Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll

Tuesday we play battle of the bands. We have one hell of a show planned. We only have twenty minutes, and there is alot jammed in. As Brian put it “What are you going to do at the next round?!?” That’s how you know you have a rocking show planned. See you tuesday!

Tumblr was supposed to be importing my posts from Blogspot, but for some reason it hasn’t been, so now I apologize for neglecting you.

A quick recap:

The band is rehearsing with our new rhythm section like mad bandits getting ready to hit the stage in the early spring.  February will see Brian Johnson and the Acquitted hit the radio waves with an artist spotlight on WFHB Feb 23rd at 9PM.

I am starting a photo project which involves taking a picture of my main guitar, a blond Telecaster, every day of the year.  Today is the 7th, and I have 7 pictures to post this weekend.

Jan. 18th I will release a free album that I started writing and recording on Tuesday, January 4th.  These songs will all be new compositions ranging in style.  A full length album in two weeks?  I love running on pressure.

See you soon.

Paste Magazine suspended publication today.  For those of you who don’t know, Paste was a fine publication.  It introduced me to a lot of great music and supported tons of artists that I love.  It wasn’t sarcastic or mean, and sometimes it could be a little too flattering of musicians that were being showcased; but it was a publication that loved music and it always upheld the notion that all culture was to be celebrated. 

It has always been a secret goal of mine to be featured in Paste and I suppose I won’t get that chance now.  I think the internet is a great tool, but often times it lacks the editorial control needed for proper journalism.  A weekly or monthly periodical is considered too slow in this day and age, but too often things are posted on the internet without thinking and quality investigation. 

As a society obsessed with pop culture we must keep in mind Facebook and Twitter are tools of promotion and self indulgence, not real insight.  We must strive to keep alive the methods used to bring us quality, thought provoking articles.  I for one will find another periodical in line with my own tastes, although I doubt I will enjoy it as much as Paste Magazine.

I find it horrifying I must post these thoughts on a separate blog because it is too long.  Too long for the internet, and too long for most people’s attention spans.

Brian

One more twelve hour day has come and gone in Sleepwalk Recording.  Brian and I finished vocals, organ, electric piano and guitars.  It was a very productive day, and a very busy one.  Nothing like listening to the same song 10 times in a row to build up the confidence.  At the end of the day we sat down and listened to what we had created.  We are very, very pleased with the results.  Mixing will begin soon, and we have complete confidence in Eric Day’s abilities.  We have come to call him the Wizard, because he is absolute magic with sound.

We can’t wait to get this record out, although we will have to, for money is still needed.  But within two months, we will be in fine, fine shape.

Tonight we will be playing an acoustic show, opening for Heart Of Gold.  Louisville seems to be our homebase, which we would love if not for the two hour drive.  Pictures/video to follow?

There is far more to recording an album than just recording the songs and burning copies of CD-Rs, although that is how I have done my previous 6.  This record is for real, however, so there is alot more to it.  If you are selling your record, you will need to be registered with either ASCAP or BMI, both companies that route profits from music sales, essentially.  Brian and myself are both registered with ASCAP.  Neither is better or worse, so it is basically which artists you like, and which one they choose.  My publishing company is called “Holstered Music.”  When you pick up our CD, you will see mine and Brian’s (Cold Friday Music) companies listed. 

Once the actual recording is done, mixing takes place.  This is a long process that will wear out your ears and your soul.  After mixing, mastering, which is the last part of the recording process.  Then we have jacket design, pressing, and shipping.  Finally we will be ready to distribute.  So get ready world, just a few short months…