IN STUDIO: Eric Welton

Every day this week, I'm going to try and profile a different locally owned and operated studio and producer and show you some of the work they've done. This is just a tidbit of info to point you in a direction if you're planning on recording something this year and aren't sure who to turn to!

Eric Welton
ewelton (at) gmail.com

While almost all of the other producers listed have been a part of a full on recording studio, Eric Welton takes a far simpler approach. He relies on the artists simply being themselves in his own makeshift studio setting and goes out to capture the heart of the songs themselves. After many local songwriters heard the results of Welton's own early recordings (2006's ZiGZag and the follow up, An EP), people were amazed that he had recorded this all himself. His production was slick and the musical accompaniments only seemed to nurture and enhance the songs inner strengths. He then began working on demo recordings by various local musicians, such as Lee Gaul and Steven Gibb (of The Golden Hands Before God), and then working on bringing the best out of Travis Reitsma, on his stellar debut, Bluebeard, last year. A beloved local entertainer, he was most recently the man behind the helm for the critically acclaimed debut from Tara Watts, About Love. He has also recently joined the ranks of Chatham-based psychedelic rock outfit, Square Root of Margaret.

What prompted you to start recording bands?
Eric: The bands themselves asked and I usually agree!

What is your niche? By that I mean, what do you specialize that sets you apart from the other producers?
Eric: A simple, stripped down process...my focus has been on more acoustic solo artists, but that doesn't stop us from adding any and all other instrumentation.

Who are you working with right now?
Eric: Currently working on my next record and Travis Reitsma's next record. In talks to record Why Me?'s debut..

Is there anyone locally right now that you'd love to work with but haven't yet?
Eric: Andrew MacLeod, Jackie Robitaille and The Windsor Salt Band.

How do you see the recording industry surviving with the increasing DIY recording that seems to be emerging of late?
Eric: The recording industry will do just fine, in my opinion. There should definitely be enough room for for both.. People make their own beer but does it affect Molson?

A Sample of Eric Welton's Discography

• Prophet Limbo Prophet Limbo (2007)
  
• Travis Reitsma Bluebeard (2008)
• Tara Watts About Love (2009)
  
• Eric Welton ziGZag (2006)
• Eric Welton An EP (2007)
  
• Eric Welton Foolheart (2008)
  

What Other Local Musicians Have Said:

Travis Reitsma:

As soon as Eric and I finished my first album, we pretty much immediately made plans to start working on the second. It was such a smooth and enjoyable process the first time that it had to happen again. Eric is one of the only people (along with Tara Watts and Derek Harrison) that I'm able to work with musically and not hold anything back. When we first started working together, we barely knew each other and now I consider him one of my closest friends.

Tara Watts:

My experience working in the studio with Eric was a positive one. He is very patient and makes you feel at home which is super important in the recording process. He's professional, he takes your music and his work seriously and yet we had tons of fun as well. It was great working with Eric because I knew he believed in my music and this project, so when I would get discouraged he was super supportive and continued to motivate me. He definitely went the extra mile and did everything he could to make my first CD a success. He has a good ear for music and he made good suggestions that added different dimensions to each song.

CD REVIEW: Tara Watts "About Love"

Tara Watts
"About Love" (2009, Independent)
Recorded and Mixed by Eric Welton
Mastered by Dwayne Iler

To say this is one of the year's most anticipated releases is almost over-stated at this point. For years, Tara Watts has been turning heads with her songs and performances and the lack of recordings has kind of been part of the package. There were demos that would surface on her MySpace page here and there, but there didn't seem to be any visible ship on the horizon when it came to an actual full length release.

Well, all that's about to change this Thursday March 26th when Tara Watts finally unveils the fruit of her labours, with her long overdue debut album, About Love. It's being released via a live music gala at The Room (255 Ouellette Ave., above Chanoso's) that will not only see Tara playing with a full band for the first time (a band that includes her brother Brendan Watts on bass, local enigma Johnny West on piano, banjo and backing vocals and Another Saturday Knight's Chad Howson on drums), but will also showcase performances by The Locusts Have No King (another fantastic band, which Tara has recently become a part of) and an opening set by Martin Schiller aka 87 Things For The Future, whose electronic experimentation has long been admired.

