b natural. c sharp.

*holds up hand* I solemnly swear that I will never be a cocky rockstar no matter how popular my band is.

At our show Friday night, we got kicked out of the dressing room becuase the poor rockstars had driven 11 hours. Oh I’m sorry, apparently we don’t know what that’s like. It must be tough having tour support from a label, a nice van, roadies, a big trailer, and food waiting for you when you arrive. Give me a break.

Not to mention they weren’t any good.
*insert trendy indie/new wave dance music with a singer who can’t sing here*

Open iTunes, iPod, media player of choice and copy down the first ten tracks played on shuffle. (http://www.them.ws/post/1711/ten_shuffle)

The Rentals - Brilliant Boy
Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched
Puffy Ami Yumi - Your Love is a Drug
Mates of State - Why You Little
The Juliana Theory - Emotion is Dead
Silver Sun - In Nature
Down Once More - The Phantom of the Opera
Saves the Day - Blossom
Radiohead - No Surprises
Weezer - Starlight

I’d say I listen to 50% of these songs on a regular basis but there isn’t really a single one that I don’t like on the list. Thanks to Wyatt for introducing me to a lot of it (Puffy Ami Yumi, Silver Sun, Saves the Day). hehe, yay!

Video for Charlotte Hatherly - Bastardo

How is Charlotte Hatherly so killer? I’m pretty confident in saying “Bastardo” is my favorite song of 2004. The video is awesome as well. Mmm… poppy goodness.

This semester I’m taking both classical and jazz lessons. I love classical, but the jazz lessons are really useful especially when it comes to getting gigs. So the goal of this semester is to become better at construction/improvising walking bass lines.

Improvising over chord changes on the spot is something that hasn’t ever really come naturally to me since I’ve been classically trained to play what I read from the start. Even in high school the jazz band sheet music was all written out. In my band I write all of my parts but it’s over a long period of time while we work on the song.

I’ve been doing a lot of transcribing solos and bass lines lately, which is kind of fun. I like writing out music on staff paper. (God I’m a geek.)

My latest transcriptions have been of a Rufus Reid solo and a Steve Swallow blues line.

I just booked my flight to go to Nashville and record my parts for our new album in February. I’m really excited. The demos turned out really good and we have a lot of awesome people working on the final product. We’re recording part of it at Lake Fever Studios and the rest at Fufnad Studios. Wyatt is producing and Jeff from Feable Weiner is mixing. Now I just need to practice and finalize my bass parts.

Progress on my song with the band is coming along pretty quickly. I’m hoping we’ll record it with the other songs, although we’re not planning on it. I added lead vocals vocals to the demo and gave it KTO so she could have an easier time writing her keyboard parts. All that’s left after keys is backup vocals. Hopefully it will will be ready in time.

me and my love on new years eve.

I just finished creating a demo drum track for my first completed song ever! If my band can get it together and sounding good in time it might go on our next album. Eek! (:

I’m usually so lazy and scared to write stuff, but Wyatt has been a huge help in motivating me. He helped me translate the ideas in my head into the physical form (since I can’t play guitar well enough) and assisted in making it all flow together nicely (since he has a lot more experience in writing than me). I took it to practice and the band and I put the finishing touches, giving it its official arrangment and form.

It might not be the best song ever, but I’m really proud that I finally stopped being a wuss and finished a song I started. (:

Last year I did top 10 songs of the year… this year I will do top 6 albums (because I don’t really have 10).

6. Avec - If I Breath I Fall Asleep
5. Charlotte Hatherly - Grey Will Fade
4. Second Saturday - Greetings from Mt. Rockmore
3. Ash - Meltdown
2. Keane - Hopes and Fears
1. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous

I’m not certain on the order, but I do know More Adventurous was my favorite album of the year. I’ve played it pretty much non-stop since I got it. Hopes and Fears was another favorite that was always in my cd player. Meltdown hasn’t been released in the US but if you’re an Ash fan you should definatley check it out and get ready for the rock. And of course Greetings from Mt. Rockmore by Second Saturday, my favorite guys from Nashville, TN. Their new EP full of killer vocal harmonies, fun keyboard licks, and shredding guitar always makes my day. Grey Will Fade is Charlotte Hatherly’s (from Ash) new solo album. It’s poppy and fun and definately makes it on my list. Avec’s new release is also great. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten my own copy yet so I haven’t been able to listen to it more than twice. I had to add it in though becuase they’re my favorite Baltimore band hands down. (: