Tearwave are a shoegaze alternative band from Buffalo, N.Y. whose first, self-titled recording came out earlier this year on New York's Projekt Records. The band is made up of Jenn Manganiello (vocals), Doug White (guitar and keyboards), John Stephanski (drums), Joe Villella (bass). Their music is an ambient sort of indie-pop, using reverb and washed out tones that bring comparisons to Cocteau Twins and Slowdive.

Tearwave play at Projekt Fest 07 which is being held as part of the Blacksun Festival in New Haven, CT from August 10-12.

Doug White took some time to talk about the band and their gear.

What instrumentation does the band use? What do all of you play and why?

I use a custom Strat 12-string most of the time. But I will do more layers on my custom Black Beauty Les Paul or 10 Top PRS. But the Strat 12 is my main guitar. I use a Fender Deville 2x12, Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, 1976 JPM 100 Marshall, Orange 50-watt and a 1992 Marshall Valvestate 100.

Our drummer John exclusively plays vintage Ludwig drums, heads, and sticks. He has many kits from the 60s and 70s. His Vistalite clear kit he probably uses the most. His collection is very impressive.

Joe plays a MusicMan Sterling bass with a Trace Elliot amp coupled with a sans amp.

How about your recording equipment? What did you use to record your record and why?

I used the Mackie HDR system. It is a 24-bit 48k stand alone system. I also go in and out of Pro Tools LE for some plugins but the HDR is the main system. I really like the HDR system even though they are discontinued now. It is a really easy system to get around and very reliable and stable. I have a large format Allen & Heath 32 channel analog board. With neve "modeled" Allen & Heath tube pre-amps built in. Lots of analog outboard gear--DBX compression and TC Electronic and Lexicon reverbs.

Is there one piece of equipment that, over the years, you have come to love and cannot live without?

Well without a doubt for shoegaze the Boss RV-5 reverb pedal set on "modulation only" is the most important piece of gear. It can be used for anything. It is the definitive reverb for shoegaze. I can not quite put my finger on it but it does something no other verb does.

Is there any piece of gear you had high expectations for that just didn't work out?

Probably my Les Paul did not end up on as much of the CD as I had thought it would, it was just to thick for shoegaze.

What is your favorite piece of cheesy, old or bad gear?

I have a 1985 DOD Chain Reaction multi-effects rack. All of the sounds in it are terrible but the delay. The delay is the cleanest most efficient delay I have ever heard and still use to this day.

Is there any gear you are looking to pick up?

A Vox AC-30 combo amp might be nice to pick up. A Taylor 900 series acoustic might be in my future.

White told Gearwire that Tearwave are always recording. White owns and runs a recording studio so the band has no trouble getting recording time. As far as playing live White is a little more circumspect.

"Touring always seems like a cool idea then we come to our senses. In todays music market there is just no way to make that a good financial decision," he says. "Especially for an indie shoegaze band. There just is not enough interest in live music these days to make it worth it."