From studio snacks to stage chaos.
INTRO
We’re buzzing to have David Moore & Westridge joining us. From studio lock-ins to live mayhem, you’ve been doing it the right way — so let’s get into it.
🎤 THE INTERVIEW
1️⃣ For anyone discovering you for the first time — who are David Moore & Westridge, where are you from, and what sort of noise are you making?
A: David Moore and Westridge is kind of an Alan Parsons Project…project, I guess you could say. All songs are mixed in my studio and I write or co-write about 99% of the material. The “band” consists of myself and other various musicians, ranging from a couple of guys (Jay Michael Smith and Brian Patterson) of the band The Speaker Wars (Stan Lynch of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, member of the rock and roll hall of fame’s new band), Ralph Galetti and Fred Sullivan have done some vocal work, Hollan Holmes with some synth tracks, and various other folks. I am originally from Dallas, Texas. Currently working on my fourth album which is a tribute album to my writing partner and ex-bandmate Jim Patterson who passed away in 2013. This album leans heavily into a classic rock sound reminiscent of the early 70’s. Previous albums have had quite a mix of sounds from folk rock, to pop rock, Americana, blues, progressive country, and a little ambient instrumentals thrown in.
2️⃣ How did the band originally form — and was it smooth sailing or absolute chaos from day one?
A: Actually the “band” has been a long time in the making. I quit playing music for about 20 years when I got married, to raise a family. When I retired we moved to northwest rural Texas and I set up a studio and began the process of dusting off years of “rust” both in playing instruments and getting back up to speed with the recording side of things. In a sense the current “band” had it’s genesis back in the 80’s and 90’s when I was playing club bands in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
3️⃣ Describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you — without using genre labels.
A: New original songs with a vintage style and sound. Each album varies, so as you listen through the album each track brings a surprise and a new listening experience.
4️⃣ What bands or artists first lit the fuse for you growing up?
A: Generally all music from the late 60’s through the 90’s, Notables would include Donovan, The Jaggerz, Guess Who, Beatles, Steppenwolf…however the MOST influential band was Led Zeppelin.
5️⃣ You’ve just released ‘Mysteries of Life’! — how are you feeling about it now that it’s out in the wild?
A: Very pleased. It was a natural song to include on the tribute album (A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule) because Jim Patterson not only wrote the song but he also wrote the lyrics. Jay Michael Smith did the guitar work on it and he did a fantastic job of recreating Jim’s sound and style. I had meticulously copied the drum part Wayne Jarvis played on the song when it was part of our set list back in the day. (Wayne passed away in 2014) Once I had the guitar track from Michael I added a rhythm guitar track and recorded the bass track. I attempted the vocals but was not happy with what I came up with. When we used to play the song live, Wayne’s brother Wes Jarvis sang the song and he was a naturally very gifted singer. I went in search of someone to record the vocals and met Ralph Galetti of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ralph’s tonal quality works great on the song I think.
6️⃣ Pick one track from your current releases that best represents the band right now.
A: I would have to go with Mysteries Of Life. The album will have fourteen songs; many are representative of Mysteries Of Life, however there will be a number of surprises also. All songs on the album were either co-written by myself and Jim Patterson, or Jim had a very influential part in the sound of the song…and because we liked to experiment with alternate genre’s there will be some different sounds included.
7️⃣ How do songs usually come together for David Moore & Westridge — riffs first, lyrics first, jamming, or full chaos?
A: All of the above. (chuckling) I would say the majority begin with a riff. When Jim and I wrote together it usually began with a riff and then Jim would really flesh the song out. He had an uncanny knack of coming up with just the right guitar hook to make the song something special.
🎛️ STUDIO TIME & SURVIVAL
8️⃣ When you’re locked away in the studio, what’s the vibe like — intense focus or organised chaos?
A: Definitely intense focus. I produce, record a lot of the tracks, and mix everything myself; and because I generally am working alone, unless one of our cats enter the studio demanding attention which can get a little chaotic, I am laser focused on what I am doing.
9️⃣ Be honest — what’s the band’s go-to food and drink in the studio?
A: Food is generally chips and jalapeno dip. On the beverage part it depends on what time I get started. If morning it can be an energy drink and water or poweraid. Later in the day might be a few beers, and occasionally a whiskey and coke.
🔥 LIVE GIGS, BEST NIGHTS & ABSOLUTE DISASTERS
🔟 What does a David Moore & Westridge live show feel like from the stage?