The Windsor Star's Dalson Chen reviewed About Love on Monday and compared her to Sarah Harmer. While I also find this comparison somewhat true, it almost feels like a Sarah Harmer more than it actually sounds like one. It feels rustic and warm - even when she's clearly sad or wounded. When listening to the album it almost feels like she's just come in from a day in the fields, working during a rainstorm, and while she's warming up by the wood stove in the kitchen, she's just matter of factly telling you how her week went. Some things that happened were glorious, some were pretty crappy. You feel elated when she is and an uncontrollable urge to wrap an arm around her and pull the blanket on her shoulder a little snugger when the stories seem a little painful.

Tara Watts' sound has long differed from a lot of the singer/songwriters - especially the female ones - in that it's never come across as pleading. She's not pleading for men to take her seriously, she's not pleading to the women to stand and revolt, she's not pleading for world piece, she's just simply telling her stories as they are. These are her stories, her words, and she'll tell it the only way she knows how: honestly, genuinely, and articulately (even if there is a few rough edges).

Her voice is unique in that it has an almost non-sexual tone. She's definitely a woman and this is definitely a strong woman's voice, but when you listen to her songs, you're never once stricken with the notion that you're listening to a woman - unlike some female singers who seem more intensely trying to prove they're a powerful female songwriter, Tara sings like she wants to prove she's simply a powerful songwriter - the notion of having to prove her sexuality seems foreign, that her songwriting will be simply good enough. And it is. Which is a wonderful lesson many women in music should follow.

Her album is a glorious listen and it rolls like a car ride through Northern Ontario - I'll bet nationally many people will assume she's from one of the Prairie provinces or somewhere a lot more Northern than Windsor. In fact, it's almost like a Lucinda Williams record, if Williams drank a lot more Merlot than whiskey. But Watts doesn't wear her influences on her sleeve (such as Iron & Wine or Sufjan Stevens) - instead, she's carefully soaked in just enough and let it permeate into her own voice, rather than emulate or replicate.

The lead track "Overeager Heart" sounds like something Johnny Cash should have written. Perhaps not during his Sun Records days, or even his 60's era, but something he'd have done for his Rick Rubin American Recordings. From the story to the arrangement, it almost sounds like an homage to his songwriting and storytelling, but it's done in a way that never comes across as a blatant attempt to plagiarize. It's simply a story, plain and simple, and the best way to convey it is to sing it.

"Hail Outside" has been a favourite of mine for years now, since the first demo recording showed up online. The final realization is equally as haunting (perhaps more so now that an accompanying video has emerged) and it pushes the ground that singers more her ilk (like say Marianne Faithful or Nico) have walked previously. But while Faithfull's muse always seemed to be taunting her with paradise only to rip it from her track marked arms, Watts' muse seems to offer a better sunrise somewhere down the line. There's always a feeling of hope in Tara's songs, no matter how bleak the surface story seems to be.

"100 Years Old" wouldn't seem out of place on Sarah Harmer's Songs For Clem or I Am A Mountain. It's a short track, barely two minutes long, but that's the secret about songwriting. The length is irrelevant as long as the story and intention is achieved by the time it's done, whether the song is 30 seconds long or 8 minutes. A short tale of obvious lament towards an awkward ex-lover, one who isn't far from the door and who she's not sure if she wants to walk back in or not. It's done with a playful jaunt, as if she both despises the ex-lover but despises more the thought that this is something she's not yet ready to be done with.

With such an interwoven storyboard, it's tough to single out her songs individually as the best experience is simply to listen to the whole album and let its interconnectivity wash over you while you listen. But it must be said that, for me, "Camels in Canada" is the album's best offering. It could easily be Harmer or Kathleen Edwards doing a Joni Mitchell cover, but thankfully it's simply Tara Watts being herself. It's a beautiful song that I swear you can hear her smiling on. In a recent interview on CJAM 91.5 FM, Tara admitted this track was written quite recently, seemingly assembled in the studio, and perhaps its the fresh energy of tackling something so new that seems to make this track sparkle just a little more, but whatever it is, this is a perfect song for a sprint time bike ride or a hayride in the fall. It's simply timeless.

After being a solo performer for so long, Tara had to assemble a backing band for the recordings and she held back no stops in assembling a talented core of assistance from some of the local indie scene's finest players. Eric Welton not only lent his understated production, recording and mixing skills to the CD, but also lent his voice on some backing tracks. Welton has recorded some great records lately, not only his own recent efforts, but also Travis Reitsma's overlooked Bluebeard. Welton has a knack for layering and enhancing recordings with just enough flair to make the steak sizzle but without detracting from the actual "meat". Another job well done for this local producer. Dwayne Iler, more known for his own band The Original Lady Eyes, did the mastering for the album. Iler's been picking up a lot of mastering work of late and he shines once again with this offering. The music itself was done by some A-list players, including the prolific enigma known as Johnny West, who played piano, banjo and also sang back-up. The percussion and drums were laid down by Sally Zori, perhaps one of the scene's most respected percussionists.

