WITH RAY DERA
***image1***
SFR: I know you and your business partner, Tony Lulling, don't have any experience in this type of
business, yet here you are opening the Tin Star Saloon. How'd you get here?
RD:
I think by having plenty of experience on the other side of the bar [laughs]. No, we felt there was a niche that could be filled in Santa Fe to feature local singer-songwriters and to appeal to the above-30 crowd. And to offer a venue for people to enjoy beautiful music and still have some kind of conversation.
What's been the response so far?
Our opening night we were filled to capacity and we had about 30 people waiting on line to get in.
Did you expect it to be so popular so quickly?
No, not at all. I thought that with us being the new game in town that it would certainly pique people's curiosity, but I didn't expect the overwhelming response that we got. But being a [guitarist] myself, I've met so many people around town who were looking for a place to play and we're trying to provide that.
What's your vision for the Tin Star Saloon?
It's a place where I don't need a tetanus shot to use the bathrooms, that kind of thing. We just wanna be kinda high-end but still down-to-earth. High-end but offering what we consider to be competitive prices-though we're not giving anything away, 'cause we've gotta realize we're five blocks from the Plaza and the rent's not cheap. [Also] we get artists appearing in town, a lot of times they happen to stay in the Hilton, which is right across the street. I'd like this to be a place for the whole road crew to come after the show and have a few, 'cause most of them don't like to stay in the hotel bars, because they're on the road and hotel bars are kind of generic.
What is the process like between the first idea of, 'Oh let's open a place' and it coming to fruition?
The idea came pretty much out of nowhere. Tony and I were looking for something to do; we're basically retired with a tad too much free time. We got to talking and felt there was a niche that could be filled in town. I've been in mortgage banking, but prior to that I was a tour manager for recording artists. So that's still in my blood, so I still wanted to have some involvement with music other than just playing the guitar. I used to work out on the road for over 10 years with different bands.
Oh, right, you're the David Bowie guy…
I did do a few dates with David Bowie. I technically worked for Nona Hendryx, who was his opening act in Belgium and Holland, but luckily got to meet him. That was the Last Spider tour with Peter Frampton on lead guitar, so I did that...Chaka Khan in Japan...all that stuff.
Do you have any favorite publishable David Bowie stories?
Not really.
Do you have some favorite unpublishable ones?
Not really that either, to be honest with you. When I share stories about what I did on the road, I am in no way bragging about what I did-I was basically a fan with a great job. I worked my way up to that by starting with some very lesser-known artists and by schlepping the luggage, by making sure it ended up at the airport, at the hotel, that sort of thing, and learned more about the business from there, to the point where I did three years with a group called the New Edition-Bobby Brown, who went on to marry Whitney [Houston], and they each lost their minds. So I paid my dues that way. For the most part I really felt that it was like, wow, pinch me, I can't believe I'm doing this.
Did Peter Frampton show you the talk box?
That's kind of a standard piece of equipment. I really liked the tone he was getting out of his rig, and I asked him what he was playing through, and he started to explain and then said, 'Oh hell, come on[stage]'-and this is a union house, the minute you step onstage, it hits the fan-and he still went out there, didn't care what it cost, and showed me how it worked. Really, really down to earth people; David Bowie was really nice and Frampton was nice and so I get a little surprised when I meet some of our local musicians who have real big egos and high opinions of themselves.
Is it scary to open someplace new up in Santa Fe, especially with the literal overhead of rent…
Yeah, it's scary enough, but I think it's always more regrettable not to take the chance. It's truly a dream when you think about being here for two years and then opening up a saloon downtown. I'm not saying that it didn't have its challenges to get to this point, but it's a real nice feeling to be here-there's an excitement about it. The people, they all came to take a look, and hopefully they'll continue to come and take a look.
Are you excited about the Rory Block show?
We're very excited about Rory Block performing here. She's a very talented blues artist and well known, and to be able to put that together in our first month of being open is kind of a coup. I wish the place was slightly larger to get people of that caliber in. But it's also a really interesting thing to have such an intimate, almost living-room-size venue for something like that. I'm working on getting more of that going on. Luckily, I've still maintained some of my music connections and made a lot of friends in the industry.
Blues singer-songwriter Rory Block will play shows at 8 pm and 10 pm Friday, July 21 at the Tin Star (411 W. Water St., 984-5050). Tickets are $20 advance, $25 door and $30 for both.
