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).

Poor Chester!

One of my dear friends, Sarah Nolen, is an excellent puppeteer. I met her when we were randomly paired to room with each other my junior (her sophomore) year of college. We had a most excellent time with each other, working at the radio station, watching bad movies, laughing at bad puns, and getting pancakes at our favorite pancake place Sunday mornings. I even worked on the audio in some of her films. 

Sarah is one of my all-time favorite people. I was pleased to get a call from her this week and even more pleased to get to help out with another project. 

Meet Chester... He's up for running in the DCHTV.net comedy short film contest. If you love it (I did. The vacuum part had me in stitches) then give it a vote at the bottom of the page!

Short Film by Sarah Nolen
Music by me. :)

A Wave is Coming

I am amped up!

I did something last night that I haven't done a lot for a couple of years: I went to a live show. (Live music performance, if that helps some of you.) Ever since I left home for college, I've been real keen on seeing as much live music as I can. Even when I was a teenager and still at home, I'd get a very big kick watching live performances on TV or DVD (we didn't have youtube back then - I know. I'm old.)

However, since I've moved back to Texas in August 2011, I've been really preoccupied with growing work for myself. I've had a lot of early mornings (getting up at 5am) which forces me to go to bed early as well - and a lot of great music happens late at night!

But last night I went to a show that was a part of 35 Denton, which is our northern version of Austin's South by Southwest (SXSW). I saw two of my favorite artists: Doug Burr and the fantastic John Vanderslice. Neither performance disappointed me!

Couple examples for you kids.

As I was enjoying that show, I felt a surge of encouragement and excitement. I like these people and I like this world. I deluded myself in college because I was so sure that this kind of world wasn't possible to work in. I was very certain that my situation was a get a job in a symphony orchestra sort of situation. And I'm sorry to say, while I enjoy performing with very large symphonic ensembles, I'm not sure I want a full time job in one. (I'll probably discuss that a little later.)

All I could think while John Vanderslice was on (besides, "This is FANTASTIC!") was that I really wanted to do work for him someday. After the show he hung out with his audience, so I approached him, gave him a hug and told him that I would like to work for him one day. He said, "You never know! Send me an email." 

So yes, you never do know. I have a long way to go in my horn playing career, but I am definitely enjoying the ride. 

It was speculated to me this year how new and uncommon the french horn sound is in the 'rock'/'pop'/'nonclassical' world. I agree, and I feel I am here to fill a need in that world. Nothing against either Doug or John, but they go to very accessible instruments: strings. Doug's lineup behind him on stage last night was drums, bass, and violin. John's Magik Magik Orchestra seems to be string-centric. No offense to string players, but I almost want to say they are a dime a dozen. This isn't meant to be a slam on them - for string players work really hard at what they do. I just mean there are so many of them. 

But who uses a brass quintet? Who goes to a horn player before they get that hot cello chick to play on their stage? Perhaps it's been overdone. Perhaps it's time for a change. 

We'll see. I'll keep you updated if that change happens.