Mitch has THE tone I love!

[marc61]

I just wanted to keep this thread up a little longer, since I'm still really enjoying Dynamico!!

Yeah, Mitch's music kinda stays with you.

I have a strange and embarrassing admission. Years ago, when the guys on the block were practicing Black Sabbath and Deep Purple tunes, I used to jam along with the Let's Active vinyl. Not to make light of the other two groups, but Mitch's tunes just moved me more at the time.

So if anyone wants to put together a Let's Active tribute band, let me know. Mitch, you can't be in the band. That would kinda like letting Ozzy join a Black Sabbath tribute band ...ha ha ha

[paologregorio]

I love the first two "Let's Active" recordings, this song's at the top of my list. Glad you still have it in the set Mitch! I read an interview of you in which you said you used the Fender Twin for everything when recording, even running the bass through it!

One of my top shows ever; Echo and the Bunnymen and Let's Active at the Hollywood Palladium, April `84!

Question: Were the two puppies in the "Every Word Means No" video the same two grown up dogs of the same color on the back cover of "Cypress"?

[paologregorio]

I'm new to lists like this, so please pardon me if I'm confusing information with hot air! Please let me say that I am flattered that anybody is paying attention to any of this! Here are a few bits: You can tell the bass player she needs a 4001/3 @[email protected]. On that recent version of Waters Part, the pedals are a Korg PME-40X; the compression pedal in the verses, the overdrive in the next part. I used these same pedals in the 80s. The amp was a Carr Vincent. I used to use an Ampeg Gemini II w/1 x 15" with that guitar. On the record, it was a Rockman! (It was just the scratch track, but we just kept it since it was OK.) The Bowery Ballroom show was a lot worse than the night before at Magnetic Field! Having the bass die between soundcheck and the show had a certain disconcerting effect (it was a broken wire inside- weird)... I do really like to record bass through guitar amps. I still often use the 1980s high-power Fender Twin for this- with the EV speakers these amps are real beasts. And, it's true that Faye Hunter used to play a very attractive '72 (?) 4001. Unfortunately the low E was sort of foggy compared to a Fender. I don't know why that was. Starship Trooper- absolutely!

I had an early 80s master volume hi power twin with a pair of EVM12s speakers. It was one of the best Twins I've ever heard or played through, master volume and all. The guy I sold it to loved it so much he paid $1000 for it(in 1990!), and the outside had some road rash. The key to those is to not use the push pull master volume pot!

[paologregorio]

I love the first two "Let's Active" recordings, this song's at the top of my list. Glad you still have it in the set Mitch! I read an interview of you in which you said you used the Fender Twin for everything when recording, even running the bass through it!

One of my top shows ever; Echo and the Bunnymen and Let's Active at the Hollywood Palladium, April `84!

Question: Were the two puppies in the "Every Word Means No" video the same two grown up dogs of the same color on the back cover of "Cypress"?

"Co-Star" is another favorite of mine off "Cypress".

I think I've mentioned this before, but Mitch's AG Blue 330 was the inspiration for my ordering my AG BLue 360 WB(built 11/04). Since I added an Accent, should I call it a 365 WB now?:

[chronictown]

Yeah, that's a 365WB now. Sweet guitar, and great color.

When did they stop taking orders for WBs? I thought it was earlier than '04 or so, but I could be wrong.

[paologregorio]

Yeah, that's a 365WB now. Sweet guitar, and great color.

When did they stop taking orders for WBs? I thought it was earlier than '04 or so, but I could be wrong.

Sorry, I meant 11/84. `84 was the last year for AG Blue.

