Swivel Cam!

As you know, I am always trying to find new angles for the practice shots. During our session, I was surveying the room for any nook or cranny that would work to accommodate my little camera so we could get some great shots of all three of us playing. I was warned by Dave that the vibration would knock it off the wall on Saturday so I didn't want to put it back there again. Instead, I attempted to wedge the little guy between strings holding up the sound rafters. This failed. I gave up and sat back down only to realize that the mic stands serve as PERFECT holders or the camera, equipped with up and down motion for high angles and rotation as well! This clip is of the camera in position on the far corner of the room but I realized that the lens wasn't allowing me to get all three of us. So even though this attempt was fun, it was also futile. Oh well! I moved my new holding device out into the hallway instead (see other posts). This video attempt is just too funny to NOT post tho. ahha

Care To Listen?

*****SPOILER ALERT******

Reader beware. This is a clip of us practicing the newly added song If Not Now, Then When. It's not much right now but you can get the gist of the song by viewing below. We worked through this practice before Aaron showed up and then once he came aboard with it, it took a whole new life and I think it's safe to say it'll be one of my favorites on the record. Yay to track adjustments!

Getting To Know Our New Friend

If Not Now, Then When is the newbie on the track-list of What To Keep & Let Go, having kicked out Do What You Can for its spot because it simply jives better with the entire record. Sorry DWYC, we'll see you again soon! On January 12th, Dave and I sat down and hashed out the different parts to the song, him learning the bass parts as he will be taking up the instrument for the final recording. Since I capo the song on the fifth fret, we had to work through the notes to figure out what they really are for Dave's parts. Damn me and my capo- always confusing bass players! (Right, Marcin?) haha

No Attacks But Snow Tracks!

It's been a while since the Weston Monster has reared its ugly head at the recording space but that doesn't mean that he isn't still coming around! On Saturday, I was outside enjoying the crisp air and waiting for Dave's arrival when I happened upon some tracks left in the snow, clearly made by the beast. He's still lurking in and around the studio alright.... I wonder where he's hiding out this winter and will we see him again?

Stand Up for Your Bass!

So on Tuesday Dave told me that our goal to have a stand up bass part for Bicycle on the Ice may become possible! Apparently he has a friend that plays one and said she'd be interested in laying down a track for us. So exciting! It'll really help to fill the space a little more and create that ambiance that I'm looking for.

I'll keep you updated on the possible new musician as well as any other random people we'll have coming aboard to polish off these songs. I think Chad mentioned he has a friend that plays the violin too....

Aaron & Cullen & Dave, Oh My!

A different than normal mix of us flooded the studio space on January 8th, ready to start 2010 off with a new song and new ambition to complete the record! Dave and I began the day by adjusting some wood-block sound effects in the bridge of Stand, later realizing that we should see if Aaron Pring was available to start work on his songs. Sure enough, he was able to stop by to talk about Passing Into August and to run it through a few times. Earlier that week, I had mentioned to Cullen that Dave and I were going to be working in the studio that weekend and he said he might stop by, which he did! So on this sunny Saturday afternoon, the four of us crowded together in the recording room amidst amplifiers, pedal boards and sun patches with Aaron's red & black diamond clad bass drum sitting prominently in the middle of the floor, a couple of chairs surrounding it to frame our little jam session. Cullen graciously offered up some percussion advice to Aaron, talking of different time-signatures to play with and tricks to practice on his own, while Dave worked on getting Passing Into August fed through the amp from the console. It was a unique session, jamming for the first time with Dave and Aaron, while Cullen sat among us, taking stange-angled photos and lending a drummer's ear where he could. Jamming in a different space felt fresh and left me excited for the next practice where we three will be working through the newly added song If Not Now, Then When? Once Aaron is ready with these two songs, we'll bring him in to record his drum parts, leaving only Hello, Amy left to begin work on. Wow.

Here are some photos from the session taken by Cullen Corley.

Ready For Our Close-Ups, Mr. Corley

Like I have said before - give Cullen the camera and you just don't know WHAT to expect! haha In this particular clip Cullen decided to get up close and personal with each of us during our practice session of Passing Into August. My favorite is the cymbal crashes during Aaron's close-up because you can't hear anything else! It's just humorous to me. :)