Wednesday, April 20, 2011

SO much going on.

Yesterday ETB did a Samsung promotional training/contest thing for the launch of the new Sidekick 4G phone. Played a few songs for some Samsung reps, who filmed it on the new phones, the vids of which will be posted online for voting. If we win could be huge. Will post a link when I get one. Pretty cool, we got free phones as well! Awesome.

In gear news, saw another beat to shit Dietz 2x15 on Craigslist. I couldn't afford to buy it myself, so Eric bought it to harvest the EV's from it for his Vibroking. Then he sold me the enclosure $100. Which I then put some Eminence Delta 15's courtesy of Austin Vintage Guitars into it. Haven't fully tried it out yet, was going to tonight at our residency gig at Speakeasy but Rob threw his back out after our ETB business meeting this afternoon. He's improving, but I will not be trying out new gear at Antone's tomorrow...! So will just use my custom cab or the house Dietz tomorrow, we play with Damesviolet.

Our manager Stephen flew out from Chicago for the Samsung thing yesterday and had a meeting with us today. Got the India dates for next month, the first leg of summer US/Canada tour are just about solidified and the second leg dates are falling into place nicely. Sweet. Good to be busy, good to be traveling, good to be WORKING. Dates are up at my Facebook page.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Going to be a busy week.

Going to HAAM today to renew for another year. Yay medical coverage. Photo shoot for ETB at 4pm, then residency gig tonight at Friends.

Over the weekend had a 6-hour ETB band rehearsal. First actual band practice with Rob as well as being a three-piece. Felt really good tho was like a Louisiana bayou in Hyde Park Showdown's practice room, which they allowed us to commandeer for the afternoon. Tightened up some existing stuff and worked on some new.

We will be squeezing in ETB rehearsals whenever possible for the coming week. We have been chosen to be part of a Samsung promotion for the new Sidekick phones. Will relay details when I find out if I am allowed to even talk about it. Could be pretty huge. bring it on.

Yesterday spent the day with Eric and our photographer friend Cameron at his place shooting pics of our guitars for an in-the-works ETB phone app. Pics look great and app idea is sheer genius. Will also relay details when I get them. Did I mention the pics look great? Total gear erotica. Our guitars are beautiful in all their beat-to-shit glory. And with these pics (had guitars hanging from ceiling by fishing line) you can see every nick/chip/ding/gouge/scar/jager spill on them. Front, back, top, bottom views. They look like catalog photos or something in the centerfold of Guitar World Magazine. Nice!!!

Gotta run.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Busy busy busy.

Played 6 nights in a row with ETB the week after SXSW. Played 5 shows last week and had a studio session with my good friend Tim Abbott, who is tracking some solo stuff. As a result the nail on my right index finger is peeling back from the skin. Ouch. Hazards of the industry, heh.

I love my job. Tim doing some tracking at a nice little home studio out in Lakeway run by a cool guy named Tom. Insisted I run direct into a pricey tube preamp in lieu of my rig. I hate running direct, but his tube pre was really really nice and it saved me from carrying twice my weight in bass gear up a flight of stairs, and then back down. So there ya go. Busted out 4 songs, with minimal prep time on my end (was very busy, and demo CD was pretty bare-boned, hard to write basslines without a drum track). I was a little concerned walking into the session. But took notes for chord changes and just let it flow for the rest. Tim was very pleased \m/,

ETB had a fill-in drummer last weekend as Rob was busy Friday and Saturday night with prior engagements. Had a kid named Adrian whom our good friend Dave Scheer recommended. We trust his judgement, and sure enough Adrian did great! Was able to jump into the covers, and had obviously listened to the CD Eric gave him several times. That was awesome. Def keep his name on the list should Rob be busy again in the future.

Have also bumped into Michael McDaniel several times downtown since he resigned his post from ETB. Always amicable, always friendly. Which is great cause Michael is a great guy and we will continue to cross paths. Tim Abbott mentioned wanting to work with a horn player and keys player for future recordings, told him I know a guy and will get him Michael's contact info. Be cool to do some sessions with him, brilliant fucking musician. Best of luck to his new solo efforts as well.

Tonight ETB @ Friends, Wed @ Speakeasy, then Friday at the Salt Lick. Slow week, heh! May do another session with Tim this week/weekend. Also talked to Stanley Mann about another session. The stuff we did with Josh Zee and Trinidad Leal came out pretty fucking stellar, the loud rock really complimenting Stan's clever quirkiness. Hopefully we can arrange something before May, as I get hella busy with ETB from then on out.

Have also had little if any time to look over the contract with Magnetic Eye Recordings. Just busy as hell, but sent Mike a msg today saying I'd try to get back to him about it mid/late week. He said no problemo and no worries, take your time. Looking forward to working with me, and asked what size shirt I wear so he can send me a Magnetic Eye Recordings t-shirt. Awesome!

I love making good music with good people.