So, evidently I look like Brad Pitt. Sorta. I was told this by a woman yesterday while making a delivery on campus. She said while driving into the lot I looked like him. I’ve definitely never been told that. When I was in high school I was told I looked like Alec Baldwin in a way.
I really don’t agree with either of these assessments, but what the hell.
I had a good week this week. 2 band practices and I get to see a kick ass concert tonight. More on that in a sec.
Jenn and I practiced both last night and Wednesday night. Making up for the lost time with no practices the past few weeks. Wednesday’s was nice. We decided to put off recording until last night and thus just focus on actual rehearsal for Weds. A big chunk of time was dedicated to working on Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Amnesia. It’s a cool track and Jenn sounds great singing it. It’s gonna rip. We touched on a few other songs, including Discovery of the West, the first song we ever started writing together. It’s still unfinished, but in figuring out what else needs to be there, it’s really not that much. I do really like the song and I can’t wait until it’s done. As usual, Jenn sings a kick ass melody. I’m definitely spoiled by having her as my singer. Discovery is an interesting song though. I started writing the music for it back in…damn, I gotta think here…1994 I think. It might have been ‘93. Something like that. Anyway, it started life called Oblivious to All, which was a horrible love song written about this chick I liked back in high school. Yes, it had lyrics too. They were the awful part. Even though I “poured my heart out” (gag me!), I never really liked the lyrics and I always wanted to dump them and re-write the song. I liked *most* of the music for it.
This song swam around in my mind for many years until 2003 when I gave Jenn the opening riff and told her to write something to it. She wasn’t having much luck with it so sometime either in 2003 or 2004 I picked it up again and the rest of it just poured out. Well, the main part of the song - verses, choruses, pre-choruses, all that. So that’s when I sent Jenn and copy of the newly written tune (called Western Discovery…that’s what the music reminded me of) and a few weeks later I called her from work and she sang me some of the lyrics over the phone. Oh man, it just sent this shiver through my body and it was yet another HUGE reminder that I had to really play music with this girl. Remember, at this time I was in Dallas and Jenn was out here in Carolina. That summer Jenn and Eric visited us in Texas and we played through the new version of the song (which used a huge chunk of the original music as the middle section(s)) and it was great to play it live with her. Once again, it strengthened my desire to *really* work with her. And a year and a half later, I moved out here.
So yeah, Discovery of the West is a really important song to me and I can’t wait until it’s done. It’s going to be so excellent.
Last night’s practice was spent recording Jenn’s vocals for Surrounded by Trees, the first song we wrote after I moved back here in Feburary. She’s always had trouble with singing the chorus, but after a few attempts she finally got it. The rest of the vocals came pretty easily and since the music’s done, all that’s left is for me to record my 4 small vocal lines and then I’ll get to work on mixing it. I’m aiming to have it up on the website by early next week, maybe even sooner. I should have some time this afternoon before the concert to record those vocals. I hope.
Even more than with Discovery, I’m SUPER excited to get Surrounded by Trees out there. I love this song. It’s definitely one of my favorites that I’ve written so far. And of course Jenn out did herself on it. Lryics and vocals and melodies are just fantastic. I can’t wait for other people to hear it.
Since we finished up the song pretty quickly we decided to take the rest of the night off and watch a Dream Theater DVD - Images and Words live in Tokyo. I love her comment about John Petrucci, “I bet his guitar teacher is very proud!” Ain’t that the truth. We both laughed at singer James LaBrie’s singing/screaming and dropped our jaws at the playing of Petrucci and Myung in particular. All those guys are so immensely talented…the crap Petrucci does still fries my brain. There’s that one sweep that he does…and I can’t even THINK that fast. It’s insane. You know, I *LOVE* that Jenn digs Dream Theater as much as I do. It’s not something you’d really expect (she might be the only female on the planet that likes DT!), but it just makes me appreciate her that much more.
So, on to tonight: Julie and I are going to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones & Umphreys McGee out in Cary. I am so excited about this concert. Ever since they first announced this tour, my head’s just been exploding. First Umphreys. I saw these guys in Dallas last year, just on a whim since I’d heard their name around, and I was totally blown away. They’re definitely the best young band out there, especially live. And then the Flecktones…the only time I’ve seen them live was 10 years ago in Austin with my friend Brandon. Neither of us really had any idea who they were, but he heard that “their bassist is supposed to be pretty good” and so we went.
Ha!
“Pretty good”…
Oh my gosh. Victor Wooten is ABSOLUTELY the best bassist on the planet. No doubt in my mind. And if you forgot, I’m a bassist, so I’m qualified to judge. The Flecktones put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and they’re all amazing musicians, but Victor is still the main thing. To say I’m excited to watch and listen to the best bassist in the world tonight is an understatement. I am GIDDY!
And practice the past 2 days definitely didn’t hurt my mood any, either.
“That Chord” from A Hard Day’s Night just came on the iPod…I must hear it again.
Ah, I love it!
I’ll report about concert next week. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Current Location: work, still
Current Mood: 
giddy
Current Music: Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night
Write a comment