by on
I had a great time last weekend in Colorado! But man is it high up…So high I lost my voice 5 minutes into sound check! Luckily, my wonderful host/promoter Arty Smith sent someone to the store to buy me a bottle of sesame oil.  Several slugs later I smelled like Chinese stir fry, but I could sing again. (Helpful tip for all you singers/talkers out there: sesame oil seems to be the one thing that will actually cure laryngitis.  Something about the sesame makes the vocal swelling go down. If you can stand the taste!) Anyway, I rocked and rolled and the good citizens of Elizabeth went right along with me.  We even had a singalong! We had to–it’s Colorado, that’s cowboy country and that means sing-alongs!  :) Pics help tell the story.  
Cowboy and horse as seen through rental car. Rugged!
Cowboy and horse as seen through rental car. Rugged!
 
There's a storm a-comin'...Real weather! A treat for those of us in L.A.
There's a storm a-comin'...Real weather! A treat for those of us in L.A.
 
This is where I sang. Duh.
This is where I sang. Duh.
 
This is where the people sat. Trust me--there were lots!
This is where the people sat. Trust me--there were lots!
Now I’m headed out to the studio to finish up lead guitars today! Hooray!

by on
Breathe a sigh. Let it go. Got the piano done on Monday at a truly proper studio…Place called 4th Street Recording in Santa Monica. Wonderful space, wonderful dark, rich piano, wonderful engineer to help us out (thank you Nolan!).  I highly recommend it. By the way, the piano was used by Fiona Apple for her debut album. I’ll take it.   Anyway, yesterday we were back at work on guitars–cracking the whip on Signoro Anthony.  Got some fantastic sounds down on a song called “Call Me Your Girl” (aka, “High Priced Call Girl”. Just kidding.) and I thought I’d show you what it looks like:  
Fancy schmancy Star Trek type technology...
Fancy schmancy Star Trek type technology...

by on
Whoops! Funny story–booked a fancy studio with grand piano to get some “proper” piano tracks laid down yesterday…Studio was in Eagle Rock, which turned out to be a blessing because at least we had a KICKIN’ good Mexican lunch after the studio turned out to be a complete waste of time becauuuuuuse…There was no insulation, the one patch my producer wanted to use was busted, and there was huge construction going on outside to which the studio manager said, “Oh yeah. They sometimes do that.” HUH? Wait, you want to be paid? Ah, well. Did I mention we had a great lunch afterwards? Always a silver lining. Better studio to come next week.  Pictures tell the story…  
Eagle Rock, aka "Little Mexico"--known for awesome Mexican food!
Eagle Rock, aka "Little Mexico"--known for awesome Mexican food!
In the words of my old buddy George Devore, Good love is never a waste of time...
In the words of my old buddy George Devore, Good love is never a waste of time...
 
This is my producer telling me that the studio is "a little funky, but it might work..."
This is my producer telling me that the studio is "a little funky, but it might work..."
 
This is me reacting optimistically...(And secretly thinking, I bet I can get some great tacos around here if it doesn't work out!)
This is me reacting optimistically...(And secretly thinking, I bet I can get some great tacos around here if it doesn't work out!)
Let's warm up first--try to remember how to play piano, shall we?
Let's warm up first--try to remember how to play piano, shall we?
 
A true sign of the times: a beautiful old Neve soundboard all lit up with nothing to do, and Eric bringing up all the tracks on the trusty Mac.
A true sign of the times: a beautiful old Neve soundboard all lit up with nothing to do, and Eric bringing up all the tracks on the trusty Mac.
 
This is Eric trying to figure out that noise. What you can't hear is me through the room mike going, "Dear GOD, are those dump trucks?! Abort! Abort! Taco Time!"
This is Eric trying to figure out that noise. What you can't hear is me through the room mic going, "Dear GOD, are those dump trucks?! Abort! Abort! Taco Time!"