http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html Bob Jr: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:04:50 -0800 http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#64 http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#64 Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#63
So, congratulations to fellow RPMers who completed the task . This is day 29 and now we can rest. We managed to deliver our CD in person at the wire without much issue. Although, it did begin to snow. The good news about the pending snow storm is it will allow March 2 to be called "the day we get back to life"

I still feel February was lost, but on the other side of it we have 9 new songs and a demo CD that's not too bad. If the snow day happens we may even get the songs uploaded to the web tomorrow.]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#63 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#62
All in all we're in good shape. Even the cover art is just about complete so Christy won't have to draw it while the cd is burning. Now we just need to get some cds and we'll be all set to burn and print tomorrow and of course deliver to the wire on Sunday. There's something very satisfying about handing it in personally rather than mailing it.

It is pretty interesting that we're actually at a comfortable spot to complete this thing this year. Especially when a few weeks ago it was going to be a thrown challenge. So here's to the last 25 hours of February, enjoy and good luck. We'll see everyone at the finish.]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#62 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#61
Anyway, I figured I'd post the lyrics to one of the tunes because it sums up the whole project:

Heavenly Hell by Bob Walker, Jr

To wallow in the madness
An empty mind and a deadline
It’s the destiny for me
So all of the world can hear

I shut off all of my senses
To connect with my true sight
Try to listen to the silence
So the music will come to life

Welcome to my heavenly hell
I’m really tired but I’m doing well
I’m really not crazy, It’s a challenge to me
Now I’m burnin’ in my heavenly hell

Only twenty-eight days
And it comes to an end
I’ll drown in this manmade ocean
I’m way over my head

I’ll probably die penniless
But I’m doing the right thing
What’s bad for my body
Is good for my head]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#61 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#60
Anyway, our project is holding steady so far. Christy came through with a song on the 23rd (nothing like the last possible moment) which was also our last chance to get drum and bass tracks down. We are now at 9 songs and will make the challenge provided we stay on schedule. Last night rhythm overdubs and my vocals were recorded. Things went well, just a few fixes need to be made then onto Christy's vocals. We're hoping to mix down tomorrow into Friday as the whole life schedule will throw things into a tizzy over the weekend.

I connected with an old friend recently. She asked what I was up to and I told her about the challenge. Turns out she's a graphic design artist and is now working on our cover design for this project. Again, a cool thing about this challenge. So now our cover is being designed in Ireland while we deal with life and recording here in NH.

3 days 11 hours and 40 minutes to start letting go of things around us and concentrate on the music. Better get my errands run so this can happen......]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#60 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#59
I get a call from George (drummer) last night on his way home from a gig. His truck broke down. A bit of a set back but after some looking up of numbers he finally got towed and I was able to get him home. Problem is the drums are in the truck that broke down, but again, a small problem and that was solved.

I got home, finished setting up the computer with some software I never used before yet it seemed to go fairly well and I set up the sessions for all of the songs we have so far, then packed everything to take to George's in the morning. Feeling pretty good and looking forward to 7 days of blissful music making, I sit down and write song number 8 for the CD. Then figured I should try and settle the mind and get some sleep.

Got things together this morning, headed to George's and began transforming his basement into our temporary recording studio. Got everything set up and only forgot a few things that Christy was able to grab and bring over. Booted everything up and had absolutely no sound coming out. So three hours into this session we had nothing to show for it. The technology gods win round 1.

Learning from last year, plan B was at hand and we were up and running. We got the first tune down in a few takes and went to the next. Did that in a few takes then went to the next. This is how it all should work. We ate some lunch, had a martini and got the next 2 songs down even quicker then decided that was enough for today as our 3 hour session was now 8 hours long.

The moral of the story: The technology gods will fight, be prepared, have a martini and all will go well.]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#59 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#58
It's been a strange week. Life is taking it's toll on me personally. Getting it out in music is fun but then I am in this place of "hmmmm..... I like that now I want to add this or tweak that...." but there is just no way to do that in 8 more days. Hitting the panic button, I just stayed up last night and wrote song number 7. I think we'll make the 35 minutes with those. The other tunes rolling around in my head will need to be out by Sunday as that is officially recording session #1.

Time to let go of perfectionism, dive into creativity and getting the job done. Oh yeah, I better go make a sacrifice to the technology gods too so we can make it to the end...]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#58 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#57
This all seems to be a slow process this time around. There is quie a bit going on that keeps getting in the way. Even to the point where the towel was almost thrown in last week. All of this and we weren't to the halfway mark. So the real jobs and life in general continue to throw their hurdles in the way. I have yet to deal with technology as I'm a bit scared this time around. We've been spending way too much time out of our creative process this year, overall and especially in this challenge.

Today was set aside to sit down and write. That's correct, a whole Sunday dedicated to sitting down surrounded by instruments, some paper and a pencil with a good eraser. Click on the portable recorder so I can have a record of the process and listen later. The result was finding a bit of direction in the songs written so far plus adding three more. We are now at six songs. Christy has one she is working on but hasn't shared yet (just think back to a revisit of last year's "chick singer's lament") So we possibly have seven songs now but one never knows. Tomorrow we spend President's day with the band putting it all together.

This is the time to cut out the excuses. Who cares about the weather, the economy, real jobs, cars in need of repair, and groceries that need to be bought? (there's not much time for eating anyway) Who cares that there is a meeting to attend or a cold is creeping up on you?

Just get over it and get back to RPM!]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#57 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#56
What's the excuse? I really hate excuses, but now I hate having to write useless paperwork, mounds and mounds of paperwork and there is nothing in it that can be used in a song. (trust me, I looked hard in hopes it would ease the pain)

I hear there is this place out there called "the real world". When did this start to exist, and why is it forcing itself upon me when I have more important things to do, like write and record and album in 28 days? I'd write about it but I already did a long time ago and that would be cheating to use that idea. I guess it's time to just say stop for a moment and get on with it.

So, here we are, day 10 and 3 songs waiting for the finishing touches. Really not too bad but not anywhere near where I'm comfortable in seeing the end. Maybe it's a good sign to be freaking out about the deadline now. 18 days is really quite a bit of time when you think about it.

So it's time to let go of the "real world" and do something that is mch more healthy, like stay up late and write music.

Cheers!]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#56 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#55
All in all we have 1 complete song put together that needs to be refined and completed, 1 that is halfway written, a few songs lyrically done and a few random musical ideas.

Our challenge was finding the groove and trying to figure out if the person who wrote the song has the groove or if it is supposed to come out of the people around you trying to pull the idea out of your head for you. Really it's all about getting into the groove as a group and as songwriting collaborators.

So here we go, looking for that groove. Tomorrow is another session which means I should probably get some work done.

Keeping in comparison to last years challenge, we have had less snow:-)]]> http://bobjrsmusic.com/news.html#55 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Bob Jr's Music - Bob Jr - News