Fat Rabbit Studios

01/03/2015

Bettye LaVette | Mixonline

Wonderful article about the making of Bettye LaVette's upcoming record, "Worthy". This was produced by the brilliant Joe Henry, and masterfully engineered by Ryan Freeland. I was blessed to have recorded a few vocals for this phenomenal album by a legendary artist, and it's nothing short of a dream come true to be credited alongside some of my biggest inspirations. Look out for this one, coming to you all on January 27th!!

Jan 02 2015 Profiles Bettye LaVette Breaking the Rules for ‘Worthy’ 1/02/2015 5:15 PM Eastern Author: Barbara Schultz Follow @babbyjoschultz PrintEmail Photo by Carol Friedman “I’ve worked as a producer with a lot of legacy artists—people who have enough history and mean enough to us as listeners, w…

11/11/2014

Philips Golden Ears Challenge

Here's a fun challenge if you have a moment to test your listening skills…you will hate the songs by the end of it, but it's good to test where you're at!

I have just finished Golden Ears of the Philips Golden Ears challenge. Curious about your listening skills? Visit www.goldenears.philips.com

10/19/2014

Magic AB

If you're looking for the easiest solution for using reference material to check against your mixes, spend $40 to pick up Magic AB by Sample Magic. It's stupidly simple and ingenious, and makes switching between your mix and reference material perfectly seamless and painless. I only wish I had known about this sooner. Check it out!
https://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab

The concept behind Magic AB is simplicity itself – an easy-to-use but powerful utility plugin that allows you to switch between the audio you are working on in your DAW and up to nine reference tracks with the click of a mouse. With A/B referencing playing an essential part in the production, mixing…

10/09/2014

Issue 8-41 October 9, 2014 | Blues Blast Magazine

Wow, this was a real nice surprise today in my inbox. Thank you Blues Blast Magazine & Bob Kieser for the cover feature, and to Terry Mullins for interviewing me and writing such a nice article. I'm very proud of this one, so if you have a moment, please take a look and subscribe, and share if you feel so inclined. It's a wonderful electronic magazine, and it's FREE! This definitely was a much needed distraction from the week I've had, and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.
http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-8-41-october-9-2014/
#bluesblastmagazine #fatrabbitstudios #vizztone

Cover photo by Marilyn Stringer © 2014 In This Issue Terry Mullins has our feature interview with Dave Gross. We have 4 music reviews for you including new music from Elvin Bishop, Tim Gartland, Slim Bawb And The Fabulous Stumpgrinders and Shoe String Sue. We have the latest in Blues Society news…

09/25/2014

Stay tuned for the debut album, "Love Whip Blues", from Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers, out on the VizzTone Label Group on November 4th! I had a great time working on this project, and very excited for you all to hear the new music from this great New England group.
#erinharpe #vizztone

06/26/2014

Thank you Joe Henry for an amazing performance and taking the time to listen to me babble! You are one of a kind!

06/21/2014

2014 Blues Blast Music Awards Nominees Announced | Blues Blast Magazine

Very happy for my friend Albert Castiglia, who was nominated for a 2014 Blues Blast Music Award for "Best Rock Blues Album". Beyond proud and honored to have created this album with him. Voting begins July 15th!!
http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/2014-blues-blast-music-awards-nominees-announced/

Contemporary Blues Album Buddy Guy - Rhythm & Blues Cyril Neville - Magic Honey Joe Louis Walker - Hornets Nest Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown - Goin

06/11/2014

The next best thing to having Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin in the recording studio is having a Bob Margolin guitar track sent out to a 1950's Gibson amplifier and recording it with big ribbon microphones.
#thisguitarwillknockyouonyourass

