Yess! We put together another song last night. That makes a SOLID 6 that I dont want to cut. This makes me happy. The ratio of stuff I make of stuff that I think sucks to stuff I make that is worth recording is getting slimmer. For now.
It is starting to get cold here in old new york. I opted to go grab some beer and goods from the Italian deli across the street and keep myself inside today. I watched Groundhog Day and wished for a big snow storm.
Today I surround myself with lame old music from my early teens. A guilty pleasure. You do it too. Its ok. Its not that you like it, its just that it has somehow imbedded itself in your lobes up there.. those were different times. Music is cool like that. The smell of baking bread is similar.
I was thinking of my grandmother the other day. I could use her sometimes. She always had this way of being supportive and also being not supportive at the same time: all the while steering me in the right direction. How did she do that? Experience probably. I hope to be like her in this way one day.
So the other day at Brooklyn Label I played her favorite songs all day. At the top of the playslist was Roy Orbison.
Legend
AP
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Last Night
Hi. I want this blog to take a more insight sort of a turn simply because I have never saved any sort of press clipping, tour diary, etc of any band i have ever done. Really.
Last night was shit. We did a band practice in such a shitty mood that I created. I came down really hard on both of my band mates about being on time and taking the situation seriously that it created probably the best sesssion we have had since we have been playing together. Sometimes I wish it wouldnt take me becoming "that guy" to get that out of them. Maybe they dont become "that guy" to me when i show up on the long friday practice we do...after the happy hour. Probably not.
Anyway, APril and I drove back home afterwards and the situation was tense. I was thinking about how every song we did was spot on and led into another song in our future set. I felt proud. I felt that they were intimidated by my words before we started playing these songs. I dont like being the asshole. As you may know APril and I are married. We went home and silently ate fruit and watched CSI and said nothing. Waiting for it to snow. Its ok.
I am lucky to be playing with these people. We will be spending tons of time with each other in the next year. There is no question about that. I respect them enough to get personal with them about their performances. i hope they know that. Being in a touring band is a weird business.
All of this will lead up to some serious touring madness. I cant wait to look back to this post when that all happens.
AP
Last night was shit. We did a band practice in such a shitty mood that I created. I came down really hard on both of my band mates about being on time and taking the situation seriously that it created probably the best sesssion we have had since we have been playing together. Sometimes I wish it wouldnt take me becoming "that guy" to get that out of them. Maybe they dont become "that guy" to me when i show up on the long friday practice we do...after the happy hour. Probably not.
Anyway, APril and I drove back home afterwards and the situation was tense. I was thinking about how every song we did was spot on and led into another song in our future set. I felt proud. I felt that they were intimidated by my words before we started playing these songs. I dont like being the asshole. As you may know APril and I are married. We went home and silently ate fruit and watched CSI and said nothing. Waiting for it to snow. Its ok.
I am lucky to be playing with these people. We will be spending tons of time with each other in the next year. There is no question about that. I respect them enough to get personal with them about their performances. i hope they know that. Being in a touring band is a weird business.
All of this will lead up to some serious touring madness. I cant wait to look back to this post when that all happens.
AP
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Recent Playlist
Jesu
Fred McDowell
The Conformists
Restless Heart
TOMBS
Son House
Charley Patton
Cedell Davis
Simple Minds
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wilson Pickett
Metallica
Earth Wind Fire
Junior Kimbrough
Arab on Radar
Voicemail
Fred McDowell
The Conformists
Restless Heart
TOMBS
Son House
Charley Patton
Cedell Davis
Simple Minds
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wilson Pickett
Metallica
Earth Wind Fire
Junior Kimbrough
Arab on Radar
Voicemail
Friday, November 14, 2008
Booking Black Horse
Hi. I wanted to put up a post about how to get our little sleazy band to come and play for you...we have had a few folks in the last months write in and ask us to do shows etc.
