Born and bred in a small town in North Carolina, Brian Lowe grew up loving bluegrass and country. After a stint in the Army as a musician, Brian soon found himself in Colorado as an in demand live and studio guitarist. After building up his reputation for great guitar, he became a Line6 regional product specialist, playing both NAMM shows. Now Brian Lowe is on tour with Jake McVey, an Nashville recording artist. As well as working with Jake, he has an official partnership with Nashville songwriter Dak Alley, doing the guitar work on Dak’s demo’s that are going everywhere from Nashville to New York and L.A.
Oh and he just got endorsed by Valley Arts Guitars.
If Brian isn’t an all around musical machine, I don’t know who is. His love and passion for music shows through every note he plays. This is a great example of a man who has made music his life and is loving every minute of it. Keep Readin’ to check out some of his own personal memoirs of life on the road…
Overdubbing or What can you do on a Trip between Iowa and Wyoming?
by Brian Lowe
Well, as I sit here listening to The Kings of Memphis (A song of Dak’s with Brian on it), it still just amazes me what technology will do. I also decided to talk about the process of this new fangled recording type stuff, and how it made our lives easier. BUT FIRST……
My next Valley Arts….I’ve decided on an Alder body (which is what the MusicMan Luke is), with the EMG set up, a Floyd Rose Trem, and a 7/8’s body with the 24 fret neck, just like Stewie. I also, after much deeeliberashun(yeah, my accent even transfers over to my writing), I have decided on the Fireburst finish. See, Luke’s(and aparantly I wanna be ObiWanLukeMason) was a fireburst…you can see that guitar in countless Toto vids and his Instructional vid. Plus I remember seeing that guitar when I was a teenager and it was just danged cool.
Ok, as most of you know, I use Cakewalk 9.0 Producers Edition. Not sure what Dak uses…ProTools probably…doesn’t matter…He sends me the first cut of Kings. It’s got the Jordanaires, Dak, and Dak playing guitar. That’s it. Now, the coolness factor of hearing the Jordanaires blast out of a track you’re going to cut guitar on, well that’s pretty freakin cool…
Anyway….so I converted that from a MP3 to a wave file, imported it into a stereo track on my Cakewalk, and doubled that track. Then, I used my VA T series into the Line6 Toneport, and did the really pretty chorusy “tic tac” sounding guitar in the back ground. It was actually a Line6 preset I tweaked a bit on. Then I called up a Vox AC30 TB for the lead track. That was it. Once those were done (took maybe an hour to do both tracks where I was happy, at least as happy as I could be without over analyzing it), I mixed it down in an MP3 format, and sent that to Dak. Next,the Dakster sends me a rewrite. (oh this is all being done at this point, on the bus. Using one of those new fangled wireless cellular space shuttle computer gadget cards via satalite thingys)….
We get to the hotel in Cheyenne, I get the new track. It’s now got piano…so I went back in, same sounds, same thing. This is the track you hear online now at Dak’s place…except, I didn’t hear the percussion until like 5 AM this morning. Plus all the great backing vocals….I think we did some good work. All online. Amazing. Now don’t get me wrong. I love tape. Nothing like cutting in a 24 track 2 inch or 16 track 1 inch tpae. Nothing. It sounds good. I don’t know why, it just does. But this computer stuff is just the way it is now. And it sounds damned good also. And it’s only going to get better.
Also, there’s alot to be said for being in the same room with other people…but this is the way it’s going folks….so I’d say if ya aren’t real familiar with computer recording, get there. Of course, you can do the big sessions with firewire multi tracking doo hickeys and stuff, so you can do whatever your budget allows….all the major studios have a Pro Tools room these days….but you can also be 2000 miles away, a whole freakin continent away, and record with other people. Which is also inspiring as all git out.
-Brian
www.myspace.com/brianloweproject
21 responses so far ↓
1 Brian Lowe // Feb 27, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I just wanted to send a huge shout out to a few people…
Frank Mastrionna at M2 Studios for the great job engineering Magnolia
Tim Godwin and Valerie Corabi at Line6…yep, I use Line gear exclusively
Al Carness at Valley Arts Guitars…when only the best will do, right Al?
Last but not least, all the great studio cats who paved the way…Steve Lukather, Brent Mason, Reggie Young, Larry Carlton, and Joey Brasler
Thanks again, Jeff!
2 Terry Dooley // Feb 27, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Great story on a great musician. The above quote says it all, “His love and passion for music shows through every note he plays . . . ” From blue grass to rock, country to blues, Brian seems to embellish whatever style he is playing with his own personality and interpretation. Unfortunately, the term “idol” has been tarnished by 20 something cookie cutter wannabe’s … There is still hope … it comes in the form of a gifted guitarist who still cares about what music was intended to be … pure, real and genuine. That’s an Idol..
