Performing 150 shows in 2002 would be a rather busy year for most musicians; for Slaid Cleaves, it will be slowing down.
Calling from a Nashville studio, where he was recording some backup vocals for friend Rod Picott’s new CD, the Austin-by-way-of-East-Coast troubadour discussed his new tour, songwriting and working with a hero. Incidentally, Cleaves’ 150 shows estimated for this year pale in comparison to his 220 shows in 2002 and 180 shows in 2001 for the roots/country/folk rock artist.
“Touring so much came up accidentally by choice; in fact, I was supposed to be home right now, working on the new CD. But after 10-12 years of eking out work, I am now getting a lot of offers, and I find it hard to turn them down. When I get home, I’ll have to learn to,” he said. “My touring band changes from week to week; this week, Charles Arthur will do the duo thing with me; next week, two of my New England guys and a Texas fiddler. But I end up doing most of the driving, and that has to change. I could write more if I didn't, so I may have to hire a driver and maybe a sound person. I hate to have the band drive, because they're tired, too.”
Cleaves has been through both band and solo stages, and likes playing with a group; Arthur on electric and acoustic guitar and Ivan Brown on bass and vocals have been regulars.
“I'm getting accustomed to playing with a band; I used to play solo a lot because I could afford to, but I've gathered a wacky group of musicians, a real good group,” he said. “There are a lot of good points to playing solo, stretching out arrangements and changing things. My songs are all written solo, so they should work out solo.”
He was asked about his show at the Cactus Cafe during South by Southwest 2001, where he and his band seemed relaxed and happy, playing off the crowd and not wanting to stop: “That was a real peak; I had been on the road for a year, had honed the touring show and I had a great stable of working musicians. I got a great response and people were digging the album.” (Val and I would never have found the club at the university if artist Brende Fuller, Gurf Morlix’s partner, hadn't escorted/led us there. She ended up helping at Cleaves’ merchandise table after the show.)
One constant with Cleaves’ recorded work has been Gurf Morlix (who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg, NY), who produced and played on his three Philo/Rounder CDs, “No Angel Knows,” “Broke Down” and “Holiday Sampler.”
“Working with Gurf has been an amazing experience; I pinch myself still when I think about it. I've admired his recorded work, especially his guitar playing with Lucinda Williams, for a long time,” he said. “His guitar playing is perfect; it is economical but powerful. He is a consummate professional and a real great friend and I'm very lucky to work with and know him.
“As a producer, his playing talent most obviously (sticks out); he brings a real basic sound to recordings. Gurf also has a great, stripped down engineering approach and stark studio atmosphere in the bedroom studio,” Cleaves added. “He has a very comfortable presence, great guitar and harmonies and he is a very good judge of what is and isn't working. Gurf is organized and has a great work ethic.”
When asked about the rumor that Morlix is finally taking the plunge and getting a computer, he laughed and replied, “Yeah, it is happening. He vowed he would never get a computer until every bug was worked out first.”
