Hometown Gig Poster.

Click to embiggen.

Cover Art.

All four songs are mixed, so now it's on to mastering. In the meantime, I thought you might like to get a glimpse of the design side of the process. I'm now looking at early July for sending this out into the world. The original target was for the first days of Summer, so that's still in the ballpark.

Hey, here's a thought. Maybe we'll turn the July 13th show at Mocha Maya's into a release party. That would be fun.

Good Show.

Had a blast playing to a great crowd last night at Luthier's Co-Op.
Photos: Ivan Oransky (top) and Chris Collingwood (bottom)

Progress Report.

Knowing you're on the edge of your seat awaiting word about the current recording project, I can happily say that work is completed all the final punch-ins, fixes, edits, etc., and mixing began yesterday afternoon. One of them is final and another is almost final, apart from a couple of places where I need to ride the lead vocal fader a little more accurately (doing this old-school, sans automation), so there will be just two left once that's done.

Finally chose a nice, simple name for it, too. The EP will be called Four Stories, and the cover art is nearly ready. I'll post an image when it is.

If you would like to hear the EP before it comes out, there's a plan afoot to play the four songs in order, at some point during our set at Luthier's Co-Op tomorrow night.

Guitar De La Soir? C'est Fini.

I was looking back through the past several months worth of blog posts, trying to find some information on a recording date. Found it, but also noticed how repetitive my Guitar De La Soir posts were. I only own a few guitars, after all, so the posts were just the same instruments over and over, with occasionally a different photo to go along with them. Kinda dull after a while, if you're not as much of a guitar geek as some of us are.

So I've decided to drop the feature. From now on you guys will just have to guess which one(s) I'll be using. Or better yet, come to the shows and see what I've got hanging off my neck that night. See you Saturday!

Gig: Luthier's Co-Op, May 18th .

Guitars...guitars everywhere. • Photo courtesy of Luthier's Co-Op.

I'm playing a really cool room on Saturday, May 18th. The venue is a wonderful vintage instrument shop called Luthier's Co-Op, which is located in the nearby town of Easthampton. I've been there, of course, but this will be my first time playing there.

The shop is in the same storefont as one founded by the late Frank Lucchesi, whose legendary love for (and craftsmanship of) musical instruments is being carried on admirably by the current establishment. In addition to instrument sales and service, Luthier's Co-Op hosts several performances each week on a comfy stage, which has as its backdrop that glorious wall of archtops in the photo. There's a small bar in the shop, plus enough seating and standing room for a good sized crowd.

I'll be joined by Nick and Fred on drums and bass, and we'll play the evening's middle set, from 8-9:30pm. Steve Sacco plays from 7-8pm, and the Ed Vadas Trio tops off the night from 9:30-11pm.

Monday Session: Vocals.

Spent some time in the booth today, and am happy to say I completed the lead and
backing vocals for all four of the songs that will be on the EP.  Very pleased indeed.

Vocal Booth.

Click to embiggen.

My brilliant and lovely wife Sarah is one in a million. She and I put our heads together this afternoon and configured a vocal booth for the studio. I had been wondering what to use when she reminded me of a bedspread we'd got at IKEA that ended up being way too big for a regular double (I had thought the "single/double" looked much too small in the store, so insisted on the "queen/king." Duh. Another reminder that I am more fool than royalty). 

So we folded it in half, and I added grommets to it in four places, so it can hang from hooks screwed into the rafters. The result: a three-sided booth that can be folded up and stored away when not in use. I start recording vocals on Monday, so perfect timing.

Four Electrics.

Been recording electric guitar tracks over the past couple of days here at What's That Sound.

Another Subtle Gig Reminder.

Come hear a set full of great harmonies as Liam & Chard Preston (aka Bill Catalde and yours truly) start the evening, and then marvel as the show seamlessly morphs into a performance by the band (featuring Fred Goodhue on bass and Nick Dines on drums). There's no cover, but there's a tip jar we'll be politely reminding everyone about from time to time.


Guitar De La Soir: I'm going to be playing the Telecaster at tonight's practice, and also at the show. In related news, Bill will be playing my A&L Ami parlor guitar at the gig.