Old Cat's Do It The Best

Today was excitingly productive.  Which I suppose it needed to be for those of you keeping up with this since it's been almost 3 weeks, I think, since my last post.  Well, things stagnate.

Rick came by today and laid down some fiddle.  I set up the room with a chair and condenser mic in the usual place behind the computer and set up a condenser way off in the corner for a little more open airy sound.

To be appropriate, we started with the intro.  First take was good but not what I was looking for so I had Rick redo it and he razzed me because I'd been telling him "play whatever you want, I don't know how to play fiddle so I can't tell you what to do"

Okay, so I know what doesn't sound good... that doesn't mean I know what WILL sound good.

Dead Man's Curve tracking screen

After that we moved onto Dead Man's Curve.  You know, the end of the album.  Actually the logic was do all the songs that don't have harmonica yet and we'll see how things go.  Dead Man's Curve just happened to be the next track in the list that didn't have harmonica.  It took a few tries, three I believe, and that one was in the bag.  We moved on.

It was a little more peculiar working with Rick than Kory or Tim.  I've known Rick a lot longer than the other two guys, but probably talked to him less over the last 10 years than I have Tim or Kory in the last three months.  That's not a problem so much as it's odd.  The really peculiar thing is that while I told all the musicians the same thing "I want you to do what you do best and what you feel comfortable with and unless it's terrible, you play whatever you want.  I'm probably not gonna tell you any different," each musicians has become increasingly... less confident?  That's probably not the accurate word but the point is:

Tim showed up, played his thing, had ideas, did takes, said he was or wasn't happy with stuff, gave actual feedback as if he were an active member of the band and these songs were every bit as much his as ours.  It was great, he really took ownership of the songs and there were songs where he said he just wouldn't fit in and he would ruin it by being there.

Kory didn't have that option, being on drums, but he had almost the same approach, just a little more unsure about himself.  Kory came in, played his parts and wrote a few that were different from what I'd programmed and would stop me in the middle of recording saying "I can do that better, I know I can."  We'd redo it, but even when he takes were perfect he always had the question "Is that what you're looking for?  Was that good enough?  Do you want me to do it again?"  I quickly learned Kory always thinks what he played could be better so I just assured him it was fine when it was and we moved on.

Rick warming up to some random fiddle part

With Rick, things were different.  He loves the tunes, thinks some of them are going to be hits and just wants us to "remember the little guys when we go places."  Optimistic indeed.  I like that.  Also, an amazing player he didn't need much coaching but he didn't seem particularly pleased or disturbed by any takes.  It was "here's what I got" and lets go.  I asked him if he wanted to do a solo on Mowin' the Shoulder and he said "Umm, sure I can try that."  He finished and I asked how he felt about it he said "I'm not sure, we can listen."  We did it again, same question, response: "I think it was better."  We did it again, same question, "I think it was better.  Is that what you're looking for?"  

Again, Rick is amazing and I was just pleased as punch to have him come play (and he expressed flattery at having been asked) and I'm not displeased with the experience but I feel like I wasn't the right person to be producing his parts.  I think had Jesse been here we'd have come up with some different stuff, of course we'd have probably recorded 2 songs in the hour and a half we worked today, not 6.

But to not leave everyone on the edge of their seat, here's a preview of what to expect for the album.  This is Rick warming up for Two Bowls of Porridge.  This particular cut didn't make it onto the album but you'll get the idea.

Hope to see  you in the fields, the reaping draws near!