3 Christine // Feb 27, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Way to go Brian! I still say you sound best when we are just sitting around & you just play whatever song I tell you to play, or you play something & I have to guess what it is! Congrats! I bet Dad would be tickled!
Love ya,
Chris
4 Dak Alley // Feb 27, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Hey Brian, I’m very honored to be a small part of your interview, you are a great guitar player and deserve any recognition you get!
your friend always
Dak Alley
5 Tim Richardson // Feb 27, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Before I switched to guitar in pursuit of “The Goddess of Metal” I played bass for 25 years. I played with many different guitarist and many different styles of music! On bass I can play anything with anybody! Brian is the finest guitar player I have ever worked with. He can play excellently in any style! We recorded some tracks at my studio, “Cheap$kate Productions”, and they are some of the finest recordings my studio has produced! Brian has turned his sights to taking on Nashville. and you “Heavies” up there would do well to take note! I know I will hear his playing on the radio as soon as some “suit” signs his name in blood! Good Luck, Brian, “The Force Is With You” … “The Chosen”
6 Michelle Wyatt Coonen // Feb 27, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hey Brian!! The small town boy goin’ big time! I can say I knew him when…
I’m proud of you! Remember us little folk back home in NC!
Best of luck to ya,
Chell
7 Jeff // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:20 am
You guys think this is good stuff, wait until his interview comes out where he spills the secrets of being a successful pro studio/road guitar player!
You don’t want to miss it when it comes out, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.
8 Ron Zabrocki // Feb 28, 2008 at 6:21 am
Hey Brian!
You rock! Technology….nuthin’ better!
Sounds like you’ve got yourself pretty comfy with it all! And you can obviously express yourself beautifully!
All the best!
Keep playing those wonderful licks!
Ron Z
9 Jolinda Livesay // Feb 28, 2008 at 8:58 am
Brian,
you met along the way. You deserve all this!! I am so proud. Keep up the great work. There will always be chocolate Stewie for us.
I am so happy for you. Please remember the little people and the tall women
10 Frank Mastroianna // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hey Brian… I’m so happy for you… I still look with great fondness on the times we had here in Colorado both in the studio and playing live. I still learn more from watching you play than anything else… Rock On Brother… hope to see you soon.
11 allyson Ballard // Feb 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hey Bri! I am so impressed with how far you have come! You are an amazing artist & well you know I think it too! I hope you remember to think of me when you win that award I told you about! Ally
12 Terry Wood // Feb 28, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Hey Brian!
Congrats on your latest successes!!
I’m working on another collaboration for us…..I’m thinking a little blues number, Chicago style!
Tell Jake and the band to add a Kansas City venue to the tour! Keep on playing those tasty Luke licks on the Valley Arts guitars! (Valley Arts Rule!!)
Blessings!!
-Terry
13 Brian Lowe // Feb 29, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Wow, thanks guys…I’ve got y’all fooled…still gotta say hey to a few others:
Andy Winston at West L.A. Music…nice picture man….
My mom
14 Obi-wan Cornholio // Feb 29, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I seem to remember us having the discussion about the 7/8 Valley Arts Larry Carlton models, standing out front of that place we worked at, just south of downtown Denver all those years ago. Glad to see things are finally working out for you dude, it’s been a long time coming. Next time you find yourself in the area, you should give me a shout. Been doing a small jazz combo thing with my ES-345 and loving it. Jack says hey…
15 Julie // Feb 29, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hi Brian, awesome job of being such a wonderful musician and artist. It takes a tremendous amount of talent to be able to rock like you do!! I am sooo looking forward to when you guys are back in town!! Safe journies and the best of luck,
Julie
16 Zubi // Feb 29, 2008 at 3:16 pm
awesome article! Brian you are an awesome guitar player
Keep it up.
17 The Electricjunke // Mar 2, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Colorado has long know of Brian’s awesome guitar abilities. We are glad the rest of the world has found him now! All the best Bri….
18 Kevin Grant // Mar 7, 2008 at 8:39 am
You have a new fan Brian, But lets get that CD out man. I am the proud new owner of a Brian Lowe Signature series Tele’ You guitar players Can’t get them yet because It’s just the first concept model. Brian thinks outside the bus(tour bus)
19 Tom Laird // Mar 12, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Great interview, Brian!!! Remember me when you’re at the top, OK?!!! ; )
20 Heather // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:20 am
Congrats on all the success that you are having in your life. You deserve every bit of it. You are truly amazing. Best of luck.
21 Cindy // Apr 4, 2008 at 12:30 pm
You have worked hard to get where you are today and I’m very proud of you. You have touched my heart and I’m blessed to have you in my life…..I will always be here for you…Take care you
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