We're going back, and forth, and back and forth and back...
Never been so much interested in music festivals, but a glance at the Best Friends Forever lineup, and I've got my ticket there. I had thought that Dismemberment Plan weren't touring anymore, and I was mostly right, this seems to be their first show in years. It's happening in Vegas too, so I'll be able to pay for my trip at the tables. Keep gambling. - 2024-02-29
We hadn't done as much since the recordings in the summer. Unfortunately, they didn't turn out as well as hoped. 4 songs in one day definitely didn't help with that. This time however, we're not cutting corners, and it's currently day 6 of our time at Room 21 in Toronto. In the end, we're rerecording the same 5 songs we tried before, and so far the results are sounding much better.
Unfortunately however, we are now recording as a 3 piece. Ali, our lead guitarist has parted ways, and we played a final show with him at the end of December. This became a worry on how to record his lines as he plays does some very exotic bends that I couldn't hope to replicate, and a practice last week gave me some worries on whether some songs got too thin without the 2nd guitar, but that's been alleviated, at least in the studio. Which makes sense, there are many 3 piece bands that even on the studio recording, don't need an overdubbed guitar rhythm during a solo or something.
Needless to say, I'm feeling confident about this release, and how it'll affect our shows this summer. Now we just gotta come up with a title and cover for the EP. - 2024-01-26
Been 3 months since an update, mostly because I have to write these manually into the database. We did some recording yesterday at Boxcar Sound Recording, and it was a 11 hour long process, but very cool to be able to record as a band and not have each instrument bleed into the other channels. I think the lessons have been helping, but still not feeling the vocals, so will see how much it drags down the instrumentation. - 2023-06-04
Happy to say we played our first Toronto show. A last minute scramble, but a lineup with only 1 of the 4 bands that were slated to play had us opening and it was a great time as usual. Unfortunately I forgot to record Chomboscope, but I was able to hear my own voice and guitar properly for the set for once, that felt great! - 2023-03-04
Played our third show, back at Doors, and some good milestones for the band. We opened up with a finished Chomboscope, the first original to come from a jam with Will and Ryan (Songs like Flaked Off and Live Variables spawned from jams with me and the previous drummer), debuted Crazy or Dead as well, had the crowd dancing (Not quite moshing yet, but we'll get there), did our first encore, and we made some money too. Wasn't sure if too many people were gonna come with all the snow that was dumped on us the night prior, but had a better crowd on a Thursday then when we played at Doors on Friday a month prior. Stuck in Nostalgia and the Masquerade were great, singer of SIN can seriously belt it out, and was good listening to the Masquerade's one song, Schizo Dreams again. Remembered it from when we played in December, and I really liked it. Was pretty funny too, after the show ended and we started tearing down, the whole block lost power, guess we rocked it out pretty good. - 2023-02-23
After the results of the first recording session, I reached out to my one buddy, who was getting into music production, and asked if he wanted to record us, which he agreed to. So we drove up to Toronto to this shed he was renting, and while technically a shed, this place was fitted proper with plumbing and everything. We decided to record On and Out, and so I made a midi version for the guy to use as a click, since this song, despite being the most straight forward and poppy song, has several tempo changes and even some use of 5/4 at the beginning. We lost some time adjusting the midi to what we actually play, but were able to finish everything in about 5 hours. It is neat being able to hear the instruments individually and what the other guys are actually playing. It was also a nice reminder that I am definitely the sloppiest of the three despite playing the simplest material, and more practicing for me. Unfortunately however, my fears were more realized and that my singing voice would not sound better recorded in a studio, and so I think it's time to bite the bullet and do some vocal coaching. I don't know how much can be fixed, but I'd say my voice is the biggest factor going against us in terms of making good music. - 2023-02-17
