Sunday, December 28, 2008

What I got for Christmas...


...And where I need to go!

Gear Santa was very nice to us all this year!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Holiday Gift....

http://jesuitjoe.blogspot.com/2008/03/
worlds-earliest-sound-recording.html

Happy Everything to Everyone!


We hope you are all well and warm, (or lovely and cool for our travellers in Vietnam and the Mexican Riviera this holiday season)!

Had to dig out to get to hockey today, but with unlimited time at the Colosseum on Christmas Eve, well who wouldn't!

We're thinking now that our turkey may be a tad large for 3, being that only one guest has a 4 wheel drive! Oh well, fortunate to have turkey AND a white Christmas, nearly unheard of here on the coast.

Buster is finding it a little difficult...but I know his Christmas supper will cheer him up considerably.

Happy Holidays everyone, from all of us here at Rave On!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Something to share from one of our favorite guys...


Jason Wilber is a great guy, and a terrific musician (He played most of the guitar on Melissa's album this past year as well as a lot on Bobby's the year before). I wanted to share this with you all, a nice story and something to think about as the year winds down.


From Cain’s Ballroom To Carnegie Hall (and back)

Happy Holidays and/or Merry Christmas to you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I for one am looking forward to some time at home. This past year of shows has gone by so quickly. I started it off with John Prine at Carnegie Hall and finished up this past week in Tulsa, OK just a few blocks from Cain’s Ballroom, where I played my first concert with John almost 13 years ago.

Instead of playing Cain’s Ballroom, this time we played the Brady Center, a very nice theater that looked to have been built back in the ’20’s. It’s been refurbished of course. The night after I played the Brady Center with John, I did a solo show right down the street at a little place called Dwelling Spaces. The show was set up by Scott Aycock, host of the radio show Folk Salad, who also opened the show. As luck would have it there was a small ice storm forecast to hit right at the same time as the concert and we ended up playing for 9 (very appreciative) people to the accompaniment of the falling ice crystals pelting the metal awning of the building. So it goes.

There is something poetic (to me) about starting the year playing with John Prine to a sold out crowd at Carnegie Hall and ending the year in Tulsa playing to 9 people. As my friend Stephen Bruton once explained to me: “A music career doesn’t always progress in a linear fashion.”

www.jasonwilber.com
http://jasonwilber.wordpress.com/

Thursday, December 18, 2008

välkomnande Mats!


Hope you enjoy Vancouver! Liam is really excited that you're a Canuck!

Tonight's the Night...


Yep, after tonight the Christmas album events are over and I can breathe again. Thank goodness I have so many great artists and MC's participating! I have my fingers crossed that the Roxy is full of happy, spendy, slightly intoxicated people who are cheering all 7 artists on and buying as many Cd's as they can stuff in their pockets!

While back home on the farm.....Christmas gift wrapping, Juno judging duties and Christmas card making efforts prevail....

*****Note Jan 25th on your calendars - CBC.ca(streaming) or radio 2 at 8pm (across Canada - local time) for Melissa's live Concert!

AND watch your email for the annual Rave On Recipe folder...and if we don't have your email and you would like a copy please let me know! We like to share.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Note to self....

Next year, do not plan three huge events in the week before Christmas without an army of elves to help......two down, one to go and then I can relax....sort of.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Oh happy day...


A great day....even though it's chilly here, I am imagining a time not too far down the road, when Blind God will be playing the stage at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival next August(14th-16th), and how smoking hot it will be, on and off stage!

Rheal and Judith stopped by today and grabbed a load of cds - thanks guys ~ It sure made Buster happy!

Keith had a great review of the new cd: http://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/Keith_Bennett_CD2.html

AND>>I have a found a great resource for bands who like to give a little back.....
http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/
Thanks Thomas....

Rest of the night will be spent finishing up some Rod Stewart, and hopefully getting some guitar tracks down for Melissa's new single, and drums finished on one of Bobby's tunes...I wonder if this is wishful thinking being that it is already midnight...hmmmm.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The days slip by...


It's nearly Christmas and sales are going well, lots of press this week and lots of sales from Ontario, and radio play now in BC, Austin TX, Australia, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands for the Christmas album.

Still work to do for upcoming benefit concerts in between editing gtrs(Bobby) and recording Melissa(Authentic), and planning for next year already (Eddie Warren)!

Also have to get the Journal ready to send off to Finland, and organize some body's books....(hopefully he will bring back enough duty free to keep himself from noticing....)....

