Psyche Tongues @ P&L

Here’s a recording I did of the first song of Psyche Tongues set at P&L this past Tuesday, May 7th.

Here’s a picture of them I lifted from their Facebook page.

Because of the show on Tuesday, I had to miss Choir!Choir!Choir! practice, and they were singing Love Bites by Def Lepard! I was a huge fan of their album Hysteria when I was in 6th grade, so I was bummed to miss it but luckily we sang it again at C2 at the Monarch last night!

We have a new contender for my favorite C!C!C! song ever! My only complaint about this recording is we need at least double that number of highs.

Still amazing. It MUST be sung as earnestly as possible, just like I heard it when I was 10 years old. Shaking downward facing elbow clenched fists are essential!

Gun Oufit @ P&L

Gun Outfit played at P&L last night. I recorded their set through the board onto my computuer; 7 tracks, 1 for each mic. Here’s a mix of one of their songs I did this morning.

I’ve been playing with it all afternoon, but for now I’ll stick with what I got this morning.

Now That The Sun Is Shining Again

I recorded myself singing and playing Shenandoah on piano this afternoon. I’m happy with how it turned it out. It’s a traditional ballad, though the only version I’ve ever heard is sung by Frederick Squire from his 2011 album Frederick Squire Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits. It’s a great record.

Photos of me playing piano at the Great Hall back in March by Colin Medley.

I decided to treat myself and picked up 2 new drills at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. I’ve used them for some reason or another almost everyday since.

Now that sunlight has returned I’ve been using my power tools again. I built a shelf for my PA in the practice space in my basement, and I’m building a new desk for all the sound gear at Parts & Labour, and sewing some curtains for the back and side of the stage there too.

…which reminds me of a desk for another recording studio I was asked to build at the end of January, before my brain got sidetracked from the lack of sunlight. I should probably check in and see if they still need that or not. Fucking winter, makin’ me lose my mind…up in here! If you’ve seen my face in person the past few months, then you know.

Ahhh wellll. Either way, gotta shake it off and wake up, because it’s SPRING!

Check out Vassil’s new wheels! He rode them over for Fill Spectre practice last night.

Fill Spectre are playing a house party on Friday!

Now that the Sun is shining again I’m in a really good mood, and I think everyone else is going to be in a good mood this whole week, so the party should be really fun. I’m excited!

PS: I’ll be announcing details about the 159 Manning BBQ later this week.

StudioLive

I rented a new PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 for P&L yesterday.

We’ll decide by Wednesday whether to keep it or not, but based on last night’s This Is Hell show I’m pretty sure we’re keeping it. I recorded their entire set and did a rough mix of a few songs this morning. I posted the last 3 songs from This Is Hell’s set last night on my Soundcloud. They’re not available for download, streaming only, but check ‘em out!

Considering it’s the first time I’ve ever used one of these consoles, and the first time I’ve ever recorded and mixed a live set recording like this before, I think it turned out great!

I was in such a great mood after the show, I even bought a tank-top for reasons that now escape me. I don’t know when or where the fuck I’m going to wear a tank-top other than jogging, but at least it put $20 in the bands gas tank.

LITNO April 19 2013 Photos

I started out my evening last night playing a show at Parts & Labour with Fill Spectre (opening for the Mystics, Los Vigilantes and Las Ardillas) and then biked over to the Great Hall to take photos of the crowd for Loving In the Name Of. What a crowd it was!

















































Last night was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen by The Best!

Here’s a throwback to a video I shot at LITNO back in June 2008 when they were still in their first year; Sebastian Grainger singing Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark at the Legion on Niagara just south of King.

Who’d have guessed back then that Loving In The Name Of would become such a Toronto institution?

Poland Yacht Club, etc.

I went to Shape Note Singing at Bloor Street United on Wednesday and recorded us singing #86 Poland from the Sacred Harp Songbook. Always the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7:30 to 9:30.

I’m surprised Shape Note Singing hasn’t caught on with anyone else from Choir!Choir!Choir! because personally I enjoy the contrast of sounds and singing techniques between the 2 different choirs.

At Shape Note approximately 20 of us sight-read 20 to 30 songs that are hundreds of years old throughout the evening, at C!C!C! 100 of us learn 2 songs each week from the past 40 years. Last week we sang a couple of Wilco songs; I’m Always In Love and Jesus, etc.


Last night I was hired to do sound for TBWA Toronto’s 25th Anniversary party! There were many DJ’s! Lots of great food! Drinks from Junction Brewery and Yellow Tail Wine! Plus a live performance by No Warning Yacht Club!!


Young Guv loves his sunglasses at night.

My secret weapon at EVERY FUCKING PARTY these days is fog machines and lasers! Is your party getting dull? Pull out the fog machine and all of a sudden people start dancing themselves into a frenzy. I’m not joking or exaggerating. Just watch out for sensitive smoke alarms and sprinkler systems.