Yesterday Jefferson Hamer came by to lay down basics for a new demo/EP he’s working on. He did 6 songs, all sort of in that “Irish Ballad” sort of style, but what do I really know about that stuff? Maybe it was Scottish?
There were a lot of takes that ended with me going, “Woah. That was amazing!”, and Jefferson saying, “Yeah, I probably could have played it cleaner.”
Well, that’s how it goes. We did this session on 1″ 16-track. ALWAYS better than digital. If I have my way, I’ll litter this demo with Townes Van-Zandt styled production and overdubs, and hopefully throw some elven flute and Wellingtonian snare drum in the mix. Of course some upright bass (8 tracks of bowed bass?), picked harmony bass, and electric guitar.
We used two of Jefferson’s mics, and two of mine. One of Jefferson’s was some Neumann that I’ve never heard of, and some other mic I’d never heard of. Very informative, right? Then we used a Blue Kiwi and a Peluso 2247 to create an AB stereo pair room sound. It sounded great, but I soon heard the quote of the day from Jefferson regarding the room mics…”it sounds like what it sounds like when I record on my mac’s built-in microphone.” I immediately turned down the faders on the room mics.
My good friend Bart Davenport played at “my” club, Pete’s Candy Store tonight. It was the second time I’d seen Bart play solo. The first time was also at Pete’s, and was also the first time I had ever met him. I later on went to play in his band, and last year went on a three-week tour with him, The Botticellis, and Sugar and Gold, all acts on Antenna Farm Records.
I must admit, I love playing with Bart, but after seeing him solo, I wonder why he even needs a band. He’s so good at guitar, he is the whole band. It’s totally amazing. He completely captivated the whole crowd, and left them wanting more.
Bart Davenport and band playing a wedding.
Bart’s been staying with us as well. Turns out he just did some sort of stop-motion hip-hop music video about the old west, and Bart played none other than Black Bart, the infamous Wells Fargo bank robber from the 1870’s. A little bit of internet investigation got me to blackbart.com, THE internet hub for all the latest information about Black Bart. Black Bart would leave a little poem after every robbery. Here’s one of my favorites that I read:
“I’ve labored long and hard for bread,
For honor and for riches
But on my corns too long you’ve tread,
You fine-haired sons-of-bitches.”
Go get em, Black Bart. And you too, BD.
Carl, Jake and Robin cordially invite you to their annual coldtime, potluck munchfest.
COME! CONTRIBUTE! PARTAKE!
what to bring? whatever you prefer to make or drink.
questions/rsvp? call robin at (347)228-1204.
SPLENDID.