But! I am definitely making time this year to enjoy the holidays, I smelled snow the other day and today I even built a wreath. How festive is that!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Thanks Thomas!


http://thetyee.ca/Music/2008/12/04/MelissaEndean/

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Another busy and eventful week...


Another busy week, Melissa's website is launched:

www.melissaendean.com

The We Salute site is launched:

www.wesaluteourheroes.com

Plus...planning for Juno week next year, and happy news that something good has come from the Japan Trade Mission ~ Bob emailed saying that Melissa has generated some industry interest in Singapore! Gosh they have good taste over there!

She's also just completed a few print interviews and a PSA as well finishing exams this week!

Christmas CD sales are going well and I know some shops are nearly sold out of their first batch, so that is lovely!

Thomas will be reviewing Melissa in the Tyee tomorrow, and let's see what else...hmmm, oh poor hockey turn out, maybe everyone has the flu - there is a nasty one out there - (feel better Richard! www.richardkleinmusic.com).

I can't believe how on top of it we are this year though, I will actually get to enjoy the holidays...instead of looking up from my desk around February.

Lastly, this is my new favorite picture. Karen Fowlie and the 'Christmas is Tomorrow' gang. Please check out this song and the others at: www.myspace.com/veryvancouverchristmas.com!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Perspectives


Keith came over and we listened to a few tunes from his upcoming album, and as he turned around to say something to me, he saw the map of France on the wall. He looked at it and laughed......I looked at it, as I do every day, saw nothing funny, and then he said: "Look it's Marg Simpson!"

And it was....and now that's all I see. Suddenly we have a huge picture of Marg on the wall.

Funny how perspectives can change.

(www.keith-bennett.com)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Buster is at it again...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Buy this, you'll feel great afterwards!




Hey everyone, ok no excuses now, if you're here on the Heights or halfway around the world you can buy the Christmas album and help out the SPCA, hear some wickedly good performances AND make me very, very happy. What more could you possibly want!? All this work I went to just for you! Oy!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A couple of my favorite people.






What amazing talent and amazing people. Ranj(http://ranjsingh.com/) keeps me laughing (RANJ pay attention I'm talking about you!!) and we all love Dave(www.myspace.com/blindgod1); Buster gets so excited when he comes over....is there a better welcome than a happy dog I wonder?

Friday, November 21, 2008

Christmas gifts?

Hey everyone, just a thought, along with your Christmas CD this year, check out http://sontza.blogspot.com/, Tanya has some really cool stuff, I am now speaking from experience!

Happy News For Hopias!


I finally heard from Jouni in Turku last week, and they are going to publish Matti Hopia's Memoirs. Everyone is very excited, it will be published in their quarterly journal in installments, and in it's entirety in Finnish and English on the website. We're still hoping for a book, but this may be easier to come by once it has been published here.


Now finding the time to sit and edit...maybe that's what I will ask Santa for this year!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Christmas came early...


I'm so pleased, the Christmas Cd is in hand, and though later than expected, still weeks earlier than previous years - I guess I am getting the hang of it at last...

It looks good and sounds great - the product is getting better and better.

Bobby wrote and is happy with his song, so that's a gift too;-) He is so easy to please and we just get to have so much fun working on his stuff..20 more to go from the summer recording marathon.

Now the real work begins though, and we will soon settle into a routine of packaging cds, running to the post office and paying the UPS account....(while some of the luckier people we know will be globe trotting and attending wine bar openings in France...hmmm)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Peace and Harmony


There are not many arguments outside of the usual banter that happen while we're working - but there is something that always gets me going and that is the constant battle over who gets to sing in Bobby's songs....I know I got a lot of airtime in Richards and Fitch's: 'Somehow, Somebody, Sometime', in fact I got to sing to my heart's content and make up any old harmony I wanted, but now...I'm not sure how it happened, but apparently I am on the sidelines for 'One More', back in the engineer seat...while some other people do layer upon layer of wickedly good harmonies and man....we should share, that's all I'm saying...and Melissa doing the duets, well, I mean ok she's amazing, and of course together they set the place on fire but...really, I mean...singing with Bobby is one of the great joys...hmmm, next song for sure...do you hear that everyone who's name begins with a C?

Just kidding, I'll be in the next song for sure, it'll be good for the song...you'll see.....

Friday, November 7, 2008

Long lost visitor..



So nice to See KM and Ginger tonight - they came over for salmon a chew bone and some jamming.

Why I love recording..


