Working on 'Apparition'

This past week, we had been doing some more work on 'Apparition,' just trying to finalize and incorporate every possible piece of music we're looking to get in the song.

Everything is sounding great on the song. Apologies for the lack of updates, but there has been a bit of sickness sapping energy for weeks now.

Here's Joe working on a piano part for 'Apparition.'

The Bleachers on Indiefeed.

The fine folks over at Indiefeed have once again found a song of ours much to their liking, in the form of "Ice On The Equator" from our 2008 album, 'Conjure'.

You can follow the link here directly to the Indiefeed page that features "Ice On The Equator."

You should listen to the feed in its entirety, because you get to hear them introduce the song (something we always find cool, I mean, come on, right?) and at the very end there is just a bit of reveal about "Ice On The Equator." We always prefer everyone to take what they wish from our music, rather than us force a template of feeling onto the listener. But this one time, mostly because the folks at Indiefeed are truly, truly wonderful people and because we know people who know our music want the stories behind songs, well, you at least get where the title is from. Satisfied? No? Sigh.

A raucous take on "Octopus" from Suspicion.

In case you did not make it to our performance at The Square Apple on 09/19/09 in support of The Neon Reverb Festival, here now is a video of our performance for "Octopus," from our debut album, Suspicion.

Thank you all for seeing us perform.

We were faced with some adversity before going onstage last Saturday night at The Square Apple, but as we usually tend to do, we persevered without so much as a second thought about it all.

Weeks ahead of time, we were told our advantage to performing last was there were no time constraints, although we kept the set vibrant and immediate anyway. The set list is below:

01. Familiar

02. Wide Awake

03. Full Moon

04. Build An Army

05. Duende

06. Zodiac

07. Octopus

08. Infatuation

09. Cross Bones Style

10. Serpentine

11. BTSSNY

12. New Dub

We really wish to thank each and every one of you in attendance, as we discovered well after the fact just how many people had showed up to see us perform! There were numerous familiar faces, but just as many we didn't recognize, which we hope to see again.

Bleachers performance TONIGHT. Square Apple 7pm.

It's here and it's happening. Our next show is tonight, Saturday, September 19 and it is happening in support of the Neon Reverb Festival at Square Apple (1000 E.Sahara #105 just west of Maryland Parkway, across from Commercial Center). The show begins at 7pm with Asterionella, with Calicos going on at 8pm. Then at 9pm, we will take the stage with about a dozen songs for everyone.

We are really looking forward to playing this show at this venue. It's going to be a memorable one. Oh and in case you were curious, the show's admission is absolutely, 100% FREE. All you have to do is show up and support these three bands with your ears and applause for a few hours. We hope to see you there.

Rehearsal.

Because of the upcoming show at Square Apple on Saturday, September 19th at 9pm, we've been rehearsing quite a bit.

The first few rehearsals were just to refresh a bit, throwing all kinds of songs in the mix and see what makes it out the other side. But the last couple of rehearsals we've gotten the set list figured out and sequenced for the show.

We'll be doing this right up to Friday before the show and after that, we'll head into the final stretch of music to be recorded for the album before we start doing vocals.

Bleachers next performance: 09/19/09 Square Apple

We thought we would just spring this on everyone: The Bleachers next performance will be in support of the Neon Reverb Festival in Las Vegas. It will be at the Square Apple (1000 E. Sahara #105 702.650.0432) Saturday, September 19 at 7 p.m., the show begins with performances by Asterionella, followed by Calicos. We will close out the show with our performance at 9 p.m. sharp. Oh and in case you were wondering, this is a FREE SHOW. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Who let this guy in?

Yeah, well, here is a picture of me (Marco) scrubbing the floor of our music, digitally speaking, of course. This was earlier today while I was sweetening the bass in post for "Familiar," which Joe will be recording guitars for in about a week's time from now.

We've got an announcement coming up. Well, literally, as it will appear as the very next post above this one...

Joe in the studio.

