Dead Dave
Dead Dave, Turbo lounge groove rock. Instrumental. surf vibe, lounge, martini.
1
songs
34
plays
Daves Theme Daves Theme
George Vasquez with special appearance by John Vasquez on drum arrangement.
Dead Dave is George Vasquez and Dave Borrell: Tthere isn't a catagory on this site for us. Right now we are "Turbo Loung Grove Rock." Mostly instrumentals ranging from surf,funk,blues to straight out rock. Two man band who uses hired guns on bass and drums when playing live.Band/artist history
An Interview with the Vampires By Ursula Schweiger of Indie-Euro Music Magazine 2002
Like so many other new American music artist before them; Dead Dave has sought fame and recognition in the European proving grounds. Dead Dave, a new band hailing from South Chicago came screaming into the European scene like a Tommy Gun from hell back in 1999.
While brandishing an original sound that they have coined "Dark Vegas, Blues and Funk, they caught listeners by surprise. I was recently able to contact George Vasquez and Dave Borrell, via conference call, to ask them a few questions about what they have in store for us next.
Ursula: So tell me, Im sure everyone knows by now but whats up with the name Dead Dave?
George: Its just something that came out of a humor session.
Dave: Yeah, its just a band name George actually fronts the band, so its not named after any one in particular. We came up with the name by accident and just went with it. All the good names for bands have already been taken anyways.
Ursula: You kind of have a dark image have you always been into death and such?
George: No not into death really. I like darker forms of rock and blues. But not everything that we do is dark. We do a lot of upbeat funk type tunes as well.
Dave: I agree, we've never been into death, more like immortality. We are; well at least I am into vampire folklore and 50's and 60's Pop Culture. Im not really into the depressed Goth scene at all, but I had the concept what would it be like if vampires started a blues band and how would that effect the music. George is into SRV and Texas blues and a major funkster. We get a big kick out of movies like From Dusk Till Dawn, and love the southwest especially Las Vegas. If vampires played blues and funk it would obviously have a dark sound. We love the whole Vegas Rat Pack vintage vibe. Its almost like we had lived it and never out grew that part of American history. We love expensive suits and guitars and women. Dead Dave has really given us an outlet to live the life we want.
Ursula: How do you define Dark Vegas, Blues and Funk?
George: We sort of use that definition, if you will, as a simple guideline. We like that Vegas Lifestyle take on life. We want to interject that with the different blues and funk backgrounds that we both have, and in some instances put a bit of a darker spin on things.
Dave: Yup, like " Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," kind of distorted but very cool just the same.
Ursula: What's your up coming schedule look like now that you have established yourself in Europe? Are you going to be promoting yourself more in the US?
George: We have a few things lined up in the U.S. as well as finally being able to make it to Japan, a few gigs at a couple of Hard Rock Cafés and some various other places. David is more in tune with the scheduling than I am.
Dave: Well we intend to do alot of promoting in the US. We have a few shows lined up at the Hard Rock Cafe, in LA, Chicago and Las Vegas but this summer or fall we will be in Japan opening for " The Ventures." "I think they are an old surf band or something?" or possibly just going it Solo, it's not 100% yet so don't quote me on it. We are currently shopping for a new label after getting screwed by last, and we are currently farming Japan to try to drum up support with local street teams, spreading the word that Dead Dave is coming. From what we've been told so far is that we will be opening for a known act, possibly "The Ventures" and introducing ourselves to the Japanese public for the first time.
Ursula: How do you come up with ideas for songs?
George: It depends. Sometimes it will be something rolling around in my head. Sometimes Ill hear another song, from another artist, that inspires me to make something of my own. Sometimes it comes from some impromptu jamming, or augmenting something that David has come up with.
Dave: Augmenting, (laughs) that's about right. There really isn't a formula, we play what we like. We came from the 80s big hair band days. Since big hair dried up and the music industry turned over to that boring brown bag grunge and then that overly polished pop in the late 90s what was left to do?. George and I took a break for a few years then came back strong with the conviction that we're not going to write music because it fits in a labels demographic. We write music that we like and music for the 98% of the world is sick of what's on corporate radio. There is an MP3 revolution going on, free music for everyone! It's really hurting the record industry because they haven't figured out how to adapt to this new technology. But this really works to our advantage (laughs).
Ursula: When will you be coming back to Europe?
George: Wed like to make it back soon. I was particularly fond of Amsterdam as well as Manchester, England. The crowds in Germany, particularly Berlin seem to appreciate us the most at the moment. The European audience is sometimes a little more endearing to the type of music we play. Sometimes the Americans are more prone to listen to the pop mainstream selections out there that are pumped to them via commercial media sources. America, at times, sometimes appears to be the worlds biggest commercial!
Dave: I love Europe, they treat us well over there. Amsterdam kicks ass. So does Germany. I didn't know what to expect or how we would be received, but you guys really step up to the plate when it comes to new music. I just want to say thanks for the hospitality. We will probably be returning to Europe after doing Japan in the summer or fall of fall 2003. Maybe something next winter. I'm looking forward to it.
Ursula: Your next release is sure to be bigger than the first are you starting to feel the pressures of fame?
Dave: Um, no!. (everyone laughs) Well after a month of touring I get board and tired. I like seeing new places but I also like coming home. We don't really have the financial backing to tour the way we would like. Europe was great we love the history a vibe. We would have stayed longer and done more but George and I had a rough time on the budget allotted to us. When money runs out or we're told to show up at a place and when you get their they have never heard of you and you have to talk your way into a gig or the place is closed it takes a toll. We ended up doing alot of self promotion and networking with local European bands to find Gigs, lodging. We were also living mostly on what we were making from the road. Our original label went under and took the masters of our first CD with them, so we are doing all promotion and booking from now on by ourselves. We have studio time booked this summer for the new CD which will unfortunately be released as our 2nd Debut, due to loosing the rights and masters of the first. But to answer the question it's nice cause we are still relatively unknown. Germany is our largest fan bass at the moment and I'm pretty happy with that. Being liked and appreciated anywhere doesn't suck. How ever, I don't want to be famous to the point that I can't go out of my house without being mobbed which is unlikely to happen. I'm glad to have the intimate relationship with the crowds we are playing to now. I'd hate to loose that.
George: No not really. Were actually enjoying it. Our only hope is that we can get our native country to embrace what we are recording and performing. Maybe, the bit of recognition that we have gained in Europe will ultimately filter over to America.Have you performed in front of an audience?sometimes, Tampa, Europe, Chicago. it's fun. not yet.
Your musical influences
anything worth listening too, good musicianship is good to listen too reguardless of genreWhat equipment do you use?
George Vasquez uses, Dr Z amps and Gibson Les Pauls, and Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters. Dave Borrell uses THD Univalve amps with custom cabs and no name import Les Paul Copies, just because he can.Contact
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