First of all, hurray for Gina! Look at you there all fine and dandy on the cover - yeehaw! Last of my 3 articles for this magazine in this issue ...

Next - I realized as we were working on Bobby's song 'One More', why I love recording so much. I had the tambourine in my hand, grooving a long to the beat and it hit me...suddenly I was transported back to the portables at Blueridge Elementary, sitting on the dampish, bile yellow indoor/outdoor carpet...clapping my hands.

This was music class...hmmm, grade 4 or 5 maybe? Can't remember the teacher, long blonde hair, big glasses? Anyway, there was a box full of percussion stuff; bells, tambourines and the like. When the box came out kids went crazy diving into it grabbing what they could. I always sat back, and politely waited my turn. Silly kid, I always ended up with nothing, and the teacher's voice ringing in my ears, even now, "those of you without an instrument can clap your hands along in time". Wow, it was like being the last picked for teams.

Anyway, I always wanted the tambourine...but now that I think about it, I would have probably been to shy to make much noise with it.

And that is one of the million reasons I love recording. Now, here beside me I have a basket filled with percussion, a room filled with guitars and amps and loads of other instruments that I get to play with all the live long day.

It just doesn't get better than this.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Oh Happy Day!


What more can I say.

One week to go....


Christmas album will be here soon yay! Pre-sales are amazing this year...and half the album is full for next year!

Tickets are in hand for benefit shows and we're good to go.

Can't seem to get self away from new lap top...seems like now I have no excuse not to work ALL the time!

Booking gigs, festival applications, photo shoots, websites....getting ready to track for Bobby and finally thank goodness, getting over the cold to end all colds...

Friday, October 31, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

It's my song...honest!


Days flying by over here, sessions with Melissa and an emergency session with AG to get vocals and gtr parts finished for his album. Lots of guitar teching and web-site production (www.melissaendean.com - in a few days), getting over the lingering cough and learning how to knit mittens. (Really, I actually did).

Tomorrow is Keith Bennett and more tech work and hopefully solidifying the CBC set list.

Oh and the the biggest task of the week, trying to prove to the manufacturing plant that 3 of the Christmas album artists are who they say they are, and actually wrote their own song...DNA samples anyone? Anti piracy to an extreme I'd say. I sure hope they put as much effort into the actual manufacture of the CD, especially now that it will be nearly a week delayed.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Busy fall days....


Busy as usual - nice to see something come of it - good work Johnny! Talk about instant gratification!


Ok everyone - go get yourself a website!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

And the days go by...



I'm not sure where exactly they go, but when I look up a few have gone by....


The Christmas Cd is done and gone to manufacture as of today. Thank you Sonja for your help!


Busy booking events and planning fun things for next year...while I slowly go out of my mind with all the construction noise from next door.

Lots of recording backed up while we were finishing up Christmas so lots to do now.

See mom sing - see mom and Uncle Gerry and Lois at their jam...mom, where are your red cowboy boots?

Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Cover.


We made it! The November issue - way to go Gina!

www.eSession.com

Now if I could only get out from under this pile of paperwork I would gladly do a little jig....

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The mail...

Sometimes getting the mail can pull you out of a hard day and make it seem like Christmas. Today we rcvd a copy of Keith Bennett's new CD 'Jumpin' at the Yale' and a copy of Wallace and Gromit, 'The Curse of the Were-Rabbit'.

A hard day can't get much better than that.

Friday, October 17, 2008

In The Hands Of The Master.


Ok everything is off to Master - it's in the hands of the Zen master. We worked until 5 in the morning tracking and then scrapped all our work, and went with the original tracks...sometimes the more you put into something, the more it takes away: case and point, track 12 - Bobby's Christmas Lullaby.

I've posted up some of the tunes: www.myspace.com/veryvancouverchristmas and will hopefully have the website updated soon.

We're tired, but now the big work has begun - marketing, event planning and prepping for Melissa's CBC concert.

Oh and three other albums on the go, oh make that four..

I've never had Red Bull, but it's starting to sound mighty interesting.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Very nearly done....

Jerry just sent over Scotty and Melissa's tune, very well done! Mixing today and working on the One Sheet, writing down marketing ideas and booking the benefit venues. I'll have to find someone to be me at these things.

Sleep now, hockey tomorrow and then more mixing.

Very nearly there....

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

It's almost the weekend!

Well for us anyway, the weekend officially starts around 4am. But no rest for the weary - we have three songs to finish and mix in three days.

