Quiet on Set....

There was a time when I would lock myself away for days at a time trying to write and record but over time discovered that when a song wanted to be heard it would come at anytime it pleased.  I learned that I should focus on living life and having as many experiences as possible to draw from.  The past couple of weeks have been pretty busy hustling, renovating my kitchen and recording.  I'm seeing hexagon tiles in my sleep but now that we're nearing the completion of the job, I'm more inspired.  I firmly believe in getting the space I live in right.  I can't really live with florescent light, it really sucks the life out of me.  When we made "So Long" we rented an old apartment and fixed it up before starting the recording.  I don't think one note was recorded til everything was in place and the paint dryed.  It's just the way I tick I guess, can't think with clutter and uninspiring things lying around.  Fast forward to now and I'm full of paint, sanding cabinets, staining and hanging pendants and ending the night with a mic and a guitar.  I'm slowly easing out of my need for everything to be in it's place.  

So tonight I'll be finally done overdubbing the first song and sending it on to Danny.  I can't wait to hear what he does with it.  On to the next song and then the next and then all the new ones that won't leave me alone in the middle of the night.  Quite a burden to be living with, each one is your precious child and need equal attention.  Oh well, I guess it's better than writer's block.

French 75...

French 75 is a cocktail made from Gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar.

The drink was created in 1915 at the Paris landmark, Harry's NY Bar by barman Harry MacElhonne. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75 artillery piece, also called a "75 Cocktail", or "Soixante Quinze" in French. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club.

Smokey Amps..

A few years ago when I was traveling and living out of a suitcase I began playing more guitar because of its portability.  While I began on piano in college studying Chopin, my love affair with writing came when I picked up a guitar.  After I toured during the "So Long" years, I made the "Louque the Drifter" record using mostly an acoustic parlor guitar.  Immediately after, I began the first project with "Royal Vagabonds".  Almost instantly I had an electric guitar in my hand and discovered that I had a certain sound on it.  I grew accustomed to sitting on the couch playing my new Fender Jazzmaster with no amp. I just loved the feel of it and was much easier than an acoustic.  One day while on tour, I picked up a small amp that was in an old cigarette box and was stunned when I got back to the hotel by its sound.  I quickly ran it through my Holy Grail reverb and the sound was just perfect.

Over the time spent playing on the couch and hotel rooms, I grew fond of the subtle distortion this little box produced.  When we went into the studio for the Vagabonds project, we recorded "Wildfire" with it.  Of course the engineers and techies were looking at us like we were crazy but there's no denying the sound.  

Over the course of recording "For the King's Court" we discovered that the Boss Blues Driver was the closest thing to these little beast when trying to play through the Fender Twin Amp.  I did play a solo show with this little one mic'd up.  The sound was high end but I did end up with a lot of people coming up to me asking how I got my guitar sound.  I just laughed when I left the place carrying only my guitar with amp inside the bag.  

The other night I was experimenting with some electric guitar parts and mic'd up an old Pall Mall and I just shook my head when I heard it in the mix.  There's nothing like it.  It's not muscular like a real amp but it has it's place and demands your attention in the mix.  

I often wonder how artist come up with their colors.  How much of it is intended and how much is accidental? Sometimes all of the colors we need are lying around the studio floors, or left in our guitar cases.  

Sun Kil Moon...

Sun Kil Moon is a music project of singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, best known for his previous band Red House Painters.  Sun Kil Moon sees Kozelek undertake the writing, composing, singing and guitar playing, accompanied by Tim Mooney and Anthony Koutsos on drums, and Geoff Stanfield on bass. The band is named after Korean lightweight boxer Sung-Kil Moon.

Danny Blume...

Danny Blume(born Daniel Blumenfeld January 17, 1960 in Berkeley CA) is an American music producer, musician, and composer.  He is a Grammy Award winner, multiple Grammy nominee, and co-founder/ owner of the production team GoodandEvil with Christian Castagno, with studios operating in Brooklyn and Woodstock NY.

They Walk Alone, Onto the Trails of Another....

In order to survive and grow in a contemporary context, tradition must shed its dead branches and grow new ones.  If tradition is viewed as a process instead of a product, then this necessary change can also be traditional if it conforms to its own rules.  Trying to restrict the natural, organic growth of a traditional culture as if real people were forced to inhabit a museum display would only contribute to its demise....

New Years 2011 Portraits

We rung in the New Year at a friends house in the French Quarter this year.  It was a nice time, met some very interesting people and hung with old friends.

E Lang the Great!

Jeffrey

Femi

Wifey

This year will bring on a new record and am excited about my collaborations in New Orleans taking shape.  Also, will be reuniting with Danny Blume whom I worked with on So Long.  He will be mixing and playing guitar on my new record.  I'm tossing around names for the record.  The Tide of Galloping Horses, KingQueen, We Took to the Woods?  Not sure yet, depends on where things go in the creative process with the music and my collaborators.  Please feel free to make suggestions.  There will be plenty of harmonies and clip on beards!