Here's Joe performing one of his takes for the song "Serpentine" today in the studio. The song is really sounding fantastic, his guitar work and the tone we achieved with our bizarro techniques absolutely sends this song to places we heard in our heads months ago and is now a reality.

Performances in the works.

We are planning some live shows for the fall. Somewhere around October, November. We're not really sure for a Las Vegas show...we've done our fair share of those. We are eyeing some dates elsewhere and will keep you informed.

Progression.

Well, yeah, the updates have slowed down, but the music making has not. It's just been a very busy two weeks here and apologies for not updating as frequently as necessary.

In the past two weeks we've worked extensively on a song called "Change Your Mind," which is a real centerpiece for the album, we believe. It really showcases our songwriting ability, something we feel has grown considerably with each album, each new song. We dig it, we hope you will too.

Beyond that, we've laid down some other guitar tracks, finalized the music for "When You Lose" which awaits vocals now...oh and just got the bass done for a song that reminds me of something themed in a military fashion. No, it doesn't have a marching percussive sound, it's just got a certain feel to it that is difficult to explain, so I will leave it at that.

New recording on The Bleachers myspace page.

Well, if you are reading this blog, you've read countless updates about our new songs getting recorded piece by piece for the past few months.

Here's something new for everyone to check out: a brand new recording (just finished tonight) of a song called "Different Stars" which was written by a very beguiling band named Trespassers William. We have performed this song live several times; here, the song features Joe on guitar and vocals with me behind the desk engineering it. Quite an intimate performance. Have a listen over at our myspace page.

If you are not familiar with this band, please click the link above to learn more about their mesmerizing songs and albums.

The sound has landed.

The sound is unlike any I have ever heard, or likely will hear from anything else.

Guitars for "I Swear, I Swear" recorded.

Hot on the heels of getting the bass recorded and the post work done the other day, Joe was able to come in and record his guitars for "I Swear, I Swear." Once again, he completed owned the session, recording his parts very efficiently yet with tremendous energy and punctuation throughout.

This is all we're doing through the weekend, as we have some gear upgrades that need to be attended to.

Guitars for "Apparition" recorded.

The rhythm guitars for "Apparition" were laid down first, which just scream out of the speakers. It's like syrup and butter melting all over pancakes, really. Or a really good waffle. The way it collects in each little square. Delicious.

Between the rhythms melting gorgeously throughout, Joe had some ideas for secondary guitars that just complements everything so well. The rhythm guitars would have been enough, really. But the secondary parts just push this one over the top. Lush and exquisite.

Guitars for "Wasteland" recorded.

Joe stepped into the studio tonight, ready to work and he nailed the guitars down for "Wasteland" like he's been playing the song for 25 years.

Just a terrific groove in this song, the guitars providing great interplay with the distinctive piano line. Short, punchy, lively and to the point. This song showcases it all in a very abbreviated amount of time.

Bass recorded/post work complete for "I Swear, I Swear."

Bass for "I Swear, I Swear" was recorded today, as well as the post work for the part. A very nice sound going on in this song, the bass and drums gluing together quite handsomely.

What makes me terribly fond of this song is the fact we were able to write so many disparate parts into the song and have them fit together so well -- in under three minutes and fifteen seconds, no less.

Guitars for "History" recorded.

Moving things along quickly, Joe and I sat down today and knocked out guitars for "History" which sound just incredible. The guitars are definitely the muscular part of the song and the recording of them earlier today confirmed just that.

That makes two in two days, we're going to shoot for a few more this week, but the weekdays are always slower for getting work done.

Guitars for "When You Lose" recorded.

Preparing for the part of the recording process where we finally get to introduce Joe's guitar work to the songs, we had mapped out numerous combinations of amplifiers, microphones, placement, etc.

What was finally settled upon, was an interesting "triangle" configuration which utilizes several amplifiers and microphones blending tight-mic'd and room angle placement. Yes, I know this is getting technical, but I am trying to keep it as humanely simple as possible so you do not fall asleep here.

Anyway, it produces a sound that is most definitely something we are looking to achieve. Surely you will all like the sound once it is all said and done.

