Construction/Reconstruction

We've got an idea.
Since we're always in the recording mood, which results in us recording at an almost constant pace, we've decided to do something we thought you guys might like.

We're going to show you our recording process one step at a time.

The idea was born a few nights ago when John, Corey and myself (mike) were listening over the latest demo that Corey had made up. Melodies flowed and ideas abounded about what direction the song should take and what we were trying to achieve with the end result. Then a friend walked in, we invited him to listen, and his comment was..."Sounds finished to me". So we all listened again, and lo and behold, the song could stand on it's own. That started the conversation about what it would be like to hear some of our favorite artists first draft of a song...What would it be like to just hear the basic tracks of Britt Daniel's newest offering...and then to watch it grow from there. Here's when they added the bass track, then some percussion, then they keys and all the different guitar leads that they must go thru.

Sounded like something none of us had ever seen...and damn cool to boot.

So that's what we're going to do. Post a song with just the basic tracks completed, then each time we add a new instrument (or 2, or 4) we'll post it up again until it's finished.
This might take 10 posts or it might take 4, it's all new to us, but we thought it would be nice for you to see how a song is born and then grows into a finished piece of work.

It should start up in a few days and please leave us a comment about what you think about the process.

Respectfully Yours,
Mike

Stomp and Stammer

If you live in Atlanta, or the southeast for that matter, chances are that you have perused the pages of Stomp and Stammer. And if you've perused these pages, then you most assuredly know that Jeff Clark can be vicious with his critiques, I recall him calling one local band's newest offering "a fetid piece of shit". For some reason Mr Clark has always been kind to us in his reviews and this is a source of great joy for us, considering his tendency for not pulling punches.
He's put up a review/preview of our DVD, Pistolero Picture Show, in this months issue and we have again avoided the business end of his literary sword.

"A scattering of other local music DVDs arrived in recent weeks. Before watching Pistolero’s new video compilation Pistolero Picture Show, I’d never heard their home-base of Jonesboro referred to as “Turbo Town.” I’m still not clear as to what that means, but the DVD’s mix of conceptual and live footage serves the band’s scruffy, ramshackle rock sound well – they’re a bit similar to Gringo Star to these ears, only with less gear-swapping and more consistency. The promo vids were shot in a variety of locations, from front yards to Kroger aisles; similarly, the live stuff is culled from a wide range of venues – the old Lenny’s, Decatur CD, the Blue Frog Cantina, etc. If you want a free copy of Pistolero Picture Show, all you hafta do is be one of the first 25 people that show up for their Dec. 27th Star Bar show. Can’t get there ‘til later? No worries – the DVD will be for sale all night. And from then until they run out, I assume." - Jeff Clark

Hazah for us.
One misstep, our fault completely, is that the show will be held Jan 9th at the Star Bar, not the 27th of December. Ahhh bookers.

So, thanks to Jeff Clark for not skewering us and, so it seems, for appreciating the music we create.
-Mike

Picture Pages

The other day we had a visitor to our clubhouse in Turbo Town. Kate Eldridge, a professional photographer, came down to take some photos of us. This is what it looked like from our point of view.
She had lost her voice due to illness and was literally quiet as a mouse for the evening. She had brought a friend along to 'translate' for her, which meant a constant barrage of ..."drink up, relax, move your head just a bit this way, smile, don't smile". Big fun though. Afterwards I myself had caught the picture taking bug and snapped this great one of Tom.

Kate sent us a sample pic, with no editing done to it mind you, and this is what it looks like.


Not our best look of the night, but you get the idea. These look to be in the Jan/Feb issue of SE Performer.
Expect my Emails,
Mike

Ahhh Mastering!?!

This is what Corey and John looked like about 32 seconds after the realization that we were in fact NOT done with the new record. Been doing our mastering with Ron over at Dogwood Recording. Ron looks like the bass player from Slushco, or the guy that used to play bass. Went in last night to do a final listen thru and heard something distinctly wrong with one of the tunes.
conversation went something like this...
"You hear that?"
"Is that supposed to be like that?"
"That's not the right mix."
"So it's a mix problem?"
"It's not the right mix, that's the problem"
"Well Shit!"

As a side note SE Performer is doing an article about us and our DVD that is coming out January 9th at the Star Bar. Comedians, dirty ventriloquist, and some good ole fashioned rock and roll. Come on out.

The Gentleman Pistolero

Session for GSU Entertainment Research Lab

Ochoa and Jazz

Coming this summer to a theatre near you!