He moves through the crowds with the subtlety of a man on a mission. Right up to the stage for a quick, last minute tuning and to make sure that his gear is all in order, and then he’s gone again. The next time the audience will see him, he will likely already be on stage with the rest of the band, ready to entertain. He’s laid back. He’s low key. And he’s one tremendous guitarist.

Once on stage, the man who moves so deftly through a crowd is suddenly a force demanding attention. Between the finely tuned intros and meticulous solos, an audience can’t help but stop any side conversations and take note.

When asked to do this article, it was easy for me as a longtime fan of the band, and after a series of emails and phone calls with editors and managers, I had my phone interview set up with Reckless Kelly’s lead guitarist, David Abeyta.

The band is currently on tour in California with Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Considering the label “Texas Music,” I first inquired as to how our brand of music is received out west.

“Really great. We’re opening for some acts like Los Lobos and it’s giving us the opportunity to play in front of bigger audiences. It’s paying off—we see the people singing along. I think we’re going in the right direction and building [a fan base] steadily 20-30 people at a time.”

And as for working with Big Head Todd? “It’s been a good experience. Their fans are getting into our music, and our fans are getting into theirs. The crowd is good at word of mouth.”

Speaking of the sound, David plays a significant role. The first album David contributed to as an incoming member of the band was Under the Table and Above the Sun, at which point there was a distinct shift in the sound. It became more diverse with the acid rock elements of “Mersey Beat,” and later, the attitude laced wail of the slide in Wicked Twisted Road’s “Six Gun.” Reckless Kelly Was Here brought the unfamiliar, yet profound acoustic picking on “Wicked Twisted Road.” Always with a look of undeterred focus, he is a master of his art.

But he isn’t restricted to the sidelines. Interrupting “Hey, Say, May,” David has dominated the spotlight of live shows with his rendition of “Guacamole,” and more recently the Chuck Berry classic, “Nadine.” I asked how it was that he came into this now expected aspect of every show.

“It started in sound check. It’s usually pretty boring and maybe even a little stressful, so I would play it just to keep it light. Willie (Braun) decided that we should stick it in the break and it was a hit with the live album. Lots of people just seem to have fun with it.”

Shifting gears a little and steering away from the performance aspect, I asked David about his interests in production, knowing that he is credited in a couple of recent projects.

“I’ve been working with it for the last couple of years and just figured out that I really liked working hands on. Been working with Cody (Braun) who is great dealing with arrangements and vocals. We produced an album for Buster Jiggs and Careless for Mickey and the Motorcars. We even got to help produce a little from afar with Elliot Shiner (mix engineer) and Peter Zavadil (director) on Reckless Kelly Was Here. I learned a lot, though it was definitely a challenge working from a distance.”

And why does he think he is so drawn to production?

“I guess it’s the control freak in me,” he said, but I caught that he was only half joking. “All the things that frustrate me about the live shows; like last night the sound in the room was great, but tonight— who knows.” He paused, “But the studio, the studio lets you get things out just like they are in your head. Again, I guess it’s just the control freak in me. That and as opposed to touring, I really enjoy that it gives me the chance to sleep in my own bed.”

So what does he find to be the biggest challenge in this venture?
“The biggest challenge is finding the time to do it. We’re on the road so much. Sometimes I feel like all the touring and live performances are all so that we can do the records,” he says referring back to the consistency offered by the studio.

I last saw the guys of RK perform about a month ago in Kerrville. The set list left out a few of the more familiar tunes, however, this decision made way for a few new ones, and after having followed the music of the band for years, for me, it was a brand new show. Judging by the response from the fans that night, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. And as for David, though the man might be laid back, his take on the music is anything but.

David and the guys of Reckless Kelly are currently working their way up the West Coast, spreading the music, though they should be making their way back to Texas in March. For a listing of upcoming shows, check out their website at www.recklesskelly.com.

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