Today, as with each previous instrument's introduction to the recording process, we began with "When You Lose" which sounds remarkable now that we are a mere vocal track away from completion on this one.

Bass recorded/post work complete on a fast song.

Earlier this week, I was able to record the bass lines for a new fast-sounding song. This song was definitely written with performing it live in mind, as it is always one that gets our adrenaline flowing wherever we feature it during our set list.

Right now, we've been able to finish the necessary post work on the song, so there's one more ready to go when Joe gets to it on his guitar recording schedule. Everything is moving along, now if I could just get a little more time in the studio, we'll be in even better shape as we move into August.

"Infatuation" bass completed.

A very heavy song that is made heavier as each new instrument is recorded for it. "Infatuation" is pretty loud and imposing when performed live and it is living up to its reputation as we record the studio version. Relentless drums, thundering bass...then in several weeks we'll be adding Joe's guitars when it comes up on the schedule? This song will crush everything in its path.

Bass attack.

This past week was spent re-recording basslines for several songs and doing the post work on them. Only a week to go before we begin recording Joe's guitars! While the bass for the entire album won't be done by the time we begin Joe's guitars, at the very least there should be 7-9 songs ready for his guitars to be recorded to.

Bass for "History" re-recorded.

Sometimes, things go well and other times you think they go well and upon reflection, there's just something not quite achieved that you were striving for.  That was the case here, as there had been some solid bass recorded around a week ago for this song, but for whatever reason, upon revisiting it, it just didn't feel right.

No point in forcing the issue, just re-record it, right?  That is just what we did.  In its place, is exactly what we're looking for in tone and note duration.  The feel of the song, if you will.

"Apparition" bass post work completed.

This song is shaping up nicely.  It's starting to sound like something recorded in or around 1980.  This is a very good thing to recognize.

Lots of post work for the song to get it to sit just right, but as always, the patience and time have proved fruitful and absolutely worth the effort.

Bass for "Wasteland" recorded.

Of course I'm going to find something positive and out of this world to say about every song we record.  If we as a band didn't feel that way about every song, then we should be doing something else.

"Wasteland" just sounds remarkable.  Another short, very much to the point kind of song for us.  The piano really drives the song and the bass is complementing it quite well at this point.  We really can't wait until this song has the guitar and vocals recorded and mixed in.

Bass for "BTSSNY" recorded.

Well, here's another day gone with another bass line done.  This song is one that really brings some different kind of emotion out of me when we perform it live.  I can't really describe the exact emotion; it just comes from a different place.  Perhaps it's a recollection, a nostalgia, something sentimental to me -- I can't place it, I really can't.  All I know is it's an emotion I hope never becomes lost.  Its value to me is irreplaceable.

Bass for "Change Your Mind" recorded.

Productivity rules.  While tweaking sound for what seemed like an eternity -- as if anyone really knows what eternity feels like as it is currently going on -- I was able to capture the feel we were searching for in the bass sound today for this particular song.  Once that was done, it took 15 minutes to record the bass for the entire song.  

Post work was also started and finished on this song today as well.  On to the next song...

Bass for "Apparition" recorded.

Today, we were able to get the bass recorded for "Apparition" and it sounds very, very good.  I'm glad with our updated studio gear we're able to get more of the intended sound recorded than before.

A Bleachers song covered by Lotte Kestner.

This is some interesting news to bring to you: Anna-Lynne Williams, of Trespassers William has recently recorded a cover version of "Stolen" from our album Conjure.

She has been recording songs as a solo artist for some time now under the moniker Lotte Kestner.  Her myspace page -- which at the time of this writing, features "Stolen" as the first song in her song list -- can be found here.

Ms. Williams possesses a remarkable gift in the world of music: A distinct voice and vision.  She is rivaled perhaps only by Chan Marshall and Nina Simone as someone who can take another person's song and place their personal stamp on it.  This is what I felt upon first hearing Ms. Williams' recording of "Stolen".  Please visit her site and check out her interpretation of the song.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

"When You Lose"

Piano and bass guitar were worked out for "When You Lose" this morning and recorded during the afternoon.  All the post work was completed later, with the session going relatively late into the evening.  This song has come together very fast; hopefully that quick start will act as a harbinger of good things to come.

