Artist: Ed Rawlings
Album: A Foolish Inconsistency
Released: 2024
Website: https://edrawlingsmusic.com/
Ed Rawlings is a 40 year veteran of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. With roots in New Wave and Punk and a clear Surf Rock influence he has created an instrumental guitar gumbo that is uniquely his own blend. He has a fantastic band backing him up on the 12 tracks on this recording consisting of bassist Uriah Duffy, drummer Jeff Campitelli and keyboardist Nick O’Connor. Michael Rosen assumed the role of producer. The album was recorded at East Bay Recorders in Oakland, CA. It's twelve cuts clock in at about 40 minutes, sticking with short compositions that get the point across quickly and effectively.
The Long Way Around is one that I gravitate to as a standout. The intro has a Beatles-esque quality to it that then moves into something else entirely, that I struggle to define, which in itself is what makes it an interesting listen. A clever, yet simple arrangement keeps the listener engaged throughout this concise three minute masterpiece. It is the simplicity of Ed's playing that I find myself most drawn to. If the point can be made with simplicity, why complicate it? So few guitarists are able to put that into practice, but Rawlings seems to have an innate understanding of that pearl of wisdom.
Arrival is another interesting piece. The consistent thread throughout this album is great guitar tone and well written compositions performed by a very competent outfit that all know their roles in the mix. When the guitar tone is dialed in like Rawlings has it, one can get away with playing almost nothing. Great music can normally be defined in terms of is the artist telling the truth or is it being embellished? The truth is normally quite simple as is so much great music, this wonderful track included.
If I had to choose one track that summarized the overall effort Lands End is the cut. Basically a blues track, but not "the blues" at all, which I mean as a compliment. Just as many of the classic surf cuts were blues songs in form, but not so much in performance. The reverb drenched guitar is a throwback to a much different musical environment than what exists today, but by no means is the track straight surf or blues. It is like The Verve flirting with the blues while still digging Dick Dale. If David Gilmour were going to try his hand at something surfy I think it would sound like this!
The compositions and playing on this album are always tasteful before anything else, leaving the guitar acrobatics at the door. When guitar players make instrumental records they all too often seem to make them to impress other guitar players. There are no shortage of fantastic shredders, but there is a shortage of ones that can write songs that do not require a musician's ears to be appreciated. In the tradition of players like Dick Dale and Lonnie Mack, instrumental guitar became very accessible to most music fans' ears. Ed Rawlings embraces this spirit while putting his own spin on the many influences that are apparent. He seems to float somewhere in the cracks of surf, rockabilly, and country soul. His earlier influence of punk and new wave subtly show their face, if you know that's where his roots are. However, I hear a far more seasoned musician than those genres typically produce. But he still has that spirit of freedom that punk music wears as a badge of honor in his music. Fans of the mature side of instrumental guitar music will definitely enjoy this release.
Check out the interview below!
Tell us the brief history of your band or musical career.
I’ve played with several bands in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1980:
The Hostages, from 1980-1983. Die Bossa Nova (with former Hostages singer Ray Vaughn) from 1985-89
In 1998 I joined the instrumental band Lost Lake. We released a CD in 1999 called Without a Paddle featuring all-original instrumental music. In 2013 Ray Vaughn started a solo project and I played guitar on his two albums, Way Down Low and Wounded Bird and performed with him in San Francisco clubs.
What album has had the greatest impact on your life as a musician?
David Crosby’s If Only I Could Remember my Name. It’s a beautiful album and was exquisitely recorded. It’s got meticulous layered vocals and acoustic guitars and yet still feels loose with lots of improvisation.
Is there a particular song that has resonated with you for a long time?
Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones. It’s got great guitar hooks, and builds slowly and then rocks out.
What’s your favorite accomplishment as a musician thus far?
I would say it’s making this album. I had the opportunity to write the music, arrange it, and record it with the help of a great producer and great backing musicians. It was an opportunity to explore music focused on melody and mood, rather than supporting a story told through lyrics and a singer - something I’ve always wanted to do.
Tell me what your first music teacher was like. What lessons did you learn from them that you still use today?
I took piano lessons when I was about 10 years old. I didn’t get very far with the piano, but I did play one recital (where all the dutiful parents gather to hear their kids perform a song each). I played my song, but got lost in the middle - I think I skipped a part, and then covered it up by carrying on and playing the missing part later. After the recital my teacher said something like “you played well, but you didn’t play what was written but I don’t think anyone even noticed”. I was OK with that.
