(Bangs, who is often cited today as "America's Greatest Rock Critic," was editor for Creem magazine, musician and staff writer for the Village Voice. His character was played in the movie "Almost Famous") and The Rattlers (in which Hall played on their acclaimed Rattled album and CD). He has also played with other bands including, but not limited too, Zymosis, The Makers, Danny Russo Band (Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Victoria Spivey
, Spivey Records
), Remod (with Richie Ramone
), Jeff Salen (Tuff Darts
), Tiger Beats, Tina Peel, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. By the end of the punk era, Hall had a reputation of being a session and performance player for many bands.
Biography
Dave U. Hall's formal music training began during his Forest Hills High School years. While attending school and playing concerts (in addition to playing along to his numerous album collection), Hall studying Upright Bass, Electric Bass and Flute with famous studio musicians in the New York City area. He studied flute with Seymour "Red" Press (Music Coordinator for numerous NYC Broadway shows). His bass teachers include Rick Laird (from the Mahavishnu Orchestra), Clyde Lombardi (CBS Studio Musician), Richard Davis (International Performing Musician) and Jay Leonhart (Sting and Frank Sinatra).
After graduating from High School, Hall was accepted into Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music
. Because of his ability to read music so well, he was placed in advanced sight-reading ensemble labs. Hall also studied bass privately at Berklee with Richard Appleman (Chairman) and Steve Swallow (Gary Burton Band with Pat Metheny). Because of Swallow's intense performing schedule with the Gary Burton Group, Hall was given Swallow's bass classes to teach when Steve had band/teaching conflicts.
Hall went on from Berklee to play with the jazz/rock group Zymosis. The band played the New York City club circuit (which included Max's Kansas City
and CBGB's). Because of their gig affiliation with Max's, the band was included in the Max's Kansas City Book entitled, "Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll". They were also written up in the British magazine publication "Melody Maker" by reviewer Steve Lake. Lake proudly coined the group as the "punk jazz" band of that time.
After leaving the band, Hall studied (and received a degree in) music education at Queens College. During this time, Hall was so intrigued by the punk rock scene, that he somehow wanted to infuse his classical/jazz background into punk music. Hall started playing with many Punk Rock bands which eventually led to the joining of the band Birdland with Lester Bangs. However, after being kicked out of Birdland for requesting time to study for finals at Queens College, Hall forged on and continued playing the circuit with other well known punk bands in the New York City area. Hall used this opportunity as a learning tool to incorporate his talent into a multitude of different styles and genres. Soon thereafter, Hall joined The Rattlers. Hall toured with them and played on their "Rattled" album. Hall co-wrote the song entitled "I Won't Be Your Victim" that eventually led to the video of the same name. "Rattled" was well received and highly acclaimed by the industry including writers such as Robert Christgau
(writer from the Village Voice).
Seeing the limitations of individual artistic development in The Rattlers, Hall was eager to leave the group to concentrate on his songwriting. Thus began the project known as the Walter MIDI Group. The idea eventually led to a conceptual band. Since its inception over the years however, it has culminated into Hall's first solo CD entitled Walter MIDI Group "AND THEN YOU WOKE UP!" The CD is an autobiographical account of his life's experience, which has developed and evolved over the years.
His solo CD has been played on Sirius Radio's Little Steven's Underground Garages' Goldie's Garage show.
Dave U. Hall also spends his time teaching music in the New York City public schools. He is an Apple computer consultant whose clients included the late Joey Ramone
and May Pang
(among others). Hall is the proud father of his two beautiful children.
Albums
1970 "Spivey's Blues Cavalcade" (Spivey LP 1015)
1977 "Victoria Spivey and her Danny Boy" (Spivey LP 1023)
1985: Rattlers "Rattled"
External links
http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=rattlers
http://www.markprindle.com/hall2-i.htm
http://www.daveuhall.com
http://www.waltermidigroup.com/
http://maxskansascity.com/book/
http://www.dionysusrecords.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=348