The Lifters interview
Q: Can you talk about your history of the band?
A: The Lifters formed in 2013. I met drummer Tony Brown about three years prior. At that time, I was fronting the band Jonny & The Stingrays. The Stingrays ended after a 15-year run in 2013. I decided I needed a fresh approach to the original material I had been writing and performing with the Stingrays. Tony and I clicked immediately in a nonverbal way. Our groove was instant, and we knew there was magic in our partnership.
We approached bassist Jim “Cookie” Cooke and guitarist Bruce Katsu. We started to rehearse the songs I had already written, and they began to grow organically as we rehearsed and performed them. I decided it was time to record and we enlisted local DC area engineer and studio owner Gannt Kushner and Gizmo Recording to record the basic tracks. At the same time, I brought in my longtime friend, Hershel Yatovitz (the lead guitarist from Chris Isaak & Silvertone). Hershel is also a fabulous producer and engineer. At first Hershel was more of a consultant but quickly he agreed to produce the CD. Hersh and I worked together to create the final versions of the songs from long format performance pieces to much more manageable versions for recording.
Q: What are some of the themes on Ride With Me?
A: The Lifters are a rock n’ roll band. The songs reflect the American dream gone sideways. We’re influenced by organic Mid-Atlantic rock, blues, country, go-go, funk and punk. The songs are intensely personal, a snapshot of my emotional state at that moment in time and space.
Q: What is the creative process like?
A: I write lyrics in a stream of consciousness -- it’s almost like an antenna. I can tune in and the lyrics fall out. Many times, the hook or chorus happens first. I can hear a fully orchestrated arrangement in my head as I’m writing.
That’s where the real work begins. I sometimes write six or seven verses and the “arc” of the song can be unclear. I start cutting the verses to establish the story arc, bridge, instrumental hook and emotional theme. That framework is then brought to the band as words on paper, but when we begin to play, it grows into a form of its own.
Q: Can you talk about your history of the band?
A: The Lifters formed in 2013. I met drummer Tony Brown about three years prior. At that time, I was fronting the band Jonny & The Stingrays. The Stingrays ended after a 15-year run in 2013. I decided I needed a fresh approach to the original material I had been writing and performing with the Stingrays. Tony and I clicked immediately in a nonverbal way. Our groove was instant, and we knew there was magic in our partnership.
We approached bassist Jim “Cookie” Cooke and guitarist Bruce Katsu. We started to rehearse the songs I had already written, and they began to grow organically as we rehearsed and performed them. I decided it was time to record and we enlisted local DC area engineer and studio owner Gannt Kushner and Gizmo Recording to record the basic tracks. At the same time, I brought in my longtime friend, Hershel Yatovitz (the lead guitarist from Chris Isaak & Silvertone). Hershel is also a fabulous producer and engineer. At first Hershel was more of a consultant but quickly he agreed to produce the CD. Hersh and I worked together to create the final versions of the songs from long format performance pieces to much more manageable versions for recording.
Q: What are some of the themes on Ride With Me?
A: The Lifters are a rock n’ roll band. The songs reflect the American dream gone sideways. We’re influenced by organic Mid-Atlantic rock, blues, country, go-go, funk and punk. The songs are intensely personal, a snapshot of my emotional state at that moment in time and space.
Q: What is the creative process like?
A: I write lyrics in a stream of consciousness -- it’s almost like an antenna. I can tune in and the lyrics fall out. Many times, the hook or chorus happens first. I can hear a fully orchestrated arrangement in my head as I’m writing.
That’s where the real work begins. I sometimes write six or seven verses and the “arc” of the song can be unclear. I start cutting the verses to establish the story arc, bridge, instrumental hook and emotional theme. That framework is then brought to the band as words on paper, but when we begin to play, it grows into a form of its own.
Q: How did you approach recording the album?
A: We recorded the backing tracks live in the studio at Gizmo Recording. I then went to Portland, Oregon and spent a week working with Hershel Yatovitz at his “Purple Palace” studio doing guitars and vocals. At the same time Bruce Katsu was recording guitars and sending us tracks to be added. After my return to the East Coast, we went back into Gizmo to record background vocals with the incredibly talented Deeme Katson and Jill Mann Pekofsky. The final mixing was done by Hershel at his studio and then mastered by Ryan “Frequency” Foster.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: Yes, both. Since the lockdown I’ve been observing social distancing by not performing live. However, I’ve been recording and uploading the “Family Room Sessions” to Facebook as well as streaming them live.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: It represents my 40-plus years of writing and performing as well as the collaborative efforts of the band and the producing vision of Hershel Yatovitz.
A: We recorded the backing tracks live in the studio at Gizmo Recording. I then went to Portland, Oregon and spent a week working with Hershel Yatovitz at his “Purple Palace” studio doing guitars and vocals. At the same time Bruce Katsu was recording guitars and sending us tracks to be added. After my return to the East Coast, we went back into Gizmo to record background vocals with the incredibly talented Deeme Katson and Jill Mann Pekofsky. The final mixing was done by Hershel at his studio and then mastered by Ryan “Frequency” Foster.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: Yes, both. Since the lockdown I’ve been observing social distancing by not performing live. However, I’ve been recording and uploading the “Family Room Sessions” to Facebook as well as streaming them live.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: It represents my 40-plus years of writing and performing as well as the collaborative efforts of the band and the producing vision of Hershel Yatovitz.