Tonight wrote two articles and finished up Gina's interview (Nov issue www.bcmusicianmag.com), just going to mix one short song and then shut it down for the night.

We had our belated Thanksgiving supper tonight, and we were all thankful that we had more than 5 minutes in which to eat it.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Christmas album


Nearly there, cover is done - next year I'll have a contest at the local school or something to make it more interesting.

Came up with a track listing, great songs this year, very traditional, you can tell the artists are older this year. It's such an interesting project when viewed from a sociological perspective - what Christmas and the holidays and religion mean to the different generations.

As always we are in a last minute rush, I thought it would be different this year, having so many artists giving pre-produced songs, but we are still mixing two, and haven't begun on one and we have one person just going into the studio on Tuesday (uhm, did I mention master is Thursday?)....nothing like an impending deadline to light a fire under your feet;-)

It's turned cold and wet - very appropriate for Canadian Thanksgiving, which for me means winter is here and I am in the thick of the Christmas album.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Obama for Prime Minister?

I would have to agree with Thomas's blogmates...there is no other choice.

Saturday night - again!

Whirlwind week - Christmas album goes to master in 5 days, Bobby has agreed to let us use the lullaby as 'A Christmas Lullaby' - so happy ~ but I've just added another task for myself!

Working on Juno nominations (still), and going through hours (it seems) of video footage for the Christmas video, I hope there is enough, it's a long song! Suddenly a 20 second clip seems so long and lovely!

I haven't even begun articles, also due in 5 days...here's hoping nobody in an editorial position keeps up with this blog...a long weekend indeed!

Happy about the new hockey song, I like the Celtic bits.

Back to work...

Thursday, October 9, 2008

My first front cover(-ish)


Well sort of - but good for Barry - he says things are going really well since the press release!

www.hevydmusic.com

Read the interview at:

www.bcmusicianmag.com

Now everyone ~ go buy Barry's popcorn!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Rocket


Having grown up in the 60's and 70's I developed a sort of fear of Canadian content, be it literary, in television or film. Although I know better now, I do still get a luke warm shiver of that old fear up my spine when C brings something 'Made In Canada' home from the library.

It happened again last night when he pulled out 'The Rocket' (ahem)~ The Maurice Richard Story. Of course I am the biggest hockey fan and grew up, literally, in the rink, but I did audibly groan at the suggestion. I know who Maurice is and was, and respect his talent, but I am a west coast girl and a Canuck die hard.

Ok well, I was proven wrong yet again, with my fear of Can Con - the movie was brilliant and I had no idea of the politics of the time, so I even came away feeling educated (albeit from one perspective anyway).

I also realized that unless people speak out, change does not happen. So, in my next post, I'm cutting loose.

Tone quest continues....

Today C looked at tubes for the Marshall, lots of tube info out there! It was interesting to learn what all the letters meant - and also that tubes used to be encased in metal, not glass - (and that NOS tubes now cost a small fortune!) Funny though, not many distributors in the Lower Mainland, I guess everyone buys on-line.

The BCCMA nominations are nearly over - good luck everyone! I'm still working on the Juno nominations.

It was a down day of of chores and cleaning; the day went quickly, but happily there was time enough to walk the dog.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Well...

As the Zen master doesn't have time to update his own blog, I'll steal from my email today and update you here:

"Just back from the AES show in SF..All of the the retro-analogue companies were in one aisle and it was like walking through a Moroccan bazaar!

Many cool things and many people (heavyweights) predicting the end of the major record labels within 2-3 years.

Viva la Indie Production (I guess)"


It WILL be interesting to see how music production and sales etc continue to change over the next few years...kind of exciting - so many opportunities....

Sunday, October 5, 2008

It's Only Rain


Its Only Rain-Melissa ReaAnne from leo hoorn on Vimeo.

Saturday Night Live





Today worked on Christmas MySpace(www.myspace.com/veryvancouverchristmas), trying to get caught up on Christmas bits other than recording, booking benefits (Roxy in December come out and see your favorite artists!), and collecting files and trying to set up video shoots. With any luck the CD will also include 2 Videos this year - I hope we can make it happen - it all depends on how my calculation for stretching time works out.

Also Spoke to France on Skype today. Thought I would include Guy's photo of Piquey(bonjour Guy!), he did so much great work on the house this year! And look at that sky! it is definately a French sky. It reminds me so much of the colours in TinTin and Asterix. Heyyy - We're also in the middle of the French Connection...and I just listened to Rheal Poirier's song for the Christmas album...what a very French day!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Where does the time go?