About Love is like a collection of short stories. Individually, they are little snippets into the autobiography of Tara Watts - her shortcomings, her tragedies, her loves and her triumphs - and collectively they form a story that is bigger than the sum of the parts. It courses through the air of your room, touching each ornament on the wall, looking at every photograph you barely remember taking, dancing around the aroma of coffee in the air, and sitting down nicely right beside you, wiping at the tear you'd hadn't even noticed shedding.

CJAM 91.5 FM and WAMM Magazine presents
Tara Watts CD Release Party with special guests The Locusts Have No King and 87 Things For The Future, Thursday March 26th at The Room (255 Ouellette Ave., above Chanoso's), doors at 9pm
Live Broadcast on CJAM 91.5 FM starting at 11pm

Tara Watts on MySpace

LOOK! A TARA WATTS CONTEST!

That's right kids, another contest! In preparation for Tara Watts' highly anticipated CD release party we're doing a special contest. All you have to do is write a creative comment below about why you want to win this prize package (or why you should win) then check back on Thursday morning to see who the winner is - if it's you, you will win the following Prize Package:

* Two (2) tickets for Tara Watts' CD Release Party at The Room, Thurs. March 26th
* One (1) copy of Tara Watts' About Love CD
* One (1) copy of The Locusts Have No King The Locusts Have No King CD
* One (1) copy of David Dubois' Protected Patterns EP
* One (1) copy of Johnny West's Absence of Sway CD

NOTE: Some people have claimed they are weary of putting contact info (such as emails) on their comments - all you need is your first and last name! When I announce your name on Thursday as the winner, all you need to then do is show a piece of photo ID showing you're the name given at the door to collect your prize package! Easy enough?

CAN'T COMMENT? If you don't have a Blogger.com, Google ID, or any of the initial things asked for when leaving a comment, use one of the two options given near the bottom - "Name/URL" gives you the option of giving your name and a website option (such as a band link) or "Post Anonymous" means you have to supply even less - BUT remember to leave your first and last name in your comment so we know who are winner's names will be!

EVENT PREVIEW: Indie Showcase Tonight @ The Whiskey with High Mother, The Tyres and Eric Welton

If you recall, once a month myself (in association with WAMM Magazine and The Windsor Scene) will be putting on a showcase of local indie bands at The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel News). These are showcases of diverse local original acts, somewhere where people who don't normally see original acts can see something different or a place where regular supporters can see their local favourites in a different venue.

The Whiskey has been very kind so far and our first night, featuring Vultures!, Perilelle and Two For The Cascade, was a success, with 70 people coming through the door for the first night. We hope to top that this week with our second night (I know, it's not a month later, but I agreed to fill in a last minute cancellation).

Due to the A-Channel's 11 O'Clock News, there's a slight down time where there will be no music, at it leaks up from the bar into the on-air room. The schedule will be as follows, with start times promptly as listed (especially for the first band).

10pm to 10:45 The Eric Welton Band
One of Windsor's finest singer/songwriters and recent addition to local fave The Square Root of Margaret, Eric Welton has been playing with a full band since his release last year of Fool Heart. Normally a small rotating cast of musical friends, tonight's backing band includes Damien Zakoor (The Tyres, The Golden Hands Before God...) on drums, Travis Reitsma on guitar and vocals, Andrew MacLeod (The Mindframes) on vocals, Jamie Greer (The Golden Hands Before God..., ex-The Hung Jury) on tambourine and shakers, Erik Myskow (FourLetterWord, ex-The Hung Jury) on bass (and maybe Tara Watts on vocals).

10:55 to 11:35 No live music due to A-Channel News

11:45 to 12:30 The Tyres
Damien will be pulling double duty as his other full time band, The Tyres, follows up Eric Welton. The Tyres will be bringing their Kinks-inspired rock and roll to the Whiskey stage with an diverse songbook of originals.

