FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1999. All Rights Reserved

Street Sounds by Aubrey McInnis Hot from the latest sweep of Calgary releases, here’s a look into the lives of knob-twiddlin’ producers and engineers who have given everything from sugary snacks to creative input, heaps of encouragement, patience and therapy-level support to our city’s ambitious and talented musicians. Altogether, they have made 1999 a memorable year for local releases. A familiar face in the music scene is young Dave Alcock who can be found behind the skins for Chixdiggit (expect their new album sometime after April) when he isn’t working as a full-time producer at Sundae Sound. He’s fresh back from a Chixdiggit tour of Europe and is currently working on the latest Huevos Rancheros album. With nearly five years of experience under his belt and a year of technical training in Ontario, he’s worked with The Ekseptions, The Daggers, Knucklehead, The Browns and Porter Hall in the past year alone. He offers unintrusive, calming support to bands who are recording The weirdest thing he’s ever seen was his initiation into recording, when, during a late-night jingle recording session, he saw a producer cry through a project that was six hours past deadline only to flood the toilet at four in the morning. "He was very emotional from top to bottom it seems," explains Dave. Dave can be reached at Sundae Sound at 274-4012 or youngdave@sundaesound.com. The New 1-2’s Paul Coutts christened Dave Alcock and Marc Schroeder’s private studio, Studio Petite, while The New 1-2 recorded In Case of Emergence with the locally infamous producer Krisjan Leslie (who has recently moved to Toronto). Paul thought it was such a wee studio, well, the name stuck. Marc says that the studio size is an advantage as it offers a small, intimate area where you have no choice but to be focused. A full-time computer consultant, Marc wanted the studio to record his own stuff and fell into producing other bands to help foot the operating bill. This past year he has recorded the Earthquake Pills (whom he’s seen in his studio in their skivvies after a photo shoot), Hot Little Rocket and Thousandsticks. He only records music he likes in order to make a truly inspired recording and feels that he, as a musician (The Original Lucys), provides an excellent bridge between the technical and artistic aspect of affordable 24-track recording. He’d like to see the local scene get excited about live music again and feels that we’re on the upward curve. Marc can be reached at mschroeder@home.com. Jonathan Swyers will never forget the time when he was recording Bionic VI at Massive Ferguson’s house and emerged from the basement to find that things had fallen off shelves during the recording. While Jonathan is known about town for his work with the Catch & Release collective (who’ll be releasing their second compilation on November 26 at The Night Gallery), he is currently working on other projects such as The Rhythmaires’ full-length (expected early next year). He would rather be referred to as an engineer and a creative assistant, since he has a straightforward Albini-esque approach in the studio – he wants to give a true, unbiased and accurate representation of the band with no embellishment or glossing over. He can be reached at jswyers@hotmail.com. A member of the Rat’s Nest Recording Society, Jonathan Chambers has a small and intimate studio in his basement where bands who aren’t as well known can come in and record. This past year he has recorded Great Uncle Bull, Rayovaq, The Pop Tarts and is currently recording The Movie’s latest project. While Jonathan produces various projects, he has found himself working more on soundtracks to local independent films. He can be reached at ratnest@home.com.

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