Week 3 in the Studio - Now we Mix!

Who woulda thought that a ukelele (is that how you spell it?) would end up on the record? But it did...along with a bunch of other cool toys. Oh how the colors keep changing on the record. Love it!
This past Monday we spent our last day in the studio making what is by far the best KD record to date. By a long shot. The 3rd week brought alot more fun and experimental stuff to the table. Stacked guitar tracks, fiddles with effects, electronic bagpipes? (yep). I also spent a healthy amount of time playing with some new vocal ideas. Our good friend Rusty came by to finish a third day filming on what will hopefully be an in-studio video of one of the new songs.

I am definitely gonna miss making this record, as the studio became our home for the past 3 weeks. But...now we will move to the real fun stuff! Mixing the album. Starting next week we will begin mixing at Luminous Sound here in Dallas. This is one of the best rooms in the region, and plays host to everyone from Erykah Badu to Polyphonic Spree to Don Henley.

13 tracks have been slated for the album...vocal numbers, instrumentals, electric and acoustic.

Counting the days...

Tim

Week 2 in the studio

We're recording at a great pace now. With the 2nd week under our belts, it's becoming very clear how exciting this new record is gonna be. This past week has brought alot of creativity out of the entire band...really allowing us to spread our wings and try some new song ideas, and all 13 songs are starting to take shape.

We decided to record some songs with focused overdubs and click tracks...but we have also recorded some "live" in the studio to capture that raw energy of the band. We've even brought in alot of new instruments this time 'round. All of which are providing a nice variety of color for the album canvas.

Brek has been hitting some very signature guitar sounds, and Jim has played so many different basses that the groove alone from song to song will certainly entertain. Matt and Roberta wrapped up their baseline fiddle and bagpipe tracks this past weekend, and plan on really having some fun with some more sounds this week. Last night we all recorded an acoustic set in the round, which I'm totally stoked about. I start vocals tonight!

Here is a list that sums up Week 2:
Beef Jerky (peppered flavor), red beans and rice (thanks mom!), Stella Artois, coffee, Chipotle, U2: the making of Joshua Tree, Caution: overhead mics do cause bodily harm, Push it - push it real good, One take, "That was the most exciting last 3 minutes of a sport I never watch"(Matt), Tom Petty still rocks, "that was the best mini-pizza I ever had" (Chris, engineer) , Icky Thump...

Week 3 begins now...

Tim

Recording New Album - Week 1 in the studio

Making a record is always such a strange, yet rewarding experience. There really is no template for how to do it...and frankly...I don't know if I would ever want one. There is a realm of uncertainty in the record making process...but it is in that realm where many of the great musical ideas reside. And so far, we've been living in that realm since last week.

On Wednesday Jan. 23rd, we entered Bass Propulsion Labs for what would be day 1 of 19 days.
The studio is owned by some great guys, and it was been a very relaxing environment...one conducive to creativity for sure. We've also been blessed to have an excellent production team working with us. That itself is worth the price of admission. Our producer Ronan has a client list that has taken him around the world (literally) and our engineer Chris has worked with everyone including U2, Polyphonic Spree, and The Eagles. I think we're in good hands! :-)

After a long first day of setting up drum mics, testing mics, re-testing mics, EQ'ing...we captured a killer drum sound. Yeah...I know I'm the drummer...but dang my drums are sounding good!
We are pretty much living at the studio. Alot of down time, alot of listening, alot of DVD watching...and alot of coffee. We are definitely keeping the corner Starbucks in business.

Last night we finished day 7 in the studio, and have the working bones of 13 songs. Drum and bass tracks have been laid down, some scratch vocals done...and the guitar/pipe/fiddle stuff will begin today. Even in their most basic format, these songs are already sounding great. Some of the songs are being cut live in the studio, and some we're gonna have some post-modern fun with. Every album making experience has been different for us, and this one is by far the most rewarding to me.

Keep in touch as more studio updates are on the way. Until then...

Tim

Happy New Year Everyone!

Happy New Year everyone!

We hope you all are having as fun a time as we are! 2007 was the most successful year the band has ever had, and 2008 is already sounding better. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us in town and on the road. We truly appreciate it.
After such a busy 2007, the holidays were well-needed. Most of us took a few weeks off to spend time with our families, and tend to all those things we don't get to do while out on the road...like...sleeping...or...catching a movie! I spent alot of time finishing up some songs in preparation for our new record.

The holidays hit fast this year...and 2008 came even more quickly. For the most part, since day one of the new year, the band has been in heavy writing mode...the final phase of pre-production in preparation for the new record.

We are happy to say that 2008 will see the release of our 5th full length album, along with a whole new slew of shows.

More on the new album coming soon!

Cheers,

Tim