Friday afternoon I went out to Tree Sound to do some backing vocals for a band I’ve mentioned here before: Alastor. Elizabeth had given me three songs, lyrics and some muddy live versions, to try and see if I could work out anything ahead of time. When I got there I saw Rusty Cobb (who’s worked with Korn, Big Hate, and Injected, at least according to Alastor’s website) who’s producing their new CD. I’ve met Rusty before, I can’t quite recall where, though I think he used to run sound at the club that used to be the Dark Horse. I suspect he was the guy running sound back in 2000 when I played Gentle Readers’ CD release party there, and did it acoustic, and the sound guy was really complementary afterward and I gave him a copy of Slumberland. I suspect this because, according to Elizabeth, when Rusty found out I was coming he started talking about how much he loved my stuff, and when I was there, and they were asking me how I felt about the new CD I finished, he mentioned that he had Slumberland and loved it.
It was a good ego time for Paul.
So, I think the plan was to have me work on one of the three songs (“Good Night”), so I went in and did the parts and I think they went smoothly. Quickly, at any rate. So quickly that, in the end, I did all three songs (“Great Irish Plays” and “Monopoly”). They both seemed pleased with the results, and I told Rusty if he needed any more backing vocals on any project to give me a call. This is really something I love to do, and it seems to be something I can do well. I prefer it when they already have an idea of what they want, because I don’t know that my harmony IDEAS are all that evolved, usually I think I just default to singing thirds (and the funny thing, of course, being that I’ve learned that term over time to describe it, but honestly I don’t have a clue what it means. I know absolutely no musical theory). But when I have time to prepare beforehand I always try to make my ideas make sense with what the band is doing, I don’t try to impose my style or tastes on anyone else’s stuff. I always want to serve whatever the song is doing. I strive to be invisible when I work on other people’s music.
Anyway, it seemed to go well. It’ll be nice to add another CD to my resume.
Friday night I went out to 10 High to see IKE. IKE is John Faye’s new band, he used to be in the Caulfields and also had his own band called the John Faye Power Trip (which I always thought was a good eponymous band name). They’re based out of Philadelphia, and I have had them recommended to me by an online friend from there, as well as a friend in town. So I finally got to see them and they were really great. Very tight pop band and, a rarity at times, a very uncluttered sound. Went up to say hi after the show, and talked briefly… They’re playing the Elvis Costello tribute thing up in Albany in August that I am STILL debating whether I can afford to play, so we talked a little about that whole thing. It was a good night overall. Nicole, who books there, said she thought we’d make a great bill and that’d be cool if it occurs.
I think that’s it.