We rocked the shit out of the Parish last night.
that venue just does something to us. Its on to San Antonio tomorrow night to play a slightly obligatory show for our friend Jacob. His venue is shutting down due to the fact that San Antonio sucks and he wants us to play one final show there before he packs up and moves to Austin. The guy has paid us so much and been so good to us its the least we can do.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Album update
We have another show this month and then we will take off awhile and focus on the album. The amount of work for properly prepping this is overwhelming.
So much of our songs are works in progress when we play them live. Ill try a little different guitar part here, a different vocal line there. Its just how we do things.
When it comes time to record the album all of those little nuances are going to have to be planned out. And that gets hard when you are not married to any certain thing you did. Sometimes I think one way is better than others. Others times not.
Then there are whole songs that we are pretty shaky playing live that we will have to nail in the studio. Tempos need to be figured out. Vocal harmonies fine tuned to laser precision.
Its going to be a huge undertaking to make 11 songs. But we can do it and we will do it.
Finances are a big concern. We dont want to be cheap but we dont want to overspend. We figure its a three phased undertaking....
Tracking - the focus in this is to get everything recorded correctly. Tone, tempos etc. Some concerns I have are guitar tone, amp choices, and just getting things down without losing our minds or killing each other.
Mixing - When our work is done its then handed off to someone who knows what the hell they are doing to mix it. Do we use a different source for this? Or the engineer who recorded us? We know this is where the magic happens with albums. We cannot afford to skimp or shortcut around this in any possible way.
Mastering - The fine tuning of the final stereo mix to give that extra ooomph into the realm of professionally recorded stuff. Once again another art completely out of our hands.
Its actually 4 phases if you count the couple months we are going to spend just deciding which instruments go where and what parts to leave out, add or correct.
So that initial prep phase is upon us. We have to craft the songs into their finished and concrete ideas before ever stepping foot into a studio.
So much of our songs are works in progress when we play them live. Ill try a little different guitar part here, a different vocal line there. Its just how we do things.
When it comes time to record the album all of those little nuances are going to have to be planned out. And that gets hard when you are not married to any certain thing you did. Sometimes I think one way is better than others. Others times not.
Then there are whole songs that we are pretty shaky playing live that we will have to nail in the studio. Tempos need to be figured out. Vocal harmonies fine tuned to laser precision.
Its going to be a huge undertaking to make 11 songs. But we can do it and we will do it.
Finances are a big concern. We dont want to be cheap but we dont want to overspend. We figure its a three phased undertaking....
Tracking - the focus in this is to get everything recorded correctly. Tone, tempos etc. Some concerns I have are guitar tone, amp choices, and just getting things down without losing our minds or killing each other.
Mixing - When our work is done its then handed off to someone who knows what the hell they are doing to mix it. Do we use a different source for this? Or the engineer who recorded us? We know this is where the magic happens with albums. We cannot afford to skimp or shortcut around this in any possible way.
Mastering - The fine tuning of the final stereo mix to give that extra ooomph into the realm of professionally recorded stuff. Once again another art completely out of our hands.
Its actually 4 phases if you count the couple months we are going to spend just deciding which instruments go where and what parts to leave out, add or correct.
So that initial prep phase is upon us. We have to craft the songs into their finished and concrete ideas before ever stepping foot into a studio.
Monday, July 12, 2010
looking ahead
Okay so I will be 32 in about 2 months.
For some reason that feels old to me. Like full-fledged adult kind of old. But I don't think i am a full fledged adult yet.
What I have been thinking about is planning ahead much more than I used to. Up to this point I have lived my life with a narrow level of foresight.
Im starting to think ahead 5...10 years and seeing where I want to be. Then I realize that if I want to be there I have to start doing things TODAY to make it happen.
The new album, further securing my finances, a healthy relationship.... this is what is keeping me up at night. I have so much I want to do. It wont happen without a plan.
For some reason that feels old to me. Like full-fledged adult kind of old. But I don't think i am a full fledged adult yet.
What I have been thinking about is planning ahead much more than I used to. Up to this point I have lived my life with a narrow level of foresight.
Im starting to think ahead 5...10 years and seeing where I want to be. Then I realize that if I want to be there I have to start doing things TODAY to make it happen.
The new album, further securing my finances, a healthy relationship.... this is what is keeping me up at night. I have so much I want to do. It wont happen without a plan.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Jareds a father
Looks like my cousin is going to have a baby.
I remember the first time I met Jared. He was in a little carseat that his mom and dad brought in. We got along instantly. We spent many summers in the backyard coming up with cool ideas to entertain ourselves. We were true buddies. Never had a single argument about anything.
I really miss having him in my life as much as he used to be. But that is the way things go sometimes.
Now he's going to be a father! Ready to explore the world with him/her the way we used to do.
Congrats man. I know you don't read this so Ill just have to tell you in person how awesome of a Dad you are going to be.
