BLOG-O-RAMAS

It’s the season to release your art.

First off, The Thundermonks released their Get Fed EP while I was beached in the Algarve. Josiah Michael Bonnet completed his year long journey, Lonely Man. Hear, Comes The Cavalry AND Wool And Howl have just been mastered and are planning their grueling (though absolutely rewarding) struggle to have their genius see the light of day. Can they do it? Stay tuned as we document their descent into DIY marketing insanity.

Which reminds me. Bri-anne Swan had this lovely little review at Amazon.com

“I saw Bri-Anne playing with just one supporting guitarist in a bar in Toronto (a fundraising event for Multiple Sclerosis) and I was captivated by her voice, her personality and the lyrics of her songs. I bought this CD that evening and it is simply beautiful (although a bit surprising at first to hear a backing band). On this evidence Bri-Anne is surely destined for a great career. The songs are mainly very personal but speak for what most have been through in love and life. And all sung in that captivating voice. Not so much variation in tempo, but each track is perfectly crafted. A real “find” – and one I would not have made if I hadn’t been stuck in Canada because of the airspace closure due to volcanic ash.”

But what am I doing right now?

Up to my knees in the muck. I’m working on Nicole Christian’s blues LP, Prince Perry’s EP, Emma-Lee’s demo recordings and foray into rocksteady (what out!), The Cavaliers, The Expos and have begun work on Nich Worby’s LP – where that leads – I dunno, but it’s great so far. No injuries.

And with that I’ll leave you with a live clip of The Bodysnatchers (named after one of my fave films), from the film, Dance Craze filmed in 1981.

Are you familiar with that sucking sound through the front teeth? That was the sound the head piano mover made when he saw our stairs leading to the studio. Within the hour they had it sitting beside the Hammond, lovely and out of tune.
One bill at a time, please.
The piano arrives in time for the Nicole Christian session and the Cavaliers.
A close one.
Yes.
Off on my way to re-arrange things and so my best to tidy up before Luke Nares shows up for his percussion session.

When we arrived in Montreal on Thursday, the first thing we did was load in at Le Petit Campus. The second thing was to walk our butts over to Shwartz’s for some legendary smoke meat. The drive over was a little taxing and most of us felt a little weird after (and I speak for myself) snacking on pretzels and whatnot. I shared a sandwich with Brendan and it was a half portion of perfection. Melt in your mouth topped with mustard. Yowza! Lo(rraine) Muller joined us and we moved on to a coffee shop around the corner form the venue hoping to drink something that would help us feel less full before we had to flop onto the stage. As we ordered we realized that there was going to be live entertainment in the form of a piano/ synth and a very emotive jazz singer. Immediately, everyone started groaning a little (the band that is), Meher put his foot down declaring that he’d walk out if they sing Summertime. I looked over to watch the act for a second and like a heat seeking missile the singer locked eyes with me and was winking and smiling a way that suggested that everything would be alright and perhaps I could get a foot rub out of it if I played my cards right. I blushed, naturally. Following that song, I clapped whole heartedly, to the exasperation of the my colleagues “what are you doing?” “you’ve got to be kidding” or “don’t encourage them.” Feeling no fear, Perry got up and slowly (like he was floating on the current) moved towards the act. When they had completed another Humber Jazz school gem he leaned over and spoke his magic to the singer who looked unsure, but nodded as if she dared not deny someone brave enough to cross the performer/ spectator line – that line moves depending on the venue and in this case, it was about 3 inches from Casio’s plastic chassis. Well, before you could sing out “All Of Me” Perry was in the middle of a honey on your toast duet of Summertime. Meher looked back in horror and Perry smiled and winked at the audience…

First off, happy to say that Winterbeard Records is celebrating landing 2 festivals for Prince Perry this week. No one has attempted to steal a trombone from the studio this week – so far…  Outbred Inlaws have been mastered and off to the presses. Going to send off the Thundermonks Ep to mastering (Benoit) today or tomorrow.

This morning I was doing my walk down Broadview avenue trying to get enough steps in (a few more thousand will do) and then Old Man Bladder rang me up. I hopped the streetcar and walked down from Dundas. Just as I was getting withing peeing distance of the studio there was this guy pissing in the parking lot. Was that all I had to do? Should of thought of it first. Maybe before having 2 cups of tea on my way out the door. tsk tsk

Mixing Hear, Comes The Cavalry this morning. Thinking about panning and that yesterday a nine year old boy was telling me he’d seen Kick Ass the movie this past weekend. A little more inappropriate than urinating in a public parking lot at 8:30 am.

Time to print the vocals to tape.

It’s a fight to the finish. Recently, I’ve discontinued reading novels in favour of trying to learn Portuguese on public transit. I have a Portuguese In 3 Months book. I’m trying to absorb as much of it as I can before I go on vacation there. When my brain feels like it’s going to explode and I can’t take any more ish and eshge-es I turn to lighter fare, like counting the number of people reading on transit versus those listening to their ipods. I disqualify those doing both at the same time – cancels out. It’s a slightly more pleasant game than counting the number of people who cough into their hands and then grab a pole on their way out so their gift of the germ remains.