The plan was to go bowling with the band. I picked a place that had those classic vibes, and we had a photographer buddy of ours that was gonna come, and I wanted to recreate scenes from the Big Lebowski, but it was very busy, and so we grabbed dinner after getting a ticket. Of course, by the time we got back, they had already called our number and we'd have to get back in queue so we went to Dave n Busters, and Mini putt. After warming up, we started getting some decent shots in, and making hole in 2s or 3s. Final placement: Ryan, Alex, Will, Ali. - 2023-02-10
Had a guy reply to me on Kijiji which was surprising considering I put that ad up in December. It was for a second guitarist that hopefully could take over as lead vocals. Unfortunately he's not a singer, but he came to our practice session, which is better than the majority of the replies I've had. I had been back and forth on whether the band should be a 3 or 4 piece, and my concerns with a 4 piece was mostly the logistics, just increasing the complexity of everything; that's another person's schedule to consider, that's another role that would needs to be filled if someone leaves, etc. However, at that practice session, he recognized my Yume Nikki guitar strap and I decided, ok, it's gonna work out. I am excited to finally be able to play some of the songs that have been laying dormant for years because they needed 2 guitars. - 2023-02-09
Saw Sundried Whales, Beans, and the Sun Junkies at the Killroom, great stuff, Sundried Whales really surprised me with some of the glitchy sounds they were making. Makes me quite grateful to be able to join this scene and community. Got our eyes on Killroom, and hope to be able to play their soon as well, but not yet. - 2023-02-03
Got a new amp. For the better part of ten years, I had been investing mostly in pedals, as I tried to pursue the pedals that could create a glitchy screaming fuzz that I could control and manipulate live. Granted, part of that is skill issue, I'm no Agata, but it seems some of it will have stay relegated to being an effect done afterwards on the computer.
Anyways, I had mostly been using this 60s tube combo for the past 5-6 years, but since moving to Hamilton and actually being able to use it outside my bedroom, I realized it's a pain in the ass to lug around, doubly so when I was living on the 4th floor of an apartment with no elevator. And so one day at Long and McQuade I was just browsing around when I noticed the Fender tonemaster, their twin/deluxe reverb but in solid state, and I was blown away by how light they were. The tag said 22lb or so, that's less than a free weight, and so I waited for a bit before finding a good deal off facebook and buying it on the way home from a weekend trip to Quebec City.
Things move fast though, that was about half a year ago, and I've gotten another amp. The tonemaster's benefit was diminished as the one band I was in stopped existing, and so I didn't need to bring an amp around and the first 2 shows we did, I borrowed another band's amp. And so, worried about whether the tonemaster could cut it unmic'd, I decided to plunge forward and get a head and cab.
I recently discovered how to reduce my latency when playing into the computer, and that's let me test out a bunch of heads. I ended up liking Orange stuff the best and so I set eyes on a physical model. The Dark Terror that I got has a mean crunch to it, but unfortunately, there's no footswitch so it's going to have to be left on low gain and my dirt pedals will continue to do the heavy lifting. It's definitely loud though and hopefully all I'll need for the next few years. - 2023-01-29
Just saw The Beach Bats and Cute tonight, missed Zuto unfortunately, but god damn what a show. How many bands can incorporate a fire alarm going off into their set. Makes me almost embarrassed that our stuff isn't as frenetic as it was a year ago, but I just can't play that stuff and sing at the same time. Beach Bats had a great control over their rhythms and definitely a reminder to work on filling in the freqs as a three piece. Will have to catch Zuto at their next show. - 2023-01-27
Took a listen to some of the takes, it's incredible how different they sound from when we were
playing them live; lot more bleed than I expected. Not too confident on their recoverability but I
did some vocal takes so Ryan could practice some mixing. Still not sure what makes the mics sound
way better out there than at home, I guess more reverb needed? - 2023-01-26
First time recording today. Forgot to bring earbuds so we had no clickbeat or metronome to make sure
our takes were at the same tempo. Didn't figure out how to record the vocals after, guess we'll do em
at home. - 2023-01-23
Great idea to write this site from scratch at 4am on a Monday instead of using linktree or something,
but I'm a web developer for a reason. - 2023-01-23