12:45 to 1:30 High Mother
The indie showcase is rounded out by a four man gang of Windsor scene veterans in High Mother. Sporting various ex-members of such bands as TOAST, Grumpy and Luxury Christ (to name a few), this high octane rock and roll is fuelled by an electric cocktail of 70's-style Detroit punk rock and 50's rock and roll.

Cover for this showcase is a mere $3 and all money collected goes to the bands for their time, so check them out if you haven't seen them before or if you're a fan who hasn't seen them in a while. To sweeten the deal, The Whiskey is also offering $2.50 ryes and $3 Jagers. Sounds like a party to me!

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THE BONUS SECTION

All three artists involved have generously donated an mp3 song to put up here, available for FREE for you to download and keep on your computer or add to your iPod. If you dig it, I'm sure they'll have more merch you can purchase, or even just appreciate a kind word!

To Download Song, Right Click on link and then "Save File As..." to your destination folder.

"Tit" by Eric Welton
Second part of 'The Drunk Man Trilogy' found on the 2007 release, "An EP"
The second movement of perhaps Welton's most known, most requested and most beloved song ('The Drunk Man Trilogy'), this catchy hook will be stuck in your head for days if not years.

"Finish Line" (Demo Mix) by The Tyres
Hot off the presses! The Tyres are currently recording new material for a new album and have kindly donated the first mix demo of a brand new song, "Finish Line", just recorded last week!

"From The Same Cup" by High Mother
A recording from a 2008 demo session, this a perfect song to introduce you to the signature guitar sounds of High Mother's Richard Benson and a preview of the intensity the live show will bring.

EVENT PREVIEW: A Charity Event for Rafiki Kenya, February 27 @ The Kildare House

I recently saw a bill for a show that I think deserves more recognition and attention than what I've seen it get and that's a Charity event at The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East) on Friday February 27th for Rafiki Kenya.

I'll get to the line-up in a second, but regardless of the names on the bill, it's the cause that's the star of the show.

Rafiki Kenya is a local charity that is hoping to make an impact in people's lives. An impact that, once fully realized, will help a people realize their own hopes and dreams. In 2003, when the current Kenya government took over, they eliminated tuition fees for plain ol' regular school. Enrolment went from 60% to nearly 100%, as people from this African nation all took advantage of the need for education. But the massive influx has meant that schools where not in place nor ready to accept this massive surge in enrolment.

Rafiki Kenya has chosen one school to help out personally and this is something I think is commendable. Sure, there are hundreds of schools in Kenya that need help and attention, but if you were to send to an organizaton that broke down contributions and distributed, very little would get done and schools would take forever to improve. Not to mention the chance of the schools actually getting the money. So much aid money is re-routed into the pockets of crooked politicians.

But Rafiki Kenya is sending all their aid and relief efforts to the Murungaru Primary School. They are setting realistic goals of helping the school improve itself for the sake of improving life for the children it is educating. One by one, goals are set and challenges are faced head on. Currently, they are seeking to help construct new latrines (washrooms) to replace the unsanitary ones currently being used as well as the construction of a multi-purpose room, which could be used for things like a counseling room or a library.

The thing I found comforting is that this group, Rafiki Kenya, is a non-religious, non-denomination group. The fact that there is no underlying religious intent of conversion for the exchange of aid is something I can get behind. The right to live and to live healthy should not come in exchange for redemption, salvation or conversion. It should come from simply being. Although they do receive aid from various religious groups, they are not themselves affiliated with any one religion or denomination. It is an all encompassing relief effort relying on basic human compassion not Catholic compassion or Jewish compassion or Muslim compassion. Wonderful stuff.

So on Friday February 27th, Rafiki Kenya is having a charity event at The Kildare House and they've picked an absolutely fantastic line-up of musicians who are donating their services for an absolutely fantastic cause.

For only $8, you will get to witness these fine eight artists in musical action:

Stefan Cvetkovic
Although not a member, Stefan is guilty by association of being part of the Michou set. He routinely plays with them in the area as well as Michael Hargreaves' solo sets, so chances are if you've seen Michou in the Windsor-London area, you've seen Stefan. His quirky indie pop is infectiously warm and he's currently working on his debut release to be out later this year.

Eric Welton
One of Windsor's nicest guys, thanks to Chatham, Eric is a multi-talented musician and songwriter. Apart from writing some of the area's finest sing-a-longs (his 'Drunkman Trilogy' is one of my favourites), he is also an outstanding producer, recording tracks and bringing out the best in many local musicians, including Travis Reitsma's outstanding debut from last year, Bluebeard. Eric is currently promoting his latest effort, Fool Heart.

