"Does anyone remember laughter?!?!"

...Or this blog?  Geez, even I forgot about it for a good long time.  Well, figured now is as good a time as any to put something up before I go to my Ambien-infused sleep.  Just not sure of what...

But...

There has been a lot going on in my life.  Work has been challenging, social life equally so, but the one good thing is that I have been shedding myself of possessions that were either superfluous or just plain stupid to have gotten in the first place...then I take that money and pay bills!

Now I have less, but BETTER stuff and less bills...winning!

So what am I doing about all this?  Well...honestly, I am amping up my home studio game big time!

•  Went from 5" M-Audio to 8" JBL monitors - that ALONE has been a revelation.
•  Invested in too many pedals - favorite currently being the J. Rockett Archer, which itself is one of the best Klon Klones out there.  So good...
•  Sold my Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Strat w/EMG's, one of my T5z's, a Randall power amp, a couple of other shitty guitars I had at my mothers house, ALL my camera equipment, and probably some other things.  Still have more to sell - inquire within :-P
•  Purchased a Neumann TLM103 + vocal isolation screen and stand =  vocal game increase by +300 points :-P
•  Purchased a Moog 'Minitaur'….it's so much fun and I have no idea how to use it!!!!  BUT IT'S FUN, dammit!  Running that with a Novation controller that I had bought years ago and never used...now I'm using it!
•  Acquired a PRS SC345 guitar that is an absolute MONSTER and feels SO good to play.  And it is very, very orange. and I don't care...f**k off.
• FINALLY figured out how to get really good tone out of my Fractal Audio AX8.
• For season I want a Fan Fretted 7 string guitar.  I just think I need one.  I almost bought 3 different ones in the past 24 hours - an Ormsby, an Ibanez Universe, and a Legator.  Last week I almost bought a Strandberg. Someone stop me!
• Re-tubed my Bad Cat Cougar 5 amp...sounds amazing now.
• Other shit...probably some new Universal Audio Plugins that I have salivating over...

Ok, so what is to come of all this?  Well, I will be doing some recording next week at a cabin I rented in Lake Arrowhead.  I - somehow - am bringing most ALL the new items I described above plus my computer and monitor, more guitars (2009 Gibson Les Paul R9, 2001 PRS McCarty, Fender MIJ strat with Seymour Duncan Duckbuckers, a bass, a new Taylor 314ce and a Steinberger...shut up), a rack for all of these, big bag o'cables, 2 microphones, nd somehow fit my clothes and food into the car.  Packing is going to be a challenge!!!  It will be a good time, though.  my friend, Frankie, who lives there and is an amazing musician is going to stop by and lay some tracks as well.  Maybe some acoustic music, maybe something crazier.  All I know is that I can't wait!!!

So what am I going to be recording?  Some originals, and some ridiculous covers.  A couple that I thought of that are on the short list:

• "Groove is in the Heart" - Deee-lite
• "It's Not Unusal" - Tom Jones
• "Come and Get it" - Badfinger

and

• Theme to "Law and Order"

I also need to continue to re-record the entire "Dark Side of the Moon" album.  Started that project and should finish.

I AM TAKING SUGGESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY!!!!  HAPPY TO LISTEN!  Remember, the sillier the song/unlikeliness of being done heavy, the better.

Shooting for 3 songs a day...which for me should be ok to do as I have everything written in my head...and they will be long days.  

There is more, but I am now real tired and need my hotel bed... L8R

 - M