Phones and Canines

One of the latest originals to grace the mixing board in the studio has both a reggae and swing feel. And I would describe the lyrics as an adult version of Harry S. Miller's comic children's song 'The Cat Came Back'. Woody's lyrics tell a story of a girlfriend who tries to return after leaving him with the idea that everything will be back to normal. However the boyfriend moved on with his life and has since concluded the the girlfriend was not the best house-guest. 
This one has been the most troubling for me as it reflects some work of The Police but has elements of a blues shuffle and 50's - 60's swing. For weeks now I have been listening to the bed tracks that have only guitar, bass and vocals and still do not have a clear idea of how I want to approach it. I have run through it in my mind thousands of times and on the kit tens of times. But maybe that's the problem - I haven't played along with it enough to breathe with it. I really need to spend some time with the headphones and kit, go through it again and again. 

I have been able to lay down and finish tracking the drums for two other originals in recent weeks. These tunes each have different grooves, their own styles that make them stand alone. These aren't the swingy shuffle style,  but instead draw their sounds from different eras again. One from the hard rock days, when The Who, Led Zeppelin and the like were gracing the turntables and the other from a more modern time, a time when you could turn on the radio and here U2, Phil Collins, and that crowd. In both cases, there are so many things a drummer can do, or not do to put his stamp on the song. Woody provides plenty of interesting and fun phrases that capture my imagination, making this my most creative album. It also reflects all of the techniques I have been focusing on in practice. Listening back to the track after recording, I found that there were parts I couldn't believe I had played. There are a few gems, subtle drum licks that I never thought I would be able to play well enough to record but end up sounding good and fit nicely. 

I have to thank M-C-Tittie-M again for plugging us on their recent podcast. The episode 'Good Good Friends' published on the 9th of November, includes a couple of call in guests. The first guest is a writer who has a couple of cool stories and is promoting a new book. The second caller is our own Woody. He makes the guys laugh while promising to punch Lance in the throat for 'The Little Lady'. They open the podcast with the full track of our song 'Friends'.  Thanks to Matt and Corey. Listen to them at http://www.spreaker.com/user/mattandcorey

 On the farm there's been plenty to gab about, but our big event of the year was the barnyard makeover. A couple of guys with heavy machinery removed about a half acre of mud and wasted hay in the winter pen and replaced it with rocks and sand. And like any good makeover, it really improved the look of the place. I think the animals liked it too, but they pooped on it anyway. 

From this:

 To this:

For more on this, check out the Farm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/rovingwindsfarm  

Kids and Curses

Here I am again, sitting on a rock under a tree filling livestock water and putting my thoughts to 'paper'. Thoughts such as how close to hay season it is, the upcoming summer gigs and the fact that I need to upgrade my certifications for various Citrix products.

Now that most of the goat kids are weaned off the bottle and the fields have grown enough to put livestock out to pasture, we have a little more time to spend on other important tasks. The veggie garden, cheese making, bathroom mudding and preparing the machinery for making hay. There is always something on the list that gets missed or rescheduled and the priorities present themselves. But at least we can do a few more things that we want to, not just the things we need to. 

Not long ago, Woody mentioned that he recorded a short song for use as an opening theme for a couple of guys who run a regular podcast. It turns out they liked the tune and used it to open their podcasts, and in turn Woody sent them our EP (The First) and some paraphernalia. These podcasters actually enjoyed listening to our EP and played one of the tracks (Friends) on their next episode (episode 30-naan-stop). And as such, I felt I should return the goodwill and have a listen.

The show is called 'Matt and Corey Talk Too Much' (Which I have now accronized into M-C-Tittie-M). Since I had no previous experiences or relationship with them I could only use the name of the show to paint a picture of them and their conversations in my mind. I was expecting to find them as likable as a rock in a hay field and that their podcast career would last as long as an elm fence post.

On that day under a scorching sun, I really wanted to be able to say that listening to the show while mucking out the Buck shelters - the air filled with the stinky poo-gas - was appropriate.

BUT NO!!

This is not you're average 'anyone-can-podcast' podcast. These guys are funny. Not Seinfeld/Cosby funny... More like Cartman/Griffin funny.  Not for little children. In fact, they've taken the 'F' word to a new level. It's like they took training courses and practiced in front of a mirror to become the best deliverers of that term for coitus. They make it sound like a sweet Woody guitar solo after he's consumed just the right amount of hooch and herb.

Matt and Corey Talk just enough in Episode 30, leaving room for a Shoot The Moon track, one that can be found on our debut EP 'The First' which is available on our web site ShoottheMoonBand.com. Their chatter about the band after the song played is very flattering and we appreciate the perspective they provided on our sound.