05/16/2014

DownBeat Magazine

Awesome!! - EDITORS' PICKS from DownBeat Magazine: BY BOBBY REED Mikey Junior, Traveling South (SwingNation/VizzTone Label Group ) "In 2014 it’s rare to encounter a blues album in which the production plays just as important a role as the music itself. Properly recording the diverse sounds of a harmonica in the studio is no easy task, and for his latest album, blues harp master Mikey Junior turned to his guitarist-producer Dave Gross, who has done a superb job. On the title track to Traveling South, the harmonica has a spooky, gothic vibe, and on “The Cheat,” Gross has framed the harmonica so that it has an almost three-dimensional sonic quality. Gross demonstrates great control of dynamics here: He makes Michael Bram’s mighty drums sound positively primal on “Morning On My Way,” while on the delicate fadeout to “Nobody Does It Like Me,” Mikey Junior’s subtle harmonica riffs evoke visions of a whispering ghost floating down a hallway. On his eighth album, Mikey Junior contributes 10 original compositions among the dozen tracks. As a composer, his subject matter is often interpersonal relationships, and as a musician, he’s not aiming to reinvent the wheel. But his amazing skills on diatonic and chromatic harmonicas—combined with muscular vocals that offer just enough growl without getting cartoonish—make him an exciting presence on today’s blues scene. The best way to hear his latest album is with the volume cranked way up."

The online version of the leading jazz publication offers artist biographies, music reviews, and more.

05/13/2014

Always a fun time recording on the Wurlitzer EP! Found just the right place for it on Erin Harpe's upcoming record. Stay tuned!
#tremolo

05/11/2014

If you haven't already, please pick up a copy of these fine releases, and support two spectacular artists. Thanks to Lurssen Mastering for posting, and for their amazing work on these projects!

Big congrats to Albert Castiglia whose album "Solid Ground" hit #10 on Billboard's charts this week, and #13 for April on the Living Blues radio charts. Also to Mikey Junior whose album, "Traveling South" hit #9 this week. Produced by Dave Gross and mastered at Lurssen Mastering.

04/08/2014

Solid Ground by Albert Castiglia

Today marks the US release of my good buddy Albert Castiglia's "Solid Ground" on Ruf Records! If you haven't heard this album yet, please check out the link below and support this fantastic artist! This was a very special project to work on, and I'm particularly excited for you all to hear this one. Dig it!

Preview and download Solid Ground on iTunes. See ratings and read customer reviews.

03/28/2014

Albert Castiglia - Searching The Desert For The Blues (Official Video)

Here's another outstanding music video for your viewing pleasure, from Albert Castiglia's new album SOLID GROUND on Ruf Records, called "Searching the Desert For the Blues". I'm honored to have produced/recorded this album at Fat Rabbit Studios, and to be involved with yet another kick ass music video this week. Check this one out, and go grab this fantastic record! The video was expertly directed by Gerardo Lopez and Javier Romero, and produced by Gerardo and Darlene Lopez.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/solid-ground/id804871595

SEARCHING THE DESERT FOR THE BLUES ALBERT CASTIGLIA Written by Graham Wood Drout Track produced by Dave Gross Directed By Gerardo Lopez Javier Romero Directo...

02/28/2014

These old Radio Kings did some damage to a song today. The calfskin and mallets with these make the earth rumble...

02/26/2014

Check this out! All of the VizzTone Label Group's releases in one location at the VizzTone Room on iTunes! Tons of great records available for a steal...dig it!

Visit the new VizzTone Room on iTunes - ALL titles on sale for $7.99!

-> www.itunes.com/vizztone

To celebrate our new room and our Blues Music Award nominees, our entire catalog – now over 50 titles – is now on sale for a limited time: FULL ALBUM downloads for only $7.99! World Class Blues by Candye Kane, Little G Weevil, Trampled Under Foot, Bob Margolin, Phantom Blues Band, Ruff Kutt Blues Band, Debbie Davies, Gina Sicilia, Chris O'Leary, Long Tall Deb, Austin Young, and more!

