Plug in, watch John Vanderslice's world spin
Plug in, watch John Vanderslice's world spin
Tools of musician John Vanderslice's trade double as his favorite things
At first glance, 1458-A San Bruno Ave., the address of John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone recording studio, doesn't exist.
The street appears to dead-end after circling around a park, but those who soldier on, passing 1417 and 1421 and 1423 - this is surely the last building on the block, isn't it? - will find themselves turning down an alley.
After a bit of poking around, they'll knock on a beige door and Vanderslice, 44 - who, with his shock of blond hair and rumpled appearance, resembles a grown-up Tin Tin - will open the door with a wide grin and exclaim, before introductions, You're awesome!
No one finds this place without multiple phone calls!
Analog's the name of the game, Vanderslice's favorite gear is all from decades ago, and the only assertion of the current year is a recent New Yorker magazine on the coffee table.
Vanderslice - musician, songwriter, producer, studio owner - grew up on the East Coast, first in Gainesville, Fla., and then in Maryland, and harbored dreams of being a high school English teacher.
Tiny Telephone, which he bought 14 years ago, has been home to recording sessions of some of the biggest modern indie rock bands, including Spoon, Death Cab for Cutie and the Magnetic Fields.
Size envy: Men have this kind of ridiculous, retrograde and infantile idea that the louder their guitar amps are, the better they'll sound.
On its beauty: It has a wood trim and look at this, it's a hand-numbered serial number: 3335.