Joel Bruyere (of Thousand Foot Krutch)
Joel is probably best known as the bassist in the alternative rock band Thousand Foot Krutch but he's got much more than that on his resume. Apart from touring the nation and sharing the stage with a diverse array of bands such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, KoRN, Dashboard Confessional, AFI as well as Windsor's own Neverending White Lights, Joel has a side project called The Drawing Room and it was in his very attic that local (and national) favourites Michou recorded last year's brilliant Myshkin.

Jim Meloche & Kyle Marchand (of Orphan Choir)
Orphan Choir has managed to erupt from Windsor's punk scene into a whole new realm and genre of their own, combining strong lyrics with a musical sense that comes from honesty and truth. It incorporates the best of folk, roots and rock and roll with the DIY of punk, and they've been pushing forward at their own pace with great success. Split 7" vinyls, recording with legendary Canadian producer and musician Ian Blurton (C'Mon, Change of Heart) and a new CD on the horizon, Orphan Choir is on the batter's deck to be one of the next Windsor names to be critically recognized by the nation. Vocalist Jim Meloche and guitarist Kyle Marchand are sure to deliver a special treat as they present a stripped down version of what they do best: tell great stories.

Adam Rideout-Arkell (of Yellow Wood)
Adam is 1/3 of perhaps one of Windsor's finest musical offerings of the last four or five years, and that is the band Yellow Wood. Their first two EP's are some of the most gorgeous music you'll hear, epic and symphonic without overpowering the simply melody of a good song. Yellow Wood has been hauntingly quiet of late, but not because of anything sinister. They're holed up and putting the finishing touches on their long-awaited and eagerly anticipated full length debut to be unleashed later this year. This may be a great opportunity to hear some new Yellow Wood material or, at the very least, hear some familiar Yellow Wood treats stripped down.

David Dubois (of The Locusts Have No King)
David is another gentleman of the local music scene, as humble as he is talented. Another of Windsor's finest storytellers, he has seemlessly moved from one successful band to another over the years. He toiled for years in the popular rock outfit Theory of Everything until its demise a few years back and always did select solo outings, but it wasn't until he began The Locusts Have No King that the city really took notice of his unbridled talent. Their self-titled debut features great songs that feature great stories and grandiose characters and as they currently work on material for the next album, David is currently promoting his recently released solo outing, Protected Patterns.

Ron Leary
Ron Leary is easily Windsor's finest storyteller, hands down. It doesn't take long for anyone to fall in love with his childlike demenour and unique voice, and once you've succumbed to one of his tales of heartache, you're hooked. He's a tireless workhorse when it comes to performing, often touring Canada with nothing but the clothes on his back and a tired guitar, and when he's home he's just as relentless, keeping up his chops (both musically and facial hair) with an endless stream of local shows. He's got a weekly show with another of this night's performers, "Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe, at Aardvark's every Tuesday night and is often heard around the city several other nights throughout any given month. His 2007 release, theroadinbetween, is essential listening for any music fan in Windsor.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe
No matter what you say about Kelly Hoppe, it never truly states the importance or impact this man has had on Windsor's music. Although he's more universally recognized as being part of one of Canada's premiere rock outfits of the 1990's in Big Sugar, he has been a tireless ambassador for Windsor and it's musicians far longer than that. He's been a mentor, admirer, friend and confidante for many of Windsor's finest musicians, past and present, and he shows no signs of slowing down or giving up. A world class harmonica player and a world class individual, his latest project, Mr. Chill & The Witnesses, is a lesson in old school blues and the true meaning of roots, as displayed on the exceptional album Cold Testament.

I cannot urge you enough to check out and support this event. It is Windsor's community helping the global community and this is your chance to be a part of that community. Times are tough right now, but no matter how CNN or CBC rants about our economic situation, it is all just a by-product of our own willingness to buy into the capitalist system. We, in essence, are all a part of this problem. The right to education and health is universal, regardless of political or economic beliefs and this is a chance to help a government that is trying desperately to give its citizens a fighting chance at something we all take for granted.

What else are you going to spend that $8 on that could mean more? A Big Mac combo? A pack of cigarettes? I doubt you will find something more meaningful.

For more info on Rafiki Kenya, please check out their website at http://www.rafikikenya.org - and become a Friend of Kenya.

For more info on being a better human being, go to the Kildare House on Friday February 27th.