Guild Sighting - Benjamin Orr (The Cars)

[Westerly Wood]

Went on Wikipedia to learn more about Ocasek and Cars. Really interesting road to the Cars...Ocasek and Orr started out as a folk acoustic duo lol...

After performing in various bands in Columbus and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ocasek and Orr relocated to Boston in the early 1970s. There they formed a Crosby, Stills and Nash-style folk rock band called Milkwood. They released one album, How's the Weather, on Paramount Records in early 1973 but it failed to chart. Future Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes played on Milkwood's album. After Milkwood, Ocasek formed the group Richard and the Rabbits, which included Orr and Hawkes. Ocasek and Orr also performed as an acoustic duo during this period. Some of the songs they played became the early Cars songs. Later, Ocasek and Orr teamed up with guitarist Elliot Easton in the band Cap'n Swing. Cap'n Swing soon came to the attention of WBCN disc jockey Maxanne Sartori, who began playing songs from their demo tape on her show. After Cap'n Swing was rejected by several record labels, Ocasek got rid of the bass player and drummer and decided to form a band that better fit his style of writing. Orr took over on bass and David Robinson, best known for his career with the Modern Lovers, became the drummer. Hawkes returned to play keyboards and the band became "the Cars" in late 1976.

 

[Westerly Wood]

One last bit:

The track listing on their 1978 debut album, simply entitled The Cars, with that classic photo cover, reads like a greatest hits album. By the way, the band hated the album cover, thought it was way too "slick". that is hilarious.

The Cars (album) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[walrus]

One last bit:

The track listing on their 1978 debut album, simply entitled The Cars, with that classic photo cover, reads like a greatest hits album. By the way, the band hated the album cover, thought it was way too "slick". that is hilarious.

The Cars (album) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

When that album came out I was working in a record store. We played it a lot, at the time a very different sound. The manager brought in a discarded VW Bug front door, leaned it against a wall in the store and made a "The Cars" display out of it...

Good times.

walrus

 

[twocorgis]

I saw the Cars right around that era at Nassau Coliseum. They were one of those bands that sound live just like they do on the record... Which is not my favorite thing. However, they were so tight and sounded so good that I'm really glad I went.

I remember reading an interview in Guitar Player or somewhere; he used 3 different guitars on that Shake It Up solo.

Should be a really great time. Wow, backing up Elliot Easton!

I'd be lying if I said I wan't a little nervous about it Marc, but I have worked pretty hard to make sure I know my parts. Easily the most famous guy I've ever played with! "Dress rehearsal" is tomorrow night.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I'd be lying if I said I wan't a little nervous about it Marc, but I have worked pretty hard to make sure I know my parts. Easily the most famous guy I've ever played with! "Dress rehearsal" is tomorrow night.

Be great Sandy if you said at some point during rehearsal: “Man, you play those guitar parts so well.”

 

[twocorgis]

Be great Sandy if you said at some point during rehearsal: “Man, you play those guitar parts so well.”

Ha, I might just have to do that!

 

[twocorgis]

Well, the dress rehearsal was last night, and it really was quite a time. Elliot is a lot more down to earth than you would expect of a rock star, and his solos were blistering! It's almost an out of body experience to be hearing those same solos from all those hits, and realize that you're there playing bass with the guy that made them, and it sounds good. We're playing with a couple of members of Panorama - Tribute to The Cars (last minute change), and it should sound even better tonight with a proper PA system and sound guy. Here's the final set list.

Another pleasant surprise was Charlie Farren of Joe Perry Project fame. He's the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet, and a great singer too. He's doing lead vocals on most of the songs, except "Good Times Roll", which Elliot is singing.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

Went on Wikipedia to learn more about Ocasek and Cars. Really interesting road to the Cars...Ocasek and Orr started out as a folk acoustic duo lol...

After performing in various bands in Columbus and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ocasek and Orr relocated to Boston in the early 1970s. There they formed a Crosby, Stills and Nash-style folk rock band called Milkwood. They released one album, How's the Weather, on Paramount Records in early 1973 but it failed to chart. Future Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes played on Milkwood's album. After Milkwood, Ocasek formed the group Richard and the Rabbits, which included Orr and Hawkes. Ocasek and Orr also performed as an acoustic duo during this period. Some of the songs they played became the early Cars songs. Later, Ocasek and Orr teamed up with guitarist Elliot Easton in the band Cap'n Swing. Cap'n Swing soon came to the attention of WBCN disc jockey Maxanne Sartori, who began playing songs from their demo tape on her show. After Cap'n Swing was rejected by several record labels, Ocasek got rid of the bass player and drummer and decided to form a band that better fit his style of writing. Orr took over on bass and David Robinson, best known for his career with the Modern Lovers, became the drummer. Hawkes returned to play keyboards and the band became "the Cars" in late 1976.

Nice write up. Modern Lovers (specifically Jonathan Richman) one of the bands that inspired me to play guitar.

 

[Westerly Wood]

can you tell him I thought and still think Since You're Gone is just fantastic? I love the walk up progression at very beginning and even when he was crunching on the strings to create a percussive rythmic sound. I think he does that as a track like throughout the tune.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Nice write up. Modern Lovers (specifically Jonathan Richman) one of the bands that inspired me to play guitar.

so good live too:



Lou Reed loved this band. You can tell why.

