Rancho De La Luna

Rancho De La Luna is a recording studio in Joshua Tree, California that was founded in 1993 by Fred Drake and David Catching. After Drake's death in 2002 to cancer, the studio was operated by David Catching and Drake's collaborators Tony Mason, Ted Quinn, Dean Chamberlain, Billy Bizeau and Fred Burke until 2004.[1] It has since doubled as Catching's home, where he serves as engineer, producer, joins as guest musician and cooks for bands.

The studio is cited as everything in it being "weird and wonderful but functional",[2] filled with vintage and new idiosyncratic recording gear and a raw desert vibe curated by studio owner (and guitarist) Dave Catching.[3]

It is most well known for being the home of the Desert Sessions. (including sessions with Josh Homme, Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider, Dean Ween, Twiggy Ramirez, Joey Castillo, Pete Stahl, Mario Lalli, Troy van Leeuwen, Nick Oliveri, Brant Bjork, Chris Goss, Ben Shepherd, Alfredo Hernandez, David Catching, Brian O'Connor, Jesse Hughes)[4][5][6][7]

According to Catching: "There is something about this studio. Everyone that's been here and recorded here, including me, feels it, so there is something to it. Maybe it's just all the love that's accumulated here from over the years. People do freak out about the drum room: many say it's the best drum sound they have ever gotten—even the engineers."[8]

Catching has talked about the special nature of the studio in multiple sources.[9][10] and due to the pastoral and unique location it is a favorite spot for tech gear spotlights. Many artists have talked about the relaxed and easy nature of the studio, citing the lack of distraction and easy availability of uncommon and interesting instruments as welcoming and unique.[11][12]

Alain Johannes explains: "Everything is the opposite of a, quote-unquote, professional studio: 'What is this – are you sure it's a mic? It looks like a grenade…' You plug it in… find out if it goes off." [13]

Notable bands and artists to record at the Rancho De La Luna

Rancho De La Luna Mezcal

In 2016, David Catching and Bingo Richey released a signature brand of Mezcal named after the studio. Built, in part, off of the "consumption" of liquor at the studio for sessions.[15][16][17]

Rancho De La Luna in other media

The studio was also the focus of the fifth episode of the Foo Fighters Sonic Highways series [18]

Anthony Bourdain filmed an episode of No Reservations at the Rancho De La Luna.

The studio is also featured heavily in the documentary American Valhalla, which chronicles the creation of the Post Pop Depression record by Iggy Pop and ensuing tour.[19][20]

References
  1. "Rock's Not-So Secret Musical Hideaway: Rancho de la Luna". kcet.org. September 12, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  2. "Marshall Headphones On the Road Episode 6 - Rancho de la Luna". marshallheadphones.com/. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  3. "After 16 years, Josh Homme rekindles the 'Desert Sessions': 'This will outlast everything I do'". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. "The Last Stand of the Great Rock & Roll Mother*ckers: Every Blue Moon, Josh Homme and a few of planet earth's remaining rock & rollers descend upon Joshua Tree for the Desert Sessions and emerge with an album a week later. Introducing the latest iteration of one of the coolest enduring projects in music". gq.com. February 3, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. "Josh Homme – 'Desert Sessions, Vol. 11/12' review: reckless abandon from an all-rock-star cast". nme.com. October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. "After 16 years, Josh Homme rekindles the 'Desert Sessions': 'This will outlast everything I do'". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  7. "The Big Read – Josh Homme's Desert Sessions: "I'm like a tour guide heading deep into the heart of bizarre"". nme.com. September 27, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. "An Interview With Dave Catching". donutsmagazine.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  9. "Show Us Your Junk! Ep. 2: David Catching's Rancho De La Luna". earthquakerdevices.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  10. "Ep111: Dave Catching (Rancho De La Luna, Earthlings?, Eagles of Death Metal, Desert Sessions, Queens of the Stone Age)". radioneutron.com. January 17, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  11. "As frontman with Queens Of The Stone Age, Josh Homme is arguably the biggest name in rock music. So how would he tackle a move into the producer's chair with British indie superstars Arctic Monkeys?". soundonsound.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  12. ""Household Gods: David Pajo, Vern Rumsey and Conan Neutron" on The Shape of Rock 06-02-2020". wmse.org. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  13. "Alex Turner: "Making an Arctic Monkeys album is not an easy alchemy": Arctic Monkeys on their future, their past and working with Josh Homme". uncut.co.uk. May 11, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  14. "Kurt Vile Talks More About All-Over-The-Place New Album". April 3, 2015.
  15. "Rancho De La Luna Mezcal". ranchomezcal.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  16. "Want a piece of famed Joshua Tree recording studio Rancho de la Luna? Here's how to get it". desertsun.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  17. "RANCHO DE LA LUNA MEZCAL: AN INTOXICATING NEW JAM FROM ROCK ICONS". filson.com. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  18. "Sonic Highways: Episode 5". hbo.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  19. "American Valhalla". americanvalhalla.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  20. "Iggy Pop and Josh Homme are screening their 'American Valhalla' documentary online – watch it here: In a bid to make sure people stay at home, the pair will share the film that documented the creation of 2016's 'Post Pop Depression'". nme.com. March 31, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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