I remember the first time I met Jared. He was in a little carseat that his mom and dad brought in. We got along instantly. We spent many summers in the backyard coming up with cool ideas to entertain ourselves. We were true buddies. Never had a single argument about anything.
I really miss having him in my life as much as he used to be. But that is the way things go sometimes.
Now he's going to be a father! Ready to explore the world with him/her the way we used to do.
Congrats man. I know you don't read this so Ill just have to tell you in person how awesome of a Dad you are going to be.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Shut in
Sadly I have not done much outside activities on the weekends since I have lived in Austin.
The fact that I am a ginger has something to do with it but the sad truth is I was usually recovering from a night of partying until the late afternoon.
Well I see the error in living like that and I want to see more great things Austin has to offer.
This weekend I got to do that. I went to Hamilton pool with a gal and it was so awesome. Its not really a pool at all but a natural body of water underneath this cool waterfall.
And its minutes from where I used to work. Who knew?
http://www.texasoutside.com/hamiltonpool.htm
Unlike Barton Springs the temp of the water is easier to adjust to. I hope to drag more friends to it someday. you have to get there early because they limit the amount of people into the park and by noon there is a long line of folks waiting for other folks to leave so they can get in.
Very neat thing to do in Austin.
The fact that I am a ginger has something to do with it but the sad truth is I was usually recovering from a night of partying until the late afternoon.
Well I see the error in living like that and I want to see more great things Austin has to offer.
This weekend I got to do that. I went to Hamilton pool with a gal and it was so awesome. Its not really a pool at all but a natural body of water underneath this cool waterfall.
And its minutes from where I used to work. Who knew?
http://www.texasoutside.com/hamiltonpool.htm
Unlike Barton Springs the temp of the water is easier to adjust to. I hope to drag more friends to it someday. you have to get there early because they limit the amount of people into the park and by noon there is a long line of folks waiting for other folks to leave so they can get in.
Very neat thing to do in Austin.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Update:
Update:
New job(s) going well.
I have a weird fear of losing them per my usual worrying but its not grounded in reality. I have recently began to distinguish the difference between my standard worrying and actual red alerts. I am a worrier. Its not cool or sheik or rock. But its the truth. I can be quite the vag. I read into vocal tonalities and assume everything is masked subtext of my expendability. (prob not a real word)
The biggest problem is I am not putting in the hours I probably should be. I work a few hours a day and find reasons to get distracted. Even though I am producing results that is the one thing I can see my employers taking notice of and questioning.
I have more money in my bank account than ever before. Its all untaxed so its a bit deceiving but it feels good to not have to worry about overdrafts, bills etc. My little side business is pumping out a solid little chunk per month to help out also.
Need to start saving. One for the taxes and two for the future.
I am considering buying a new recording setup to get back into making whole musical ideas alone as opposed to relying on the band for that outlet all the time. With whatever technology they have these days I'm sure I can get a decent setup pretty cheap.
But talk about even more reasons to step away from work.
New job(s) going well.
I have a weird fear of losing them per my usual worrying but its not grounded in reality. I have recently began to distinguish the difference between my standard worrying and actual red alerts. I am a worrier. Its not cool or sheik or rock. But its the truth. I can be quite the vag. I read into vocal tonalities and assume everything is masked subtext of my expendability. (prob not a real word)
The biggest problem is I am not putting in the hours I probably should be. I work a few hours a day and find reasons to get distracted. Even though I am producing results that is the one thing I can see my employers taking notice of and questioning.
I have more money in my bank account than ever before. Its all untaxed so its a bit deceiving but it feels good to not have to worry about overdrafts, bills etc. My little side business is pumping out a solid little chunk per month to help out also.
Need to start saving. One for the taxes and two for the future.
I am considering buying a new recording setup to get back into making whole musical ideas alone as opposed to relying on the band for that outlet all the time. With whatever technology they have these days I'm sure I can get a decent setup pretty cheap.
But talk about even more reasons to step away from work.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Pathetic
I have barely left the house today. No prospects for going out. Its one of those nights where I am just going to drink and watch hulu.
I feel like a loser.
BUT tomorrow will be a new me. I have PLANS with a capital P. ;)
Not sure what the emotion means but I have to be in the thick of something. Always. And tonight is full of pent up anxiety without cause despite knowing full well that this weekend is going to rock. I wish I were not on this couch typing to this desert of a blog.
HELLLLOOOOO? Is anyone out there?
Of course not. You are somewhere having a blast right now. Jerk(s).
I feel like a loser.
BUT tomorrow will be a new me. I have PLANS with a capital P. ;)
Not sure what the emotion means but I have to be in the thick of something. Always. And tonight is full of pent up anxiety without cause despite knowing full well that this weekend is going to rock. I wish I were not on this couch typing to this desert of a blog.
HELLLLOOOOO? Is anyone out there?
Of course not. You are somewhere having a blast right now. Jerk(s).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)