Updated Demos on Facebook

Not to abandon the blog, but I've found it more practical (and bandwidth friendly) to upload the updated demos to the Facebook page lately, rather than posting them here, so if you haven't checked it out, now would be a good time.

To the casual listeners, there is barely anything different when comparing the new demos to the ones I put up a few months ago. Even to the people that have been helping me out by really living with these tracks and giving constant feedback, there is still virtually nothing noticeable. However, I assure you, the mixes are really night and day if you are a musician or sound engineer; I levled out the bass, pumped up the vocals (whether or not that's a good idea is debatable), and generally tightened up the tracks and timing. There was a brief period (over Spring break?) when I was trying to get as much material out as possible. Now I'm cleaning up after myself after I invited you all into my messy musical home.

I've reposted "Dotted Lines and Whispers," "Sleight of Hand," and "Blink." Look for a fairly different "Event Horizon" in the next few days, along with a brand new track in progress.

In seemingly unrelated news, West Gate just released their first full length album, Daylight. It is in your best interest to investigate. They have a couple tasty tracks up on their brand new site.

24 Degrees

Rehearsal for "24 Degrees", a percussion piece for Kurt's senior recital.

What Day It Is

A bit more of a somber vibe on this guy. I started this one on the 15th and have been working on it on and off.

What Day It Is.

I worked on some lyrics/vocals for Spade Breaker today, and, oddly enough, it looks like the working title may very well have worked its way into the lyrics. At the moment, it looks like the they are a bit reminiscent of Roots of Rebellion's "Messenger" in that the lyrics are a prayer of sorts.

The Maybe Bomb project is coming more and more into focus. Next weekend I plan on dedicating some rehearsal time to working on vocal parts with Kurt. There has been more serious talk about getting studio time to track live drums.

West Gate has just completed some time in the studio and I may be doing some work on a remix for an EP after the album is released.

At the moment, there are five songs that have rough vocals done. I think I'm going to shoot for having no less than fifteen songs ready with vocals to record for the album, whether or not they all make it. I may even put some instrumentals in there.

This weekend I also worked with a new local band to help get them rolling with some ideas for vocals/lyrics. It was a blast. You will certainly be hearing more about these guys. Especially when they get a name for the group. They'll be playing at Struck Fest, a concert to benefit the family of former RoR and current West Gate bassist Rob Strucks's family, at the Kinnelon High School on February 5th.

In show news, the West Gate performance is right around the bend. January 31st at The Starland Ballroom. You 'll be very happy you went.

West Gate

I went to see West Gate tonight. Kurt and Rob started up this group after Roots of Rebellion broke up.

Check them out. They absolutely blew me away.

You can hear them online (www.myspace.com/westgatenj), but the recordings, solid as they are, don't do the group justice anymore. They've been consistently touring lately, and it really shows.

If you're in the NJ area, check them out on January 31st at the Starland Ballroom when they open for Powerman 5000.

Seeing the show made me want to finish up all the tracks I've been working on. I went back and listened to the drums that Kurt put down for me months ago and started creating them digitally, just to have more control over them. "Remember to Write Happy" is first up. When it's done, it'll be on here.

Next weekend is going to be a long one, so I'll hopefully going to be able to get some work done.