“Once we got it in our heads that we were going to make a live album, there was no going back.”
“We were, and still are, very proud of the show that we worked together to craft in 2014. We were pumped to document it, but had some very strict guidelines for how the record would be made and distributed. First off, it had to be cut to tape without the use of protools or any other digital workstations, etc. Secondly, we did not want to alter the show in any dramatic way to accommodate the recording process (this was very important to Sonny and the guys). Lastly, it had to be available on wax. Each of these presented a unique set of issues.
The first, was pretty simple to deal with on its own. Sure, we had to haul in a ton of gear to cut it to tape, but that was doable. Also, the club was very accommodating. But when paired with the second guideline, that we wouldn’t dramatically alter the show, it became a bit of an issue. You see, the show never really stops. All of the songs run together. This means there is no time to change out reels of tape. When the idea of building short breaks into the show for reel changes was presented, I think I got very upset and actually said I’d rather just not make the record. John Miller (Secret Stash’s Chief Engineer) came up with a solution. He brought in two tape machines. Before one reel would run out, he’d fire up the other machine, providing continuous recording.
The third guideline, the one stipulating that the record had to come out on wax, was the one that we thought could derail the whole thing. Again, on its own, it seems like no big deal. But, when combined with guideline number 2, it looked like real trouble. Vinyl, in all it’s glory, is not without serious limitations. Truth be told, it’s part of what I find appealing about it from the artist’s perspective. I love setting boundaries. I like saying here are the tools at our disposal, now let’s create something using only what is at our disposal. At most, you can fit about 22 minutes per side on an LP. We had to figure out how to hit 18-22 minutes per side without dramatically changing the show.
John and I sat down to hash it out and quickly realized, the show was already paced that way! I found that to be very cool. Without planning it, the show mimicked the LP experience. When you listen to an LP, you get music for 20 minutes, then you have to get up and flip the record. Our show is very similar to that. It’ll go for 18-22 minutes, and then it sort of breaks down. We were able to put in the side breaks without altering the show in any serious way. Ever since that meeting with John, I’ve always felt that somehow the way we enjoy LPs subconsciously influenced how we paced that show.
In the end, we were able to make the record we wanted to make. John mixed the whole thing live to 2 track tape and we didn’t have to change the show to make it work. It was a big undertaking for everyone involved, but we’re very pleased with the results. Sonny recently told me that after accomplishing this, he feels like we can do anything. It’s worth doing for that alone!”
—Eric Foss, Drums/Secret Stash Records
Sonny Knight And The Lakers flex their live chops on crowd favorite “Sock A Poo Poo.”
We have the pleasure of premiering the Minneapolis octet’s live performance, which captures the band’s hard won musical muscle and supreme talent for audience interaction. The gang builds their funked out soul riffs into a crescendo of percussive horn stabs which multiply after every simmering verse. When the machine gun blasts settle, we are left in the capable hands of 66 year old front man Sonny Knight who has spent a lifetime honing his stage persona.
The seeds of the band began in 2012, and by late 2013 Sonny & The Lakers were holding down sought after residencies all over South Minneapolis. Their debut album, I’m Still Here, tips its hat to Motown and Stax inspired sounds but often digs deeper into the gold mine of early ’70s funk.
Preorder Sonny Knight And The Lakers’ double live LP, Do it Live right here on orange vinyl for the first 300 of you via Secret Stash Records. The band is currently touring the Eastern hemisphere, so if you dig what you see and hear, catch them doing it live.
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PHOTOS: MIKE MADISON