[paologregorio]

I'm new to lists like this, so please pardon me if I'm confusing information with hot air! Please let me say that I am flattered that anybody is paying attention to any of this! Here are a few bits: You can tell the bass player she needs a 4001/3 @[email protected]. On that recent version of Waters Part, the pedals are a Korg PME-40X; the compression pedal in the verses, the overdrive in the next part. I used these same pedals in the 80s. The amp was a Carr Vincent. I used to use an Ampeg Gemini II w/1 x 15" with that guitar. On the record, it was a Rockman! (It was just the scratch track, but we just kept it since it was OK.) The Bowery Ballroom show was a lot worse than the night before at Magnetic Field! Having the bass die between soundcheck and the show had a certain disconcerting effect (it was a broken wire inside- weird)... I do really like to record bass through guitar amps. I still often use the 1980s high-power Fender Twin for this- with the EV speakers these amps are real beasts. And, it's true that Faye Hunter used to play a very attractive '72 (?) 4001. Unfortunately the low E was sort of foggy compared to a Fender. I don't know why that was. Starship Trooper- absolutely!

I had an early 80s master volume hi power twin with a pair of EVM12s speakers. It was one of the best Twins I've ever heard or played through, master volume and all. The guy I sold it to loved it so much he paid $1000 for it(in 1990!), and the outside had some road rash. The key to those is to not use the push pull master volume pot!

[paologregorio]

I love the first two "Let's Active" recordings, this song's at the top of my list. Glad you still have it in the set Mitch! I read an interview of you in which you said you used the Fender Twin for everything when recording, even running the bass through it!

One of my top shows ever; Echo and the Bunnymen and Let's Active at the Hollywood Palladium, April `84!

Question: Were the two puppies in the "Every Word Means No" video the same two grown up dogs of the same color on the back cover of "Cypress"?

"Co-Star" is another favorite of mine off "Cypress".

I think I've mentioned this before, but Mitch's AG Blue 330 was the inspiration for my ordering my AG BLue 360 WB(built 11/84). Since I added an Accent, should I call it a 365 WB now?:

AG Blue 360 WB web size for posting.JPG

[mcxb]

Echoing the sentiment re: Dynamico. Been listening to it quite a bit in recent months, and it sonically bridges the two eras (early 80's and now) very nicely. (Some other artists' 80's influences are too retro in a Yamaha DX7 synth-y way.) Let's Active and REM were definitely major influences on my love of Rick guitars, though I owned a 4001 bass prior to seeing them (give credit to Squire for that!).

Adding my own Mitch sighting... Can't remember exactly when, but it was in 1984. An amazing time to be an REM fan. We'd seen REM a couple of month's earlier at the old Ripley Music Hall in Philly (South St. on 6th). Club-size setting...HUGE buzz about the band. I kept looking around for the the hidden second guitarist the sound was so rich . Then a few months later they were touring behind Reckoning, moving up to larger venues, and played Univ. of Penn's Irvine Auditorium...a great cathederal-like building with a great (literal not faux) gothic vibe. And Let's Active opened! Being fans of both bands, it was a great ticket. And I remember Mitch pulling out a chair and doing a solo rendition of Mason Williams' "Classical Gas." It was one of those moments in musical appreciation where half the audience said "WTF?" and the rest said "yeah!" and thought it was just too cool that he played that.

(And only a few months later, after "Fables of the Reconstruction" came out, REM played at the Tower Theater in Philly...last time I saw them when they'd yet to hit the arena scene and superstardom that came shortly after with "Lifes Rich Pageant" and "Document.")

As mentioned earlier, Mitch, you're definitely to be commended and remembered as one of the principal architects of the indy music scene.

[Ric-O-Buc]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and bump this thread. I saw Mitch at the New World Brewery in Ybor City - and that's the reason I bought a Carr Vincent to go with the Rick. Wow - what a great sound.

[marc61]

Was that a recent show? I saw him in NJ a short while ago, and he was awesome. Very heavy.

[rkbsound]

Yeah, well, I missed that show and I'm not happy about it! I did see that there are some clips on Youtube from the Maxwell's show....leave it to Mitch to bring out the coolest guitars!

[Ric-O-Buc]

Was that a recent show? I saw him in NJ a short while ago, and he was awesome. Very heavy.

Actually, about 8 months or so ago. I think - its kind of hard to keep track here in FL with the endless summer and all. Anyway - Mitch had the Rick and Carr amp going, and it was just KILLING!