 

[twocorgis]

can you tell him I thought and still think Since You're Gone is just fantastic? I love the walk up progression at very beginning and even when he was crunching on the strings to create a percussive rythmic sound. I think he does that as a track like throughout the tune.

I will. Elliot is surprisingly easy to talk to and work with. I was expecting a least a little rock star stuff, and got none of it. When we got him at the airport, he wanted to drive by his old high school (hasn't lived on Long Island since 1971) and for lunch, he just wanted to eat at All American Burger in his hometown, which has been there forever!

so good live too:



Lou Reed loved this band. You can tell why.

Yes he did, and so do I. This is the song that got me.

 

[HeyMikey]

That sounds fantastic Sandy. I would be having an out of body experience. Soak it all in. Living the dream baby!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Can’t wait for the story once show is over.

 

[jp]

Just reading this now, Sandy. What a great experience! The Cars were one of the bands that was the soundtrack of my youth. I think they made a huge impact on popular music at the time, and Easton's playing was always so tasteful and creative. I've also always drooled over his signature green Gretsch Synchromatic G5570.

I think Ric Ocasek was a pop music genius both in songwriting and maybe more as a producer. He produced records for Romeo Void, No Doubt, Nada Surf, Bad Religion, Guided By Voices, Hole, Weezer, Bad Brains, and the great Jonathan Richman.

Hope the gig goes well!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

So how did it go?

 

[twocorgis]

Can’t wait for the story once show is over.

Sooo, the show went pretty well last night other than the turnout, which was a bit less than we had hoped. We were very well rehearsed, perhaps better than some of the others playing with us, and it mostly went off without a hitch. But the lone hitch was awkward to say this least.

Let me preface this and say that besides this one incident, Elliot is the furthest thing from what you imagine the typical rock star to be. He's mostly really chill, and actually quite affable. I had a few great conversations with him about Long Island life in the '70s, and music in general. However, when we were doing "Shake it Up", Elliot had brought Charlie Farren in to do the vocals, and he obviously wasn't as prepared as we were. Instead of going into Elliots solo, Charlie started another verse, and that didn't sit well with Elliot. He started screaming "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!! SHUT THE F*** UP!!!". Now I think most of us that have performed live are hard wired to never stop once you've started a song (it's sort of a cardinal rule), so it did take us a while to stop. We restarted with his solo, which was scorching, and the rest of the set went well. Elliot called up our drummer this morning and apologized for the outburst, and said that we could have done his solo after the verse, which probably would have been the correct thing to do. The crowd was great, and didn't seem to mind at all. The rest of the set went perfectly, and props go out to the two members of Panorama (Boston based Cars tribute band), who provided keys and guitar/vocal support. Darin and Darren were both great guys, and really brought something to the table too. And in all deference to Charlie Farren, he was probably the nicest guy of the lot, and has some pretty good rock star credentials himself, and we got to be fast friends.

Here's some photos.


Out of the frame is Panorama keyboard player player Darren, who completely nailed "Drive". And (obligatory Guild content), note the '86 Pilot Bass I'm playing. Elliot even commented about the black one that Benjamin Orr owned when he saw it.

My Red White and Blues Band mates with Elliot, and my girlfriend's bestie and incredible singer Anne, who belted out a killer rendition of "Love Me Like a Man". Far right is Eric Cantos, who graciously sat in with us when our regular keyboard player crapped out on us.

Me with our lead singer Ric with Elliot. Ric and our regular keyboard player Teddy had a band In the '80's that some might remember here called "3-D", and they toured with The Cars for a brief time. They even made it to "Saturday Night Live", and had a minor hit with this slightly moldy song. Looking at the album cover, I can't even tell who's Ric and who's Teddy LOL.



All things considered, I think it's a night I'll never forget. Elliot, and even Charlie for that matter, are by far the two most famous musicians I've ever played with. Maybe we'll get to do it again some day!

 

[Westerly Wood]

And you were playing a blue Pilot bass, Sandy?
that looks great!

nice job and thanks for the hiccup story too, that is pretty hysterical. I bet it was sort of an off few minutes to work thru.

 

[twocorgis]

And you were playing a blue Pilot bass, Sandy?
that looks great!

nice job and thanks for the hiccup story too, that is pretty hysterical. I bet it was sort of an off few minutes to work thru.

Yes it was! After already owning two maple bodied Pilots, I was reluctant to buy a third, but the price was pretty appealing, and in my defense, @mavuser goaded me into buying it. I'll have to admit that it has become my favorite of the three, and it does sport the super cool "Lady Liberty" neck plate, and also has @The Guilds of Grot's preferred "foot" headstock. It also sounded great through the loaner Ampeg SVT-7 Pro and 410 bin that was part of the backline. It was great not to have to move that, either!

As for Elliot's blowup, I was kind of surprised, and it was briefly awkward, but we recovered quickly. Nobody in the audience seemed to care.

 

[mavuser]

Sandy, sorry I couldnt make it bro, it just wasnt in the cards. super super cool gig though! I grew up watching the cars on MTV. even Grot tried to pursuade me to get there. just going thru a busy time right now. glad that blue pilot worked out! i remember u saying it was a home run right when u got it

 

[Westerly Wood]

that is also cool you all live close to one another between NJ and NY.
I can imagine many Guilds swapping hands and homes over the years.