Hey, we've been posting video recently! Some from Nashville recording (VLOGS) and some clips from a live show in Main this past weekend (during the "cell phone song" - Don't Be Afraid). You can catch up on them all on our YouTube channel or on our Facebook page...

Labels: Don't Be Afraid, Facebook, Nashville, Recording, Video, vlog

Day 4:
We laid down some drum tracks for a couple more songs, that may or may not make it onto this release (a new version of Waterfall -- originally recorded on Reason -- and a cool, totally different version of Lord, I Lift Your Name on High that you may have heard if you've been to an acoustic show recently). With all the drums done (Great Job, RON!!!), Gigs (Joe Gorgolione) finished up all the bass guitars -- all before lunch!

After lunch, it got LOUD!! Guitars, guitars, guitars, guitars and guitars -- Eli threw down tons of awesome guitars - thick & juicy, nice & tasty, totally rockin' guitar parts. Did I mention that we couldn't hear anything but GUITAR all day?!?!? Of course, Eli was like "Well, you know the best sound from these amps is only possible when the amp is turned up to at least ELEVEN!!!"

Day 5:
The only thing left to do was finish the rest of the guitars. So, Eli turned up the amps EVEN LOUDER and cranked on them until our special guest came. Billy Smiley brought in a BIG HITTER for us to help out with guitar tones, ideas and even throw down some licks -- George Cocchini (seriously check him out on Google and Wikipedia)!! I have to say that it was awesome and he was so humble! We are totally honored to have him be a part of these recordings!

Day 6:
We made some mixes to take home and hit the road - driving straight through from Nashville, TN, to home, sweet home -- aka Dirty Jersey!!! ;-)

SIDE NOTES:
Eli is posting Vlogs (video blogs) of our time in Nashville so be sure to check them out on our YouTube channel or on the band's Facebook page!!!!! There should be an interview with Billy Smiley (our producer) up soon!

Labels: Billy Smiley, Franklin, George Cocchini, Nashville, Recording, TN, Video, vlog

Day 2:
We knocked out the all the drum tracks except for 5 songs. We were planning on recording 6 songs but it looks like we will be doing starting 9 and finishing 7 for this next release. One that is coming out smoking so far is a rocking "JPT" version of Tainted Love (made popular by Soft Cell in 1981). We'll see!!

Day 3:
Started off the day tracking the last of the first 7 songs... It's more of a pop-rock song -- so it's getting a little TLC. We'll be tightening up the rhythm section, adding bass and electric guitars this afternoon and evening.

Labels: Billy Smiley, Recording

Working toward the band's third release -- the band moved into a house/studio with Billy Smiley in Nashville, TN (actually Franklin, TN); we'll be here through Saturday. We drove through the night on Sunday night and got into town around mid-day on Monday (yesterday). Around 3pm we began setting up drums and guitars. While Charley, an engineer, was helping Ron, Eli and Gigs get signals, mics and levels -- Billy and took a quick stroll into downtown Franklin (just a few blocks away) for a few errands. While driving around, Billy began pointing out houses -- "That's where Whiteheart and Amy Grant recorded. Oh and here -- Whiteheart recorded there, later the Newsboys bought that house and recorded, then Ted T took it over and recorded Mute Math there..." Pretty inspiring (and cool at the very least)! We stopped at Shuff's Music Store, looking for a special cable, and Billy recalled, "...and this is the first place I worked when I moved to Nashville."

Later we started tracking drums, bass guitar and guitars for two songs. Oh -- and George Cocchini -- stopped by drop off some crazy, vintage amps for the recording. George is a guitar GURU who has Studio Tech'ed ans Session Musician for Michael McDonald, Joe English, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, DC Talk, Third Day, MercyMe, Building429, Safety Suit, and MANY, MANY MORE.

And then we CRASHED being completely exhausted from the previous 24 hours of driving and getting set up for the recording. Looking forward to an awesome Day 2 tomorrow and totally excited about the rest of the week!

Mooki

Labels: Billy Smiley, Franklin, George Cocchini, Nashville, Recording, TN