girder report.
Girder recording session: total success. The rest of the weekend: less successful.
Day 1: Brad and Dan had a gig in NYC, which is how we decided "let's record that weekend too!". The show was kind of a big deal and apparently the promoter was really talking up DJM, so Brad and Dan busted their asses prepping. Also, they were going to do a song or two together. So while Greg and I were working on sounds, Brad and Dan were (literally) getting their act together in the studio lounge. Midway through that, Dan's external HD died, taking Dan's set with it.
The gig was at a warehouse party in the ass end of Brooklyn. Brad was supposed to go on at midnight. We showed up around 10. Four smoky hours later, Brad still hadn't went on, and we were starting to wonder how painful the next morning's recording would be. Then the rookie promoter took him aside and said "sorry, we're not going to be able to fit you in after all". So we can file those guys under "unforgivable douchebags".
Day 2: Time to go to the studio and get started, but Brad's car was missing. Towed! $300 and three hours of surly NYC cops later, we were all at the studio and ready to go.
Halfway into the first real take, my new amp (a THD Univalve, ooh ah) shit the bed. I flew across the country with that thing as a carry-on (along with, you know, a baby and whatnot) only to have it die. Fortunately, I plugged into the Fender Twin that I had been using as a cabinet and it actually sounded better.
Day 3: Smooth sailing(!). We could have used one more day, of course. As we were packing up, Greg said "that was awesome... now someone needs to give you guys $10k so we can make a record right". Ah yes. And ponies for everyone.
So anyway, the basic tracks sound ... fucking amazing. Our tones were great, we were tight, and Mr. Thompson outdid himself on the knobs. I can't wait for this thing to come together.
I should add that the THD guys have been extremely cool about repairing my amp (the power transformer shorted) even though I bought it used and it's out of warranty. I have nothing but good things to say about those guys. Too bad the NYPD wasn't as friendly.
Also. Sign on the door of the impound office: "welcome to redemption".