Electric Guitar Culture

I've got it in my head that I want a decent electric guitar. It's a sad, neurotic journey but there it is. First I tried to find the object of my desire at Guitar Center. I attempted to conduct business while looking at my shoes because, quite frankly, I can't handle the extreme facial piercings of your typical GC employee. Deflated, I took my search online and tentatively settled on an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra. So I rambled around craigslist to find a used one and I ended up delving into the culture of Boston-area metal heads. I challenge anyone to try to line up an appointment with one of these smoky hollows. Last week it was a guy who apparently didn't know what day it was. Today I talked to a guy who seemed to have no permanent address but could bring the guitar to me because "I gotta van with an electrical outlet". Retail prices are starting to look good....

Is This Thing On?

Recording your own music in a studio is the improbable intersection of inspiration and tedium. I’ve completed 13 hours and I have 8 final guitar tracks and 5 or 6 keeper vocals. A long way to go. Yesterday was a good session – knocked off a couple of strong vocals. The passing grade comes down to “You know, I really can’t play/sing it any better than that”. One interesting turn of events is with my song Heaven. I always played it as a showy finger-picking tune but one day I hashed it out with a pick and realized what a great bluegrass song it would make. So that's what it will be.

Next session is Dec 1. I’ll be 60 then so I asked for a senior discount. Eric laughed. Eric Kilburn is a pleasure to work with. In theory he is the engineer but he gives such great great guidance with advice like “That was really nice – and you sound like a really nice guy – but I would like you to convince me that you’re invested in this story you’re telling.” or "Could you be a little more desperate?"

I drive home listening to the rough cuts of the day. I'm starting to get psyched about this project.