The B-side to yesterday’s post are photos from another full-band tracking session, this time with Jess Godwin. Fresh off her stint at SXSW, we tracked out a new song of hers.  She’ll be returning to the studio later this week for another session. She’s a busy gal, and you catch her around town just about any time for the next few months.  Plus, she’ll be playing a show at Subterranean in Chicago in May with Gersten Hayward from Twin Peaks.
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The B-side to yesterday’s post are photos from another full-band tracking session, this time with Jess Godwin.

Fresh off her stint at SXSW, we tracked out a new song of hers.  She’ll be returning to the studio later this week for another session.

She’s a busy gal, and you catch her around town just about any time for the next few months.  Plus, she’ll be playing a show at Subterranean in Chicago in May with Gersten Hayward from Twin Peaks.

Busy week last week, and here’s some photos from a studio session with The Gentlemen’s Guild.  Basic tracks were laid down on three tracks for an upcoming EP, with an overdub session scheduled for tomorrow. RIYL: The Mercury Program, Sharks Keep Moving, Don Caballero, American Football, Tortoise, and mathematics. On a related note, I’m pretty sure the Glyn Johns’ drum miking technique is my new favorite anything.  We put additional close mics on the toms, as well as a kick out and room mics, to get some extra punch and oomph to the drums.
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Busy week last week, and here’s some photos from a studio session with The Gentlemen’s Guild.  Basic tracks were laid down on three tracks for an upcoming EP, with an overdub session scheduled for tomorrow.

RIYL: The Mercury Program, Sharks Keep Moving, Don Caballero, American Football, Tortoise, and mathematics.

On a related note, I’m pretty sure the Glyn Johns’ drum miking technique is my new favorite anything.  We put additional close mics on the toms, as well as a kick out and room mics, to get some extra punch and oomph to the drums.

What a lovely day in the neighborhood!  It feels so wonderful to finally be outside without all the bundling…
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What a lovely day in the neighborhood!  It feels so wonderful to finally be outside without all the bundling…

50 States: New Jersey (14/50)  |  New Years Day 2012 Technically this one came in 2012, but it was on the same roll as all of my other shots from 2011.  (Shh, it still counts..) Once we got over the Walt Whitman Bridge, it took a long ways driving into Jersey before we even saw this sign (Mer and I were wondering if the Garden State would even welcome us at all).
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50 States: New Jersey (14/50)  |  New Years Day 2012

Technically this one came in 2012, but it was on the same roll as all of my other shots from 2011.  (Shh, it still counts..)

Once we got over the Walt Whitman Bridge, it took a long ways driving into Jersey before we even saw this sign (Mer and I were wondering if the Garden State would even welcome us at all).

50 States: Pennsylvania (13/50)  |  December 2011 For as much as I tout my Pennsy-Pride, I’m honestly surprised this wasn’t the first state I crossed off my list.  Then it hit me that lately I’m always drivingout ofPennsylvania rather than back into it.. Mer and I are driving somewhere uncharted tonight—Minneapolis, to see THIS GUY tomorrow—so it only seems fitting to post a familiar, grounding state photo today. Who knows some good things to do in Minneapolis?
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50 States: Pennsylvania (13/50)  |  December 2011

For as much as I tout my Pennsy-Pride, I’m honestly surprised this wasn’t the first state I crossed off my list.  Then it hit me that lately I’m always drivingout ofPennsylvania rather than back into it..
Mer and I are driving somewhere uncharted tonight—Minneapolis, to see THIS GUY tomorrow—so it only seems fitting to post a familiar, grounding state photo today.
Who knows some good things to do in Minneapolis?
I attempted reel-to-reel to digital transfers yesterday on an old Akai X-1800SD at work, but the capstan and pinch roller wouldn’t touch to play the tape.  Then the motors inside of what I think was a Sony TC-755 stopped working as soon as the machine started. While the end result was a bust, I still got to throw up some actual audio tape on a live reel—after I cleaned out years of gunk from the playheads and other moving parts, of course.
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I attempted reel-to-reel to digital transfers yesterday on an old Akai X-1800SD at work, but the capstan and pinch roller wouldn’t touch to play the tape.  Then the motors inside of what I think was a Sony TC-755 stopped working as soon as the machine started.