A; Due to the fact that David Moore and Westridge is a studio “band” I can not answer this question. In fact I will answer the following questions as they pertain to the days I was playing club bands in the 80’s and 90’s for a little background perspective.
1️⃣1️⃣ What’s the best gig you’ve ever played — and what made it so special?
A: I was asked this awhile back and to me the most memorable gig was the first public appearance by the first paying band I played in. A friend I worked with at the time asked if we would be interested in playing a wedding reception. The band was still working up material and decided it would be good practice and we accepted. I don’t think we got paid, however the people at the reception were so jazzed and having such a great time it was infectious for us…we wound up staying long after we finished playing and hung out with the partiers. It was a wild and crazy night.
1️⃣2️⃣ The flip side: what’s the worst gig you’ve played so far?
A: We used to play a three night gig at a club which consisted of Thursday through Saturday night. Some Thursday nights were really dead…I remember watching TV while playing the gig. We didn’t really feel it was that bad because we were getting paid and it was always good rehearsal, however it is always difficult to generate the energy when the crowd is not there.
1️⃣3️⃣ Have you ever had a gig go wrong before you even hit the stage?
A: I remember one night…it was the first gig for a dance band I played in. We did a lot of technical stuff in this band; the bass was all sequenced and the drummer played to a click track so the computer changed all of our settings for each song. It was kind of advanced for that day. We got to the club and found out we didn’t have some of the chords and things to get it all hooked up, so the drummer went to a music store to get the items. That setup must have taken us about 3 or 4 hours and we didn’t get started until about an hour after we were supposed to get things going.
1️⃣4️⃣ What’s the smallest, weirdest, or most unexpected place you’ve played a show?
A: I guess the smallest was a pool party at an apartment complex.
1️⃣5️⃣ Any gigs where everything went wrong… but the crowd saved it?
A: I go back to the unprepared gig I spoke of earlier, however I was so embarrassed I don’t remember the reaction of the audience once we started playing.
1️⃣7️⃣ Is there a gig moment that still gets talked about in the band now?
A: If our old band which played the wedding reception was still around I have no doubt we would still be talking about that night.
1️⃣8️⃣ Pre-gig rituals: what has to happen before you walk on stage?
A: Being prepared long before the gig…something which I definitely learned from the “unprepared” gig.
1️⃣9️⃣ What’s the one thing that can instantly kill the vibe at a live show?
A: Sound issues…feedback, poor boardman, equipment malfunction, and of course forgetting the lyrics and not being able to bs your way through.
2️⃣0️⃣ Do you write songs with live crowds in mind?
A: No. If anything, we would just improve the song through tempo changes, effects, or choreographed moves…drum solo, that sort of thing.
2️⃣1️⃣ Dream support slot or festival booking — who are you sharing the stage with and where?
A; I currently would say performing with a band out of Austin, Texas called Fastball at the SXSW festival.
2️⃣2️⃣ After the noise, the sweat, and the adrenaline — how do you chill as a band once the gig’s over?
A: Our drummer had a rent house very near a club we played often, and we would go there after the gig and party till the sun came up on many occasions.
🎶 THE BIGGER PICTURE
2️⃣4️⃣ The rock and metal scene runs on community — who do you want to shout out?
A: A big Texas shout out to The band Fastball, The Speaker Wars, Hollan Holmes, a good friend of mine who is popular in the ambient electronic scene, and Ralph Galetti and his band in Albuquerque
2️⃣5️⃣ What’s the ultimate goal for David Moore & Westridge?
A: I would love to turn the younger people on to music like I grew up with…analogue, original, unscripted…not the formula verse chorus verse, find a produced sound that someone used for a song and repeat it ad nauseum…when music was written from the soul and not the pocketbook.
2️⃣6️⃣ What’s coming next — new music, tours, festivals, or secrets you’re not allowed to spill yet?
A: Once I finish and release A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule I plan to take a break. I will have been working on this for well over a year and a half by the time it is done, and I will be ready for a breather. Next winter I plan to remix my second album as it was a rush job and I want to clean it up. After that we’ll see what happens.
2️⃣7️⃣ Finish this sentence:
“If you like your rock/metal loud, honest, and played like it means something, you should check out David Moore & Westridge because…”
A: that is what we do. Original music with a vintage flavor and plenty of surprises through the course of a listening session. From soft rock, folk rock, blues, pop rock, funk rock, classic rock…we’ve got you covered.
🔥 RIFF REPORT SIGN-OFF
Big love to David Moore & Westridge for taking part 🤘
Support bands. Support venues. Support studios (and the takeaway places that keep them alive).
– The Riff Report 🎸