Ok, here is the deal: We will do almost any show, in any venue (this includes your house, artspace etc) in the USA if we can get a couple weeks notice and hopefully some preperation (pr) on your end. If the show is farther than a days drive from NYC we will probably need some sort of gas/door/guarantee money so we have a place to crash at the end of the night and some funds to get home. We only need a P.A. for APril to sing. Pref. not a guitar amp that is sitting around your house. Dont worry, we work for cheap. A good time is priceless!
-A U.S. Tour is in the planning stages for BLX for spring/l8spring `09.
For shows across the pond, (europe, UK, Japan!!??, etc), we obviously need a few confirmed solid shows to justify the plane tix and gear rental to make it happen. If you really like our band and want us to come by and rock some with you hit us up and we will get to you when we get a tour together in your country. If you really really love us and want us to come do a one off drop us a line. We can most likely work something out. We love to travel.
We have, however, in the past done fly ins for special shows. We love to do this and our backline is super simple! Even more so now that we have a drummer!
Serious inquiries: april@blackhorserock.com
Ok, here is the deal: We will do almost any show, in any venue (this includes your house, artspace etc) in the USA if we can get a couple weeks notice and hopefully some preperation (pr) on your end. If the show is farther than a days drive from NYC we will probably need some sort of gas/door/guarantee money so we have a place to crash at the end of the night and some funds to get home. We only need a P.A. for APril to sing. Pref. not a guitar amp that is sitting around your house. Dont worry, we work for cheap. A good time is priceless!
-A U.S. Tour is in the planning stages for BLX for spring/l8spring `09.
For shows across the pond, (europe, UK, Japan!!??, etc), we obviously need a few confirmed solid shows to justify the plane tix and gear rental to make it happen. If you really like our band and want us to come by and rock some with you hit us up and we will get to you when we get a tour together in your country. If you really really love us and want us to come do a one off drop us a line. We can most likely work something out. We love to travel.
We have, however, in the past done fly ins for special shows. We love to do this and our backline is super simple! Even more so now that we have a drummer!
Serious inquiries: april@blackhorserock.com
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Black Horse Blues Update
Hello. I am going to talk about my band now.
Frank is really stepping up to my half cocked ideas. I think the hardest thing for him is that I ask him to play the same minimal beats over and over with virtually no fills/changes whatsoever. He is a time piece. It must be difficult to hold back and just count as I go off with the guitar stuff.
I got the new rig sounding pretty much how I want it now. Its the twin stereoed out with this 80`s Peavey single 15" bass amp. Last night tho I thought it would do some justice to get the twin re-tubed a bit to adjust the level in which it breaks up or gets so muddy. I changed the tubes around before we recorded "The Black Arts.." to give it a more traditional rock tone, but it seems to not be giving me what I want with this new style I am playing. I have also been using APril`s old Contessa hollow body. The guitar is really cool to play, but it needs some work on the pots and the tuning pegs. I have no idea the model, how old it is or anything. Nobody on Ebay has listed one in the past few months and my google search on it has turned up with nothing. I like stuff like that. I will get all of these issues resolved b4 we record this fucking monster.
We brought in a piccolo snare for the drum kit. I think it compliments the new style well, tho some of my drummer bros talk down on that type of snare. Franks rig is cool. That snare, a mid sized kick, 2 cracked up but manageable (they still have sustain) crash cymbals and a mid sized floor tom that pretty much gets little action.
Its interesting to me adding another member to BLX. Its been APril and me the whole time. Frank is a good fit tho, not too intrusive to the mix, but always an informed valid opinion and understanding of what we are doing now. Its taken me a long time to find a third for BLX. We are`nt the easiest people to work with.
Mostly we have been laying low and staying in nights. I have increased the frequency of the BLX rehersals to get all of this stuff out while the whole thing is still fresh and exciting to us, and on the off nights have been taking guitar lessons to help me get to where I want to be for all of this faster.
There are some ideas pouring in with the group about concepts etc around the new album/material. This is mostly APrils department. We talk of a spring tour and recording before christmas time. I feel kind of shitty and lazy not doing any shows locally since our return from the UK tour, but enough is enough with the old stuff. Some folks have written to us and offered to help with shows abroad. It seemingly gets easier each time.
