I'm Hittin' the Road!

I was keeping this one under the hat, but since it's a few days away and definite plans are being made I'll let it out now:

I'm hitting the road with Sucré!

This wonderful trio asked me to do horn stuff for a few shows on their tour. This is very very very exciting. I think it may be worth mentioning that this will be a new experience for me. Certainly I have done live, non-classical shows. But never before have I done three in a row - and traveled in between to get to each one! [boy, does that make me sound like a goof or what?]

As the plan currently stands, I'll gather with them in Houston on Sunday, play with them in Austin Monday night, and then head right back up to Dallas for a Tuesday night show at Club Dada. I'm pretty excited for these upcoming performances and to have a chance to hang out with my wonderful musical friends Jeremy, Stacy, and Darren again. 

You all probably don't have any idea how hard these three are working to make Sucré and this tour happen. This is just like any new business endeavor: not the most easy climb to make. However, they are determined! (But I really don't think they will be disappointed with the reception they'll get. They've each got the fans, and the music is good stuff.)

Therefore, if you've enjoyed A Minor Bird and are free the night they're in your town, I'd encourage you to trek out for the show. You may be witnessing a good (and definitely fleeting) point in the big histories of these people!

Here are the dates that I've clipped from Sucré's website: 

But for more specific information, you'll have to check out the site for yourself.

http://sucreofficial.com/#/tour/

For the few days I'm on the road I'll try to blog along the way. Last time I was working with these people, I was very reserved with documenting stuff about the experience - since it was the first time I had ever met any of them. But hopefully they will be ok with me taking a few snaps here and there. 

Hope to see you at a show!

A Minor Bird

Ok. You've already heard mention of Sucré by me. It's been a few days [oops, nearly a week] since their album A Minor Bird has come out. I, like the rest of Eisley/Mutemath/Larson fans out there, have been DRINKING the new album in since last Tuesday. If you haven't bought it yet, hopefully this post here will encourage you to do so!

You can listen to the whole album right here: http://sucreofficial.com/#/news/listen-to-a-minor-bird/

Please do check it out. For those wondering, you can hear my horn (/brass) stuff on tracks 1, 4-8, 10-11. 

A Minor Bird was released in April 2012, but it will always make me think of November-time. Jeremy sent the unfinished tracks for me to get familiar with as I drove up to work with the trio. Probably around the 5th listen through the album, the November sun was fading away into gray air. Oklahoma was dark and cool, but "Stampede" and "The Cliff Waltz" powered me up for another few hours of driving. "Chemical Reaction" made my heart drop the first time I heard it. And of course "Endless Sleep" ...well, that built  up my own icy Fortress of Solitude around me. 

The album also makes me think of the time spent at Jeremy Larson's studio - in dark days short of light. We sat and listened for good holes the horn could fill. I played; they recorded and head bobbed in the other room. We drank coffee and ate chocolate and crepes. It was a good few days up in Springfield. Happily for me, the album will always make me think of that pre-Thanksgiving week.

I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity they gave me. Stacy, Darren, and Jeremy took a big risk in inviting me up to do some work for them. All they had to go on was an email I sent Jeremy a few months before! Hopefully they feel like the risk they took is paying off for them.

Alright. That's it. Just go and buy the album. I'll be back within the week to write about some other fun horn stuff coming up. 

Oh yes.. piece of trivia for you: I used this horn for "No Return" (which is battling to be my favorite track on the album).