"City Song" post drum work completed.

"City Song" is finished (the drums, anyway) and it's been a crazy six weeks.  I would have never imagined some of the post production tools we have now would allow us to get this deep into the recordings this fast.

Now we can get started on the other instrumentation.  At this rate, we are on schedule to get this album out and in your hands before this year is over.  While that may seem like a long time, it will be here before you know it.

"City Song" up on the boards.

Our 15th and final song for our recording sessions, "City Song," has had its drums recorded over the weekend and it is now getting some post work done.

Getting to this point in the recordings ahead of July, it really is a testament to the dedication and truly hard work put forth by everyone involved.  If this can get finished up during the week -- I anticipate this song will take some time to work on -- perhaps we can begin recording/post work on some of the other instruments.

"Apparition" drum post work completed.

We recorded this one what seems like an eternity ago (really, it's been maybe three weeks) and after the whirlwind recording of "City Song" yesterday, we got a chance to put "Apparition" up on the board and begin drum post work on it late last night.  Well, that got finished just a little while ago, which means the only song left to do any serious drum post work on is "City Song" which should begin on Tuesday night.

"City Song" drums recorded today; band rejoices.

In recording drums for "City Song" today, we did something we couldn't have dreamed possible at the beginning of the year: Record drums for fifteen songs in five weeks.  Add to that the drum post work, which right now stands at 13/15 finished -- you wouldn't want to know the work this entails -- and we are really making strong headway into this album.

"Familiar" drum post work completed.

Today, the drums were finalized for "Familiar," which is a good thing heading into tomorrow.  Because tomorrow will be the day we will record drums for "City Song," the 15th and final song we will be working on in the sessions for this new album.

"Reinforcements" completed, M-Tron installed.

Today was a day of feeling just completely worn out.  But you've got to keep the momentum going forward any way possible.  With that said, "Reinforcements" which was just recorded yesterday, had its drum post work started and finished up today.  That one came together very nicely.

Oh and to bring about a change of pace, the beloved M-Tron Pro was installed today, which came all the way from the UK this past week.  Initial testing showed it is working well.  Perhaps tomorrow we'll get an opportunity to run it through the controller and amplifier for a while.

"Reinforcements" recorded, "Wide Awake" completed.

A song that has been percolating in our brains for some time -- let's just call it "Reinforcements" for now -- had finally gotten fleshed out a few months ago and it's become a song we all really enjoy rehearsing and performing live.  Naturally, we've decided it is something we should record.  Fast forward to today and David has come through on drums once again, bringing everything he's got to the song.  It took a few more takes than usual, but we ended up with some crackling drums as a result.  

"Wide Awake," drums for which were recorded just the other day, is now finished in terms of its post drum work.  This is what happens when you work really, really hard and sometimes fall asleep in the studio because you are too tired to leave.  But the results are worth it all.

"I Swear, I Swear," "Wasteland" drums complete.

David had to work and run errands today, which meant lots of post work on the recordings could get done.

"I Swear, I Swear" saw its drums completed today, while "Wasteland" was started and finished with its post work on the drums today as well.

Very soon, we will be able to get started on the other instruments, which we all look forward to.

"Familiar," "Wide Awake" drums recorded.

David came over early this morning and knocked out "Familiar" and "Wide Awake" on drums.

"Familiar" is a song we have opened a number of our more recent shows with and it could very easily lead off our new album, but we have other ideas up our sleeve in that regard.

"Wide Awake" is a raw burst of energy that was written scarcely a month ago.  The song just explodes with emotion and power.  Very captivating to us.  This song is so new, it was not even in the discussion stages for the album yet now it bears strong consideration.  

More post work was finished on the drums for "I Swear, I Swear" as well.

"I Swear, I Swear" on the board.

Today, a very interesting little song called, "I Swear, I Swear" will be up on the boards getting some work done on the drum recordings we made for it yesterday.  Another incredible effort from David on drums on this song.

