The Young Dubliners hiatus is about done

Since March there has been a lot of different happenings here. The Young Dubliners took several weeks off, no shows, no rehearsals, no pub crawls or band meetings. Our lead singer, Keith, had a knee operation which took a while to heal. So in the past month, I've had irons in a lot of different fires...

I played a lot of acoustic music with singer/songwriter Jai Vatuk. Jai was an original member of the band Common Sense, and has recently released his first solo outing. For his CD release party in Laguna Beach, CA on April 24th, he assembled a band of players who appeared on his album and also recruited myself and Young Dub's drummer David Ingraham. You can hear some of the album here: http://www.myspace.com/jaivatukmusic

Another highlight was the Rich Sheldon and Friends jam night at the Whaler in Venice Beach, CA on 4/20. A perfect date for that show, I might add. It was Rich's birthday and he was in top form that night, calling a great evening of originals and covers which kept the band and guest players jamming constantly until the joint closed. Check out Rich's music here: http://www.reverbnation.com/#/richsheldon

I've also spent some time just getting to know my new home, Los Feliz village in Los Angeles. It's been a little slow going, since I have become addicted to my home recording studio. One of the projects that have filled my time has been helping out tracking guitars for an upcoming collection of songs by my friend, Jason Whitton. Jason released his album "Thriftstore Cowboy" in 2005, and now he is working on a follow up; it's fantastic alt country and very acoustic/eclectic. As a byproduct of these sessions, we're also working on recording a single of more a Nashville-sounding tune, and releasing it under a new band name. Hey, I figure if Jack White can be in 13 different bands, I can be in a couple myself! Read & hear more about Jason at his website: http://www.jasonwhitton.net/home.html

This Friday, the Young Dubs are back on the road, with a show in Billings, MT to kick-off a tour of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Time to pack... cheers!!

Bob,
May 3rd

I now use Lehle pedals

I installed a new pedal on my board last tour, the Little Lehle II looping switcher. It's sitting in the upper right, just after my Boss tuner, and I use it as an A/B switch. It's a great product, can stand the rigors of constant gigging and I highly recommend it any working musicians, especially guitarists and bassists. They're small, silent and heavy duty.

Check out their full line here: http://www.lehle.com/frameset.php?country=us&lang=en&A_Link=products

and find a dealer through their distributor, Dana B. Goods: http://www.danabgoods.com/

Cheers!!

Bob, March 30

New Samples from my Demo Reel

I have posted new samples of my studio work, both with the Young Dubliners and with other artists and bands, on my myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/bobboulding

As you'll hear, the samples are grouped together by style... And these are from various records I've had the pleasure of playing on over the past few years.

My thanks goes out to these artists that the samples were edited from: Brian Cram, Jason Whitton, Erin O'Bryan, Dan Krikorian, Jeff Aeiling, and the Cram Brothers Band. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Bob

Action at NAMM This Week!

We're just hours away from the start of NAMM 2010 in Anaheim, CA. I've been attending this trade event off and on for many years... the first time was when my high-school buddy Tommy and I "borrowed" some passes to get in, after we heard that there were rockstars like Eddie Van Halen practically shredding in your face. Over the years, it's been a great event to meet up with music relationships, get psyched on new gear coming out, and hear world-class musicians demo at various booths.

This year you'll find me hanging out at the companies whose great gear I endorse, or endorse me. Framus guitars and amps, Dean Markley strings, Get 'm Get 'm guitar straps, Clayton picks...

Although I won't be appearing at the Framus booth as last year, I will be appearing with the Young Dubliners there on Saturday night. We are playing a semi-secret after-party at the Marriott Hotel directly across from the Convention Center entrance. This event starts at 12 noon on Saturday, and is free to the public!! We will be the last act of the evening (at 11pm); this event is known for having some amazing talent come out to play, so it should be an awesome night of music. If you're a So Cal Dubs fan, this will be a one of a kind show!

I'll let you know how it turns out in my next post. Cheers!