Have been working on Christmas tunes, Melissa's videos as well as Juno submissions and a cold.

Leo sent the HD down and the Rain video and clips for the next video look great! What an eye he has! We had thought to use these for the Christmas video, but they don't really match the mood of the song I'm thinking, so may save for next album...we'll see.

Barry emailed and is getting excited about press release on the 6th. The article should be out now and posted online tonight or tomorrow. Have to start on next month's batch this week - Gina sent over a great photo, can't wait for her interview to run - what an amazing woman and so rare to hear about women in this industry period - not to mention highly successful, groundbreaking ones! So fortunate to have interviewed her - she's lovely.

Ok nearly 3am, going to try and get some sleep...cough/hack/drip

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Way to go Roberto!

Yay!

Video!


The video for 'It's Only Rain' is nearly done and I think it's being completed as I write; we watched the last minute 45 tonight and it's great - very west coast-y. I love it and Leo is a genius.

Only two weeks until the Christmas album goes to master, wondering if I can get the Christmas video done for 'My List' in time so it can go on the CD ------ hmmmmm. That would be a nice little bonus - but that time will also require purchasing the software AND learning how to use it - might be an interesting project!

This week, Scotty's Christmas tune, mixing two others, updating everyone's ReverbNation pages and sending one of Bobby's songs for drums. We did a scratch vocal with Melissa for one of the duets, but it's not quite there yet. We're deciding on harmonies.

Had down time with Melissa tonight and just watched a movie, also spoke to Graemme who was on the ferry coming back from Nanaimo where he was doing a seminar. He is on the road for the next couple of weeks, right up until the mastering of the Christmas album actually - oh will link to his blog if I can find it...

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Perfection! -



There is nothing better than getting a good vocal...well, maybe for some people there is, well ok, maybe food water and a place to live, but this comes a close 4th......tonight...it was amazing. Melissa's Christmas song is now very nearly done and it's going to be a doozy (doozie/doozee?) - a whopper of a hit! Mark my words on that one. We also chose the tunes for the CBC and I'll mix those tomorrow night.

Took some great photos too...

Friday, September 26, 2008

Guitars, guitars, guitars - and tribbles


Working round the clock on Christmas tune guitars - nearly done - Happy Wedding to A&T!
So warm out - Indian summer - everyone has a cold, but for Buster - Back to it - we're on a roll!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

More cleaning...


Missed a day again - dang!

Recording Tina Turner tracks, working on Christmas tunes and cleaning out paperwork - still and again - but nearly done, it's amazing the things you come across. I did discover that I have about 100lbs of lyrics and half a dozen PhD thesis topics....anyone, anyone?

Going over songs for CBC on Sat. with Melissa and hopefully confirming with Eddie that we'll be working with him in January!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Weekend/week

So much work to do this week - lots of recording, and C's new p/ups ( Fat 50's) arrived so those will go into something. Tried to work on some Christmas stuff tonight but to no avail. Have three nearing completion and one more to record. Received fiddle parts today for Lindsay's Christmas tune and wow - nicely done!

Melissa and Eddie's gig went well, full house and JS from CBC attended and was pleased.

Fall is here and it's chilly. Hard to play guitar with cold fingers...

Monday, September 22, 2008

'..and in the sky, a star moved.'

Had a relaxing night of nothing! Funny though how when I stop, more ideas just seem to pop into my head.

Lindsay checked in, tour is going well - good press.

Melissa and Eddie share a gig tomorrow night and I'm starting to think about Melissa in Australia for next year, she's receiving so much radio play down there.

Busy week of recording coming up.... and hockey!!

Oh,and last thing tonight: congratulations to all of our friends who have received BCCMA nods this year! Good work guys!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Hmmm, well well well, what have we here?




This looks interesting. Thanks for passing this along JW...and so close to Christmas!

Friday Night...


Loads of paperwork and contracts today, and drums on Melissa's Christmas tune. Getting festival submissions ready for Blind God and Melissa and booking fall and winter gigs. Tomorrow night Melissa will track bobby's duets and the final Christmas tune vocal.

Spoke with Doug today who just acquired MDI, very exciting, AND the weather sounds great out there! He's picking apples from his tree! The weather on the coast this summer had been so cold, our neighbour's old Macintosh tree only has apples the size of crab apples this year.

CBC called for Melissa, we're playing phone tag...not much else new, so busy but thankfully we now have Lynda giving us a much needed hand with the Christmas album marketing!

