The Ruby Doe bring their math studies to Soundhouse

Consisting of Aaron Ellh on vox/guitar/bass, uber-tatooist Jesse Roberts on vox/bass/guitar, and Joshua Gabriel on drums, The Ruby Doe churn out punky, post-metal mathcore that is tough as nails yet melodic and hook-laden. It's so good in fact, that KEXP's John Richards is putting it out on his Loveless Records label.

Brandi Carlile begins record for American Recordings

Brandi Carlile, voted 2004's best Singer/Songwriter by the Seattle Weekly, entered Soundhouse with her band to make her first recording for Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. Her band consists of co-songwriters and identical twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth on guitar and bass, respectivley with Jason Maybell on drums.

The twins have great songs, Brandi's got pipes of gold, and the recordings are voter tested and Rubin approved. Look for a release somtime in mid-summer.

Who is Bola Abimbola?

Producer Sean Dugaw and I have just finished tracking and mixing Bola's first U.S. release for Fasthorse Recordings. Bola, formerly a vocalist with King Sunny Ade, combines Nigerian musical styles like fuji, juju and Afrobeat with western pop and R&B influences and features the following musicians: Grammy winning Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, Nojeem Lasisi, Ghanaian percussionist Chata Addy, Leif Totusek on guitar, Alex Veley on keys, Barrett Martin on vibes and marimba, and Sean Dugaw on kit drums.

Guess What?!!

I headed home to the Bay Area after a long absence and was presented with an envelope containing a card with this photo and an inscription that said, "Guess what?!!"

Um... mid to late September of 2004 is going to be an exhilirating time.

Working at Robert Lang Studios on new Blood Brothers album

Artist Direct recording artists The Blood Brothers and I began work on their new record with producer John Goodmanson. The mega-artrock sounds were captured at Robert Lang's insanity castle in Richmond Beach, WA.

The Posies have rebanded to make a new record

Presumably so that they can break up again and go on another farewell tour, the Posies entered Soundhouse with me in February of 2004. With Jon and Ken handling the production duties, it left drummer Darius Minwalla, bassist Matt Harris and I free to have a bit too much fun. Look for the new hits to be out on Rykodisc.

 

... Two weeks too little for the 1st trip to Brazil

1. São Paulo
2. Ellus Laundry
3. Santos
4. Charlie Brown Jr.
5. Fogo do Chão
6. Ubatuba
7. Mogi das Cruzes
8. Rio de Janeiro
9. Vanessa da Mata
10. Ballroom
11. Davi Moreas
12. Jardim Botanico
13. Rochina

Produced by Sasha Nosecchi
Engineered by Sasha Nosecchi, Anna Butler, and Nando Reis
Recorded at Chez Reis in São Paulo and Hotel Olinda in Rio de Janeiro

Drums – João Viana
Keys – Alex Veley
Guitar – Carlos Pontual
Bass – Felipe Cambraia
Crew: Guto, Robson, Dalvino, Raphael, Marcus, and Julian

Thank you to: Nando Reis, Fernando Nunes and Mylene, Vania Reis, Du, Jorge, Theo Reis, Sophia Reis, Jose Carlos Reis, Alex Veley and Ana, Anna Butler, Maria Lucia, Cynthia and Jack Herzog, Anne Marie Keaveny and Brett Herron, Jim and Lanetta Robarge, and Ken Stringfellow

 

Shut Up, You Funny Grammy Nominee.

My man David Cross, of HBO's Mr. Show fame, has earned a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. His record is comprised of live performances from all over the country. Check it out... It's harshly funny. I had the good fortune and pleasure of editing and mixing this double album.

 

... And Now Residing In The Bay Area

On October 1st, 2003 my wife and I moved to the Bay Area. The situation is such that I'll be commuting to Seattle to keep working at Soundhouse with all of the people I love to work with.

The Bay Area is rocking so far... Trips to Sonoma and Napa, taking BART, Jack London Square, Lake Merritt, Postrio, Amoeba Records, Nero, Fog, Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, Golden Gate Park, and all of the rest. Good times.

