I never
people who would love to do what you’re make sure that before you close the door and spend money on any gear just for the sake of
doing. Can you share some of the do’s and hog the bathroom for a few minutes that no having it, I always have a definite purpose in
don’ts that people should know about? one is waiting behind you. If I have to brush mind. I primarily play live so that’s usually what
my teeth, I’ll brush my teeth in the front lounge I’m looking at. It’s not that I want to purchase
[Daniel] One huge thing for touring is you’ve instead of in the bathroom in case someone another amp, I’m looking for an adequate
got to respect common spaces. If you want to needs to use it. There are just a lot of things backup in case we get out on the road and
have an extra bag or two on your bunk of the that go into it. I’ve lived so much of my life on we’re in Boston and my amp breaks, I’ve got
bus, that’s fine, but in the main lounge room a tour bus that I don’t really think about it, but to have a respectable backup. My purchases
where everybody hangs out you don’t leave when other people come on who haven’t really are practical these days, it’s about having a
any of your trash. You don’t leave any of your been on a tour bus I can always tell because redundant pedal board or an extra amp, that
personal items. You make sure that stays clean. they’ll leave their trash sitting out or something kind of stuff.
We have a small counter on the bus where we and I’ll be like, “That’s not how we do it around make our breakfast and coffee or whatever here! (laughs)”
for the day, and we all make sure that is stays
[WM] When you have a show that is back-
lined, how do you approach making sure that
doesn’t get in the way of what you’re there
to do?
[Daniel] For most guitar players, dialing in
your guitar sound is something that you care
a lot about. It can be hard to let that go on a
day where you get to a venue or festival and
the backline rig is not quite as good as what
you typically have when you carry your own
gear. Or, maybe it’s not that it’s not as good, it’s
just different. I use a handful of pedals because
if you’re just going to plug into that, I think
you’re way more dependent on how an amp
sounds. Because I use an overdrive pedal, and
a delay, and a reverb, if I’m really unfamiliar with
the amp, I’ll try to eliminate as many options
as possible. I’ll look for the channel with the
least knobs, no drive, with no bright switch,
don’t give me tremolo, don’t give me reverb,
whatever is the most basic channel. If it’s an
old Fender Deluxe Reverb or a Deluxe Reverb
Reissue or something that’s obviously great,
the verb and trem is not an issue. But on the
more complicated amps I look for the simplest
channel, and then I’ll just turn it up until the body
of the amp fills out to where you’ve got a little
bit of bass response. If it’s too quiet and you’re
Photo: Makayla Symmonds
88
May 2019
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