For the last month or so, we’ve been very busy.
The band’s first attempt at moving into a new rehearsal space didn’t go very well.
We’ve been working on our album, we’ve been playing lots of gigs, we’ve even taken a little bit of time off (rare), and, on top of everything, we’ve picked up and moved everyone and everything from Northampton east to Cambridge, Somerville, and Watertown. It’s no small feat to move, and it’s actually quite a large feat to move a band, as we’re still in the process of discovering.
On the album side of things, we’ve reached a major landmark: we have finished tracking! We’ve been working on vocals and the smaller instrumental parts at The Studio in Portland, Maine, and in my own
Harris Skypes with Nate, online from LA, as the output of Nate’s mixing rig streams to mine in real-time.
studio right next door. Just yesterday, I packaged the last few things and sent them over the Internet to Nate, our producer, who’ll will import them into the full tracks that he’s mixing at his studio in Los Angeles. This is big news. We are now fully in the mixing stage (which actually began weeks ago), and we expect to leave LA with a mastered album at the end of October. Check back for the latest news about releases and release shows, promotions, what you can do to help spread the word about the new album, etc… It’s all very exciting.
On the moving front, we’re starting to get settled in to our new space in Watertown, Massachusetts, and buckling down for some quality time together. Many of the songs on our upcoming album have never seen the stage, so we’re wading through the endless decisions that come with shaping a studio song into a road-worthy piece. Which of us should take which harmony part? Which cello part is most important on that song? Should Auyon do his signature hip-thrust on stage, as he did in the studio (yes)? Make sure you don’t miss our next live show in your area, and we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the latest songs.
If you hang out in the greater-Boston area, as we now do, you’ll have many chances to hear us, and to bring your friends, parents, grandparents, in-laws, other family, pets, etc., to a show over the next couple of months, so make sure you don’t miss any of them.
Finally, check out the gallery for some photos of the places we’ve been haunting for the last month or two…
Sam’s studio pad in Portland, known informally as Studio 400.
Harris Skypes with Nate, online from LA, as the output of Nate’s mixing rig streams to mine in real-time.
The rehearsal room at our new place in Watertown, but shown here before we moved in and moved the wall on the far left over about six feet.
The Rehearsal Room, immediately post-wall-move.
Harris tests out a new pedal before starting rehearsal. Note the bigger space, and the red floor.
I took this photo back when I first looked at the place, before we’d even signed a lease. This is now the storage area, and the wall is now directly under the light on the right side.
The storage shelves, after their first coat of paint.
The new shelves, right before they’re completely filled with gear.
Don and Auyon pose in front of the completed (more or less) gear storage area.
Not quite a lounge yet, but give it time.
The office is very much a work in progress.
Strange Flights, A Mixtape
by Don | Tuesday, May 1, 2012
It’s been a while, but it’s finally time for a new mixtape. Hope you enjoy this relatively-relaxing indie grab bag. Share your most recent favorite songs with us in the comments section!
Listen over at 8tracks.com