Hombre Lobo

E is back on the scene.  The Eels have a new record coming out here in the next week or so.   I always am impressed with what they put out there. And this new record Hombre Lobo does not dissappoint.

www.eelstheband.com

Back in the Swing

I haven’t been booking any shows recently because we have been busy with the record, but I am happy to announce we are starting to do just that.  I got an email from a very cool chick at very cool venue, Viento Y Agua.  ( I don’t know what it means either.. something about water??) They want us to come out and do a show.  I am stoked because I really dig it there. They have tons of cool art, it’s in a hip little spot in Long Beach and I personally think it’s one of the best coffeeshop venues around.  It has a nice stage, cool ambiance and hipsters hanging out doing what ever it is that hipsters do.  If you find out let me know.

I am also happy to be playing at an art opening at the end of the month.  My friend is a stellar artist and a few of her fellow artisans are converting a photography studio into a space where they can show their work.  She asked me to come up a sing a few tunes, which I would be totally down to do.  There will be a few other acts on board. It sounds mellow and fun.  I’m gonna fly solo on that one, which is cool because then I can play what I feel like.  I’m still getting use to the idea of doing a set list with a band.  I usually just go up there and sing what I feel like at the moment, as oppose to have it typed up on a sheet on paper that is laying at my feet.

Lastly, I can’t wait for the benefit!  ROCK FOR LIVESTOCK !!! It will be here before you know it.   So far though I have three confirmed acts to play at it, and I think we might be able to convince a few “special guests” to play as well.  I guess we will see how it goes.  Mostly , I am just pleased to tell people about the work that Heiffer does and hopfully raise some money to help a great cause.  Plus, we might have a Bar B Que!

Blown Away!

So here I am sitting here in a bit of a stupor.  I just got back from a unbelievable recording session.  I am not sure if it really happened or not.  I have been talking about doing this record for so long, I can’t believe I have the first rough mix of it sitting next to me right now.  It’s one thing to listen to songs in a studio where everything sounds awesome, it is yet another to put the CD into a car stero and take off.  I don’t mean to sound like a self absorbed jerk, but I was just blown away.  The thing I am so blown away by is just how professional the actual recording is. Steve did such an amazing job with all the sound on it.  It sounds like a real record. I feel so totally blessed to have a chance to have both Steve and Jon playing bass and drums.  They are  such a skilled and creative rhythm section.  They took the songs and just made them come to life, like Pinocchio becoming a real boy.

To think that none of this existed 48 hours ago.  It was all recorded this weekend.  The whole process went really smoothly.  We basically cut 9 tracks in 10 hours, now that I think of it.  That’s pretty much unheard of in the recording world.  Fortunately we had rehearsed, so everyone was pretty familiar with the music. Though it had been a while since we played last, we seemed to find our groove pretty quickly.

I  have to admit, I had preiviously thought I wanted to put fiddle, horns, mandolin, sitar- basically everything but the kitchen on to this thing in terms of additional instruments and extra production.  Listening to it now though, I really don’t know if it needs much of anything.  That’s something I never expected; for us to be enough. Though I am sure a few other sounds might find their way onto the project, for now I feel totally content and at ease.

It’s gonna be a good week!

Well, it’s hard to believe we are slated to go into the studio this weekend.  I am really excited about it!  That’s a bit of an understatement actually. This has been something I have been dreaming about for a  years now. I talked to the guys and they seem to think we are ready to go.  We were talking about doing one more rehearsal, but I think it’s important to sound fresh and not be burnt out on the songs before we even get started.  I’d rather be stoked about playing a song as oppose to saying “aww this song again?”.  Especially since the actual recording process can be quite tedious, going over the songs again and again.

I also have made one last change to the song line up.  I decided to take out the emotional  song  It Just Didn’t Work Out and replace it with a lighter tune Like A Wave.  I want the overall feeling of the record to be one of optimism and positive energy.  I was really excited about when I first wrote Like A Wave, and I think it’s going to be a good addition to the project.  I have recorded the song before, but I think we can change it up and make it fresh.  We were talking about dropping the bass line on the thing and dubbing it out a bit.  It will truly be a thrill to watch how album is going to evolve.  I’ll keep you posted!