Oh had an email from Rich up in the Yukon, I hope he's getting some fishing in! Lucky bugger!!

C had to play tonight, so our week began early. When he gets in (around 3:30), we'll watch the rest of The World's Fastest Indian; Anthony Hopkins is SO good playing Burt Munro!! Even if I didn't love motorcycles, I would watch just for this performance....(even though his accent oft slides into undertones of a Dubliner...he can be forgiven!).

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Oops!

I seemed to have skipped a day - C is recording the Rod Stewart stuff and I have been reading and doing paperwork, trying to get everyone's Press Kits ready for Barry. He's having his photo shoot right now, we're hoping to get the cover of the October issue. I've heard tell that Rolling Stone may pick it up, that would be so good for everyone!

Back to work - just having a tea break. Had some kind of Chilean Cab. Sauv. with dinner and it was almost like Port, feeling a little deydrated now... We've had some good Chileans in the recent past but this one was just too sweet. Should see if the Zen master has tried anything new recently...hmmm...where is the Zen master> May have to send Buster out on another search.....will he turn up at the AES in San Fran next month I wonder?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Today....




Took some time today to eat peas in the garden with the dog (for some reason he'll eat the peas and then go into the garden to retrieve the shell ~ and will proceed to eat that too).

Spent the day on paperwork and articles and making plans for the Christmas album. Melissa sent a scratch track for the next country album, it's amazing ~ as always.

Tonight going to try and read and think about what to do with 50 lbs of zucchini....

It's almost the weekend!

Gosh time is flying by! Lots accomplished tonight though. Article filed, nice note back from editor, we may make the cover next month, signed all the artists up on ReverbNation, did a few rough mixes of Melissa's tracks from last night (myspace.com/melissarendean) and answered emails.

Oh had a nice review, in German, translated it on Babelfish and it came through ok (http://countryjukebox.de/pages/world.htm). That album is doing well in Germany and Australia.

C home in just under 2 hours, and we'll have noodles and watch the rest of MI3.

The sunny days linger and it feels odd watering the garden when nearly all of the leaves are dying. I hope it keeps up, maybe the tomatoes will have a chance to ripen. I have no recipes for green ones.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Sunday night/Monday morning

So tired but finishing up interview. Melissa left a while ago, we did three guitar and vocal tracks and tried for the Christmas tune vocals but it was so late. Ate grapes instead, listened to Rodrigo y Gabriela and looked at photos of the Mexico house.

Tomorrow is submitting article, Jeff is suppose to file photos by the afternoon and then maybe relaxing...well... who am I kidding, we'll be working on a Christmas song I think...and then tomorrow night, maybe recording Melissa again or doing paper. Blind God want to do a mini tour of the Island, so may start setting that up. Also have to book the TV show in NY for Dave, he is applying for his P2 and they said it will take 120 day to be approved, so they'll have to slot them in, somewhere in the spring of 09.

Also time for festival submissions.

Need to get on Christmas marketing as well.

It's 2am, C will be home at 3:30 and we'll probably have popcorn and watch MI3.

We watched the new James Bond (C loved it, I am still a die hard and think Goldfinger was the best one), over the past three nights and before that Blood Diamond. I have never known why people want diamonds, good advertising tells them they do I guess, but after seeing that movie, I would never even consider it.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Having a clean up.


After having been inside the past week I tried to get outside and of course ended up right back inside cleaning the basement. Well, I had to, after the flood.

So the first part of the day consisted of getting up at the un-Godly hour of 9am(middle of the night for us around here), and meeting Marcel, our Polish plumber at the scene of the crime. With no major difficulties and a relatively painless trip to the wallet, we spent an interesting hour with our plumber because he is one of the most interesting people I think we know. He is God fearing, but self governed ("Oh I'm bad, I'm a bad man...you don't want to be around me young lady..."), loves to hang out at the nude beach and spouts philosophy and physics, while cursing a blue streak (and apologizing to me every other word while he shakes my hand - 5 times in an hour today) while snaking the drain. We love it when he comes over, in spite of the wet reason that he is here.

Today he left us with: "Do you know why we always run hot water through the pipes at the end of it all? ~ Because it feels better on our hands than cold..", and this little ditty: "It's quiet when you die, but noisy till then."