 

 

Kinski Tackles Stereolab And Battiato

An internationally known artist, Franco Battiato has been everything in his long career; from beat singer to avant-garde performer, producer, and comtemporary music composer... Now Kinski, no strangers to avant-garde themselves, have just completed recording and mixing their version of Battiato's Propiedad Prohibida with me at Soundhouse Recording. Also finished at these sessions was a cover of Stereolab's French Disko with Chris as vocalist.

 

 

Lion Fever Hit Soundhouse Recording

Portland, Oregon's Lion Fever rolled into town to complete work on their debut EP for Dim Mak Records. The band consists of vocalist Jennifer Pearl from Lost Kids on guitar, David Clifford from Pleasure Forever/The VSS on bass, and Kevin Garrison from Silentist on the tubs.

With the Who-like power of a 3 piece band, rhythmic swagger of early Stones, and the emotional intensity of PJ Harvey, look for thier new disc in January of 2004 and on tour.

 

Kinski Rocks Historical Venue

The art/rock/noise quartet Kinski brought me to San Francisco to mix their set opening for And You Will Know Us By The Traill Of Dead at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium. Pre and post-show shananigans with the Trail of Dead guys was legendary. Both bands put on amazing sets to a packed house.

Ben Adams Joins The Soft Rebellion

Singer/Songwriter Ben Adams commuted from Ann Arbor, Michigan to record an mix a collection of his songs with Ken Stringfellow at the helm and me behind the board. Ben is working on 2004 presidential hopeful Howard Dean's fundraising team. Ben will be back to Seattle in November to work with the same team again. Good times and good songs.

 

Do You Remember Hall & Oates?

Former Posies Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow have teamed up, sort of, to bring you their first available solo works recorded independenty, but packaged and released together.

While the moustache Ken is sporting on the cover isn't quite as freaky as the one John Oates is famous for, you'll have to listen for yourself to see what other similarities this split EP on Arena Rock Recording Co. might have with the famous 80's duo.

 

Baby Do You Wanna Drive My Earthship?

This month takes me to Taos, New Mexico to work on two albums at the same time… One is for Brazilian pop sensation Nando Reis, and the other is for the ultra-talented Alex Veley.
While in the land of Pueblo Indians and peyote rituals, we had the displeasure of seeing the pulverized body of a suicide jumper at the bottom of the Rio Grande. A murder/suicide also coincided with my arrival from Seattle. Is Taos resident Donald Rumsfeld giving the place it's bad mojo?

From left to right are: Nando Reis, Alex Veley, and Barrett Martin

Be Gentle Above Your Warm French Station

Saturday, February 22nd, 2003 marks the release of Airs Above Your Station, Kinski's third full-lenth, and first on Sub Pop Records. Many hours of oscillations, skronks, buzzes, and sips of whiskey were tallied at the following studios: Robert Lang Studios, Studio Litho, and Electrokitty. As far as albums I've made thus far, this takes the cake as one of the most complicated to record and artistically satisfying to have in my discography. Read a review here.

Gossip Rock

With the help of producer John Goodmanson and engineer Kip Beelman, Olympia's Gossip deliver their most powerful album yet. Available on the Kill Rock Stars label, the music features the powerful gospel vocal stylings of Beth Ditto, the No Wave-inspired guitar lines of Nathan Howdeshell, and the primal drumming of Kathy Mendonca. Ass kickin' yo.

A Recipe For Bread - Larry Knechtel

Singer/songwriter Ken Stringfellow and I were at Seattle's Ironwood Studios to record Rhodes, piano, and Hammond organ on two songs - one a Ken orginal, the other being a cover of The Association's Never My Love.

What is remarkable about this session is that we had the honor of having Larry Knechtel in the house. Larry was a member of the famous 70's group Bread in addition to being part of the famous LA session group called "The Wrecking Crew", which were responsible for hits by: The Beach Boys, Chet Atkins, Joan Baez, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, and tons more.

That's Ken at Ironwood's Neve soaking up the legend's work. Awesome session.

Maktub Back In The Studio

Printz Board (trumpet/keys in Nikka Costa's band, member of Black Eyed Peas) and Maktub have been in Ironwood Studios and Soundhouse Recording with me behind the board. The songs are turning out funky and very, very tight with grooves, arrangements, and vocals like you've never heard from Maktub before. Hotness!