joyeuses fêtes
December 28th, 2006
Well, I’m a dreadful liar…here we are, closing in on the end of 2006, and I haven’t posted here since October 29th. It’s shameful, I know, but we’d best move on…
It’s not like I there hasn’t been anything happening…there’s been so much, in fact, that I haven’t had a moment to stop and tell you all about it.
First of all, the recording of our full-length album is going swimmingly. We’re on a little holiday break, but as soon as the Shza (aka producer/engineer Shawn Simmons) returns from the arid plains of Kansas City, rest assured with will recommence with renewed vigor. With most of the guitar-related madness out of the way, Patrick and I will be going nuts with vocal harmonies and such.
You can head over to the Studio Journal and read all about it, but I really can’t wait for you all to hear this record. My vision for these songs has been realized in a way that I couldn’t have anticipated; Andy, Patrick, and Shawn have really risen to the occasion to help me create a record that I have no shame in telling you will be great. We set out to create the kind of record that we all love—one that the listener can live inside, with new discoveries waiting in each listen—and with the majority of the tracking behind us, I can proudly say that our goal is in sight. There are moments of lush intricacy and Spectorian walls-of-sound that may startle some longtime fans, but there are also moments as intimate and hushed as anything we’ve done before. We’ll spend the remainder of this wet Seattle winter bringing it to life, and hopefully, come Spring, it’ll be kicking around in your hands, heads, and hearts.
If you want all of the gory details (including, but not limited to: gear lists, gratuitous frivolity, special guests, and take-out menus), you should set aside a few hours and read my exhaustive Studio Journal. Don’t forget to look at the pictures!
For another (not dissimilar) take on the process, you can read Patrick’s most recent blog on the Explone site. For those of you just joining us, Explone is the vehicle for Patrick’s own gorgeous songwriting, and God willing, they’ll be returning to a stage near you very soon. We’ve got our fingers crossed.
In light of the ambitious, multi-layered turn the new songs have taken, the Red Jacket Mine dour trio you’ve come to know and love has opened its ranks to a fellow deemed worthy of wresting the bass chair from Patrick, who’s held it part-time up until now. This fellow’s name is Ryan Chapman, and he comes to us from Idaho Falls, ID. Ryan’s a fine chap and we’re very proud to have him along for the ride. This fortuitous lineup change also frees up Patrick to do the two things he does best: stare down his pedal steel like a chess opponent and stand around and let his guitar feed back. We couldn’t be happier.
We’ll debut this new, strangely-rocking four-piece lineup next Saturday, January 6 at the Crocodile Café. The Croc is one of our favorite rooms in town, and we’re very excited they’re having us back, on a weekend, no less! Our last show there back in June was a huge success, so please come out and help us make it two for two. We’re on first, followed by the Young Sportsmen and Memphis Radio Kings. The show starts at 9pm and the cover is $7.
This will be a very special show, as it will provide the curious with a (small) glimpse into the fire-breathing, multi-headed beast the new songs have become in the studio. More fire-breathing to come!
In other news, I just bought a sweet Omnichord! Hooray!
I suppose that’s it for now. Stay tuned, though, because many wonderful things are afoot: special guests from out of town, special trips out of town, and other special things in-town. We love you all, and look forward to telling you so in-person next Saturday at the Crocodile…be there!
xo
LINCOLN
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