I was a little late in jumping on the Youtube train, but South Carolina came along...
Anyhoo, here's a song from my set a couple days ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNAxCNOxkP0
Enjoy.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Between the stages
I can't put today's show into words and hope to give it any justice at all. The sound guy knew what he was doing, had plenty of time for soundcheck, gorgeous day (hit or miss with outdoor gigs around here), there must've been over 100 people sitting there before I even started. Walked on stage, did my thing, and sold a ton of merch. The crowd was so receptive, so talking to them about the specific songs came easily. I know when I put on one of my better shows, and this was definitely that. It's the middle of an incredible week- I still feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water, but good things are happening here.
Lingo
For those keeping track at home, today was a deceptively important day for my music career.
Suddenly my independent release is most likely not going to be independent, which is a very good thing for me. I officially got the last piece of this let's-get-Courtney-signed-to-a-major puzzle in my corner today (okay, I realize I just mixed a proverbial saying and a boxing metaphor, but it's my blog, so deal with it). I don't want to name drop because it's generally narcissistic, but it's kind of hard to explain otherwise... The sound engineer Mark Needham (Google him) is giving me a definite break on his mixing cost (getting him on the record is another story), and his manager called my dad today and talked about- VOLUNTEERED- shopping the record before it was even in hard copy. I believe the phrase "that's what we did with the Killers" was used. Since they've done pretty well, I feel I'm in good hands.
What does a sound engineer do exactly, you ask? Well, the producer lays down all the instrumentals and cuts it so all the best pieces run as one continuous track (makes it sound like you were brilliant on the first attempt). The sound engineer, or mixer, gives each instrumental or vocal track its volume levels, makes it dynamic. If you've ever listened to a song where you can't hear the vocals or any one thing is too loud, that's the mixer's fault. The last of the big three is the mastering, which basically polishes the whole thing and brings all the songs to the same volume for the record.
But back to the fun stuff- I have everyone in place as of today to put this record out on a major label. I'm on the launching pad- I'm so incredibly close to making this real. And today wasn't the day I got signed, or the day I sold 1,000,000 albums... but today was important.
Suddenly my independent release is most likely not going to be independent, which is a very good thing for me. I officially got the last piece of this let's-get-Courtney-signed-to-a-major puzzle in my corner today (okay, I realize I just mixed a proverbial saying and a boxing metaphor, but it's my blog, so deal with it). I don't want to name drop because it's generally narcissistic, but it's kind of hard to explain otherwise... The sound engineer Mark Needham (Google him) is giving me a definite break on his mixing cost (getting him on the record is another story), and his manager called my dad today and talked about- VOLUNTEERED- shopping the record before it was even in hard copy. I believe the phrase "that's what we did with the Killers" was used. Since they've done pretty well, I feel I'm in good hands.
What does a sound engineer do exactly, you ask? Well, the producer lays down all the instrumentals and cuts it so all the best pieces run as one continuous track (makes it sound like you were brilliant on the first attempt). The sound engineer, or mixer, gives each instrumental or vocal track its volume levels, makes it dynamic. If you've ever listened to a song where you can't hear the vocals or any one thing is too loud, that's the mixer's fault. The last of the big three is the mastering, which basically polishes the whole thing and brings all the songs to the same volume for the record.
But back to the fun stuff- I have everyone in place as of today to put this record out on a major label. I'm on the launching pad- I'm so incredibly close to making this real. And today wasn't the day I got signed, or the day I sold 1,000,000 albums... but today was important.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
131
Bowling makes me happy. I don't know why, I'm not particularly amazing or go particularly often, but we finally went bowling today as a family (like we've been meaning to do all summer) and it was really fun. And I have a new high score. Me and Logan are forming a 131 club.
Low point of a very good day was being reminded that I have to go to work again tomorrow- gross. Besides forcing me to see morning many days in a row and being incredibly boring, ..... no, that's probably it actually. It's not that I hate working- I've had to get past feeling like I'm losing musician street cred for having a day job- just MY job. I guess I like to feel like I'm making progress, and with what I'm doing, I go in every day and do the same thing over and over, no change of scenery... there's not a single thing I enjoy about it, now that I'm going there. I have to wake up early, dress nicely, catch the city bus, sit at a desk, answer the phone, make phone calls, stare at a computer screen with internet that blocks anything fun, and seven or eight hours later, go home and handle music stuff. On a related note, I am all caught up on current events and rule at Microsoft Hearts. I also know my state motto- do you? Googled my name today and wasted some time with that, which was mildly entertaining. I get my hours cut next week, which will help, but seriously- work pretty much sucks.
