Recording Log, Signs and Wonders, pt. 1

3.26.2010

This may be the first log entry for the full length recording, but it should probably be the umpteenth. Josh, Chris and I have been demoing songs for about a year now. Having narrowed our pool down to eleven, we began real deal recording at Book Room Studios in February.

The following details our method:

1. lyrics written

2. sent to Josh or Chris to write music and record a demo

3. presentation to to the band. We play it live and flesh it out by writing in other instruments.

4. record, put a star on the chart and smile.

Assisted by cats: Merlin and Ming– Antonia, Chris, Josh and I have been working on the basic tracks: accordion, guitars, banjo, vocals on vocals, and cello. Stalled a few times by the snow, we’ve managed to get three songs close to completion and a handful of others started.

An important note–Josh Quarles is engineering and producing this endeavor–lending a lushness and an acute ear for dynamic to the Speckled Bird’ s sound.

Check out CALL IT FOLK where both ‘You and Me and Jack’ and ‘The Lamb and Sparrow’ (both recorded by Josh) can be downloaded for free.  These tracks are exclusive, and will not be included on “Signs and Wonders.”

In contrast to the ep “The Fire Next Time”–a straight forward representation of our band and songs– “Signs and Wonders” will be an in depth exploration of production, and include a variety of  instrumentation: bowed psaltry, auto harp, organ, and percussive pounding and shakes thanks to the lending hands of both Scott Milstead and Willis Thompson.

Download “Black Canyon,” one of our early demos.

Recording Log, Ophelia, 3.2010

This past month has been full of polish– recording pianos, accordions, electric guitars and bean cans. The trick to recording in Church Hill has been to wait for the motorcycles, trucks, and Irish festival to pass by before running tape.

Below is a link to a rough track, as well as some photos and art drafts for the LP:

One Too Many Nights –  rough take

david and grant

map of the Chesapeake

Recording Log, Ophelia, 2.26-28

David Shultz and I started playing songs together last summer, a side project which I thought had culminated in a ‘Live at Ipanema‘ show. Little did I expect, that upon return from a tour with ‘Thao with The Get Down Stay Down,’ David would be seriously gung-ho about some new creative endeavors–one of them an extension of what we had begun previously.

After several weeks of working through songs at the cabin, David recruited Grant Hunnicutt (currently of The River City Band, formerly of Mermaid Skeletons) and Willis Thompson (Thao with The Get Down Stay Down) to join us in fleshing out. A slew of demos followed along with a few basement sessions.

The plan was simple: five of David’s songs, five of my songs–backed by each other, as well as Willis on drums and Grant on upright bass–three days spent at a river house in Ophelia to record the majority of the tracks, mostly live. Once in the can– release it on Triple Stamp Records.

The northern neck river house belongs to the grandmother of David’s fiance and long-time sweetheart, Anne. It’s a cute one-story cabana from the 50′s with bay windows looking out on where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake. Leading up to the weekend, Willis had mentioned, offhand, that he used to vacation at a river house in Ophelia with his family, growing up. Lo and behold, it turns out to be the same house.

After a two hour drive and a stop at ‘To-Do Cafe,’ we arrived and got to work.

Grant spent most of the weekend setting up mics and being all-round engineer–yet, somehow he still had time to lay down backing vocals, upright bass, and cook most of the meals. I have a suspicion that he may have some sort of superpower.

Willis put down some serious drums, jangles, thumps, ca-thuds,  and got his engineering certification from the school of Hunnicutt.

Three songs in the can the first night, five songs the next day, and the last two on Sunday. Some over-dubs to go, mixing, and mastering. But for the time being, mission totally accomplished.

Looking back years from now, I know it’s a record I’m going to be proud of–good batch of songs, good bunch of musicians. Though, as much as it’s about the music, for me–a larger part is about four guys spending a three-day weekend having a downright blast.

Lasting impressions and some other memories:

Being cursed out by a plastic fist key chain that flipped the bird and wouldn’t shut up, no matter where we hid it–even outside.  I’m sure it’s on the record somewhere.

Bat Masterson and his duel with Woodcock: “Draw!”

A hand of Farkle before bed.

Chili, cornbread, quinoa, bacon and eggs, frozen pizza

Coffee, whiskey, high life, and green tea

Mic in a box

“Grab the stalk by the base”

“INCORRECT!”

“Emmylou Willis”

David’s Adam Sandler impersonations.

from left to right: willis, grant, david, me