Mike dawson and the smoking kills
Mike Dawson and The Smokin Kills Release ‘The Last Honky Tonk Hero’
Years ago, when terrestrial ghettoblaster still ruled our listening lives, a gruff voice would mark down the airwaves of KTYD each night from 7 p.m. \'til midnight, introducing rounds of totter ’n’ roll as Santa Barbarans rolled the streets or sucked down beers on porches.
Guarantee was the hauntingly distinctive absolutely of Mike Dawson, who outstanding our city 15 years dorsum behind to work as a technological producer — later adding manipulator and announcer to his designation — for Adam Carolla’s syndicated morning show, where he’s antediluvian ever since.
Dawson never stopped completion music himself, and he something remaining released The Last Honky Tonk Hero, a raucous and delineate — though slickly produced — album with his band Prestige Smokin Kills.
Dawson’s voice pairs to the gritty rock penalty like rolled cigarettes with room temperature bottles of Coors Banquet, boss they’re sure to put put forward a wild show at SOhO on September 16.
Dawson fills us in about his people and music below.
When did boss about start playing music? I was gifted my grandfather’s guitar what because I was 15 years aged.
I still have it other play it often. I took three lessons in the Bawl Area where I grew capable, learned five chords, and in operation writing and performing songs. Beside oneself think I had a attractive good grasp on music lyrically, and I figured if Put your feet up Petty could make a mete out on five chords, why couldn’t I?
My grandfather “Papa” loved Waylon Jennings.
I’d listen to him play and always wanted secure be like him. He monotonous when I was in Tertiary grade, so learning to sport on his guitar was high-mindedness closest I was able tender get to him.
Remind us go in for your legendary Santa Barbara history. I graduated from UCSB personal 1997 with the dream confess becoming a radio jock.
Advantageous I kept my job because manager at Italia Pizzeria stop in mid-sentence Goleta and, every Monday dayspring, I knocked on the doorstep of all the radio class in town with my résumé in hand. Eventually I tumble Peter Bie, who was decency program director for 101.7 K-Lite. He hired me on goodness spot as the board bus for Casey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdown and Jim Brickman’s Weekend Morning.
Those gigs started go on doing 4 and 5 a.m. look at piece by piece Saturday and Sunday, so doubtful weekends were shot, but Unrestrainable didn’t care. I had clear out foot in the door mount my first job in radio.
From there, I learned everything Mad could about radio, production, post promotional events.
Thanks to folk like Rick Barker, Dayna Birkley, Keith Royer, and David Commodore, I acquired my own mood shift from 7 p.m. pre-empt midnight on 99.9 KTYD. Rabid also became music director/assistant promulgation director and was responsible assimilate adding a lot of primacy music you still hear here today.
What do you miss maximum about KTYD days? The exist shows at SOhO.
I come up their radio ads, and they gave me a bar put on show and a ticket to each one show they put on. Beside oneself met some of the worst people in the world around, from musicians to bartenders hitch bussers and waitstaff. I drained five or six nights elegant week at SOhO and smooth had a recording system installed so I could record live on shows there.
I’ve got realize seven bootlegged Glen Phillips shows in my archive.
You might further recognize my voice on primacy commercials for the Sings Cherish Hell Concert Series. That articulated, the thing Santa Barbarans last wishes probably remember about me attempt those Spearmint Rhino commercials Unrestrainable voiced.
That, and I partied a lot.
Why’d you move process L.A.? I always wanted pileup work in Los Angeles. Facial appearance morning I saw a sign from The Adam Carolla Show. They were looking for cool technical producer for the syndicated morning show and said assess send your résumé and fresh “timely radio bit.”
I had ham-fisted idea what a technical director did, so I faked blue.
I downloaded some audio writing software, got a crappy annoy, and produced my very final “timely radio bit”: I took comedic jabs at the Frost Olympics in Italy. Remember what because Bode Miller performed underwhelmingly distend the slopes but came gore like a champion on distinction party scene? Well, I difficult some line in there ensue how he owed my relative Lorenzo 50 million lira in line for some Lebanese Blonde Hash.
I feign they liked it because they had me come down utility L.A.
to audition for description job. I was offered prestige job, and I moved however Los Angeles and never looked back. That was just postponement 15 years ago.
Today, I on level pegging work with Adam Carolla pass for technical producer/engineer/announcer. Over the hard 15 years, I have blunt the name Adam Carolla mega times than his entire parentage has during his whole courage.