The same struggle is always there tho. I know I will never be satisfied with the music I perform/write. Ive known that for a few years now. Its got to be hard on my band mates dealing with someone like this, especially when I am the primary song writer. I constantly change and re arrange stuff I said was finished a session or two before. To me, this is how I get better...how the songs get stronger. I only want the best for you and me. Maybe its because I love music so much. Fuck off.
The thing is that I dont really give a shit if we get a fat record package or support. I am going to do it anyway. Nothing will really change. The idea of only doing little tours, online only releases, pseudo souped up local showcases has always and now more than ever makes me want to quit this shit. I cant wait to take this new stuff, and practically new band out on the road to do some real work. I will always travel my art.
I think about you guys from time to time. Friends, family, fans etc. Mostly when I am walking to work early in the morning. Sometimes on the walk home through the park. These are good times we are living. Its good to know that.
AP
Frank is really stepping up to my half cocked ideas. I think the hardest thing for him is that I ask him to play the same minimal beats over and over with virtually no fills/changes whatsoever. He is a time piece. It must be difficult to hold back and just count as I go off with the guitar stuff.
I got the new rig sounding pretty much how I want it now. Its the twin stereoed out with this 80`s Peavey single 15" bass amp. Last night tho I thought it would do some justice to get the twin re-tubed a bit to adjust the level in which it breaks up or gets so muddy. I changed the tubes around before we recorded "The Black Arts.." to give it a more traditional rock tone, but it seems to not be giving me what I want with this new style I am playing. I have also been using APril`s old Contessa hollow body. The guitar is really cool to play, but it needs some work on the pots and the tuning pegs. I have no idea the model, how old it is or anything. Nobody on Ebay has listed one in the past few months and my google search on it has turned up with nothing. I like stuff like that. I will get all of these issues resolved b4 we record this fucking monster.
We brought in a piccolo snare for the drum kit. I think it compliments the new style well, tho some of my drummer bros talk down on that type of snare. Franks rig is cool. That snare, a mid sized kick, 2 cracked up but manageable (they still have sustain) crash cymbals and a mid sized floor tom that pretty much gets little action.
Its interesting to me adding another member to BLX. Its been APril and me the whole time. Frank is a good fit tho, not too intrusive to the mix, but always an informed valid opinion and understanding of what we are doing now. Its taken me a long time to find a third for BLX. We are`nt the easiest people to work with.
Mostly we have been laying low and staying in nights. I have increased the frequency of the BLX rehersals to get all of this stuff out while the whole thing is still fresh and exciting to us, and on the off nights have been taking guitar lessons to help me get to where I want to be for all of this faster.
There are some ideas pouring in with the group about concepts etc around the new album/material. This is mostly APrils department. We talk of a spring tour and recording before christmas time. I feel kind of shitty and lazy not doing any shows locally since our return from the UK tour, but enough is enough with the old stuff. Some folks have written to us and offered to help with shows abroad. It seemingly gets easier each time.
The same struggle is always there tho. I know I will never be satisfied with the music I perform/write. Ive known that for a few years now. Its got to be hard on my band mates dealing with someone like this, especially when I am the primary song writer. I constantly change and re arrange stuff I said was finished a session or two before. To me, this is how I get better...how the songs get stronger. I only want the best for you and me. Maybe its because I love music so much. Fuck off.
The thing is that I dont really give a shit if we get a fat record package or support. I am going to do it anyway. Nothing will really change. The idea of only doing little tours, online only releases, pseudo souped up local showcases has always and now more than ever makes me want to quit this shit. I cant wait to take this new stuff, and practically new band out on the road to do some real work. I will always travel my art.
I think about you guys from time to time. Friends, family, fans etc. Mostly when I am walking to work early in the morning. Sometimes on the walk home through the park. These are good times we are living. Its good to know that.
AP
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