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Just the other day, Digidesign announced an expansion pack for Strike, the company's software drum machine. Intrigued, I downloaded it (it's free, thanks Digi!), and tomorrow I will go through the new sounds/grooves and report back. Stay tuned.
For Christmas, my friend Toby gave me a DVD titled "Runnin' Down A Dream". It's the story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and, having just finished watching it, I can say that it's the best documentary of a rock band I've ever seen. As I was watching the show, I was drinking a little wine and playing my guitar, and when the movie ended, I wrote a tune. I didn't finish it, but I will. And I know just the guy to sing it.
Quick update on Toby's EP: We have to do a few more vocal things, but pretty much all of the tracks we needed were captured over the two-day session. Soon it will be mixed, and if I have my way, you're going to be hearing it on the radio. Yeah, it's that good.
Before getting down to the serious task of recording, one must rehearse with focus and discipline. Observe how it's down in the embedded video.
On Friday and Saturday, inside an assuming building in San Francisco's Tenderloin District, some music was captured that I
personally believe will not go unnoticed once it has had some exposure. The four songs seared onto a few hard drive platters were "Baby, You're Crazy", "On The Couch Tonight", "Not What I like Best", and "My Psychiatrist". All were written by my friend Toby Germano and played by Toby, Sam Bevan on bass and Andy Korn on drums. Manning the control room was the incomparable Jaime Durr. (In the photo, Toby is the guy with the guitar, Andy is doing his best Gene Simmons, Sam is just looking cool, and Jaime is channeling Ozzy.) Trust me, once you hear what these guys have achieved, you'll be impressed.
In the end, Friday, the day after tomorrow, will have taken over 20 years to arrive. Because it was over 20 years ago that I first met my friend Toby and pegged him to make a record someday. Now that's not to say that the four songs slated for tape this Friday and Saturday will be the first Toby tunes to appear on a CD. But they will be the first to have been properly recorded in a proper studio with proper musicians. And they will properly rock because 1) they are good songs and 2) the rhythm section and engineer are wicked good. Stay 2ned.
Trust me, I know that the last thing the world needs is another blog, but I am FINALLY launching my political blog, Stumped. This thing has had many a false start, but I now feel that I have a good focus for the blog, the 2008 election, and that I can make it somewhat interesting. Check it out here. And tell your friends!
Given all my health woes -- fatigue, dizziness, headaches -- I figure my musical energies are best used in support of others, specifically my friend of decades Toby Germano. When I'm better, Toby's going to help me with my stuff, but for now, I'm going to do what little I can to help him with his. To wit, I've hooked him up to The World's Greatest Rhythm Section, Andy Korn on drums and Sam Bevan on bass, and steered him toward a killer studio in SF called Studio C (same place CCR recorded Cosmos Factory!). Yesterday, Toby, Andy and Sam rehearsed the four songs that Toby will be doing for his EP, and this coming Friday and Saturday, we'll all be at Studio C, in the able hands of Jaimeson Durr, studio owner and engineer. Sadly, I couldn't stay yesterday for the rehearsal session because I was worried about getting a migraine from all the activity, but I talked to Toby last night and I haven't heard him so excited in ages. Very cool.
A few words about Toby. In all my 44 years on this earth, I have never met a more prolific songwriter. More important, Toby doesn't just write lots of songs, he writes lots of good songs. And in the years I've known him -- since high school! -- I always figured he'd be the one musical friend of mine to make it. And he might yet. If it happens, he'll be a great interview for anyone brave enough to have him on.
Stay tuned.