If you could play anywhere or with anyone in the world, where or with who would it be?
Paul & Ringo - great rhythm section!
If you could change anything about the music industry today, what would it be?
Getting the big money out of the music business so that artists can make a living and establish a more intimate relationship with their fans. Making folks like Daniel Ek richer is sucking up way too much air.
What are your biggest obstacles as a musician?
Trying to get the music noticed. It’s always difficult for indie artists, and instrumental music is a rather small niche.
What do you think the best aspects of the music business are?
The availability of much cheaper, digital recording technology has removed a barrier for many artists to make music that would have been much more difficult to do 20 years ago. I could have never afforded to make this album in the pre-digital age.
What strengths do you have that you believe make you the musician you are?I think I have a pretty good sense of melody and I can improvise. Give me some nice chord changes, and I will likely come up with something interesting pretty quickly.
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
My favorite part is anytime I have a guitar in my hands and I’m making or writing music. My least favorite part is handling all the business and promotion stuff - it’s not real natural for me and I have to force myself to do it.
Do you have any anxiety about performing live?
Usually not, as long as I’m well prepared and rehearsed. For some reason I’ve never had the butterflies that some musicians feel leading up to a live performance.
If you had to choose one... live performance or studio work, which do you prefer and why?
I really love working in the studio, probably because I love listening to recorded music, and it’s just magical to be able to make music where you can use studio tech to make something new. But performing live with other musicians is really one of the biggest joys of my life - there’s nothing quite like sweating it out with the band, with everyone working together to make it happen in real time.
Describe your creative process when you write new music.
Usually I start with some interesting chord changes. I’ve found that if I pick up my guitar after not playing for a while that something interesting often jumps out of my fingers. I usually try to record it quickly using my phone or computer so I don’t forget it. I’ve also found that finger picking the chords allows me to come up with melodies while also playing the chords. Another thing I often do is record the chord changes on guitar into my looper pedal. Then I loop the chords over and over and improvise melodies.
Other than being a musician, what was your dream job growing up?
I had always wanted to be a recording engineer. I tried to take some classes in recording several times, but it never worked out and eventually I decided to focus instead on writing and playing music.
What is your favorite piece of gear and why?
My Fender Stratocaster guitar. I’ve had it for decades. It’s like a fifth limb to me ... an extension of my body.
How do you prepare for your performances and recording work?
To prepare for recording, I recorded demos of all the songs (including some that didn’t make it onto the album) in my home studio. I played all the parts and did some simple drum programming. I was trying to get an idea of what the songs might sound like with a full band. I took these demos to my producer, Michael Rosen, and he helped me with improvements on arrangements and how the songs flowed. I took those suggestions back home and revised the demos, which I then sent to the other musicians to get them familiar with the music and prepare for recording. The music would often change again in the studio as we worked out parts with the other musicians.
To prepare for performances I took the unmixed recorded tracks back to my home studio and pared them down to something that 5 people could play live. I rehearsed my parts over those tracks and also sent them to the band members.
What do you like most about your new album?
The variety of moods and styles. Some of the songs sound a bit retro, which to me can be a very good thing. Some of the songs are a bit more modern sounding, but they all stem from a rock and roll sensibility. I like to think that many of them have an upbeat sort of appeal, which isn’t always popular in the often dark times we live in. I like that music without lyrics doesn’t tie you to any particular story - you can just make up your own
What artists do you enjoy listening to nowadays?
Lots of different stuff. Delicate Steve, The Mermen, Bob Dylan, Midnight Oil. Every once in a while I get in a Grateful Dead mood. I’m also a big fan of Hawaiian Slack Key guitar - artists like Ozzie Kotani, Cyril Pahinui and Hapa.
What is the best way to stay updated on current news; gigs, releases, etc.
Follow me on Facebook or Instagram and check out my website: edrawlingsmusic.com -- you can sign up for my email list there and I’ll keep you posted when stuff happens.
Anything you would like to share, from new merch to upcoming shows/tours or songs/albums?
My new album, A Foolish Inconsistency, is available on CD and download from Bandcamp, Amazon, and other retailers. It is also available on all the major music streaming services, including Spotify. There are also T-shirts available from Bandcamp.
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