The Southern California Desert’s Most Interesting Man Celebrates Another Incredible Year At Pappy & Harriet’s , June 6th & 7th
by Lisa Morgan
The “Most Interesting Man” seen in the popular beer commercials doesn’t have a thing on musician/producer, Dave Catching, or his beard. As the sun flies around Catching’s world for the 53rd time, the guitar player for well-known hard rock bands Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age, Tex and the Horseheads, The Ringling Sisters, earthlings?, Mondo Generator and the Masters of Reality (to name a few) and co-owner, founder and producer at the world famous Rancho De La Luna Recording Studio shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, he’s likely to get much busier as he nears the completion and release of several new projects including new albums from Eagles of Death Metal, Masters of Reality, earthlings? and his highly anticipated solo album. Catching will be featured on the soundtrack for a documentary/movie about Alain Johannes, a multi-instrumentalist, producer and/or founding member, heavily involved in one facet or another with several bands including Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Lanegan, and The Desert Sessions. Catching was recently in New Orleans producing a record for DiNOLA, bought a bar while he was down there, and will be off to Montebelluna, Italy shortly to record with the band, The Shit, at the Outside Inside Studio.
Catching is no name dropper. The names of the renowned musicians he works with and who call him friend just fall out as he talks about everyday life at his “house”, the Rancho De La Luna Recording Studio in Joshua Tree. The Rancho was founded in 1994 by Catching and Fred Drake. The vision for the Rancho, co-inspired by Fred Drake who died in 2002, was to create a “relaxed recording environment, complete with inspirational sunsets, moon-rises and shooting stars, a refreshing redwood tub under the shade of china-berry and palm trees; the scent of food on the grill mingling in the night air with the aroma of fresh dark roasted coffee is perfect for writing, recording solo or with full band in tracking rooms overlooking the desert. Those tracking rooms are filled with vintage instruments, amplifiers and the legendary Rancho drum sound. The warm analog sound is just right for the recording artist with a discerning ear.” Drake’s inspiration lives on at the Rancho, now doubling as Catching’s home where he has been “known to cook for bands and allow them to stay at the house for weeks at a time while they record.” If the walls of the Rancho could talk they would tell musical tales of the many well-known artists such as Midget Handjob featuring Keith Morris, Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, earthlings?, Daniel Lanois, Fu Manchu, UNKLE, Twilight Singers, Masters of Reality, Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Victoria Williams, The Duke Spirit, Eagles of Death Metal, Mark Lanegan, Dave Grohl, Desert Sessions, including sessions with PJ Harvey, Hulk, Sparta, Nine50nine featuring Dave Krusen and Ty Willman, The Giraffes and Arctic Monkeys. And that is the short list.
The story of David Catching starts in the fertile musical soil of Memphis Tennessee during the 70s. “My brother and my uncle had a band that I’d watch rehearse, and I thought they were really cool. My parents had a Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels Greatest Hits album that I listened to a lot. Of course, growing up in the 60s, I listened to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix and eventually got into music by David Bowie and Alice Cooper. My good friend, Price Phelan, was a banjo player; he and my brother showed me some chords, and eventually Price and I started playing in high school. After a while I started playing Roxy Music, The Damned, Brian Eno, Sex Pistols and Judas Priest. I had a friend that collected records, and we always listened to everything. We were never sticklers for one kind of music. There was so much great music in the 70s, it was all around.”
Aside from the first few guitar chords being shown to him, his teaming and fruitful musical resume is the result of self-education and an incredible ear. “I’m not very ‘learned’ in music. I play by ear, and I play with really great people. But I don’t have any music knowledge, really. Somehow I faked my way through it. Maybe I’m just fun to hang out with, so people let me play with them,” he chuckled. “I think it has a lot to do with my availability. Certain people have played music all their lives, and then they have kids or whatever, so they’re not quite as available as they used to be. I’ve continued on the path of availability, so it works out for me. I’m very happy. I enjoy making music, playing music with my friends and helping friends with their albums.”
When I asked what part of his very busy world he enjoys the most, he shared, “I like playing live a lot; it’s fun and you get to travel and see your friends in other countries. But it’s hilarious being in the studio. You’re surrounded by your best friends, and you’re making music and having a blast. That’s pretty unbeatable as well.” When asked if he had any regrets, or would do anything differently, he responded without hesitation: “Absolutely not. How could I? I have the best life ever. I am very fortunate to have made the decisions that I’ve made. I’m old, but I don’t feel like it. I’m still doing what I was doing when I was 16. I’m not bumming on turning another year older at all.”
I asked if there was any current music that he was inspired by. “I really admire younger bands that get out on the road and travel all the time. Back when I was a kid, gas was really cheap, and when you told someone you were a musician, that was really cool, because there weren’t very many. Now everyone’s a musician. For them to go out and do it, and risk everything just to try… is pretty amazing.” Recently, one such young band, Red Huxley, from South Africa, approached Catching regarding a desire to record an album at the renowned Rancho. “They wrote me that they wanted to come out here. I wasn’t sure they were going to pull it off, but because they’re a pretty cool band, they launched a successful Kickstarter campaign and were able to pull it off. We were able to make a pretty great record considering we didn’t have a lot of time. They were well prepared when they got here, so we were able to do a lot. I hope they are successful; I really appreciate bands that have that kind of drive and determination to really make things happen.”
