Studio/Rekkid Update w/usual gratuitous pics

[Brian Krashpad]

So a couple weeks ago we (Crash Pad) went into Goldentone Studios here in GNV with my old pal Rob McGregor engineering. I've known Rob for like 20 years now, here's a pic of him (on left) playing with his band Grain, and I (middle) and another mutual friend singing backing, at one of my annual "birthday gig" shows a few years back:



Rob's recorded all the big punk/indie GNV bands, like Hot Water Music, Less Than Jake, Against Me, etc.

Somehow or other an indie "label" (really just one guy) got interested in Crash Pad and is actually PAYING for studio time, mastering, and production costs for an upcoming release. It's kinda crazy.

So this has some "guitar/gear content," I've ended up using my Super Champ XD for all my guitar tracks on the upcoming Crash Pad record (and yes, it's actually gonna be a vinyl record). Only by accident. The vintage 60's Sunn 200S 60W head I'd brought for my rhythm guitarist ended up being used by my bassist when the engineer did not want to go DI w/the bass, so my rhythm guitarist used my Sovtek MiG 50H (that is my Crash Pad live rig and what I'd intended on using), and I ended up with the SCXD by default (I'd brought it as a backup).

Crazy how good that little bugger sounds. I pretty much live on Voice 7 (Vox) for overdrive.

For guitars I've mostly used my Les Paul Classic, with a Fender Telecaster Special on one song. Rhythm guitarist has been a using his Gibson SG, bassist either my Epi Thunderbird or his that he just brought.

We've got four songs basically done prior to yesterday, except final mix.

Was in the studio all day yesterday, did the final mix on one song, "Pink Slip Rick," and rhythm tracks for an additional SIX songs. And our patron/"record label president"/A&R guy bought us all (band+1 gf+ engineer) dinner!

Plus we got some more studio shots and band group shots out on the studio porch steps:















And yes, our drummer is somewhat mentally challenged.

Your comments, whether on my poseritude or otherwise, are heartily encouraged, as always.

[NWBasser]

That's a very cool story Brian. Sounds like a lot of fun.

I thought it odd that the drums were not in an isolation booth.

And you're playing punk without a P-bass!?? Blasphemy!

I can't wait to hear the final result!

[Brian Krashpad]

That's a very cool story Brian. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Oh for sure. As tedious as the studio can be after a few hours, I'm loving this within an inch of its life!

I thought it odd that the drums were not in an isolation booth.

Rob does it with the amps in iso boxes but the drums in the same room, with everyone wearing phones, for doing basic tracks anyhow. When doing punchs and overdubs on guitar and bass, we typically listen live in the control room with a long cord, because the playback system in there is best.

And you're playing punk without a P-bass!?? Blasphemy!

Haha, that it is the default. Shrek played his first show with us with his cheapo Austin P-bass copy, but was looking to upgrade and gravitated to my brown sunburst T-bird, and used that thereafter. He just bought his own Bird in silverburst, seen above.

I can't wait to hear the final result!

Thanks. Here's the rough un-mastered song that we did a final mix on last night. Only difference between this and the final (besides mastering, which I hope will remove some of the boomieness) is that we pulled the "ahhhh" part of the backing vocal down about 4 dB so it didn't step on the lead vocal so much:

http://soundcloud.com/brian-krashpad/pink-slip-rick