Greetings, Skelterians.
Sorry, I've been a little lax on my entries. We actually did a big recording session September 16-18, where Greg and I (with much help from evil-brained, good-eared engineer Barbara) finished all the principal recording on vocals, guitar and bass. So, in a very untrue and falsely-hopeful sense, the album's done. Except for overdubs, which is maybe a day's worth of work, we've done the principal recording on the 10 songs we came in to record. And then, there's mixing. And mastering. So, yeah, done but not done.
There was much talk over the past two months about adding some new songs. It seemed, when we went in and did that first session of rhythm tracks, that the album didn't have the sonic variety of "Boomstick"...which was one of that album's strengths, I've been told. But now, having some super-rough mixes to sit down with, I think we do cover a lot of bases. There is a lot of variety, just not the same kind of variety we had on "Boomstick", which is ok. Not a lot of ballad-type songs on the new album. Maybe one...sort of. But there are other flavors. A splash of Tex-Mex, a hint of Happy Mondays. And lots of rawk. Some of that in the old Who-Oasis-Stone Roses flavor. But some also in the Zeppelin zone, and maybe even a bit of AC/DC and Sabbath. So, yeah, a very different kind of variety. I think, then, we've decided to hold off on recording other songs. We've got 10 and we're happy with them.
The question is, of course, when are we going to release this thingee? That's a little trickier. Once we get everything tidied up and mixed and everything, we're going to take a little time to shop the album around. We've been doing it for the past few months, sending out "Boomstick" as a calling card and seeing if there are any labels out there (big or tiny) that want to be our dance partner. There's been interest, but most of it points towards people wanting to hear the new stuff. So, for the last month or so, I've backed off on sending out material 'til we can put our new stuff out there in its bestest form.
So, in answer to the question of release date, it's a little up in the air at the moment. It's probable that we'll sneak a track out on a compilation that has yet to be announced. And if it looks like it's taking too long, we'll just release it on our own under the SkelterMusic imprint, as we did with "Boomstick." We'll see. If you really want to hear the new songs, for now, the best way to do it is to come out to the shows. We've been playing as much, if not more, of the new album than we are the old 'Stick songs over the past few months.
Hrrm. Is that everything? Oh, yeah. We mention it on the News page, but it bears repeating here. A big thanks to "Boomstick" cover artist Zach Howard and designer John Hill for agreeing to return for Album 2. We get so many great comments from people about the work both guys did. I work around a lot of artists, many you might recognize and even respect, and everyone I show that album to just goes nuts over Zach's raging Skeltelephant. Both Zach and John are two super-nice and super-talented guys who go way above and beyond to help this band out. Thanks, guys. Can't wait to see what you do on this one! And an extra thanks to John...designer of the Skelter logo, incidentally...who is working on designs for a new Skelter T-shirt, hopefully to be available in the next couple of months.
I think that's it. Hey, don't be afraid to pipe in. Previously...on Skelter...I guess there was a whole thing where the Blog site asked you to sign in or sign up if you wanted to comment on a post. We've solved that, so you shouldn't be cyber-propositioned or anything like that. So, if you wanna comment or ask questions or just say "hey", feel free.
Big show this Saturday at the Barking Frog. Hope to see you kids there. These are truly the best times I, personally, have in this band. Playing deep into the night with you Skelterians camped out right in front of us with your seventh beer of the night in hand, while we try to draw deep into our bag of songs for something to infuriate Colin or make Jim fist-pump or get a what-the-fuck? look out of Jack or put Melissa and Sandy on the dance floor or coax Glenn to pick up a tambourine or make Barbara shake her head in that oh-you-boys sorta way. I love playing the Frog. Love the owner. Love the bartenders. Love the bar.
See you there for much rock.
Cheers,
Michael
Sorry, I've been a little lax on my entries. We actually did a big recording session September 16-18, where Greg and I (with much help from evil-brained, good-eared engineer Barbara) finished all the principal recording on vocals, guitar and bass. So, in a very untrue and falsely-hopeful sense, the album's done. Except for overdubs, which is maybe a day's worth of work, we've done the principal recording on the 10 songs we came in to record. And then, there's mixing. And mastering. So, yeah, done but not done.
There was much talk over the past two months about adding some new songs. It seemed, when we went in and did that first session of rhythm tracks, that the album didn't have the sonic variety of "Boomstick"...which was one of that album's strengths, I've been told. But now, having some super-rough mixes to sit down with, I think we do cover a lot of bases. There is a lot of variety, just not the same kind of variety we had on "Boomstick", which is ok. Not a lot of ballad-type songs on the new album. Maybe one...sort of. But there are other flavors. A splash of Tex-Mex, a hint of Happy Mondays. And lots of rawk. Some of that in the old Who-Oasis-Stone Roses flavor. But some also in the Zeppelin zone, and maybe even a bit of AC/DC and Sabbath. So, yeah, a very different kind of variety. I think, then, we've decided to hold off on recording other songs. We've got 10 and we're happy with them.
The question is, of course, when are we going to release this thingee? That's a little trickier. Once we get everything tidied up and mixed and everything, we're going to take a little time to shop the album around. We've been doing it for the past few months, sending out "Boomstick" as a calling card and seeing if there are any labels out there (big or tiny) that want to be our dance partner. There's been interest, but most of it points towards people wanting to hear the new stuff. So, for the last month or so, I've backed off on sending out material 'til we can put our new stuff out there in its bestest form.
So, in answer to the question of release date, it's a little up in the air at the moment. It's probable that we'll sneak a track out on a compilation that has yet to be announced. And if it looks like it's taking too long, we'll just release it on our own under the SkelterMusic imprint, as we did with "Boomstick." We'll see. If you really want to hear the new songs, for now, the best way to do it is to come out to the shows. We've been playing as much, if not more, of the new album than we are the old 'Stick songs over the past few months.
Hrrm. Is that everything? Oh, yeah. We mention it on the News page, but it bears repeating here. A big thanks to "Boomstick" cover artist Zach Howard and designer John Hill for agreeing to return for Album 2. We get so many great comments from people about the work both guys did. I work around a lot of artists, many you might recognize and even respect, and everyone I show that album to just goes nuts over Zach's raging Skeltelephant. Both Zach and John are two super-nice and super-talented guys who go way above and beyond to help this band out. Thanks, guys. Can't wait to see what you do on this one! And an extra thanks to John...designer of the Skelter logo, incidentally...who is working on designs for a new Skelter T-shirt, hopefully to be available in the next couple of months.
I think that's it. Hey, don't be afraid to pipe in. Previously...on Skelter...I guess there was a whole thing where the Blog site asked you to sign in or sign up if you wanted to comment on a post. We've solved that, so you shouldn't be cyber-propositioned or anything like that. So, if you wanna comment or ask questions or just say "hey", feel free.
Big show this Saturday at the Barking Frog. Hope to see you kids there. These are truly the best times I, personally, have in this band. Playing deep into the night with you Skelterians camped out right in front of us with your seventh beer of the night in hand, while we try to draw deep into our bag of songs for something to infuriate Colin or make Jim fist-pump or get a what-the-fuck? look out of Jack or put Melissa and Sandy on the dance floor or coax Glenn to pick up a tambourine or make Barbara shake her head in that oh-you-boys sorta way. I love playing the Frog. Love the owner. Love the bartenders. Love the bar.
See you there for much rock.
Cheers,
Michael
posted by nachie at 8:30 AM
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