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02/19/2014

Solid Ground by Albert Castiglia

Today marks the European and digital release of Albert Castiglia's new album "Solid Ground" available on Ruf Records!!! Extremely proud to have produced this album...Albert truly kicked ass on this one, as did everyone involved. Check it out RIGHT NOW!!! US street date 4/8/14, so until then, get your copy on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/solid-ground/id804871595

Preview and download Solid Ground on iTunes. See ratings and read customer reviews.

01/30/2014

New album releases!

Some new projects that I am incredibly excited about. Check it out, and listen to some music samples by going to the discography page. Please share!!

There have been several very exciting projects that I am happy to announce the release of. Albert Castiglia's "Solid Ground" will be available on Ruf Records 2/18/14 (Europe), and will be released in the US in April. This project shows a side to Albert that is sure to surprise the roots music world....

12/07/2013

Moogerfooger in the mix: not only does this thing sound incredible through an amp, it sounds equally as insane in the mixing stage. I have it inserted on the vocal of a certain citrullus lanatus, and it adds a hint of vibe to an already incredible vocal performance.

10/30/2013

Amazing day in the studio with Greg Piccolo and Matt Cowan, recording horn parts for Dean SHot's upcoming album!!

10/07/2013

At the Paoli Blues Festival yesterday w/Mikey Junior. We performed his upcoming record in it's entirety...great time!

10/01/2013

Only a few mixes into Albert Castiglia's album, and I'm already totally knocked out by the performances these guys put out. Seriously soulful, great songs, great vibe. It makes my job easy, lets me go to town on the mixes, and indulge in crazy and beautiful combinations of reverbs and subtle effects to try and achieve an otherworldly sense of depth and space. Moving on to the next mix!

09/27/2013

Mobile Uploads

09/19/2013

Had a great time w/JB Lawson in the studio this week. Real deal blues singer from Georgia, thanks to Dean Shot for putting this together...stay tuned on this one!

08/31/2013

Amazing week in the studio with Albert Castiglia and his band, recording his new album. Holy smokes, this thing is burning! Best stuff I've heard from Albert...his vocals are supremely soulful, his guitar playing is raw, powerful and tasteful, and the songs were perfect to mold around his talents. Matt Schuler and Bob Amsel played their asses off too, as did a couple of special guests. It was a great time..if we weren't recording, we were laughing, and that stuff goes a long way to make a session stay relaxed and productive. Finishing up tracking early next week, psyched to be involved with this one!

08/21/2013

Finishing a few projects this week, and starting some new ones. Just finished master for Arne Englund's album, and today will be finishing mixing Jeremy Baum's album. In a few days, getting started with Albert Castiglia on his polka/spoken word double album, as well as beginning Dave Rudbarg's new project. Much more in September!

08/13/2013

Quick piano overdub session for Billy J, after mixing Jeremy Baum's record

08/13/2013

Getting weird with reverb on a mix
#BonIver

08/10/2013

Great 3 days in the studio, working on 3 very different projects. Finished mixing Arne Englund's album, started preproduction for Dave Rudbarg's upcoming record, and 80% done mixing Jeremy Baum's upcoming album, The Eel. Lots more in the next couple of weeks, including starting on Albert Castiglia's new record! Stay tuned...

06/02/2013

Out on the road and away from the studio for the next month, but very happy to be able to attend the mastering session for Mikey Junior's amazing upcoming album when I'm on the west coast next week!

05/14/2013

In the studio today to record with Jeremy Baum, Myles Mancuso, Chris Reddan, Jay Collins, and Anthony Candullo!

05/06/2013

Finished up recording all parts for Mikey Junior's new album over the last few days, and starting to mix in about an hour...LOOK OUT!!

04/24/2013

EV 664 -> tape echo -> Gibson BR-4 amplifier -> Telefunken tube LDC -> Neve 1272 -> Pendulum Audio opto compression = good

04/22/2013

2013 sessions

04/20/2013

Back in the studio today mixing the audio for an upcoming Chris O'Leary Band DVD!