| Greetings from the Lakeside Lounge: Eric Roscoe Ambel |
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Veteran singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer/raconteur Eric Ambelknown to friends, associates and bandmates as Roscoeis the possessor of an estimable musical resume that's established his credentials as a deeply committed rocker as well as a witty and thoughtful songwriter. That aint PR hype. Check out this cats resume. Hes a busy man- the axe-man for Steve Earle, does solo work (latest CD called Knucklehead), and somehow he also finds time to be in the Yayhoos with Dan Baird, Terry Anderson, and Keith Christopher. He also owns a bar and a studio. He produces, too. Roscoe has a lot of irons in the fire, but he wasnt too busy to answer ten questions, Rock Vox style. Tell us about your early musical influences.... I grew up in the Midwest (Batavia, IL.) and saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. It kinda blew my mind. I was really into Marching Band music and my town had a great school band. I took trumpet and piano lessons. Played trumpet through college at the University of Wyoming. Trumpet is like the lead guitar of marching band. I picked up guitar on my own in the 5th grade and was doing paying gigs by the time I was in 7th grade. Tell about your musical history- you were an original Blackheart with Joan Jett, and you were in the Del Lords I had a punk rock band in Wyoming called the Dirty Dogs. We changed our name so we could get one more good University gig after we had been banned then moved to Hollywood the night after the Stones played "Shattered" on Saturday Night Live. That band broke up but I met a lot of people in LA/Hollywood including Joan Jett. I also played in a couple other really great bands with Top Jimmy and Rik L Rik. I relocated to NYC w Joan in '80 and really dug it. I've been based out of here since. The Del-Lords was my 80's roots rock band w Scott Kempner from the Dictators (who were one of my favorite bands). I put out my first solo record "Roscoe's Gang" on Enigma in '88 and my second "Loud & Lonesome" in '95 on ESD. Both records have been re-mastered and re-issued by my Lakeside Lounge Records label. What is like working for Steve Earle? How did that gig come about? I've know Steve since he first came to NYC to play the Bottom Line after Guitar Town was released. We've stayed in touch over the years and worked with some of the same artists. Steve's manager called me 5 years ago when they needed a guitar player. He asked me for a friend of mine's number which I did not give him! I just interviewed fellow Yayhoo Dan Baird. What does the future hold for the Yayhoos? The Yayhoos have half of their upcoming record "Put The Hammer Down" completed. We hope to finish it early this summer. Its a fantastic band with what I call "the Slingshot Effect". We really push each other in a great way. We have been described as the Harlem Globetrotters of Rock and Roll. You own a bar? I'm partners in a great small bar on the Lower East Side in NYC called the Lakeside Lounge (www.lakesidelounge.com) We have a tremendous jukebox that my partner Jim "the Hound" Marshall stocks with crazy stuff. Great staff, black and white photo booth and a cool small band room. We have just one band per night which makes us unique in NYC. We have had some great music in there. Freedy Johnson, The Ramones, Jewel, Marah, the Yayhoos, Tammy Faye Starlite, North Mississippi All Stars, Robert Randolph and my bands too including Steve Earle and the Dukes. You own a studio? I'm also partners in a studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn called Cowboy Technical Services (http://www.ericambel.com/CTS-Home.htm) Its a great, informal analog/digital band set up thats been working great for a lot of people. We have a really large stash of instruments, mics, compressors and mic pre amps both modern and vintage. Tell us about the gear you use on stage I had been using '62 Fender Bassmans and new Fender Pro Jr's but over the last year or so I've just about completely switched over to Dr Z Amps. Dr. Z makes some really straightforward hand made stuff with fantastic sound. Its vintage inspired but original at the same time. My Steve Earle rig is 2 Dr Z MAZ 18 Jr NR 18 watt class A heads through a Gibson Goldtone 2 x 10" open/2 x 12" closed hybrid stereo cabinet. I run a third amp that skips my pedalboard thats a Dr Z Z-28 model thats a dual 6V6 class A design. That head goes through a vintage Bassman 2 x 12" cabinet. The Yayhoos have been using one Dr Z each. When I play the Lakeside I used the house Fender Pro Jr's. You are a singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer/raconteur. What have you produced? Producing? Nils Lofgren, Bottle Rockets, Mary Lee's Corvette, Blue Mountain, Chris Harford, Blood Oranges, Freeloader, Martins Folly, Tammy Faye Starlite, Freedy Johnston, Marshall Crenshaw, The Yayhoos. Plug your solo stuff and your site. I've got a new record called "Knucklehead" that has just been released on my own label. Its a collection of stuff from the last 14 years. New songs and covers some of which I recorded completely by myself. Others have some of the bands I've worked with (Bottle Rockets, Martins Folly) and versions of my band Roscoe's Gang. That record and my first 2 deluxe re-issues are available at www.ericambel.com Usual Rock Vox closer: what advice do you have for aspiring and/or frustrated songwriters? Ricky Nelson was right when he said "you gotta please yourself". If you want a job, get one. Music should be a fuckload more important than any job you ever had in your whole life. Make sure you are having a good time. Its important! ---------- Many thanks to Roscoe- I am still amazed he actually found time to reply so soon. Please visit these related sites: Roscoes site: http://www.ericambel.com/index.htm Yayhoos: http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/bands.php3?bandid=29 Steve Earle: http://www.steveearle.com Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          Add your comment
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