Catalyst Recording: Years of Experience and Spirit

Having once recorded as a musician in a “very big, expensive studio” in the late 1980s, Rob Tavaglione quickly learnt that spending the big bucks doesn’t always give you the best recording experience. In 1995 he put all his knowledge into the opening of Catalyst Recording.

The building has housed a studio in one shape or another for years before Catalyst moved in, giving it a certain “spirit,” Tavaglione notes. “They feel music rolling around the place,” he told Performer in a 2007 interview. “And I like that.”

Gear: Classic 1970s AMPEX master tape recorder; Soundcraft Ghost Analog mixing console (with classic British EQ and automation); mic preamps from Manley, Earthworks, True, Sytek, TL Audio, Presonus, ART; digital editing via Digital Performer 5.12 running on OS X Tiger

Clients: Angwish, The Dead Kings, Jagfu

Booking Contact: Rob Tavaglione

Phone: (704) 376-5531

Email: rob@catalystrecording.com

Website: www.puckettsfarm.com

Puckett’s Farm Equipment: Putting the Rock Into Rockability And The America Into Americana

You can’t get more authentic than Puckett’s. The types of genres that the bar favors (bluegrass and rockabilly) were at their height when Puckett’s was an actual farm equipment retailer, making it the ideal location for folks to get their dose of true American music.

To book a gig, send the club a message via its MySpace page at www.myspace.com/puckettsfarm with basic information.

Genres: Rockabilly, bluegrass, acoustic, singer/songwriter

Phone: (704) 597-8230

Email: puckettsfarm@carolina.rr.com

Address: 2740 West Sugar Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC 28262

Website: www.puckettsfarm.com

In the News

The Sammies had their CD release party on August 9 at the Visulite Theater for their new record, Sandwich. The official release date is not until September 23, on MoRisen Records, and will mark the group’s second release on the label. The Sammies recently had a write-up in Pitchfork and the song “Glisten” has been made available for a free download.

www.the-sammies.com

The Avett Brothers have literally made some major changes. They announced on July 6 that their latest release, The Second Gleam, will be released via American Recordings /Columbia Records. Seth and Scott Avett have personally been working with producer Rick Rubin on recordingthe new album, which they say is a great pleasure and honor. The Avett Brothers are currently on a nationwide tour.

www.theavettbrothers.com

Local venue spot Tremont Music Hall is hosting lots of great acts this month including The Turnstiles on Sept. 13, Nightwish with Sonata Arctica on Sept. 24 and Amorphis on Sept. 27. Located just two miles from downtown Charlotte, the venue guarantees a great place to play for indie rock, metal and punk bands, whether national or regional acts.

www.tremontmusichall.com

Americana group The New Familiars have been doing lots of shows in the Southeast since July and are playing in several states in September. The band is also performing three nights in a row, Sept. 19 — 21, at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion in Bristol, Tenn.

www.myspace.com/

thenewfamiliars

Southern rock artist Chris Cook played a few gigs in different cities in North Carolina in July before heading out to Europe for a touring line-up reaching as far as the U.K., Ireland and Denmark.

www.myspace.com/

chriscookmusic

Charlotte’s premier punk rock band ANTiSEEN is holding its 25th Anniversary Pre-Show Party on Sept. 19 and its official anniversary show on Sept. 20. Both shows are at the Tremont Music Hall.

www.antiseen.com

State-of-the-art recording studio Studio Orleans has been working with various artists such as rapper Han-an, Latin rock group Tropic Culture, gospel group The Mayes Brothers and classic rock band Southern Style.

www.studioorleans.com

Located in the historical arts district, The Neighborhood Theatre provides Charlotte’s music lovers with great sound quality, a warm atmosphere and widely known national acts. This month the movie theatre-turned performance venue is hosting the Indigo Girls on Sept. 14 and indie-pop group Pinback on Sept. 25.

www.neighborhoodtheatre

.com