Visit to Kendrick Amplifiers
On Monday (April 8th, 2013) Bob and I headed up to Kempner, TX to meet with the amp genius Gerald Weber and his team. Bob’s Marshal amp needed some work and there is no better place to get a tube amp serviced than by Kendrick. We hung out for a while in their work-space and talked about music, guitars and amplifiers. This picture is of one of the “Kendrick-Kats” hanging out with Bob’s now gutted Marshal amp. Believe me, when we get that amp back its going to be better than new!
On the main assembly table were a slew of custom amps they are making for the Blue Man Group. I remember back in the day when I worked at BMG in Las Vegas. We used Vintage Orange amps for the Zither in the show and would blow them seemingly every other month. We had three of them and one was always in rotation to Gerald for service, one live in the show, and one for back up. Gerald sent us his prototype for a “Blue Man Amp” that would out perform and out last those Vintage Orange amps. We beat the crap out of that amp for two shows a day every day and it held up without fail. It just never went down and never sounded bad. Of course we ordered more for the show and replaced the Orange amps.
Gerald had that original prototype amp in his shop and told Bob and I that since we had it in the show in Las Vegas it had done tours of duty in the Chicago, Orlando, and New York shows… it never went down EVER. He mentioned that he dosen’t even think they had to re-bias the tubes on that original amp. Gerald and his crew are now building copies of that amp for every show in the Blue Man eco-sphere including the new show in Brazil. I’m telling you. If you need a KILLER tube amplifier you’ve got to check out Kendrick Amps.
Bob got to play a few Kendrick guitars through a few amp/speaker combos and we both really fell in love with their 7-watt studio amplifier played through a closed-back cabinet. It was one of the purest, most beautiful guitar tones we had ever heard. Really unbelievable. That little 7-watt amp is even being used by live players as it is unbelievably loud for its diminutive size and really sounds incredible.
We didn’t get to hear it, but Gerald showed me the new 300 Watt bass amp he’s working on and it’s a BEAST! I can’t wait to go back soon and hear that thing make the thunder. Tony’s going to HAVE to get one for his DoM arsenal.
We cannot stress it enough; Do yourself a favor and check out Kendrick Amplifiers.
Rock!
-erik
Video from Red 7
Here we are playing Dreamcrushers Inc. at Red 7 back on January 31st, 2013.
Thanks for the video DIY Danna Vision!
We’re still rockin!!!
Hey Martian Maniacs, we wanted to let you know we are still rockin. We’ve been playing gigs around Austin and out of town but we’re heading back to Red Eyed Fly on Feb. 16th to celebrate Tony and Space Viking Erik’s respective birthdays (before and after the 16th) it is going to RAGE!! We’ll have more details very soon!
We’re also building on our Martian empire with new tunes in the works as well as mapping our plan to dominate the Earth starting with Texas. As we travel outside of Austin and beyond the galaxy, be sure to check here as well as our more immediate feeds Deserts of Mars Facebook page and on Twitter. Tell your friends across the Universe!!! You’ll never miss an event if you follow us there!
Rock on!!
New Drummer, New Shows, MORE ROCK!!
Since Billy left to teach his daughter how to fight Rocktopi, we had to wait for the Curiosity Rover to do it’s real mission and find us a drummer. We’ve found the mighty Space Viking Erik Kinservik who thundered his way to our Martian home base and is now rocking the drums in DoM.
We’re playing November 23rd at Red Eyed Fly (our home base away from the home base) with an awesome lineup of bands!! Details Below:
Deserts of Mars returns from their home base with a new drummer and more rock than ever! Forget Black Friday… We’re turning it to the new post holiday: RED FRIDAY!
As usual get there directly on time and stick around for an awesome night of ROCK. Our friends Holy Ka-Kow rock the headlining slot and we are surrounded by new friends Wait Six and Wells Branch. Roll out of bed in the afternoon and start your weekend with a healthy dose of ROCK!
It’s also Megan of Holy Ka-Kow’s B-day! Come early and stay late for awesomeness!!
Cover is the usual 5$ (or $8 under 21)
- 9:30 Wells Branch
- 10:30 Deserts of Mars
- 11:30 Wait Six
- 12:30 Holy Ka-Kow
We will also be announcing new 2012 closeout and upcoming 2013 shows very soon! We’re also working on a new and improved DoM website that allows us easier updating and more ROCK for everyone. Hope to see you all more often. In the meantime, there’s always the Deserts of Mars Facebook page. Tell your friends across the Universe!!!
Rock on!!
– TS
SXSW 2012 – DoM Shows
We’re playing four shows during SXSW so you will have ample opportunity rock out with us.
Saturday the 10th at Red Eyed Fly at 10:00, Two shows on Tues. the 12th, first at 7:00 at Bernadette’s for the Indie Radio Rocks the World 2 show then at Midnight at Trophy’s for the Violent Night CD Release Party and finally at The Grackle on Thurs. at 8:30 for the AFHC Grackle Rock II super rock show!!!
All of these shows are FREE except for the Saturday Red Eyed Fly show. TONS of awesome bands are at each one, so come out and rock with us. For updates and more info always check the Deserts of Mars Facebook page. We’ll be updating throughout the week.
Rock on!!!
-TS