We are getting closer and closer to getting all drums recorded and all the post work done on them.  We now stand at 11 out of 15 songs recorded (remember, just the drums) and the post work stands at 8 out of those 11.  If this song gets finished later tonight, that will give us 9 out of 11 out of 15, if that makes any sense.  Basically, we are moving at a very accelerated, inspired rate of speed.

"I Swear, I Swear" drums recorded.

This has been a busy day.  Drum post work was completed for "Change Your Mind" this evening and we were able to corral David into the studio to lay down the drums for a terrific new song entitled, "I Swear, I Swear," which we've gotten some great response for from a number of people.

It took several takes, as there are a great number of changes in the song that are quite abrupt (just in relation to the drums), but in the end, David handled it in superb fashion and we've got yet another song with some staggeringly good drums.

"New Dub" drum post work completed.

Man oh man.  This song isn't very long -- it's a little over two and a half minutes -- but these drums are as intense as the surface of the sun, it seems.  Anyway, the post work for the drums of "New Dub" is finally complete and sounding like a drummer possessed.  David's work continues to impress and seemingly get better and better the further we go.

"Change Your Mind" drums recorded.

Oh, this is a good one.  Tonight, we had some time scheduled for David to come into the studio to record drums for a song called "Change Your Mind," which recalls so many good memories of a different time.  A time none of us were even alive for yet.  Surely, that statement should not make any sense, but really, it does.

"BTSSNY" drum post work completed.

These drums just don't stop sounding incredibly strong, efficient, powerful, economical.  The balance in a song like this just teeters on the brink of too much and too little all at once.  So much space exists between notes, yet each note is primal and powerful when they speak.  It's quite a thing to marvel at, from an engineering standpoint.  

Well, "BTSSNY" is now complete for its drum work.  Time to move on to the next one.

Drums recorded for a new, fast song.

There is a very fast, quick moving song we've written which we are quite fond of.  It's believed to bear the title, "Curious Goods" but I am unsure if Joe has completely set the title in stone yet.

Regardless, it currently owns the fastest BPM of the songs we've begun recordings on thus far.  Hence our reference to it as being a new, fast song.

Again, we are dealing with some huge drums from David on this song.  What we've recorded is just incredibly intricate, detailed and rich in sound.  It's like a damn fine cup of coffee, except it's going to scald and burn your mouth if you're not careful with it.

"Infatuation" drums completed.

Tonight, the final work on the drums for "Infatuation" was completed.  This song is going to sound incredibly powerful once we've added all the other instruments.

"BTSSNY" drums recorded.

OK, we don't have a name for this song we love very much.  Our working title within the band for the purpose of identification, is simply, "BTSSNY." Don't ask...

David came over for his Saturday morning session and within a few takes we had the drums captured exactly how we wanted them.  This song has become a signature song, well, at least for us when we play it live.  We never can tell what everyone else thinks of it.  All we know is, the song just unites us towards the end of our set, if any sense can be made of that.

Final drum post work on this song should take place over the next few days.

"Wasteland" drums recorded.

Tonight was a success, David came in and we got his drums recorded for "Wasteland" which is a song that has come together for us in the last few months.

It's been kicking around at a few of the shows we've done in the recent past, but the shape of the song and the drums themselves have finally emerged fully formed, ready for us to record for this new album.

We are all very fond of this song, but we like them all very much, so I guess that doesn't reveal very much.  This song is very piano driven.  Is there such a thing as a piano lick?  If so, this song may possess just such a thing.  I'm really not very good with the nomenclature of it all.

"Infatuation" drums on the board.

Alright, so we have this little song called "Infatuation," right?  Well, it's not so little, it's actually really, really huge sounding.  

It makes sense to record something in a bold way if it demands it.  David's drums are something one doesn't often come across in this world.  The work he does demands to be recorded boldly.

So here we are, having recorded some bold drums and the finished work on them tonight is representative of what he does.  Well, the drums aren't completely finished, but very, very close.  More on this over the weekend.