The next part of the day consisted of cleaning out the basement. With various deaths and moves, we have three full housefuls of stuff under one not so huge roof, and I need to get it down to a more manageable one houseful of stuff. We did quite well, but more importantly I found my old backpack, and you know that game where you see what's in your purse? Well I thought it quite funny to see what was in my old pack. There was:

~ an article entitled The Great White Shirt from the Sept. 30th 2000 issue of Saturday Night (I'll be passing this along to Thomas)

~ a fairly smashed box of Curious George thank you cards, with envelopes

~ an Italian coursebook (Buona sera, signora Rossi)

~ a receipt for dental work in the amount of 60.$ from my dentist in Rarotonga (now that's a good story)

~ a bit of yellow scrap that reads: "You can't give away responsibility, only control" hmmm

~ a photo of me in younger years beside my garden (very long hair!)

~ the entire Section B of the Aug 5th, 2000, Vancouver Sun with the article about Drake's visit to the Province in 1579 (I was saving it to read and still haven't had time)

~ 4 postcards from PEI

~ a copy of "Micky and Goofy explore the Universe Of Energy" from Epcot Centre (I have no idea...)

~ the lyrics to Donovan's 'Try to Catch the Wind'

~ the instruction book for my sewing machine

~ a letter from the Taoiseach dated Jan 12th, 1994 including a copy of the Joint Declaration(of Dec 15th, 1993), in response to an article I wrote that was published in Irish papers in 1993 ('A Plea For Peace')

~ a book of English floral pattered wrapping paper (18th C designs by William Kilburn)

~ a certificate of course completion (Families in Crisis training from about a million years and another lifetime ago)

~ two taped conversations of a psychic I actually went to (I'll let you know if anything actually happened, I was so skeptical when I spoke with him)

~ and the best of all - my long lost picture of Dave. Sigh.


Now I'm back at it and as soon as C left for the gig I called Barry and got my interview - it's going to be big and I feel so fortunate to have gotten 'the scoop' as they say.

For the rest of the night I will be outlining the story, sending out invoices, and what the heck, studying Italian...

Friday, September 12, 2008

Friday/Sunday

Fridays always feel like Sundays because C begins his work week tomorrow, and when he leaves for work, I get to the admin part of our lives.

Bobby left today after a great big breakfast, (I even made waffles!) I'm sure he is happy to get back to the fam.. Lindsay left on tour today, I hope it goes well, still trying to book her a few more shows while she's there.

Richard and Blind God played tonight and I sent Ryan M out to film the show. Rich was so happy to be playing with them, he really wanted to jam some Delta, so I hope they did.

Plumber in the a.m., and then have to write my interview questions for Barry and call him in the afternoon. Tomorrow night is paperwork, Sunday Melissa has 6 or 7 songs to track and not sure about Monday yet.

The week begins!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Day 4


Finished, we did it, the marathon week is nearly over, but for the video and celebration breakfast! An amazing week. It's such a great experience recording Bobby, even though his songs all tell a story, it is the story behind the song that is so interesting and moving for me. It really helps build the song later on, when I can go back and recall his experience and what led him to write the tune.

We had another good song-writing discussion today and we all agreed that what appeals to us most is what is left unsaid, or unplayed in the spaces - it's all about what's in the emptiness, the part that gets filled in by the individual listener that matters most.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Another day done....

Did 9 songs today plus maybe 6 overdubs. Everyone is pretty tired. Tomorrow Bobby is going to AG's rehearsal before he comes over for 2. Tomorrow is just more overdubbing and noodling around with parts etc. Trying to write out interview questions for Barry in the spare moments, but there aren't many of those this week.

Sunny days, but we only have a studio tan.

Cleaned up after the flood from last night, but Marcel can't come until Sat. and we couldn't get through to the other plumber.

The days turn into nights and they all run together sometimes.

Tuesday is over....

We did it, 9 songs today!

9 more tomorrow.

See Jenn - See Jenn record, See Chris, See Chris record - see Bobby, see Bobby sing and sing and sing.....

Good singing Bobby!
Good recording Jenn!
Good recording Chris!

Goodnight Bobby!
Goodnight Jenn!
Goodnight Chris!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Elvis Helping Lindsay with her tune for the Alz Soc.

Bobby's Sessions Day #1

Busy day! Bobby showed up early, and was ready to go right away in spite of having been up and travelling since 4am! After a good discussion on songwriting, we laid down guitars and vocals for three new tunes and did a vocal overdub on a session that he brought with him. We'll be doing vocals on three tunes that he recorded live from the floor (to 1/2") at Audities in Calgary (http://www.audities.org/audities/index.html)...oh sorry, was I drooling?