Bob

January 12

January 3, 2009

The start of a new year always refreshes the music scene, it seems. For one, everyone - musicians and fans - takes a look back at the best, most buzzed about records and events of the previous year. This usually gives me pause around the holidays to get a fresh perspective on songs and artists that I and my friends and acquaintances have listened to and shared. And after that ritual comes the roll-up-the-sleeves-and-hit-the-ground-running mentality that hits after the New Year's celebration and all attendant side-effects wear off. With the new found vigor to start a fresh year on our best foot, is the desire to utilize extra head space for brand new creativity and recreation. To that end, music gets a shiny new spotlight and artists get inspired anew, even in the dead of winter.

I have caught the bug... in the process of wiring up my home studio with new gadgets, and capturing some ideas on "tape" in hopes that some songs and records distill from the audio morass... Time is not on my side; the Young Dubliners are beginning to announce dates for the first tour of 2010, staring in February. Must make a move on writing, composing, colaborating, and recording!

2009 held a rich panoply of experience to draw from, to be sure. Like all people, I had personal triumphs and challenges, successes and failures. My band delivered a new album and toured in the US and Europe. I experienced loss of close family and friends for the first time. The words of hundreds of people from countless locations crossed my ears, with their humor, views and stories. My teenage children gave me the vicarious thrill of that age of new adventure again. All this and more, and only the close time of winter to sort through it all to make some sort of sense and attempt to transcribe the impressions into chords and beats and tunes.

That's all for now; more to come soon, as the Young Dubliners get ready for an appearance at one of the NAMM show events this January.

Bob

January 3

Friday 12/4

I will be attending Dan Krikorian's show at Molly Malone's this Friday 12/4. I played on Dan's latest album, "Colors And Chords." This is his first LA show since his recent tour of the western US. http://dankrikorian.com/index.php?/root/upcoming-shows/

New for summer and fall '09

Wow! Has it been two months since my last update? I guess so... if you follow me here at bobboulding.com then hats off to your patience. I’ll try to put the past several weeks into a digest:

Two albums have recently dropped which I had the pleasure of playing on.

“Don’t Explain”, by Brian Cram was released on Bright Orange Records in September; I was encouraged to play in-your-face bluesy style lead guitar all over it. Brian is one of the two Crams brothers whom I performed and recorded with throughout the 90’s (his brother Chris also appears on the album), and our history is vast. The album is available on iTunes and at http://www.briancram.com/.

“Colors And Chords”, by Dan Krikorian has just been released on his own eponymously named label. Dan is an über talented singer-songwriter from Orange County, CA, and on this, his second release, he has hit his stride as a fully developed artist. The songs are wonderful, and the sound is pure California pop-rock; the interplay between the musicians is palpable, and features some great players such as drummer Shawn Nourse, bassist Taras Prodaniuk, and keyboardist Carl Byron. The album is available on CDBaby. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dankrikorian2

I’ve played about 35 shows with the Young Dubs since August. We saw the east coast to the Rockies; along the way we gigged in some familiar markets like NYC, Philly and Annapolis, as well as some new stops, like Norfolk, CT where we played the Infinity Hall, a beautifully restored theater where Mark Twain once spoke.

One of the highlights was sharing the bill/stage with Dropkick Murphys at the Minnesota Irish Festival in St Paul. Incredibly rockin’ vibe. I got to turn my amp up to 11 for that one!

Another major gig was the Tønder Folk Music Festival in Tønder, Denmark. One of the largest festivals in Europe, this multi-stage event featured some legends, such as Arlo Guthrie, Bela Fleck, Eileen Ivers, Michael McGoldrick. Getting to share the bill and meet such great musicians, to hear their stories, was a life experience.

Currently I am back in Los Angeles, regrouping and practicing my new muse, lap steel guitar. Soon the Young Dubliners will embark on the 4th Irish Tour this November - time to bust out the passport!

All the best,

Bob

October 14