“I wish I had more time to listen to music, besides what’s going on with my friends, in my studio or on the road,” he went on to say. “Masters of Reality is still one of my favorite bands of all time. I like what Peaches (Canadian Synth-punk/dance-punk musician) is doing with her music. She’s a friend of mine as well. I think Queens of the Stone Age are making the most interesting commercial music these days. Josh and I have been friends forever. He just keeps making good music and touring, and they’re one of the best live bands to see. I really admire the Foo Fighters. They just did a song for their new HBO show at my house (Rancho De La Luna) recently. That was pretty cool. Dave Grohl and I have been friends for a long time, and I really respect his work ethic and how he gets things taken care of. Jack White has the same kind of work ethic, and I really like what he’s got going on. His work ethic is the best of anyone I know. He and Dave have the means to do what they want to accomplish. It helps to have the means to hire the best of the best and record in the best places. That’s why their music sounds so great. I’ve been working on my solo record for years because everyone I have working on it is so busy it makes it hard to finish things. It’d be fantastic to be able to hire the best of the best and get things done.” Catching’s highly anticipated solo album seems to be near completion in spite of the obstacles and, considering what he’s done for so many other artists, should garner a lot of attention. “It’s getting close,” he said with a note of excitement. “Alian Johannes, Chris Goss, Gary Werts (Strawberry Smog), Mark Lanegan (one of my favorite singers) and myself, will all be singing on the album.”
So what do you give a guy for his birthday who has everything he wants, has done everything he wanted to do, keeps doing what he wants to do, and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down? Here in this Southern California desert music community, we put him and his beard on the cover of our paper and let him take over the historical Pappy and Harriet’s for a birthday party that is sure to be as full of surprises as it will be great music. “I’ve had my birthday in New Orleans before. Last year I was in Europe with Masters of Reality. I like doing it at Pappy’s; it’s one of my favorite venues. I love playing there especially outside. The weather is going to be perfect.” With bands hand selected by Catching himself, and a circle of associates that read like a music industry “Who’s Who”, Catching advises all those planning on attending Saturday’s sold out event, arrive early. The bands on that ticket, not including “special surprise guests too big to mention”, are; Eagles of Death Metal, FATSO JETSON, Chris Goss, Jesika von Rabbit, Strawberry Smog, Disastroids, ASTRO ZOMBIES and Masters of Reality.
Due to the popular demand and quick sale of the original night of celebration, Friday night has been added. Tickets are available (while they last) for $15. You’ll be treated to performances by “The Rancho De La Lunatics”, Alaine Johannes, Brave Black Sea, The Black Tibetans, Parosella and many other special guests. Friday night will be held inside. Doors will open at 9 pm and can be purchased through the venue website: pappyandharriets.com via ticketweb.com.
I asked Dave, “If you could have one birthday wish, what would it be?” His response, three days prior to the event: “No guest list,” he chuckled. Calls have been pouring in to the man of many friends who do not want to miss this party. A few of the friend’s whose lives have been enhanced by Catching’s talents and friendship, have provided me with special messages for the desert icon.
Chris Goss: “Masters of Reality and the entire Rock n roll world wishes Dave Catching a giant Happy Birthday”
Ted Quinn (Rancho De La Luna Family, Founder of Radio Free Joshua Tree, Musician and Artist): “Happy Birthday Dave- Thanks for bringing so much rock’n’roll heart to the desert. Long live the Rancho & all the Earthlings who call it home. Lots of love xo Ted”
Red Huxley (South African Rock Band): “Happy Birthday to the biggest legend with the most Rock n Roll beard in the Desert!! Dave you are the best! Rancho will always be the best place we’ve ever been. Hope the bash at Pappy’s is incredible, wish we could be there. Love Red Huxley”
Brandon Ray Henderson (CVMA Award Winning Promoter and Musician): “It will be a true pleasure to celebrate you and rock in your honor this weekend. As you get better with age, you remind me of a fine wine, with an even finer beard. I’m proud to call you my friend. Happy Birthday Davey Jo!”
Shawn Mafia (Local Artist): “It’s like I always tell everyone, Catching is the fuckin’ man! And I got to meet the man once or twice over the past decade, so that makes me a little more of a man than I actually am. Dig your stuff Dave and Happy Birthday. Thanks for letting me record my first album at the Rancho, with Ted and Tony, many moons ago.”
The fantastically productive and well documented life of Dave Catching is a tribute to an artist who has made the sometimes, tough decisions to remain true to himself and his calling. A naturally talented musician and crafter of sound who maintains an energetic zest for the creative life and the people in it, it is more than likely that for Dave Catching (and his beard) the best is yet to come.
