We had a business meeting in Westwood and got back to the studio and were tracking at 3pm. Dave got into work on the new “Ashes”. As he started to work on the song, it became pretty apparent that in the hopes of getting a faster version, we tracked the song way too fast. Like, unusable fast. We experimented and found what seems to be a newer tempo that’s faster than the old, and slower then the new, a happy medium. The plan is to track the drums again tomorrow first thing. It’s pretty frustrating, but everyone really wants to be sure that we get the definitive version of the tune.

Last night I came to a realization: my black Telecaster is a complete piece of shit. It’s muddy and low, with no life. I knew this the last time in the studio, but since then, per Marc Vangool’s advice bought some replacement “Kinmann” pickups. While this helped, it brings to mind the old adage “you can’t polish a turd”. Wiser words never spake. I now fucking hate my Telecaster with a white hot anger I normally reserve for painful canker sores and the film works of Mr. Michael Bay. The drag is that months ago, when I bought the Divided by 13 and the Telecaster, I was spending the last of my dough. Now I don’t really have any options to upgrade until the record deal comes through. I am going to sell off the Divided, but that cash will go toward a little extravagance I like to call RENT. Patience, young Jedi, patience. Hopefully soon, all this business stuff will be behind us, and the Mesa I ordered will be here and I can shop for the right guitar for this band. I am thinking of a Les Paul or an SG at the moment, something more high output and warmer than a Fender, apparently it’s almost impossible to buy  good Fender off the shelf these days.

At 6pm I started work on vocals in the main tracking room. Gummo got 4 different mics set up to find out which one sounded best. I am used to singing through a “capsule” mic, a big, expensive deal that I don’t hold, it’s clamped to the mic stand. After trying the first three of this type, Gummo recommended that I try the SM-58. A 58 is the basic, garden variety standard mic that is what you sing through every other time in life when you aren’t in the studio. They’re cheap and ubiquitous, and I never thought in a million years that you could use one for tracking vocals. Gummo says that at the end of the day, it would be good enough for tracking, and if I felt more rocking and comfortable, than that was most important. I tried the 58 and it was actually a blast to track the vocals. I lost myself… I could move around, stopped thinking about getting a “perfect” take and just felt it. Gummo was really happy with the takes, and so were the guys, so I kept on. I sang it about 8 times, then we set up “Left to Lose” and I gave it the business. Today felt like a revelation. Being able to move and feel “at home” while tracking vocals brought out so much more than I had let out on tape before. It was much more like playing live than being in the studio.

Riss came by and we had a band meeting for an hour or so. There are a lot of things happening and we needed to hash out some plans. Afterward, everybody was in a great mood collectively, and we got back to work on vocals. I sang it a few times with a big Capsule mic for a different sound, and a few times with the 58. The way tracking vocals works is that Gummo has these multiple takes to choose from, then he cuts the best lines, choruses, parts and makes a version. I check it out (in a day or so, whenever he has it ready) and see if there is anything I don’t like or think I can “top”. Usually, I’ll give it another pass (attempt) to see if the new day brings out anything new or better. If it seems good, then we get to work on “doubling” and harmonies. Doubling is when you sing or play the exact same part over top of itself. The effect is a heightened gloss or “finish” that works great for choruses and the like.

At 11pm Dave got back into solo mode and ripped away on “Said You’d Be”. As he was playing I was so happy and proud to be in this band (I always am, but some times more than others). Watching Dave tear away at that fucking guitar and being totally invested in THE ROCK and not concerned about anything at all that would weaken the power of what he’s capable of. I am so happy that I am in a band that has crazy, wild, fierce guitar solos. Fucking guitar solos. If you don’t want to hear any, don’t listen to this band. As I type this, Dave is about 4 feet away from me, making a sound that sounds like a he’s strangling a cat who is possessed by the devil, and it sounds beautiful.

We finished up around 1:45am.