So on Sunday night we were starting on one of our last tunes to record. Bridget was in the booth this time. The pressure we put on ourselves to get it right first time is enormous, and we were all feeling pretty frazzled (Mannie & Bridge from lack of sleep, Paul because he is Paul & me because my stomach was still very frag from my party the night before).
But Bridge being the trooper she is was ready & waiting. Snaps for Bridget!
Paul sets her levels, yep, everything's good to go, so he presses the record button and we sit back and try to be quiet. 30 seconds later Bridge stops, then shakes her head at Paul. 'I can't hear anything!' Methodically (or anally - pick one), Paul checks sound levels, headphone levels, mic levels & can't find anything wrong. He gets up and hunts down cords looking puzzled and a little frustrated. Then he laughs:
'Plugging your headphones into the jack extension might fix it!'
Bridge looks down at her headphones and gives us this adorable sheepish little grin. Well; Mannie, Paul and I just about wet our pants from laughter. Bridge, being the good-natured soul that she is, held up the offending jack so I could take a picture. It broke the frazzled mood nicely, I might add
She then proceeded to nail her fiddle take!
So I'm sitting with my back to a gum tree in the Minnippi parklands in Southern Brisbane. The lake is pitifully dry, with just a smattering of ducks scratching around in the centre, but Bulimba Creek to my left is flowing nicely. It's hot, but there's a cool breeze (that Summer will soon swallow I fear). Charley is wiggling in her pram like a fat spider monkey and a couple just walked past with a cat on a lead. I'll probably see a talking crow in a moment. It's that kind of day.
Tonight I'll be laying down my guitar parts for the as of yet unnamed new tuneset on the album. Three reels, moving at quite a crack. Once they're done, then there's only one more set to do. The artwork is chosen, so all that'll be left is the final mix and the layout.
It has taken a long time, but in our defence, circumstance hasn't always been on our side. We've been close before, very close actually, but then something always seemed to happen (usually someone leaving) that caused us to stall. It would usually go something like this:
We'd have maybe half or so of an album recorded (which is many, many hours of time), then someone would leave. We'd have to set about finding a new member, whilst at the same time having to tweak our sets to accommodate the fact that all of a sudden we were a person down with gigs outstanding. So that's more time spent not recording. Then we'd find someone, and of course then they'd have the task of learning a lot (over five hours at least) of reasonably well arranged material, and that doesn't happen in a vacuum either; we all need to be there. So now not only are we not recording, but we're also not learning new material for a time. Then comes the dilemma of do we start recording with the person as soon at they're able, or make sure they're going to stay the distance first. That's a tricky one, as it's really hard these days to commit to long-term projects, and especially as some as mercurial as a band. Okay, so we start recording again, but then we come across the fact that there's a whole lot of stuff already recorded. Regardless of whether the person departed on good or bad terms, we can't really use it as they won't be around to help sell and promote it, and also, it's not that fair on the new member. So we start rerecording tracks only to find that the new person has a different style and some of the other things like guitars or mandolin need to be done again . . .
Anyway, it's not meant as an excuse, it's just the way it is, and why it's taken us so damn long.
But like I said at the beginning, only a little bit left to go. And besides, I've just told Woodford that we'll be having cds for sale so they must get done :)
We are 1 ½ tunes away from finishing the album. It will be complete by the end of this month! It's odd; we've spent such a massive amount of time recording that I don't know what we're going to do with ourselves afterwards. Possibly; Paul will play Warcraft, Mannie will inhale chicken, I'll get some sleep & Bridge will think 'What the hell have I gotten myself into??'
Naming our first album has been interesting. At first we're all serious thinking up artistic funky names and themes, but by the end of it we're howling with laughter trying to outdo each other by thinking up the most bizarre and completely non-related names J Mannie normally wins, by the way!
Some suggestions are:Maguire This! (Bridget – formally known in another reality as one half of the Maguire Sisters)It was a Dark & Stormy Coffee (Paul)The Ice Queen Cometh (me)The MaShannie Sessions (you can guess who thought that one up)
We do have a few names that we're trying out, which generally involves each of us stubbornly holding on to our individual favourite names and not agreeing with anyone else's. And NO Mannie, we're *not* calling it Rip Out Mandolin Style (the accompanying actions are hilarious).
Shameful plug: Get your Mannie Mando Doll Action Figure exclusively from the Sunas site! Rock out on your Mandolin Mannie style, complete with accompanying DVD featuring inspiring mando licks and instructions on the intricacy of posing. Accessories such as chicken, big white van & hair sold separately. Batteries not included.
Mannie's gonna whinge for a year after reading this. Oh, I just love this band!
Wow. Woodford was simply amazing! We received a phone call from Bill Hauritz , the Festival director last Friday explaining sorry for the late notice, but were we were available to open the Program Launch Party?
Hell yes, we were!
Unfortunately Mannie was unable to make this gig due to prior commitments. There was a lot of set list rearranging to accommodate his absence, let me tell you! So Paul made up a 'road trip' playlist on the iPod, and with myself and Bridget, cruised up to Woodford on Saturday afternoon. The first thing that I noticed when we arrived was the smell. Eucalyptus. So fresh! The tent we were playing in was enormous, and people were milling everywhere. The lanterns were lit and the moon was out, which made for a magical evening. Everyone was lovely and accommodating to us, as we weren't exactly sure what was expected of this gig. Basically Bill came over and told us that we were to open the launch party, but not to expect applause as the 250 plus organisers get together four times a year and are too busy catching up to actually acknowledge any music.
I looked at the guys and we were all thinking, whoa. Tough gig.
So we started with a set of fiery reels, but for all Bill's warnings about no-one listening or responding, not only did the organisers clap and cheer, they also danced! It was a cracking gig, and we all had an absolute blast. We came off the stage after an hour, knackered and overheated but ready to do it all over again. The adrenaline was pumping for me, and Bridget looked for all the world like a carefree spirit. It was so warm onstage that her carefully straightened hair went curly (and personally I thought it looked amazing)!
Afterwards we came down to earth with a few drinks and found a table to watch the speeches. The feedback for us was incredible. Bill thanked everyone for coming, and then gave us a special mention, which was lovely. Apparently in the history of the program launch parties over the past 18 years, not one person had gotten up and danced until now. We were the first band that had done it. As everyone applauded us, I looked over at Bridget and Paul, and their incredulous expressions of delight matched mine. Not bad for a band who was a man down!
The actual program launch was just amazing. The Woodford crowd don't do anything by halves, and a procession of people with fire lanterns made its way through the tent with an alternative dancer holding the first copy of the program, which was presented to Des, the Festival President. We all lit candles and sang. I felt so humbled to witness such an incredible ritual. The Woodford people love what they do; they work hard, but they play equally as hard!
So then everyone got down to some serious drinking to the funky sounds of the Black Market Rhythm Co, who also got the crowd on their feet which was wonderful to see! Afterwards Paul, Bridget and I set up camp in the drinking tent (as you do) to play a session. The additions to our mix were incredible. We had Kenny the didgeridoo player, and a lady who came over with an enormous drum and confessed that she'd been wanting to jam with us all night :) It was a wonderful few hours, we sang, we played and people danced again. As the time came for us to depart back to Brisbane (at 3am, no less!), we left to a roar of cheering, clapping and whistling. Once again I witnessed the stunned and exhilerated looks on Paul & Bridget's faces. We drove home through dense fog, which only heightened the experience for us. What an amazing night. Bring on the festival, we look forward to seeing you all there!
