Some of the valley’s most prominent rock and R&B groups sound a whole lot sweeter thanks to David Morales. His guitar-work skill level is matched only by his work ethic, as you couldn’t go far without seeing Morales on a bill (pre-pandemic, of course). He is the latest to take the Lucky 13; and here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
I believe it was Pedro the Lion at the El Rey Theatre, 2004-ish.
What was the first album you owned?
My cousin had a booth at the Indio swap meet, and he sold cassettes. (This was in the early ’90s, by the way). The first cassette I ever bought with my own money was an Old School Mix Tape that had some classics in there.
What bands are you listening to right now?
I tend to “jump around,” musically. I’ve been listening to Lianne La Havas’ new self-titled record. She’s pretty amazing; I’m really a fan of what she does. I’m also a huge fan of Anderson .Paak; he is just an all-around artist/musician. He raps; he sings, and he can hold a groove down on drums, like you wish you could! Also, I always go back to Pedro the Lion, an indie-rock band from the ’90s/2000s. The singer, David Bazan, is one of my favorite writers. The way he can paint a picture with his lyrics has always amazed me. P.S.: D’Angelo is one of the most underrated artists of our time!
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
A musical trend that is finally fizzing out is mumble rap. I just can’t get behind a lot of it; there is some that I can appreciate, but for the most part, it’s a NO for me!
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Well, at this point, we’re six months into a global pandemic, so any live music would be nice, to say the very least. But to be honest, I would love to see Stevie Wonder perform live. He is at the top of my list, without a doubt … then I could die happy!
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Rascal Flatts. I don’t really listen to a lot of their music, but my girlfriend loves them, so I hear their music from time to time, and from a writing and musicianship aspect, they are top-notch!
What’s your favorite music venue?
My favorite music venue has got to be the Troubadour. Hands down, it’s such a great and historic place to watch live music.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Childbirth is painful / We toil today grow our food / Ignorance made us hungry / Information made us no good / Every burden misunderstood,” David Bazan, “Hard to Be.”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
It may sound funny to some, but Limp Bizkit and Korn made me want to play music. I remember watching the Family Values Tour with Limp Bizkit, Korn, Orgy, Rammstein and Ice Cube on VHS—and knowing music is what I wanted to do! Growing up, my dad played guitar, so he taught me the basic chords, and I kept learning. It is one of my greatest passions.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
No particular question. but I would’ve loved to sit in the studio with the Beatles.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Off the Wall by Michael Jackson.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Another Life” by D’Angelo and the Vanguard. (Scroll down to hear it!)
