That’s the confession of Dave Bucalo — a man who isn’t afraid to admit that he’s hooked on the technology and equipment he uses to make music. Fortunately, Dave is managing his addiction in a healthy way.
The Ludlow, Massachusetts, resident plays keyboards in several bands, but his main gig is with an outfit called Emotion. The five-piece ensemble plays its share of club dates in and around the Springfield area but specializes in weddings and big events. It seems that musicians are split when it comes to their feelings about wedding receptions; they either love ’em or hate ’em. But Dave says they can be a lot of fun. “We get better money, and it’s an easier gig,” he says. “Everybody’s there to have a good time. It’s a great atmosphere, and usually you’re out earlier than if you’re in a club.”
The only thing lacking from his work with Emotion, according to Dave, is the freedom of creativity that goes along with writing and playing original material. One of his outlets for self-expression is Accidental Groove, a female-fronted rock band that has released three CDs to date. He also plays occasionally with ’80s cover band Mullethead. In addition to being an onstage musician, Dave creates sequences for several acts, including a Massachusetts-based Beastie Boys tribute band. “I do all the keyboard parts, percussion parts, sometimes a bass line,” he says. “All kinds of stuff.”
When Dave is playing with Emotion, he brings a rig built to handle nearly any type of music. “I use a Korg Triton 61, along with a Korg Trinity,” he says. “I also use a Korg O1/W, and pull sound out of a Roland JV-1080 module. I use the Trinity up on top of an Ultimate Support Apex stand, the Triton on the bottom.” The 01/W is usually placed on Dave’s right, and not far away is a rack containing the JV-1080, a Rolls RM203x mixer, and a direct box. The mixer takes everything in and feeds the band’s main board, as well as Dave’s Roland KC-300 keyboard amplifier. A return monitor feed from the main P.A. mixing board is also sent to his amp. For some of his other projects, Dave throws his Roland V-Synth into the mix.
Dave also utilizes a Fostex MR-8 digital recorder to play sequences he’s recorded. “I used to use the ’boards, but the Fostex holds a lot more songs,” he says. “I keep them right on a Compact Flash card.” Emotion’s drummer uses an electronic drum kit, which makes things simpler. “I just feed a sequence to his amp, and it’s right there in his ear — with a click,” says Dave. He brings a laptop to each performance, loaded with a spreadsheet containing the names and location of the backing tracks he’s stored on his digital recorder. If the Fostex should ever fail, Dave has a backup plan. “I have all my sequences on the laptop.” He also stores a ton of music in the form of MP3 files on the laptop for use when it’s time for the band to take a break.
Before he went to a system of recording sequences for playback during shows, Dave relied on his keyboard workstations to do the trick. “Years ago I used the O1/W, then I used the Trinity, and then the Triton. But I’ve switched over to software. I use different programs, such as Reason. I’ve used Sonar, and I’m kind of playing around, trying to find what’s gonna work best for me. I’ve got a bunch of software that I’ve got to sift through.”
Dave Bucalo’s fascination with the latest music technology is behind a major overhaul he’s planning for his onstage setup. “I’m just starting to incorporate the [Muse Research] Receptor,” he says. “I’m switching over to VST. I’m gonna use two ’boards instead of three, depending on the project. The sound quality is so much better.”
Dave’s day job keeps him busy at least 50 hours each week. “I work for Control Aire Supply. We’re a heating and air conditioning wholesale distributor. I’m the operations manager. I definitely rely on my full-time job for income; all the other stuff is secondary.”
He may be playing in cover bands and performing original tunes with a rock band that’s built a decent following, but Dave Bucalo has no plans to become a full-time musician. “I do it because I love it,” he says. “I love the technical aspect, and I love playing in front of people.”
HIS JOURNEY CONTINUES
In 1980, keyboard player Jonathan Cain left the popular rock band the Babys to hook up with an even more successful act known as Journey, and he’s with that band to this day. Weekend Warrior Dave Bucalo says Cain’s playing made a big impression on him as Dave developed his playing style. The first Journey album to feature Cain, Escape, was a huge hit, producing chart-busting singles like “Don’t Stop Believing” (which was the last sound heard during the final episode of HBO’s series, The Sopranos). You’ll find songs like “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Faithfully,” another song featuring Cain on the piano, on Journey’s Greatest Hits.
WEEKEND WARRIOR WEB WATCH
Find out more about Dave Bucalo’s projects by visiting their respective websites. The official homepage for the band Emotion can be found at www.emotionband.net. Accidental Groove’s home on the Web is www.accidentalgroove.com. “Mullethead” shows its ’80s rock style at www.mulletheadrocks.com, and “Check Your Head” fights for its right to party at www.myspace.com/beastieboystribute.