“DO SOMETHING WEIRD”

Yesterday and today (March 7th and 8th), I got to record guitar melodies and like the other sessions before this, everything is going very smoothly. Doesn’t even feel like we’re making a new album.

I can dig that.

Of course what would a session be without its hiccups and gremlins in the machine? Yesterday we had to content with grounding issues from one of my pedals. Today we fixed it but as always, the show must go on. Friday saw me lay down five of the eight melodies in three hours, and that’s damn good. Today I finished up the remaining three in two hours. Again, not bad, eh?

This time around, Mike and I experimented with harmonies and at one point, he said “Do something weird” with one of the songs. HUH?! Preaching to the choir here, man! If he asked me to do something normal, I might have fallen over. I got to use the Flamma Mini Modulation pedal (the green one that’s not on the board) and dialed up some CRAZY sounds. I’m good at that. But if that wasn’t “weird” enough…

You might recall that I wrote a song that sounds like a cross between 80s Rush and 5150-era Van Halen. Now you can add Allman Brothers to it. WTF?! Certain harmonies lend themselves to particular eras. Most think of Thin Lizzy/Wishbone Ash and of course IRON MAIDEN! But…Allman Brothers?!?! REALLY?! Well as I always say, I get out of the way of the music, and let things come to me. I didn’t plan it to happen, much like I didn’t plan to combine Rush with VH. Yet in the end, it all still sounds like…me.

We listened back to the tracks and we’re satisfied for sure. Things are going incredibly well, and shouldn’t making albums always be like this?

Next weekend I am performing with Supernova at Mason Street Grille (Lake Hopatcong, NJ) and then back in the studio the following weekend to do…wait for it…GUITAR SOLOS! Yes, I get to make funny noises and play too many notes per square inch. I excel at those WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Can you tell I’m ebullient?