He left to take the train back to the house where he's staying and will be back tomorrow at 2, when we'll try and get 9 songs done.

In the meantime, Lindsay and Melissa have a gig tomorrow night, Rich and Blind God are gigging Friday, and Lindsay leaves for her tour on Friday as well, so lots of PR going on in the chinks...

Simon sent piano over for Melissa's Christmas tune and it is perfection, as always. I can't wait to build it!

Next week I have to start on Christmas album marketing and Melissa's Christmas video.

Jerry checked in from FLA and is having hockey withdrawals, especially because people keep calling him and asking him to sub in! Wed hockey should be starting soon too, I think?

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Rodrigo y Gabriela.....


......I just bought their first full length album from iTunes - you HAVE to check them out, amazing. Have a look here, you can hear them and check out a live video clip:

http://www.songlinesinteractive.co.uk/interactive/053/

(R brought me this magazine, new to me, it's now a favorite and will get read cover to cover along with Tape Op).

I also want to check out, "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" - sounds wickedly promising!

Simon Broughton and Paul Geoghegan are my new heros.

Successful Tone Quest

It seems like all yesterday's work on the LP has paid off. C called from the gig to say that the p/ups were not microphonic, so that's great news!

No recording today, but we did listen to the music we are working on and came up with a few ideas. We're eagerly awaiting Ian's fiddle on Lindsay's Christmas tune, it's going to be amazing. Waiting for artist feedback right now on a few others as well.

Also began to set up for Bobby next week, but mostly went outside and enjoyed the fall sunshine, ate peas out of the garden, played with the dog and realized that once we get started on the Christmas album, time really flies.

It's difficult to believe that it's already past Labor Day, and the summer was so cool and busy that there was not much time for badminton, kayaking or even swimming, but we did get lots done.

Waiting to hear from L and see the revised first minute of video for 'It's Only Rain', and can't wait to get going on the Video for 'My List', Melissa Rae Anne's Christmas tune. Hoping that we'll have enough room to put a few videos on the Cd itself, as per Graemme.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Tone Quest

C was going to write his first blog tonight, but the Mojo order came right after we finished re-doing the solo today and it's been guitar bits everywhere ever since. It actually came at a good time, it was good to give our ears a break after yesterday and last night.

This weekend I have a fiddle session for Beth's album and some mixing on Melissa's Irish tune, 'Culcavy Road'. Ian finished the fiddle parts and it sounds great. Hope to also finish this duet and Lindsay May's tune also.

Next week will be really busy as Bobby is flying in to start on his second album and he also wants to do scratch tracks of 15 or so songs. So nearly 40 songs in four days... we'll be ordering in....

SOCAN says we have to get permission from L. Cohen to use the Hallelujah chorus on the Christmas album, so I've put in a call to S at Sony.

I'll also finish outlines for the next three month's worth of articles and do some PR for Blind God's upcoming shows. And we still haven't finished watching the Ten Commandments!

Friday, September 5, 2008

3:20 am ~ closing down for the night

C is making noodles and I've just send Scotty and Melissa a mix. It's sounding good; today we did guitars, violins and listened to the bass again - rethinking it, then leaving it in the end. So hard to work when tired, always second guessing and doing a lot of work for nothing, because in the end we almost always use the first takes!

I also sent 20 pages of the Finland journal to the Dept of Migration in Turku, Jouni said we should hear some feedback within a month, Olavi will be heading to Alaska, but he'll take it with him to read.

Tomorrow we hope to get this song to nearly finished, and V is bringing a few guitars over for us to look at.

The new issue of BC Musician should be online, so check it out, I should have a few articles in there this month.

We're part way into The Ten Commandments - so going to watch a bit while we eat - and I'm loving seeing all these men in skirts - hey whatever happened to the 'Utili-kilt'? Thomas - can you bring that back?

;-p

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Jumping on the Blog wagon....

Ok, here we are - adding yet another task to our 30 hour day, but we just can't help ourselves there is too much to share! So, just so you know ~ today we are working on Scott Jackson and Melissa Endean's Christmas duet for the Very Vancouver Christmas Volume 3 album. There are only a few tunes to finish up and we'll be done really early this year (that is my wishful thinking anyway)! I updated the Myspace page last night (www.myspace.cmveryvancouverchristmas) but I don't like the colours, and hey, we are still searching for a web person to work on the Christmas site this year - what a great opportunity for some lucky individual - ok - coffee....