Recording Journal 3

Yesterday started the first day of over-dubs. We began the session with me over-dubing electric guitar parts onto "Ballad of a Raincoat". I used my telecaster for all of "Raincoat". Then my good friend Jerry showed up to add some bass trombone to Raincoat's bridge sections. Producer Jago stuck a bass mic on the trombone and really got a big crunchy sound. Really sounded great, and will sound even better when mixed in with the rest of the tracks. After Jerry had left I finished adding guitar to "Raincoat" and moved onto "Caroline". Started out adding various arpeggio parts to the chorus's & middle 8 with my telecaster. Then for the outro lead part I switched to my gibson 335. Next we tackled "Dress Me In Bow-ties", which I added telecaster throughout. For the lead guitar parts I played the 335 through the big muff distortion pedal (which Doug from MyntGreen, loaned to me). During the fade out of the song Jago came up with the great idea to play the lead guitar part a octive up & down which really sounded great. We all then listened back to the song and decided the guitar parts were complete. I go in again tomorrow to add more guitar tracks. Stay tuned for more updates!!!

Free Music Friday!

Hello friends. This week's 'Free Music Friday' song is extra special. It's a brand new song recorded this week! The song is titled "Frida At The Harbor" and it has a bit of a back story. My friend Curtis (Villains & Vaudevillians) & I enjoy the occasional bonfire at the harbor nearest to us. On one such occasion about 6 months ago we found a picture of Frida Kahlo (the very one pictured above) while we were walking around the boardwalk. As I'm sure most of you know, I have been interested in Frida Kahlo's work for sometime now. So when I found this photo laying on the ground in front of me, I took it as a personal sign of good luck. Soon after I placed her in my pocket (dirty minds please wander), Curtis said "Well, here comes another Frida song by Paul Starling....." He then sang in a Roy Orbison type falsetto: "and i found Frida at the harborrrrrrrr!" It now sticks in my mind as one of the more beautiful moments of the last few years. I enjoyed it so much that I recorded him & I singing that line over and over, into my cellphone. Flash-forward a few months ahead and I found myself in need of a chorus to a quirky new song. And who better to include than one of the finest surrealist, Frida?
So ladies & gentlemen, for the second time (the first being "Ballad Of A Raincoat") I present to you a song co-written by Paul Starling & Curtis Rx (well one line, but credit where credit is due!)
"Frida At The Harbor"

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oct hike day 2

the cave in the rain. today was a much nicer hike. it drizzled 80% of the time.

video: ballad of a raincoat (live in slo)

video by Iain MacAdam, more can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7F9BE5D397CAB52C