But bowling is fun. And I bowled today. And scored 131. And saw myself on the Jumbotron at the baseball game- twice! (I'll explain later).
Long week ahead.
Guess I'm kind of commited now that it's technically Tuesday.
Low point of a very good day was being reminded that I have to go to work again tomorrow- gross. Besides forcing me to see morning many days in a row and being incredibly boring, ..... no, that's probably it actually. It's not that I hate working- I've had to get past feeling like I'm losing musician street cred for having a day job- just MY job. I guess I like to feel like I'm making progress, and with what I'm doing, I go in every day and do the same thing over and over, no change of scenery... there's not a single thing I enjoy about it, now that I'm going there. I have to wake up early, dress nicely, catch the city bus, sit at a desk, answer the phone, make phone calls, stare at a computer screen with internet that blocks anything fun, and seven or eight hours later, go home and handle music stuff. On a related note, I am all caught up on current events and rule at Microsoft Hearts. I also know my state motto- do you? Googled my name today and wasted some time with that, which was mildly entertaining. I get my hours cut next week, which will help, but seriously- work pretty much sucks.
But bowling is fun. And I bowled today. And scored 131. And saw myself on the Jumbotron at the baseball game- twice! (I'll explain later).
Long week ahead.
Guess I'm kind of commited now that it's technically Tuesday.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday is a special day
I love it when I have a good show. Shows are a lot like middle school birthday parties- you get all excited, and then right before you worry that no one will come... as it was, I only started with 20 people in the room. The beauty of performing with my eyes closed on nights like tonight though, was by the end I had about 80 people. Hooray.
There were four or five people there because I had been recommended by their mom, friend, neighbor, donut lady, etc, which is really encouraging. You also get those I-had-never-heard-of-you-before-tonight-and-now-I'm-buying-your-CD people. Anybody there feels good.
It was a good night, I felt like I sang a lot of stuff better than I usually do. It's remarkable that this doesn't get old. Sure the loading equipment in and out of the car, bickering about setlists, arranging rehearsals, and promoting yourself gets old. But the actual performance of the music you spend so much of your life writing, practicing, promoting, teaching others, spending thousands of dollars producing... when it comes to the actual, live performance- that never gets old. And I'm to that point where in an hour and a half of music, really hour forty five, I like every song. I think I made some less than intelligent statements between songs (banter is still a little hit or miss), but playing the music... nothing like it.
We played some new stuff, which I always enjoy. I don't know how much my band guys enjoy being handed a song Tuesday and then have to play it Saturday with very little notice, but I for one like the spontaneity of it. I'm not the kind of artist that writes a song and spends months (or even weeks) hammering it out to perfection in rehearsal. Obviously you want to have a good handle on it, but I make a point of getting new music into my live show as quickly as possible. People are very forgiving of minor performance flaws of something new because it's cool to be among the first to hear a song.
Busy week next week, but I'm not going to even worry about it tonight. Probably not tomorrow either. One day at a time.
There were four or five people there because I had been recommended by their mom, friend, neighbor, donut lady, etc, which is really encouraging. You also get those I-had-never-heard-of-you-before-tonight-and-now-I'm-buying-your-CD people. Anybody there feels good.
It was a good night, I felt like I sang a lot of stuff better than I usually do. It's remarkable that this doesn't get old. Sure the loading equipment in and out of the car, bickering about setlists, arranging rehearsals, and promoting yourself gets old. But the actual performance of the music you spend so much of your life writing, practicing, promoting, teaching others, spending thousands of dollars producing... when it comes to the actual, live performance- that never gets old. And I'm to that point where in an hour and a half of music, really hour forty five, I like every song. I think I made some less than intelligent statements between songs (banter is still a little hit or miss), but playing the music... nothing like it.
We played some new stuff, which I always enjoy. I don't know how much my band guys enjoy being handed a song Tuesday and then have to play it Saturday with very little notice, but I for one like the spontaneity of it. I'm not the kind of artist that writes a song and spends months (or even weeks) hammering it out to perfection in rehearsal. Obviously you want to have a good handle on it, but I make a point of getting new music into my live show as quickly as possible. People are very forgiving of minor performance flaws of something new because it's cool to be among the first to hear a song.
Busy week next week, but I'm not going to even worry about it tonight. Probably not tomorrow either. One day at a time.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Goodnight, Beethoven
I love this time of day. I suppose it would be more accurately described as "this time of night", but if that were entirely true we wouldn't say there are 24 hours in a day, would we?
