Modern Vespa

Hey, all.

Firstly, if you remember me, you know that I am super detail-oriented and passionate, both with my vintage scooter restorations, and with the music I write, record & produce. I love the old 60's / 70's Jamaican sound - reggae, rocksteady, ska, soul. Scooters and scooter rally culture really brought me to this love - it would play at every rally, we'd party and dance to it all night.

I've been trying to authentically recreate those sounds to the best of my ability. I learned how to repair vacuum tube electronics, sourced and restored an enviable collection of guitar and bass amplifiers, tape echo effects, vintage instruments and drums, recording equipment, Hammond Organs, Leslie speakers, transistorized combo organs, etc. I built a studio and an arsenal for retro sound creation, and aligned with fantastic musicians.

Our band, The Tellways, just released our first EP "Closer to the Fire". We worked hard on it and hope you enjoy it. We have another batch of originals coming in November. Vinyl pressings coming.

stream & download on our bandcamp site
https://thetellways.bandcamp.com/album/closer-to-the-fire

Watch Aranivah dance to "Friendly"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMHu6wpLLks

Stream on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lxD17xsw4KfxXy4alDFFn?si=PdO_hj1xQHyxNq0fo7KWTw

Follow on Instagram @the_tellways
https://www.instagram.com/the_tellways/


And i'm including a pic from this weekend of my 1965 Vespa SS180 and my wife's 1963 Lambretta LI150, both of which I restored.

-Rover Eric

Ive only been around here a couple of years now but when i was searching for answers for My 59" Allstate that I purchased, Rover Eric often came up. I think I even posted a question as to who you were and where you went. Anyway welcome back and cool music too.

It reminds me of a Band from my local area that is no more, Called Fresh Catch from Port Salerno Florida, Im sure you can find them on Youtube.

welcome back. please please please let me know if you do any west coast touring/dates.

also, i'm in for the vinyl. just let me know when and where to send some cash. besides, this hunk of junk needs a work out.




don't be a stranger. we've missed ya around these parts.

-g

nice to see u back Bro, glad u still in to vespa and good luck with the band and cheer

Thank you.

When I moved from Detroit to Pittsburgh in 2009, my focus shifted away from scooter riding, collecting, restoring, running the Rovers Scooter Club and organizing their yearly rally, and the time I had in moderating Modern Vespa. A large majority of my life and time was consumed by scooters.

Moving away gave me a chance to refocus my time on music. I joined The Pressure, a Pittsburgh ska / reggae band comprised of members of the Pittsburgh Vintage Scooter Club (PVSC - they throw the Band Camp rally). They needed a drummer, so I learned how to play reggae drums. I emailed Scott Abels from Hepcat / Aggrolites and asked him how to do it, what drums to buy, and he set me on a good path. After a few years I switched over to playing Hammond organ and singing for them, and got really into "the ultimate Hammond sound". I was inspired by Jackie Mittoo and Roger Rivas, and learned how to play and repair them, upgrading Leslie speakers to be loud enough for our shows.

I also started playing with a group of older-aged Jamaican musicians, guys who immigrated in the 1970s and 80s, toured for years in the wake of Bob Marley's popularity. I learned a ton from them about the nuances of the beats and styles.

2 years ago I moved back to Detroit, stared networking with local musicians, finding people to work with. The Tellways is a result of that.

My "wrenching time" is now studio time, band time. But I still love the bikes, I am riding again after a long hiatus, and of the Rovers Scooter club I started back in 2004, many are still riding and repairing!

I'll let folks know when the vinyl is pressed, or come follow on our @the_tellways Instagram or Facebook pages and you'll be aware of the availability.

Eric

Hey Eric, that sounds great! I'm a big Jackie Mittoo fan (even the late cheesy stuff!) and I love that your sound, at least from the Youtube track sounds quite period correct. Must be the Vespa restoration thing that gives you an edge in that area! Thanks for sharing.

Cool music. Beautiful scoots. Good to see you back.

Great songs. It's got that sound that reminds me of the Skalalites, Don Drummond, all that great early rocking stuff. Congrats on the EP!

Nice rocksteady beats.
Cool scoots too.

Eric,
For people joining NSMV recently, your investment of time and knowledge are still paying dividends.

Was only a short while on forum before your explanation that early VBB1t models still had a round tail (that's right u guys - eat ur flat tail hearts out).

Thanks for the detailed posts, time, and al that info input to the benefit of all who have followed!

Good luck with the music. Can only imagine u have the equipment working better than it did out of the factory. Heard a couple tracks. U guys are talented/ sounds great!

- CM

sounds great guys....lovin' the old skool skank...

i too and my musical partner in crime (tx200, Small Frame x3 , J series rider)
are also scooterists - trying to get somewhere in the crazy music business......

check out our cover of the specials classic - ghost town! hope you like!

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJupkhsuotE"

www.soundaffects.band points to three albums of original tunes - 4th one to be released this year.....

much musical respect brothers and sisters.....