Riding The River With The Warlocks

:::Artist Spotlight:::

Bobby Hecksher

There's a revolution going on kids, the people have had their fill of the bubblegum brat rock bands and everything that goes along with them. Our radios have been seeping with the same shit for the last decade, our stages flooded with carbon copy bands, and the record labels? Don't even get me started. So what is the remedy you ask? If you know who Bobby Hecksher is you're already on the mend, if you don't, come ride the river with The Warlocks and get your fix. 

Listening to The Warlocks you'll quickly notice a feel in their music that you've heard before, an honest, pure and from the heart tone that has been extinct since the Golden Age of the 60's and 70's. Their live shows consist of a wall of fuzz that can only be rivaled by the screaming amps of the psychedelic rock era. I had a chance to catch up with Bobby and shot him some questions about his tone, some of his favorite effects pedals, his signature fuzz pedal, and the future of The Warlocks. Come now children and read on...

Analog War Cry:

I've been a huge fan of The Warlocks for a long time and one thing I've noticed is your love for effects. How much of your tone is based around your pedals?

Bobby Hecckser:

Cool man thanks! My tone is a combination of of a few basic things. I start with a really good guitar I like that feels good. I usually play a Gretsch Tennessee Rose these days, but switch back and fourth from my old grandpa the Vox Grand Prix. I tour with a Fender Deville straight up on the tone settings. I use two amps and split the signal when I need a delay sound or layered effect. Heavy Deavy was approached this way because all the guitar players quit so I modified my tone. Now that JC has returned has returned, and Ryan mans the solos, I am back to one amp. I run everything through a Line Driver and 80's Ibanez EQ. I use the Line Driver mostly for the Vox as those old electronics seem to cause a low output level.

AWC:

If possible would you share your pedal chain and rig setup?

Bobby:

Yeah, for recording I use 2 HM-1 Boss pedals, MXR Line Driver, Micro Chorus, Boss tuner, Ibanez EQ, and a SIB Delay. I switch phasers often dependent on my mood, Red Witch, Ross, to crap jobs and various lo-fi phasers. This is about the only thing that moves on my board. For touring same thing but switch out the Boss HM's and lately I use Dave Archers VFX fabulous custom job he did for The Warlocks, the Heavy Deavy Skull Fuzz. It's very cool!

AWC:

How did you get into pedals and which ones were you playing when you were growing up?

Bobby:

I've always been into sound and pedals. Seems like I've played them all at one time or another.

AWC:

I gotta ask. All time favorite fuzz box?

Bobby:

Hmm good good questions. I got a few...Vox on board guitar fuzz is the shit, It's dodgy though. Zvex is good but not practical, it's thin live. If you can find a real Fender Blender that's pretty cool, Colorsound, Vox Tonebender, I know they reissues some of those but that particular pedal (the Blender) is night and day between the classics.

AWC:

Who are some of your favorite companies right now?

Bobby:

You know, I'm not that up on all the newest stuff. There is a couple of new guys Joey Santiago from the Pixes turned me onto. Local LA fuzz makers, it's the one with the GRID on it scroll down - http://www.analoguehaven.com/

NYC's Death By Audio and John Cusacks phaser is good too but more recording type gear than live.

AWC:

Which bands have had an influence on you and The Warlocks?

Bobby:

Spaceman 3, Velvet Underground, Neu! They used pretty much all classic rigs. Vox, Gretsch, Fender, etc...

AWC:

Your signature box the Heavy Deavy Skull Fuzz from Vintage FX. I was stoked to have been a part of designing the artwork for it. How did you and Dave come about bringing it light? The thing sounds fucking killer!

Bobby:

Thanks for that! Well he sent me some pedals and I went through each one and gave him feedback. His stuff is based on the 60's classics so he was in the right direction. Good stuff. We started dialog on a prototype and low and behold he went and made it. You see I layer distortions and fuzz to get my sound. Dave put it all in one box which cut my pedal chain down and really helps me as a performer live. Less moving around with my feet. It's really great and really fun to play around with. It's fuzz & MXR + when you have them both on it creates a new boost great for solos and noise.

AWC:

Are you using the HDSF in your set right now?

Bobby:

Yes!

AWC:

I saw the "New record, New Website" post on The Warlocks website. What's the scoop with that?

Bobby:

Yes it's almost finished. It's some of the best songs I've ever done.

AWC:

Upcoming shows, dates, tours, etc...?

Bobby:

SXSW 2009 and not sure after that.

AWC:

Right on brother, thanks a bunch for for your time.

Bobby:

Thanks and take care.

(watch this video of The Warlocks playing on their last tour)

:Warlocks websites:

http://www.thewarlocks.com/news.php

http"//www.myspace.com/thewarlocks