Marc Ribot

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32-20-Blues

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Anyone familiar with his stuff?

Really lef-field guitar playing.
 
I only know him through the Tom Waits albums that he's played on. I've always really liked his style. I was very glad to see him rejoin Tom on Real Gone, his playing really adds a dimension to the songs that you just can't replicate.

I've always been curious as to his setup. He has this powerful, punchy tone that sounds like a hollowbody thru a Twin or something. Just enough grit to know its there, but not so much that it takes away any dynamic response. It just sounds like super-heavy strings being absolutely pounded.
 
Did he do the lead or rhythm on 'Downtown Train'? And did he play on Ice Cream man?
 
I'm a *giant* Marc Ribot fan.

Love all his work with Waits (which is mainly on just two albums - Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years, but also Big Time and Real Gone) and saw him solo live in Bristol.
I was amazed to see that, after years of listening to him, and trying to get his sound, he had almost the exact same guitar and amp as me!

He was using a wine-red LP Studio and a blackface Fender Vibrolux (I have the modern version of the amp (the CVR) and a wine-red LP Studio (not that the colour changes the sound - lol)).

This was mainly just a coincidence though, as he uses quite a lot of gear - almost certainly a strat on some things.

That LP Studio into the bright channel of my CVR, with the treble turned up to 7 and the bass turned down to four, does get me a really Ribot-ish sort of sound though.

It's a bloody lovely combination too.
I must start playing my new Strat less and give the Gibson a go more often ;)

I've never managed to nail his style of playing really. It's bloody amazing though, and I'd certainly cite him as one of my main influences.

I'm glad you posted this, as I really must get hold of some of his solo stuff...
Apparently 'Saints' is brilliant.

If you've never heard this guy play - go grab a copy of Rain Dogs and check out the intro to 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon'. Genius!

Oh - I forgot, he was also using a TS9 - and some other pedals I couldn't see. Mainly just the TS-9 though.
 
Codmate said:
This was mainly just a coincidence though, as he uses quite a lot of gear - almost certainly a strat on some things.

That LP Studio into the bright channel of my CVR, with the treble turned up to 7 and the bass turned down to four, does get me a really Ribot-ish sort of sound though.

I've never managed to nail his style of playing really. It's bloody amazing though, and I'd certainly cite him as one of my main influences.

I'm glad you posted this, as I really must get hold of some of his solo stuff...
Apparently 'Saints' is brilliant.

If you've never heard this guy play - go grab a copy of Rain Dogs and check out the intro to 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon'. Genius!
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I haven't really manage to nail his style either, although I've been working on his version of 'St James Infirmary Blues' for months now.

I've seen him play some really beat up guitars - an ancient harmony acoustic, a danelectro convertible, a strat, a nameless hollowbody from the fifties..

You're right, Saints is fantastic.

Telepaul: Downtown train has Tom himself on rhythm, as far as I know, with Marc doing the descending fills after 'Will I See You Tonight....,' etc. Keith Richards is all over that album also, though.
 
On "Downtown Train" from off of Rain Dogs, it's G.E. Smith playing guitar (of SNL band fame).

My current favorite Ribot/Waits sound is "Hoist That Rag" off of Real Gone. Oh man what a guitar solo!
 
Tadpui said:
On "Downtown Train" from off of Rain Dogs, it's G.E. Smith playing guitar (of SNL band fame).
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You're right, my bad. As I recall, Marc Ribot is mainly on the first half of that album. Robert Quine is also on that album, right?

From Real Gone, I think Ribot's work on Dead and Lovely is fantastic.
 
Oh yeah, that's a great song. His tone is just about perfect on that one.

Hehe, now after reading your signature, I've got Telephone Call From Istanbul stuck in my head.

"Saturday's a festival, Friday's a gem. Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem"

I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed
 
Tadpui said:
"Saturday's a festival, Friday's a gem. Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem"
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Follow me to Beula's on Dry Creek Road...

Yeah, great song, have you heard it done live on 'Big Time?' It's faster, and better in my opinion.
 
TelePaul said:
And did he play on Ice Cream man?
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No, he didn't do Ice Cream Man, I don't know who that was, it's always uncredited. Great guitar playing though.
 
My favourite Waits songs and he wsnot even on them!!!! Ah well. Guess hes just another sucker on the vine, eh? ;)
 
That's the spirit, TelePaul :)

Sorry to turn a Marc Ribot thread into a Tom Waits thread (well, not too sorry but still ;)) but has anybody been watching Tom on the talk show circuit lately? I saw him do a number off his new album on the Letterman show and he did a number off of Blood Money on the Daily Show. Pretty damn cool.

But to bring it back to the thread topic...was that Ribot with him on Letterman? If so, wow I didn't expect him to look like that at all. Big bald guy playing a red hollow-body something or other.
 
Tadpui said:
But to bring it back to the thread topic...was that Ribot with him on Letterman? If so, wow I didn't expect him to look like that at all. Big bald guy playing a red hollow-body something or other.
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I don't think that's Ribot. Ribot is skinny and small with a shock of white hair.

Some of the talk show stuff I've seen is quite good. Have you read this interview with Tom yet?

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/39683/Interview_Interview_Tom_Waits

Check it out, it's pretty good.
 
Nice to see a Marc Ribot thread. He's one of the more under-rated players out there imo. Very orignal. His solo stuff is worth checking out.
 
Great to see people lovin Ribot. Ifi i had one sizzteeth of his talent i would quit my day job in 2 minutes.

I got to see him with John Zorn in NYC once, pretty amazing, part of a large enemble, and lots of crazy discordant stuff that left me confused, slightly annoyed, but better for the experience.

That said, if you like him, check out the Prostetic Cubans albums, great latin edged stuff he did with some awesome rough tone.
http://www.amazon.com/Marc-Ribot-Los-Cubanos-Postizos/dp/B000006OB6

Daav
 
32-20-Blues said:
I don't think that's Ribot. Ribot is skinny and small with a shock of white hair.

Some of the talk show stuff I've seen is quite good. Have you read this interview with Tom yet?

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/39683/Interview_Interview_Tom_Waits

Check it out, it's pretty good.
Click to expand...

Have you heard the orphans albums yet? Amazing how prolific Waits has been int e past 10 years, such great stuff. The brawlers one has a few rockin' tunes that just blow me away for raw, stripped-down upbeat stuff,. TW style.

Daav
 
daav said:
Have you heard the orphans albums yet? Amazing how prolific Waits has been int e past 10 years, such great stuff. The brawlers one has a few rockin' tunes that just blow me away for raw, stripped-down upbeat stuff,. TW style.

Daav
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've heard some of Orphans. I was worried when I heard of the project first, because I thought it would be just rough alternative versions and a whole load of filler. I was wrong, it's actually great. 'Lowdown' is like some minimalist T-Rex song.
 
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