Anyway, I'm just sitting here in my room like I do at the end of most days, listening to something I can get lost in, usually of a melancholy nature. Right now it's Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, which I absolutely love. Before my sleeping habits got completely out of control, I would do my best to get through the day quickly in order to arrive at this time of night (or day), where everything is quiet. As long as it's dark and everyone else is asleep, nothing is expected of me until morning. For one who lives with so much sound, I need the silence. This is my time. It's really quite peaceful.
I suppose there are many reasons I'm drawn to music. It's a fascinating thing, to be carried away by sound alone, where even words become unnecessary. People seek out music for so many things... they seek it out to feel justified in their anger, to be amused, to be uplifted, to lose themselves in the struggle or triumph of someone else's life, to find someone or something that understands. That's something, isn't it? When you find a song that describes your own life so accurately it borders on otherworld? Music is a lifeforce that understands like nothing else, a vibrant living thing. We're all seeking validation. In retrospect, it seems only natural that I would have to find in something else what I lacked finding in people. There's a beauty there, a way of capturing life and connecting with the soul on some higher, unexplainable level.
Maybe it's just me, I don't know. Maybe it doesn't matter. Music makes me feel like I fit somewhere, like I can contribute something of value to the world. So that understood, I have no hesitation in devoting my life to it.
Anyway, I'm just sitting here in my room like I do at the end of most days, listening to something I can get lost in, usually of a melancholy nature. Right now it's Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, which I absolutely love. Before my sleeping habits got completely out of control, I would do my best to get through the day quickly in order to arrive at this time of night (or day), where everything is quiet. As long as it's dark and everyone else is asleep, nothing is expected of me until morning. For one who lives with so much sound, I need the silence. This is my time. It's really quite peaceful.
I suppose there are many reasons I'm drawn to music. It's a fascinating thing, to be carried away by sound alone, where even words become unnecessary. People seek out music for so many things... they seek it out to feel justified in their anger, to be amused, to be uplifted, to lose themselves in the struggle or triumph of someone else's life, to find someone or something that understands. That's something, isn't it? When you find a song that describes your own life so accurately it borders on otherworld? Music is a lifeforce that understands like nothing else, a vibrant living thing. We're all seeking validation. In retrospect, it seems only natural that I would have to find in something else what I lacked finding in people. There's a beauty there, a way of capturing life and connecting with the soul on some higher, unexplainable level.
Maybe it's just me, I don't know. Maybe it doesn't matter. Music makes me feel like I fit somewhere, like I can contribute something of value to the world. So that understood, I have no hesitation in devoting my life to it.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Initial exploration (Welcome)
I'm not sure where to begin exactly. The difficulty starting out is rooted in its very reason for being- I need an outlet. Chances are if you're reading this (which you obviously are) you know a bit about what's going on in my life, at least to a certain extent. I've spent so much time over the past year or two ruled by my decision to pursue music and all the pretty ties that come with it that it's been hard to find breathing room, a place where I could offer a window into my world without fear of repercussion. A place that's truly mine, where I can write what I want to write. I've felt so heavy lately, living surrounded, where everything I do and write has to be done with a big pro-career smile on my face.
I have to watch everything I do, and say, and write, to make sure it moves my career forward, shining every musical detail in a magically positive light. And I'm tired of it. That's not real.
So here it is, everybody. A space free from obligation, name-dropping, diplomacy, and all other forms of painting things the way other people want them painted. I will complain, I don't seek pity. I will celebrate, I don't seek congratulations. Your pity, congratulations, and anything else that is yours is yours to give, and I expect nothing. If you think I really have problems, give me a call, we'll talk through it.
The kaleidoscope is fair warning that this is the world according to my view, right or wrong and for better or worse. Welcome. Enjoy your stay.
I have to watch everything I do, and say, and write, to make sure it moves my career forward, shining every musical detail in a magically positive light. And I'm tired of it. That's not real.
So here it is, everybody. A space free from obligation, name-dropping, diplomacy, and all other forms of painting things the way other people want them painted. I will complain, I don't seek pity. I will celebrate, I don't seek congratulations. Your pity, congratulations, and anything else that is yours is yours to give, and I expect nothing. If you think I really have problems, give me a call, we'll talk through it.
The kaleidoscope is fair warning that this is the world according to my view, right or wrong and for better or worse. Welcome. Enjoy your stay.
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