Recording in Erie

Blog for Erie, PA

Friday August 26, 2005

This is a precisely detailed description of our experience in the recording studio at Backwards Recording Studios in Erie, PA.

We arrived at 8:30 on Friday. Thirty minutes after the Steelers game started. We listened as much as we could before the static took over. After making a quick stop at the beer distributor to pick up a “dirty thirty” case of I.C. Light, we headed to Justin’s house, other wise known as Backwards Recording Studios. We recorded here almost two years ago in January of 2004.

We unloaded the truck and set up our equipment right away and started recording. In about four hours, we laid down six songs. The songs we are recording are “Pride”, “Natural”, “Manuscript”, “April”, “Venom” and “Chameleon”. We plan on combining this recording with the other songs we recorded in January of this year in Los Angeles. The planned track listing for this EP, or CD or whatever you call it is:

Kids with Guns9-1
Pride
Natural
Subconscious
Manuscript
April
Venom
Chameleon
Suckerpunch

But who knows what we’ll put on there.

Also, Justin surprised us with a newly remastered version of the CD we recorded here last time we were here, this one doesn’t have all the unwanted reverb, so maybe we’ll press some copies of that, too. The songs on that CD are:

In my Life
Valedictorian
Over and Over
Dot on a Page
Life Extensions


Saturday August 27, 2005

Woke up around 10:30 and drove to donut connection to get a healthy breakfast. At the insistence of Johnny and I, we drove another five miles out of the way to Starbucks because we don’t like coffee if it’s cheaper than $3.50, and it’s just more fun to speak a different language when we order what size we want. Right now we’re in the control room making notes on the bass parts, where to patch in the re-do's...

I just finished my guitar tracks. When we recorded last night, we did a live take all together, and then we planned on patching in the parts we originally messed up on. Even though Mike will have no problem bragging to you about it, I have to give him credit, he laid down the drums in one take… the whole CD, all six tracks. That’s pretty good. Johnny did really well on the first take, but he re-did some parts he wasn’t happy with. As for my original guitar parts, we had to change the mic position on the amp, so I had to do everything over, which was totally fine by me. I wasn’t very happy with my original takes anyway. I think I do pretty good with recording a song straight through, but it’s frustrating when you mess up a second on a 5 minute song and spent 20 minutes getting the messed up part fixed. I also laid down an acoustic track on April, that’s the only acoustic I used on this CD.

After we finished up the day around 9, we headed out to Calamari’s in Erie. They had a beer pong table, so Mike and I attempted to extend our 10-1 beer pong champion record, but to no avail. Sadly, as I sit here today, we are now 10-2. It’s a touchy subject, so I’ll stop writing about it now. (ha) Drew went to school up here in Erie at Mercyhurst College, so he knew a ton of people last night at the bar. When the band is long gone, I suggest Drew run for political office, he knows enough people to get elected President.

Sunday August 28, 2005

Thanks to a good night at the bar last night, we had a late start today. I woke up at 10 and walked around Peach Street and got some coffee, I came back around noon and watched Hot Shots Part Deux… oh that’s such a funny movie. Drew is recording vocals for Venom right now, so I’ll get back to you soon.

We’re packing up now, Drew finished vocals for four songs, and we’ll be coming up in next week to finish the recording. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it, we’re really proud of this recording. Thank you, Justin for doing such a great job. I would recommend any band looking to record try his studio out, he’s got great equipment and he knows what he is doing.

Neal