Like many of the best things in life, the root collaboration behind Big Scenic Nowhere between guitarists Gary Arce of Yawning Man and Bob Balch of Fu Manchu started with tacos. Specifically, Del Taco. Arce, just back from tour with Yawning Man and celebrating the comforts of home, posted on social media of his triumphant return to his local Del Taco. Balch responded with his usual order – a regular red burrito with extra cheese and sour cream – and a band was begun.
Bob and Gary had been acquainted since the ‘90s, when Fu Manchu would practice in the garage of the house Gary lived in with other members of the desert scene. Gary remembers coming home from his construction job at the time, working outside in the desert summer, ready to kick back and crack a beer, only to be unable to watch television because Fu Manchu were so loud. They’d bump into each other over the years periodically and Bob eventually brought Gary in to film a piece for his instructional guitar series, PlayThisRiff.com. After the above-mentioned Del Taco post, it was Gary – whose collaborative efforts have been myriad in outfits like WaterWays, Zun, Ten East, etc. – who finally called Bob to jam.
Big Scenic Nowhere is founded on Balch and Arce tossing guitar riffs and leads back and forth, piecing together song parts one movement at a time. Jamming. Sharing music. Developing a chemistry to build something new based on their individual experiences. In this way, Big Scenic Nowhere is the heart of what collaboration should manifest. Something that grows stronger for the cohesion between those who make it happen.
Our track debut ‘Sarah Smile’ is the latest release from the forthcoming new album, The Waydown.
Bob Balch writes:
‘Sara Smile’ is a Hall and Oates cover. Gary Arce from Yawning Man had mentioned that we should cover that song but give it a jam in the middle. So I started figuring out the chords. Once I had the tune pretty well mapped out I dropped the key a whole step. Just to give it a little bit of a different feel. I left a section in the middle to jam out as well. I had mentioned to Ken Haas from Reverend Guitars that we were covering it. He said he knew Eliot Lewis (Hall and Oates keyboard player) and we should hit him up. I did and two weeks later he sent tracks. We are so stoked to have him involved. He’s played with everyone so the fact that he took time to play on our cover blows my mind.
The Waydown is released on February 2 2024 via Heavy Pysch Sounds and can be pre-ordered here
