Friday, August 31, 2007

So it's been a little while...

And I have to say, things, musically, are looking pretty damn good.

Roman Holiday is getting some really good private parties and our foot in the door at some really respectable venues. We're about to enter "the land of the backing track" soon, so we'll see how that goes. It'll definitely fill out our sound.

Tonight Ned (RH guitarist) and I are heading over to check out another good Austin cover band called "Sprung". A guy I work with is their drummer.

I restrung and cleaned up my old #1 guitar, "Grandpa" (a 1990 Fender H.M. Strat Ultra), leaving the locking part of the locking nut off.

I think I'm going to modify it and put an Earvana nut or something like that on it. Maybe just graphite. I'm definitely going to have a luthier/tech do it, though, because I really want the guitar to be as awesome as it once was, only without the annoyance that is a stripped locking nut. Or, the more likely scenario: I'll do nothing and just enjoy it for what it is.

Anyway, no new songs since last post, but I do want to write some soon. Maybe I can gank a few free hours this holiday weekend and write and record a song.

We shall see... :)

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Fun times...

So I moved the family piano into the studio, because our house just isn't big enough to have it out in the den (it really makes the room small).

Then I set up the mic and recorded some stuff just for fun. Here's a sample.

I also recorded some covers with just me and an acoustic guitar for fun. I was constantly being interrupted by the kids, and I forgot some words here and there (not to mention missed a few notes), but I think these show you that a good song is a good song regardless of how fleshed-out the arrangement is:
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Sunday Morning (Maroon5)

I like goofing around when I can. I encourage you to do the same!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Cajun Man would be proud...

I'm into the "tion"s these days.

Aggravation - as in, I get aggravated when I'm not feeling like the machine is churning behind me musically, especially when I'm giving a LOT like I was at the Light Bar last Saturday night.

Frustration - from having a complete night of clusterfucks.

Dehydration - having nothing to do with alcohol, but purely based on too much heat - no matter how much water I drank, I still felt like diarrhea the next day.

Remuneration - or more accurately, not much remuneration for all our troubles.

Destination - or perhaps...

Vacation - as in, it's time for me to have one, and it's good that the band has a break so we can get our crap together.

Circumnavigation - feeling like you've circled the "globe of emotions" in the course of one show.

Creation - I wrote part of a song...but just part, but it was still new and creative.

Isolation - I need some sometimes. I get really short and snippy if I don't get it.

Recreation - taking the kids for a swim Saturday was actually quite awesome.

Violation - talking about other band members on here isn't kosher with "band code", but I was really frustrated by their performances Saturday night - I love 'em to death, truly, but I felt like I needed to get Casey angry so she'd actually hit the drums with some power (it just seemed really weak up on stage - I hope it was more "together" out front), and I wanted to get Ned some replacement nerves, because apparently the ones connecting his brain and hands (and his thinking and memory) weren't working all that well Saturday night.

Conflagration - could be something that happens from my brash honesty on here.

Migration - moving to a new drummer will make things a lot different for this band, which isn't a bad thing.

Satisfaction - that I used "tion" more than anyone probably should.

Salutations!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Ego boost...

This was sent in response to a Roman Holiday e-mail list post by Ned:
"The other band that has rocked my world is Roman Holiday (http://www.romanholidayband.com/). They stepped in when The Recliners had to cancel out on a reception I was hosting for a conference last week. Roman Holiday is a three piece with one of the most amazing bass players I've seen on stage in a long time. He plays like John Taylor and sings like... well, whoeverthehell he wants to. They do AC/DC, The Beastie Boys, Smash Mouth, The Ramones... well the song list is on the web site. AND they'll be adding Duran Duran soon! Woot! They are playing on Saturday at 10pm at The Light Bar, which is located across the street from the Frost Bank Building at 4th and Congress. Their regular drummer had to drop out due to work but the sit in (a chic drummer and she's hot!) is really great and if they hadn't told me I would not have known they hadn't rehearsed."

...and that was a show with barely any rehearsal, played with Casey, who had barely picked up sticks in five months.

Comments like these just remind me of the reality that no matter how much you think you suck, someone probably thinks you're awesome. Thanks to the folks who came out to Stubb's, and especially the hosts of the party for reminding me of that by sending these wonderful comments along.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Jason Falkner is MY American Idol

I've been on a huge Jason Falkner kick these past few days, soaking up just about everything he put out - Presents Author Unknown, Can You Still Feel?, Bliss Descending, and even his guitar work in Jellyfish. The dude is just supremely talented, and completely overlooked except by songwriting musos like me.

His music almost sounds like prog-pop, in the sense that it uses very dense, complicated arrangements of guitar and voice. It's just weird enough to not sound completely mainstream, but everything is a hook. It's kind of like XTC, only an American version, with all the instruments performed by one guy (he plays everything on his albums).

I encourage everyone who reads this to go to your nearest record store or used CD store, and grab any of his records you can find. OR if you're a Napster or Rhapsody member (the unlimited kind) check him out on there.

He has a new album out, but it's still unavailable in the states except as an import from Japan. They get all the good stuff, including bonus tracks on almost all releases that aren't available on the American versions.

Why is America so consistently denied the best in power pop?

In a world that actually judges its art based on merit rather than fashion, Jason Falkner would be a superstar.

So, here's to you, Jason...I hope you're able to shed those sideman shoes and get the recognition that befits a talent as great as yours.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Two days of happy.

Wednesday and Thursday were good in Roman Holiday-land.

Wednesday night, we auditioned a great drummer (Rob). Thursday he decided to join the band. YAY!

Wednesday night, we played with Casey (who we love). Thursday, we did it again at Stubb's. It was great.

We're going to take our time finding a fourth member of the band.

I think we'll be pretty stellar as a trio (and we'll make more money).

Rock!