Chapter 3: The First Rehearsal On the 3rd morning we all awoke very early. We had to drive Lauren to the train station so she could go back back home to KCMO. The Chicago train station wasn’t too far from out place, so we thought as an act of solidarity we’d all go and see her off. The train was departing at 7.30 am. So … Continue reading Making Dinner Music: Studio Diaries #3
Chapter 2: Darts and Tacos It hadn’t quite sunk in yet. I was sitting on the couch of our AirBnB with Joe, watching episode 1 of Vice Principals (during the sessions, this show and Stranger Things became our decompression shows after days in the studio). It didn’t quite feel real to me at this point. I was almost surprised to see them all the next … Continue reading Making Dinner Music: Studio Diaries #2
A few years ago, Goodnight Myopia landed on my lap. It was a spacey and overtly catchy one man army effort. It also felt like staggering back home after a particularly bad day: emotions are raw, the sun has gone back to its den far too fast and you are seeing red, almost blinded by the dark ocher lampposts guiding you home. Whatever shortcomings Goodnight … Continue reading Review: Vast Robot Armies – Little Creatures
It’s been a long time coming and we are so superfreaking excited to bring you this album that I’m switching to Spanish now. En serio. No, actually, what I wanted to say it’s that it’s been a long journey but we are proud, ecstatic and superfelices to bring you the full Vast Robot Armies album, Little Creatures, for your ears. While you listen to this … Continue reading Stream: Vast Robot Armies – Little Creatures
“Every single time I step into the studio, I say, ‘Can I still do this? Do I still have it? Have I ever had it?’ I suppose there’s a good amount of self-loathing that goes into any form of artisanship.” – Ben Harper The air of ending hung over us as we puttered about the condo on the morning of the 12th day. It … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Twelve
“Songs really are like a form of time travel because they really have moved forward in a bubble. Everyone who’s connected with it, the studio’s gone, the musicians are gone, and the only thing that’s left is this recording which was only about a three-minute period maybe 70 years ago.” – Tom Waits I knew when I woke up that morning on Day 11 that … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Eleven
“When I sit down to write a song, it’s a kind of improvisation, but I formalize it a bit to get it into the studio, and when I step up to a microphone, I have a vague idea of what I’m about to do.” – Paul McCartney We had arrived at the day I was secretly dreading: Keyboards and piano day. I love keys and … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Ten
“I love to go to the studio and stay there 10 or 12 hours a day. I love it. What is it? I don’t know. It’s life.” – Johnny Cash It was my evening on the couch, thus I was awoke earlier than my normal 7:30am.The sounds of construction and morning rush hour traffic filled my awakening ears. It was an exceptionally nice morning, and … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Nine
“The first Van Halen album makes Johnny Rotten out to be what he really was and still is: a hairdresser.” –Henry Rollins I remember waking up on the 8th day (5th day recording) and finally having the feeling. The feeling that I no longer had any sense of what a normal structured week was like. I’ve told friends in the past that recording is my … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Eight
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” Friedrich Nietzsche I don’t consider myself a guitarist, keyboardist, or singer, in any sort of traditional sense. After witnessing Chris Metcalf do his thing, I’ve begun to reconsider my declarations of being a drummer for the last 20+ years as well. Now, I’m not spelling this out to paint a picture of myself as some sort of self-deprecating … Continue reading Vast Robot Armies’ Studio Diary – Day Seven
