Studio Update 1

Hello,

This is the first of what should be any updates from the studio. We arrived at the cottage / studio yesterday and received the tour of the grounds from Johnny B. After taking a boat ride on the lake and scoping out some fishing holes, we returned to land and visited the studio. No work today, just getting unpacked and settled.

Today (Friday) we started pre-production / rehearsal. I am actually on break, sitting in the control room of the studio typing this blog. I'm about to do a little fishing, then we will resume rehearsal later this evening.

The studio is fantastic, SSL 4000G, plenty of analogue outboard gear, and plenty of U47's and U87's. There are about 30 guitars here and plenty of amps. I will have pics soon.

The cottage is beautiful. There are stunning views overlooking the lake from all 3 cottages and the studio. The weather is great and the nights are peaceful. Again, pics coming shortly.

Recording

Hello.

I am departing on a voyage to the land of Maple Leafs and Molson, better known as CANADA.
I will be there with the Pat, Kirk and Rodney recording the new Pat Travers album. We will be at a secret location outside Toronto recording through the month of July. Steve Thompson will be producing the album http://www.stevethompsonproducer.com/ . Check his page out, I think you may have heard some music he has worked on. I am excited about this opportunity and hope to make great music, new friends and raise a little hell. I'll blog some throughout the recording process and hopefully have some pics. Until then....keep it between the lines!

The Sound Of Madness

Hello.

I wanted to express my excitement and joy to the Blogosphere about the new Shinedown record "The Sound Of Madness". In my opinion, this is the band's best album to date. I have been listening to the album non-stop since last week when I purchased it.

As some of you know, I toured with Shinedown in early 2005 with No Address. I became friends with the guys and still stay in contact with Barry Kerch (drummer). Barry kept me posted about the album while the band was in L.A. recording, and he had told me that he thought this was the bands best album as well. Barry my friend, I could not agree with you more.

Shinedown has gone through some changes as far as band members since I toured with them. I do not think this has affected Brent's ability to write great songs with beautiful melodies and lyrics.

Good job guys.

6/21/2008 - AWESOME BIKER NIGHTS

6/21/2008 - Awesome Biker Nights - Sioux City, Iowa

This day was "officially" the longest day of the year, (a.k.a. Summer Solstice).

It sure did feel like it to me. Here is my recap of the day.

3:45 a.m. ET - Awake and depart for airport.

6:00 a.m. ET - Depart Jacksonville to Houston.

7:17 a.m. CT - arrive Houston
9:15 a.m. CT - depart Houston

11:19 a.m. CT - arrive Omaha

11:30 a.m. CT - Meet the band and start driving to Sioux City, Iowa

1:00 p.m. CT - arrive at hotel in Sioux City

2-5 P.m. CT - ****NAP****

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. CT - Soundcheck

8:00 - 9:30 p.m. CT - Showtime

10:30 - 12:00 CT - I watched NIGHTRANGER play.

2:00 a.m. CT - bedtime

The show was awesome just like the title of the concert. I had the opportunity to finally play a set of Ludwig Vistalites. This was a original set from the seventies. I had my tech slap a new set of heads on them and they sounded HUGE!!!!! I will definitely be playing these on tour soon!!!!

NIGHTRANGER was great. Pat is friends with the guys and he went out of his way to introduce myself and Rodney to the band. They were pleasant to hang with and they brought the house down!

Sioux City fans are fantastic! I look forward to coming back to rock again! Maybe next time I can get more sleep....yeah right!!!!

Ponce Inlet 5/22/08

Hello.

I forgot to blog about the last show I played w/ Pat Travers. Sorry. We played a package show with Rick Derringer at the Inlet Harbor in Ponce Inlet, Florida. Rick, Tommy and Charlie are pals of the band and they always put on a great show. The weather was a little damp, but the crowd did not seem to mind. During our set Pat's monitor blew up. But like PT always says "the Beatles didn't have monitors". I think that is a great way to put a positive spin on a negative situation. I'll stick to my in-ear monitors. All in all it was a good show.

If anyone has some pics from the show, please let me know.

I would like to thank the band, Joe Elgin (and his friend who's name I can't remember), Rick Derringer, Tommy Curiale and Charlie Frog.

Studio News

Hello.

I have been diligently working on two albums lately. The first. I have been working with Pat Travers and he is recording a new album this summer. The news is that the songs are coming together and we have a tentative July 1st date to begin working. We are going to be recording the album at a secret location in Canada. I am looking forward to getting started w/ Kirk, Rodney and Pat on what will surely be his best album in many years.

The second album. As you may know, I was in a band called No Address. The singer/songwriter from that band is Ben Lauren. Well Ben is working on his debut solo record and I will be playing drums & various other noise makers on this album. The songs are reminiscent of No Address before the record label made us change. I believe this will be a great record. I will keep ya posted. You can check Ben out here: www.benlauren.blogspot.com

Shows-Updates

Hello,



This is a long overdue blog. Typically I write these blogs after a show, kind of a show review from my perspective. But like I said this one is overdue.

• Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL 4/5/08

This was a show I have been looking forward to for some time fro two reasons.

Reason one. My brother from another mother, best damn roadie alive, king of the late-night get yer ya-ya's out, goofy-footed, Mirada driving, world famous JOHNSON lives on the west coast of Florida and he was coming out. As John describes the venue at Jannus Landin, "that's MY venue." Well, it's not really his, but I'm not gonna argue with him! It was great to spend some long overdue time with the JOHNSONATOR. Some of you might remember John as the only guy to keep me fed, alive and sane on the first No Address tour w/ Shinedown. He is a legend.

Reason two. I played Jannus Landing before as a opener for Crossfade and Seether. I thought it would be cool to go back and headline the venue. There was more debauchery and excitement backstage for the Crossfade, Seether concert, but there was more sanity backstage with Pat. At this point in my life I prefer sanity and responsible partying. Or as I like to say "I take my fun very seriously."

The show was a meteorologists dream. When we were driving in from Orlando we drove through some heavy thunderstorms. When we drove through the Tampa area the skies cleared for us and the sun shined on. As we were sound checking, I could barely see due to the sun blinding me. As the opening act (a S.R.V. tribute band) took the stage, the skies opened and dumped around 1 inch of rain. I believe it rained there entire set. The scary thing was the rain got on Kirk's pedal board. Didn't this just happen at the last gig? But his pedal board survived.

The show went on. My shoes were wet as I took the stage from walking through puddles, and my foot kept slipping off my bass drum pedal during the 1st song. In addition, because the humidity was around 100%, I dropped around 6-7 sticks throughout the show. But in general the show was great. Everyone seemed to have fun despite the wet weather.

It was nice to play the Jannus Landing once again.

Special thanks goes out to John "Johnson" Robinson, Monica Travers, Joe Elgin, Gary Lynn and RodNasty for the truck and trailer.