http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/28/2251568/singers-try-to-convey-message.html

The high point of tonight was just that we played so well together. I felt good about the tempos and the intros and outros (always the hardest part for a drummer, well for me anyway), my wrists were in good shape with my new drum layout, and it felt like the crowd really dug it.

The only downside was that I had to do a little 8 bar solo and I felt it came out like trash. I’ve never liked soloing. Honestly, I’ve never even like listening to drum solos. I’ve always loved just laying down some fatness for the band. That’s what I do. It’s the entirety of the song that matters, not the drums as a solo instrument, so I was disappointed in my solo. The rest kicked butt though, so I suppose I can look past those 8 bars.

It’s been a cool project to be involved in though. Paul started fleshing out some of these songs almost two years ago. Everyone involved gave a lot of hours putting these songs together, giving input, coming up with parts, demoing them, eventually recording them, then rehearsing for the show, and finally getting to play them live.

And so I’m kind of sad that my involvement with the project is finished. Recently I’ve been thinking of just hanging up the drums altogether. I’ve been doing this for a long freaking time. I’m developing arthritis in my wrists and it’s gotten kind of routine… not boring or unsatisfying, just kind of “regular”… just learning other people’s songs and playing for 15 minutes at the beginning of a church service. But this little project has made me realize that I love playing and I especially love playing original songs.

My wife would never let me sell my drums anyway. She’s knows me too well to think I would just stop playing. Something would eventually come along to spark my interest and I’d be buying a new kit again.

So for now, I go back to serving at church. But I think I’m ready to get back into an original project. I’ve been teasing my long time guitarist buddy Frank that we should put together an original blues band and do the car show circuit. Ha! We’ll see what happens.

Check out the single and comment below!

You Are The King by The Avenue Band

That date has arrived.

During the past few weeks my old friend Chris “Mouse” Chmielewski and I have joined Paul and the immensely talented Tim and Jill Douty to rehearse the 13 songs that came out of those songwriting sessions. That list was then pared down to 10 songs and yesterday we entered the studio to lay down the first tracks on the new album from our group, The Avenue.

Recording in the studio is an interesting experience. I’ve done it only twice before so I don’t have a huge amount of experience, but I can say without a doubt that this time around has been so easy compared to the first two. The first time through, I was working with guys who are very talented but also very particular. Nothing wrong with that at all, but for my personality and playing type, it makes the process more stressful. The second album I played on I was responsible for playing drums as well as recording and mixing down the album. I’m not an engineer so this was a huge learning experience for me as well as a ton more work. This time around I just got to go in and play drums and working with such a bunch of really laid back guys made the process so easy. We all exchanged ideas, gave suggestions and then let the drums just “happen”. I think the end result is a set of simple, solid, very natural feeling drum tracks.

So my tracks are done. 8 hours to lay down 11 songs (we recorded an extra song before realizing it was on the “cut” list). Not too shabby if I do say so myself. On Wednesday we go back in with Chris to lay down the bass. Then we’ll progress on from there. If all goes well we should have a finished product by May. I’m really stoked about this album and I think it’s going to be a first class product. I’ll be posting here as we continue to make progress.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our band, led by our fearless leader  Paul Haugen, did pretty well I think despite some technical problems. Because of the hectic schedule I was forced to go up and swap out the snare drum and get the kit setup while the MC was talking. He didn’t give me a lot of time so I was rushed and got things in order right as he introduced us. But then, I start the song and I realize that I can’t hear anything. My in-ear monitors were dead. So as I’m playing, I rip the left ear plug out so I can hear the house. Now, if you’ve played a large stage you know this is not a good thing because you don’t hear what you are actually playing, you hear what bounces off the back of the venue. It’s better than nothing, but not much. Then the loose ear piece wraps around my left stick, pulls the right earpiece out and now I’m playing with one hand while trying to shake the snake of wires free from my left hand! Fortunately nobody noticed the little problems I was having and we ended up giving a solid performance. Good enough for a 3rd place finish, which I am very proud of.

I want to give kudos to everyone who took part in the show though. I’ve played a lot of gigs both small and large. I’ve worked with a lot of bands, promoters and stage hands, and honestly, there’s a lot of jerks in this business. A LOT! But last night, as complex as the show was, as many egos as there was sharing the stage, as much money as there was there, I’ve never worked with so many pleasant people in my life. Our fellow contestants were encouraging, the stage hands were helpful and kind, and the promoters were just great folks. It’s such a pleasure to work in that kind of environment, especially coming from secular music, where it’s almost exactly the opposite. So kudos to United One Productions and everyone who helped put the show together.

I also want to congratulate Ascention! They were the winners of the “Best of the Blessed” competition and it was well deserved. They are a unique act in that they have a single female vocalist and then three dancers who do an interpretive dance to the song. They were very different, and creative, and that girl has got some pipes!! Wow! Great job!

So it was a great experience! I’ll have pictures posted as soon as I can round them up from our friends and relatives. Oh, and I almost forgot… the show will be on nationwide TV! It’s going to be on the Gospel Music Channel on September 20th, so set your DVR’s!!!