So go have a listen and check out M-C-Tittie-M at http://www.spreaker.com/user/mattandcorey and follow them on twitter -  @mattandcorey

Once you've caught up with them, come see the band in July and August. We'll be at the Canada Day festivities in Orillia, Georgian Triangle Music Fest in Wasaga Beach on the 4th of July (American Independence Day), July 19th at Sticky Fingers in Barrie and August 16th at the Washago Music Festival. Follow us on facebook for exact locations and times. http://www.facebook.com/shootthemoonband.

Fistful of Punk Buried in Snow

This January has certainly left its mark in my brain. The cold, the snow and the music. It seems to have been an historical year for the combination of cold and snow, but I do recall that we had similar circumstances about 10 or 12 years ago. In Mid January, we finally started to see temperatures above -10C for the first time in weeks and there was easily 1 meter of snow in areas around the farm. Not from snowbanks - from natural snowfall and drifting. Some parts of the livestock fence was completely buried in snow. The snow and cold certainly takes its toll on the body, making all the chores seem just to require more effort and energy, causing sore and tired muscles, aching bones and end-of-day exhaustion.

Snow to the top of the fences

The Music however is a different story, almost 180 degrees opposite. We have been recording new songs for a couple of months now. Warm, airy and powerful tracks that beg to be listened to. Back in December I spent several hours working on a drum track for 'I Want What You Got', a speedy Rock song with a fistful of punk. Lots of snare licks and cymbal crashes keep it moving and building from the first flam to the last double-bass roll. I can't wait to hear it mixed and mastered.

 February and March continued in the same vein as January: snowy, cold and exhausting. March 4th marked the official beginning of 'kidding' season with a set of twins from a doe named 'P' (because she's was so small when she was born). The next ten days were hell-on-wheels as the count increased from 2 to 150 kids. We barely found time to sleep, eat or bathe. With the cold and blowing wind, we made sure all newborns were dried and nursed before leaving them with their moms. It made for long days and some that continued into the next. Glad its over for another year.

Before the madness of March, I had time to increase my music library. There are many musicians and bands that didn't catch my fancy when I was younger but are important for their contributions. I should have been listening to and practicing songs from Yes, Jethro Tull, Weather Report, Tower of Power, and Little Feat to name a few. Each of these bands featured very respected drummers whose technique, creativity and song structure were impressive and should be studied by budding drummers.

The younger Me behind the younger Lance

Another New Year

It has been 2 years now that I have been writing this blog. Two Years ago I felt I needed to improve several aspects of my musicianship. Technique and stage presence were two of the most important areas I wanted to concentrate on. Practicing will always be the way to improving technique and the same can be said for showmanship - but only to a point.
At the Christmas Jam, I had the pleasure of watching Gearl Jam perform a set. I have seen them perform a few times and I can't get tired of it. They have a great selection of songs that keep you pumped, and there's always something cool you don't catch the first time - like a good movie. The drummer (M.H.) has that wonderful stage presence that isn't an act. She obviously loves playing and singing, you can see it in her big, bright smile. Even when she has to play bass drum, shaker, high-hat AND sing, she looks genuinely happy. When I play anything, even something simple, I tend to grimace like Al Bundy when Peggy asks him to rub her tummy.  In any case, if you haven't been to a Gearl Jam show, make sure you do in 2014.

I may not have improved much as a showman, but I have up'd my game as a player. Many of the exercises I have mentioned in previous posts have had an impact on my strength, speed or control. I have also spent more time with other drummers in my area, watching them and discussing various aspects of drumming. Watching video of some the greatest drummers in the world has always been part of my improvement philosophy. Learning and practicing takes a lot of time and a long time. I still have so much to learn and practice, but when I reflect back on the previous 2 years, I feel good about where I am. 

At our last gig - New Years Eve - I felt it was my strongest performance ever. Not that it was flawless, but I had the control and strength that I have been trying to achieve for a long time. There was a distinct, tangible difference from previous shows, my arms and fingers had a level of power that I hadn't felt before. As the evening rolled into morning, Old Year into New Year, I could only think of how great the band sounded and how good it felt to be backing them up. It made me remember why I fell in love with drums in the first place. Its always the best seat in the house... and sometimes the only seat.

So what am I going to do this year to improve? Not sure of the specifics yet, but it will include watching and listening to new drummers, bands and music. Exploring new rhythms and styles should be top of the list but I still have that image thing that needs attention. 

In any case I would like to wish everyone a happy, prosperous new year and hope you set aside time for self improvement.