While the end result was a bust, I still got to throw up some actual audio tape on a live reel—after I cleaned out years of gunk from the playheads and other moving parts, of course.

50 States: Tennessee (12/50)  |  March 2011 Another shot from the March mini tour with Calm Palm Vapor, but this one is kind of faked.  It’s actually the other side of the bridge from THIS photo. Before I started the 50 States project, I’d been to Tennessee before.  However, I had such a miserable time once in Nashville that I didn’t really want to go back (Sorry to any pro-Volunteers).  On our drive from Chicago to Little Rock, I hijacked the van on I-40 for a brief loop through Memphis so I could grab my shot. Don’t judge me.  You’d have done the same.  12 down, 38 to go.
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50 States: Tennessee (12/50)  |  March 2011

Another shot from the March mini tour with Calm Palm Vapor, but this one is kind of faked.  It’s actually the other side of the bridge from THIS photo.

Before I started the 50 States project, I’d been to Tennessee before.  However, I had such a miserable time once in Nashville that I didn’t really want to go back (Sorry to any pro-Volunteers).  On our drive from Chicago to Little Rock, I hijacked the van on I-40 for a brief loop through Memphis so I could grab my shot.

Don’t judge me.  You’d have done the same.  12 down, 38 to go.

Just got home with some early production stills from a video shoot for Rocket Miner tonight.  Follow this link to the song we’re going with, tracked and mix by yours truly and mastered by Azimuth Mastering.

We’re working with a script treatment from Jeffrey Moore of Axtravaganza Films and tonight was our shoot for the live segment footage (Second Unit).  Great experience tonight, there’s still plenty more work to come. 

From what I’ve seen of the early captures, this is going to look so SLICK.  Can’t wait to share the finished product.

It’s another lazy Sunday, for him at least…
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It’s another lazy Sunday, for him at least…

50 States: Wisconsin (11/50)  |  July 2011 The award for “Most Unique Welcome Sign So Far” would have to go to the Badger State. Pilot Cloud drove up for a mini-pilgrimage to Franks Diner in Kenosha while recording our split EP over the summer.  We’d stopped there on tour back in 2009 and been craving their insanely-tasty, artery-cloggingest breakfast platters ever since.  Unfortunately, however, this was the morning after a giant storm had passed through, knocking out power through almost the entire Kenosha area.  Upon arriving at Franks, a despondent member of the staff came out to tell us they’d be closed until the power came back on—and there was no estimated timetable for when that would be. Next time I’ll be sure to have a contingency plan to work-around Mother Nature ruining my breakfasts.
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50 States: Wisconsin (11/50)  |  July 2011

The award for “Most Unique Welcome Sign So Far” would have to go to the Badger State.

Pilot Cloud drove up for a mini-pilgrimage to Franks Diner in Kenosha while recording our split EP over the summer.  We’d stopped there on tour back in 2009 and been craving their insanely-tasty, artery-cloggingest breakfast platters ever since. 

Unfortunately, however, this was the morning after a giant storm had passed through, knocking out power through almost the entire Kenosha area.  Upon arriving at Franks, a despondent member of the staff came out to tell us they’d be closed until the power came back on—and there was no estimated timetable for when that would be.

Next time I’ll be sure to have a contingency plan to work-around Mother Nature ruining my breakfasts.

Last weekend I went on a “nature walk” at the Field Museum. I really should take better advantage of the multiple museums, exhibits, and other cultural things in town.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve been living here for almost a year and a half, and this is the first time I’d been in that South Loop Museum Campus area. Then again, more things should be easier to get to and free to attend…like the Chicago Cultural Center is.
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Last weekend I went on a “nature walk” at the Field Museum.

I really should take better advantage of the multiple museums, exhibits, and other cultural things in town.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve been living here for almost a year and a half, and this is the first time I’d been in that South Loop Museum Campus area.

Then again, more things should be easier to get to and free to attend…like the Chicago Cultural Center is.