Final practice last night. Just an fyi: a great practice begets a terrible show. a terrible practice begets a good show. So, this practice has been judged a measly "ok." Which means, LOOK OUT.
Came home, packed everything (gear, merch, personal items). had last couple of hours to spend with Christina. We watched last night's TDS, and some Olympics while I tended to my packing errands.
Woke up this morning, packed the car. At work today, then heading off to Victorville (meeting point before heading off to Vegas).
SEE ONLINE AND LIVE TONIGHT: Have an interview and performance for an online show called Ear Candy w/ Steph Nielson at 7 PM tonight:. (link)
After that, chill with Mike's family. The boys in the Choir will met us up there around 10 or so. Sleep, and then….DRIVE to Vegas!
To everyone going to the Coverville 500 concert and the New Media Expo, see you there!
With less than two weeks to go til Vegas, I'm happy to see the progress on live versions of the new songs. Yesterday, we had a (get this) 8 hour practice. Flanders came back from his two week surfing trip to Bali (he also did some volunteer work!), so it was our first practice with him in a little while.
Steve, Mike & Bob met up with me at the studio at 1 PM. The place was already hot, and since it's so small and unventilated, it was going to get an excruciating day in terms of heat. We spent alot of time focusing on the little details, and working up that feeling that every musician feels when he/she knows the music comes naturally. Not until that feeling are you ever truly comfortable with a song's performance, and not until that feeling can you escape your own body language betraying your confidence. So, if a song is taking a while to get to that point, you gotta break it down, hit it hard and keep doing the parts over and over til it makes sense. You really are training your subconscious, not just "learning the notes."
Around 4 PM, Flanders shows up. We were taking a lunch break (I brought ham & cheese sandwiches; tuna for Bob because he's a godless vegetarian). It was great to see him and after a quick set up of his stuff, we spent the next 4 hours powering away at 5 songs. I'm guessing 3 of them will make the Vegas set.
Only 3 practices left before the show; time to write the set (or at least decide on the songs). This Thursday will let me know which of the new ones are ready to be premiered.
Posing this question on a few sites today: Thinking about adding 3 alt mixes to the record. Vocal/mellow versions. You know, different interpretations of the new songs. They'll be at the end of the CD.
Would fans like something like that? Give me your thoughts!
Every show is sacred...
Current mood: tired
Category: Music
Fun show last night. Met people I'd never met before. The theatre we played was so very cool, too. I was impressed and hope we can play there again. Truth be told though, the PA system sucked. That would have to be improved. But all in all the people were nice and the crowd was, well, patient.
Got off to a slow start, and each act didn't go on as planned. I'd heard the Monty Py-thong girls were going on early, so I asked fans to get there early. Ah well, such was no the case; they went on after us. So most either waited a very long time, or bolted early. Hell, we didn't even go on til around 9:30, I think. (we were supposed to go on much earlier).
But it was a fun performance. Played acoustically, full band: Mike, Steve on acoustic guitars, Bob on a farty old bass practice amp, and Flanders on kit with rod sticks. I played piano on everything except for one song.
And that song was a new one called Ambulance Chaser, performed live for the first time. I borrowed Mike's acoustic, and every single person played some kind of percussion: Adam & Steve: bongos; Bob the whirly toy and the scrape; Mike, tamborine. But that's not all! We passed out shakers, cabasas, maracas, more tambourines and other eccentric bits o percussion to people in the audience. Tara from Monty-Pythong joined us on stage as she was wearing a male choir uniform for her set (she ripped us off, man). Hilarious is the only way to describe: The audience sang the choruses with us. I should have video, I'll try to upload later today or tomorrow.
Monty Pythong didn't get off the stage til late (because of everyone's late start) so we were blisteringly tired. Mike had a long drive and Flanders goes to surf in Indonesia for 2 weeks.
Special thanks to everyone who made it, especially a couple of choir girls who drove from the High Desert to be at this show. Kudos.
work. left early. sick. flu-like symptoms. slept 4 hours. woke up. felt better. much better.
started making beans. should take 2 hours.
marinaded pork shoulder. laid down. got up. felt better.
beans are done.
went to market. got platanos, beer, sour cream, key limes, cream, mint, bacardi. came home.
watched daily show & colbert tivos. squeezed 48 key limes. bed time.
Saturday.
woke. no car. drove wife to work. used her car for errands. came back.
prepped pork shoulder for roasting. lined with bacon and ham. stuffed with guava and prunes. wrapped with twine. covered with brown sugar and malta malt beverage. should take 5 hours.
started ipod party playlist. bought cuban songs. desi arnaz! walked dogs. bought sushi from across the street (spicy tuna w/avocado roll).
roast is done.
picked up wife. warmed up beans. began making platanos maduros. made rice.
people start arriving.
mojitos are being made.
party starts.
last person leaves at around 1:15 AM.
Sunday
woke up. walked dogs. watched wall-e.
went to samys camera. got my b-day gift a day early: 430 speedlite flash for camera.
awake
adventurous
tired