samedi, octobre 23
progress on the new drang record is going well. fairly slow...but very well. we are really putting the microscope on things like never before...doing multiple versions on songs, trying very weird things, and going back and starting over. you know, all those things that bands do. we are hoping to record for real in janaury...somewhere on the west coast. there are a handful of collaborators that are possibilities, but we won't mention any names to not "jinx" things. but it will defintely be the best thing we've done as a band. influence from some of the bands we've toured with this past year is definitely present, such as the austin boys american analog set as well as heros of the past like genesis, and seattle contemporaries including but not limited to crystal skulls. we all listened to pink floyd's "meddle" in johnathon ford's room.
there's been several weeks of intense sessions of demoing, over the past few months, with the full band. in the gaps, bryce continues to write and rewrite, record, and re-record, and jeff is learning the computer and engineering side of things. i have been working on other random studio projects to further my knowledge of the recording arts and making cool sounds. i played drums for sufjan stevens on some of his US dates(including the upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festival at the Queen Mary), and also the next few pedro the lion tours. Denison Witmer has invited me to play on his next record, which will happen for a week in december near Phiadelphia with Don Peris. I hope to see new york at christmas time this year, somethng i've wanted to do for many previous years. As we speak i'm in Dallas TX working for a drummer/producer named Will Hunt as he produces an acoustic project for pop singer Ryan Cabrera. its been totally inspiring to see what will is pulling off in the name of major label pop...some of the weirdest percussion applications i've ever heard. xylophones, metal mixing bowls (boo-ed by the drang a couple of times i attempted to use them! ha), broken tape echo motors built into loops, drum cases as kick drums, etc. wow. will is the new STOMP.
the drang played a rare live show a few weeks ago in little rock arkansas. our good buddy brooks tipton had a birthday party, and he invited lucky father brown and us to be the music. it was a total blast, so fun. we didn't know little rock was in our corner so much...everyone was really into what we were doing. perhaps we'll come do a proper show there soon. and we'll announce it next time. we hadn't played anything outside the studio in 3 months, so it was inspiring to get out and feel the music, so to speak.
there's been several weeks of intense sessions of demoing, over the past few months, with the full band. in the gaps, bryce continues to write and rewrite, record, and re-record, and jeff is learning the computer and engineering side of things. i have been working on other random studio projects to further my knowledge of the recording arts and making cool sounds. i played drums for sufjan stevens on some of his US dates(including the upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festival at the Queen Mary), and also the next few pedro the lion tours. Denison Witmer has invited me to play on his next record, which will happen for a week in december near Phiadelphia with Don Peris. I hope to see new york at christmas time this year, somethng i've wanted to do for many previous years. As we speak i'm in Dallas TX working for a drummer/producer named Will Hunt as he produces an acoustic project for pop singer Ryan Cabrera. its been totally inspiring to see what will is pulling off in the name of major label pop...some of the weirdest percussion applications i've ever heard. xylophones, metal mixing bowls (boo-ed by the drang a couple of times i attempted to use them! ha), broken tape echo motors built into loops, drum cases as kick drums, etc. wow. will is the new STOMP.
the drang played a rare live show a few weeks ago in little rock arkansas. our good buddy brooks tipton had a birthday party, and he invited lucky father brown and us to be the music. it was a total blast, so fun. we didn't know little rock was in our corner so much...everyone was really into what we were doing. perhaps we'll come do a proper show there soon. and we'll announce it next time. we hadn't played anything outside the studio in 3 months, so it was inspiring to get out and feel the music, so to speak.
lundi, juin 14
well, i think i'll start writing again. we're looking forward to the upcoming shows...check the dates page for more details. we've been hard at work carving out what will be the next record. a few friends have helped us fill out what proves to be a pretty decent demo studio...complete with actual preamps and even some monitors! i am sure MIX magazime will be calling any day now. surely they need a cover photo for next month. but seriously folks. the middle of the night proves to be pretty inspiring time. just the middle of last night bryce jammed out what will probably be the answer to goldenwest's "how good is good enough". he beefed up his tone a little though.
oh, i recently bought a space echo. wow. changes everything. this past week we found ourselves in norman working with our great friend beau, of the band cheyenne. he is putting together his first full length record on a label from KC MO called the record machine. the songs we've heard are great. we spent a few days putting some tracks down, and now our other friend chad copelin will be taking the helm. check out cheyennesongs.com sometime.
i saw the tortoise show in OKC last friday night. quite possibly the best show i've ever seen. unbelievable.
oh, i recently bought a space echo. wow. changes everything. this past week we found ourselves in norman working with our great friend beau, of the band cheyenne. he is putting together his first full length record on a label from KC MO called the record machine. the songs we've heard are great. we spent a few days putting some tracks down, and now our other friend chad copelin will be taking the helm. check out cheyennesongs.com sometime.
i saw the tortoise show in OKC last friday night. quite possibly the best show i've ever seen. unbelievable.
mercredi, mars 3
hello to all my loved ones from anacartes washington. we just finished our set here at an amazing venue called the department of safety. it is a converted firehouse and perhaps the coolest all ages non bar venue we have played in forever. the tour is going great...well i guess i should say the shows are going great....the tour (ie driving) has been hilarious due to tons of van problems. (we try and laugh to keep from getting super bummed.) we have totally lucked out in a lot of ways, seeing as we have not been stranded once. we had minor problems on the way out to california, but as we parked in front of the great american music hall in san francisco, our transmission finally gave up the ghost. but, we were able to make it to all the shows in the northwest via a rental safari minivan.
mercredi, janvier 21
mercredi, novembre 12
seriously, does anybody ever check this thing? the first person to email me, saying that you've read this...gets something really cool for free.
esterdrang@jadetree.com
alright, more to come...
esterdrang@jadetree.com
alright, more to come...
vendredi, octobre 3
mercredi, août 27
well its been about a week since we arrived home from our last east coast trip. as some may have already mentioned, it was quite an eventful one. but let me start by thanking all who made the road seem that much more friendly, in no apparent order:
perry
the album leaf
go machine
cordero
jd, chris, trevor
me without you including but not limited to: aaron
mum
denison
T.O. and DW
Cam
mr. and mrs. winner
well...i think thats at least a short list. we are excited to be hitting the road again in a couple of months with denali, earlimart, and french kicks. but we will staying busy at home working on, among other things, writing the new record. as much as i would like to think of our 12 mile walk through manhattan/brooklyn as an adventure...i'd suggest you check this out: http://www.mewithoutyou.com/imagination%20journal%20page.htm
its a 100 percent true story of our friend aaron's ridicuous journey from DC to philly.
here's to hot pretzels...
james
perry
the album leaf
go machine
cordero
jd, chris, trevor
me without you including but not limited to: aaron
mum
denison
T.O. and DW
Cam
mr. and mrs. winner
well...i think thats at least a short list. we are excited to be hitting the road again in a couple of months with denali, earlimart, and french kicks. but we will staying busy at home working on, among other things, writing the new record. as much as i would like to think of our 12 mile walk through manhattan/brooklyn as an adventure...i'd suggest you check this out: http://www.mewithoutyou.com/imagination%20journal%20page.htm
its a 100 percent true story of our friend aaron's ridicuous journey from DC to philly.
here's to hot pretzels...
james
