The Dregs’ “Cruise Control” by Hectic Watermelon live.

[John Czajkowski]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMWD50M-Bas"]YouTube - "Cruise Control" by Hectic Watermelon[/ame]

Here we is running through the classic Dixie Dregs tune, “Cruise Control,” on 28 July, in honor of Steve Morse’s birthday! We were at the beloved Lestat’s here in Normal Heights that everybody likes to play because of the sound guy, Louis Brazier. There’s a ton of ground to try to cover as a trio on this tune, but we are giving it our best college try while rushing the **** out of it! As usual, I exploit the Switchblade and two Egnater heads to pop between good old SL rhythm with Rock Organ stabs, to a different SB preset that begins with a boosted SL lead in head A (with some modulated delay from the Eclipse) and pops back to the SL rhythm tone in head B with the organ added to it for the call and response figures. I use the cool feature on the Axxess FX-1 of having multiple physical controllers controlling the same EXP on the Switchblade. In this case, the Boss FS 5U pedals are set to both momentary and latching. Also, an Ernie Ball Volume pedal is also assigned to EXP 1 on the Switchblade so I can fade, like on the intro of the tune.

 

[tommyindelaware]

very nice !!!!
very difficult not to rush dregs/smb stuff as a trio .
( or otherwise for that matter )
drummer is excellent !!!!

 

[beej]

Awesome job John- that tune is one of my faves! You guys knocked that one out of the park

 

[roburado]

John, great stuff as usual. Of course, as usual, you lost me on the gear talk

 

[John Czajkowski]

Thanks guys!

Hey Roburado,

To try to clarify, I use two Switchblade presets that have two states each for this tune. One is the rhythm SL amp ; when I press a pedal (could be either momentary, latching or EB pedal tied to the internal SB controller), then the K2500 organ stabs pop in. When I call up this preset, it loads up with the amp-only state.

Then, the lead SL preset also has two states: state one (rhythm) a rhythm amp tone with the keyboard together; state two (lead) a boosted SL with Eclipse delay. The tricky thing about this one is that I had to program it so it loads up in the lead state. It wouldn’t be convenient if I had to press a preset button to get it to the second preset and then hit a second button to get it into the lead state of the preset. So, the first time I nudge the pedals, then it defaults back to state A to begin doing all the call-and-response figures.

 

[Headstock]

Wow John, great stuff. I love that tune.

 

[Tone Dog]

Awesome, John - great tone and touch.

So - when does the east coast leg of the tour begin...?

 

[puppyonacid]

Very very awsome! I really enjoyed that ....thanks for clearing up what you meant about the gear you're using and how you're using it

Very imaginative though. I bet there's alot of people watching that dont cotton on to the fact that the organ sound is coming from you! I freakin LOVE your lead tone as well man. Good job. Gonna watch it again right now!

 

[paranoid70]

Man you guys are good. I really to have to check out one of your gigs one of these days. Good luck with the tour.

 

[John Czajkowski]

Thanks again guys, glad you enjoyed it.

Tone Dog,

Plain and simple: we will not be out East until we have a reliable, professional booking agent and/or management. We'd all love to get out there as it becomes financially feasible.

 

[roburado]

Very very awsome! I really enjoyed that ....thanks for clearing up what you meant about the gear you're using and how you're using it

Very imaginative though. I bet there's alot of people watching that dont cotton on to the fact that the organ sound is coming from you! I freakin LOVE your lead tone as well man. Good job. Gonna watch it again right now!

Yeah. It kind of sucks that many people aren't going to get that you're doing all that, John. You know, just want you to get the recognition you deserve.

 

[wolfbone07]

Wow, that was amazing. You guys sounded like more than just a three piece. Very impressive. You got some great Morse tones going too.

 

[John Czajkowski]

Thanks again guys,

Wolfbone07, with he Dregs and Steve Morse band stuff, it is actually easy to make it sound full as a trio because the tunes are so well-written and contain a variety of textures (polyphony, etc.) One you get the parts under control, it just seems like they run like a big old honkin' presicion freight train. I can't think of any other instrumental rock-fusion that is so well-written other than perhaps Tribal Tech. Steve's writing is what seems to alway have directed his amazing playing. He is a masterful composer.

 

[Colin]

Love it thanks John

 

[beej]

Just listened again ... I still have to remind myself there isn't a keyboard player in the band! Sounds so tight.

Love to hear you guys cover some Tribal Tech (Henderson is such an insane player!)

John- I'm still loving your album btw. Have it in constant rotation!

 

[John Czajkowski]

Thanks guys,

Ya Beej, I'd love to learn a Tribal Tech tune like the Big Wave or something frenzied like that. Those guys had the most amazing solo sections to play over as well as tremendous writing in general. Chords oll over the place.

Of course I'm glad you dig the album. I actually listened to it the other night checking out my new car stereo - since I know it pretty well as a reference. I hadn't heard it in over a month, so it was funny to hear some mixing errors here and there. Overall, I'm still very happy with it even as I make my way into writing number two.

John

 

[Spudmurphy]

Film clip was great - now we have had a "taster" we'd love some more?

 

[Nutboy]

Hey....isn't that Dale Moon's drum set, haha. You guys were great John. Can't wait to blow some more roofs off with ya'll! See ya next week

 

[John Czajkowski]

Hey....isn't that Dale Moon's drum set, haha. You guys were great John. Can't wait to blow some more roofs off with ya'll! See ya next week

Yeah baby, YEAH! It was too cool playing with yo' Travis Larson Band! If you notice on our tentative micro-tour itinerary from this thread, there is a chance we will be in SLO after all. Hank finally got back with me and offered a part of the evening next Tuesday. I'm still waiting for the confirmation - if there will even be one. He said the first band was already booked...but thanks very much for the referral. Hopefully it comes through so we can play for you and some EB folks.