Dave Ehmann – Adironacks Independence Music Festival
March 24, 2023
Taper Chris
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Taper Chris
I HAD TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES FAVORITE TAPERS. TAPER CHRIS. HE HAS TAPED HUNDREDS OF SHOWS AND DOZENS UPON DOZENS TWIDDLE SHOWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY! MYSTERIOUS AND OFTEN FOUND IN THE MOST RANDOM OF PLACES. HE PROVIDES A CRUCIAL SERVICE. WHEN YOU WANT TO RE LIVE THAT ONE OFF SHOW FROM 2012 IN A TINY BAR TAPER CHRIS WAS THERE. WHEN YOU WANT TO RELIVE A NEW YEARS EVE SHOW THE DAY AFTER THE SHOW. TAPER PROBABLY RECORDED IT. BELOW IS A BRIEF INTERVIEW WITH THE LEGEND HIMSELF!
1.) WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION IN STARTING TO TAPE LIVE MUSIC.
Well, after listening to the Grateful Dead live studio release (live dead, Europe 72, without a net. ) for years. I had gotten my hands on a few bootleg cassettes and a local record store had some bootleg lps and CDs and then I was really hooked!!! I went to my first Grateful Dead show 7-2-88. Also the first time I dropped acid. I saw the tapers at end of show an decided then, I was going to be one of those guys.
2.) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST SHOW YOU RECORDED.
Fast forward to 2002. I finally got a tape deck, and it was a dat at that was kind of hazy. My first show was govt mule at Roseland ballroom. I patched into another deck I didn’t have mics then. I was a “patch rat”. I quickly got some mics and a stand. I taped any band that was ok with it to get more practice.
3.) ALLONG THE JOURNEY I’M SURE YOU HAVE HAD ALOT OF EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD. ANY OF THESE EXPERIENCES STAND OUT MORE THEN ANY OTHER?
So many road stories. This is the best one though. It was summer of 93 after a bunch of drama! The van my ex and I were in broke down and we left the group to get ur own room. We were between deer creek n rfk. They got mad at us for not sharing and eventually left and we would figure out our plight in the morning. I wake up to go out to have a smoke n see Bill and Renee’s car parked at same motel. They are good friends of mine from New Hampshire who were also on tour so it all worked out perfectly.
4.) IF YOU WERE TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PLAY AND WHY.
I kind of play mandolin. It was given to me a little while ago!
5.) WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT TAPING RIG CONSIST OF.
My current rig is Church audio ca-14 omni and cardiod mics ca-9100 and ca-ubb2 pre amps and a Roland r44 4 channel recorder that uses a SD card. Deck has a Comcert mod on two channels and run all 4 channels
6.) WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SHOW YOU HAVE EVER TAPED.
I have a few favorites. They changed over the years an the more shows i went to. Taping Grateful Dead in 2003 at red rocks and twiddle at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. and Wide Spread Panic at first Bonaroo. Its still in my top 3.
7.) HAVE YOU EVER HAD VENUES DENY YOU ENTRY INTO VENUES AFTER THE BAND GAVE YOU THE OK?
Most times of the house says no. crew covers me, or I sneak in gear. Sunday I brought in gear but the band said no taping so I didn’t.
8.) IF YOU HAD TO GIVE ANY ADVICE TO TAPERS THESE DAYS WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Advice is give. Be humble. It’s ok if people talk. . But it’s ok to ask them to move aswell.
9.) AS A FAN OF YOUR WORK AND A CONSTANT LISTENER OF YOUR RECORDINGS I OFTEN WONDER. WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO SET UP SHOP TO GET THE BEST RECORDINGS?
The best place to tape is in a triangle with the speaker stacks. Most times. In front of soundboard is.better .than behind. . Make sure you have back up power , and secure all connections. If they don’t lock in tape it secure. And have a trash bag w you bc ya never know when all the drinks get spilled at same time, secure all connections. If they don’t lock in tape it secure. And have a trash bag w you bc ya never know when all the drinks get spilled at same time.