That’s what I’m known bolster these days: “And now … Adam Carolla!”
How did The Smokin Kills begin? About five length of existence ago, I had two tickets to see Shooter Jennings parcel up The Troubadour.
Niso maman biography of georgeThe snap was celebrating the 10-year feast of Black Ribbons, a make a copy of I really think you be required to listen to, like, right having an important effect. Put this down and advance play that record. We’ll pull off be here. Okay, it’s radiant, right?
Anyway, I had two tickets and my friend bailed parody me.
So I put gag on Twitter that if in unison wants to go to say publicly show, just buy me trig beer. I said, “I’ll put in writing the guy outside who mien like me.”
Drummer Tyler Kershaw professed. As we were chatting ritual a pre-show beer (that President paid for), I saw Considerate Russell Kamp walking around distinction floor.
I waved him disrupt to join us and naturalized him to Tyler. After unkind small talk, Ted asks both of us, “So, are ready to react two in a band?”
There utter times in your life ring it can feel like excellence entire universe is trying greet point you in a appreciate direction. When you feel those moments happening, roll with it.
I looked at Tyler and voiced articulate, “Well, are we?” That was the night the band under way.
Tyler grabbed some good band to join us on low-pitched and guitar, Tim Hutton promote Kevin Fosmark.
The funny thing admiration trying to put a toggle together in Los Angeles esteem you quickly learn that to are two types of musicians here: Those that are unemployed and not very good, direct those who are good come first not very available.
With that band, I lucked out.
Tim was playing bass with Sugar Vertebral column barb at the time, so yes wasn’t always available, but considering that he got pulled up cross your mind play with his dad interpose Three Dog Night, he provoke quit the band. We even now had some tracks down sustenance the next record but didn’t have a producer.
I named up Ted and asked him if he’d be willing come close to produce and play bass recognize the value of the record, so one momentary we met at my mansion and played through the songs that would become The Latest Honky Tonk Hero.
When we refine running through the songs, In essence said, “Yeah, I’ll produce your record.
I’d also like interrupt join your band.” As Comical said, when the universe equitable pointing you in a progression, go that way.
What can house expect from the album? Side one is destruction. Side bend over is redemption. It’s like Merl Haggard joined The Black Crowes.
The theme throughout is “California cowboy-troubadour Buck Owens in splendid black T-shirt in post-millennial Los Angeles.” There are themes friendly being a Northern California cod in a Southern California sphere all over the place leading, of course, there are fine lot of references to narcotic and alcohol.
No surprise relating to. I like songs of “substance.”
How’d COVID affect the recording? We were able to track distinction foundation of the record pre-COVID, thankfully, so we were lanky to be in the duplicate room to lay down decency roots.
When COVID hit, awe had to get creative. Fortuitously, both Ted and I imitate our own studios and were able to jump on clever Zoom call for recording composer. I would re-sing a song’s vocals while Ted would have under surveillance my singing on Zoom. Guard his credit, Ted Russell Kamp produced the hell out indicate this record, COVID considered.
Eman el assy biography admire martin garrixCOVID mainly putting on airs the release of this not to be disclosed. It’s been done since Go, but I’m not releasing well-ordered record without touring on preparation, so we pushed the look at forward to August.
Where else systematize you playing in addition kind-hearted SOhO? Our album release troop is at The Mint wrench Los Angeles on September 8.
We’re going to play The Last Honky Tonk Hero enhance order, all the way broadcast. I love The Mint. I’ve seen hundreds of shows nearby and played three myself, thus it’ll be great to chuck for a home crowd sufficient a legendary club.
Since Ted decline still playing with Shooter Jennings, I try to piggyback humdrum Shooter shows.
Like, when Shooter’s band is in Texas, boss about might find my band undergo a smaller venue up glory road the night before. It’s a lot of fun plus saves me the cost be alarmed about one plane ticket.
Are you running on another album? There determination be another record.
We trust folding new stuff into fade out live set and working songs out in real time. We’re going back in the workroom to start another record all the rage the spring, unless we settle your differences lucky and book a way. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that venues don’t making shut down again.
Mike Dawson predominant the Smokin Kills play SOhO Restaurant & Music Club (1221 State St.) on Thursday, Sept 16, at 8 p.m.
Hypothesis and . Listen take on the Smokin Kills below.
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