PAUL

Ok, it's is getting near the end and that is where things can get a little rough. Yesterday we went to Ross's church here in Paso to record using their grand piano and organ. We recorded piano to "pretty please," "say goodnight," "hotel eyes," and "8^th and Pine." We took a lunch break to good old KFC/A&W and when we returned to record organ (which we were all very excited about) pro tools decided to freeze and cause us problems. After about 3 hours of trouble shooting we finally got it up and running. We then went back to the church and recorded organ to "cast it away," "prisoner song," and one other that I'm forgetting at the moment. Then we took a dinner break and reconvened at 6pm in the apartment for work on the blasted "prisoner song." Prisoner Song is over 6minutes long and we added a Jon solo, a Ross solo, and finally a Kevin solo to the ending. We also add Glockenspiel as well as SK1 and banjo. That song still might need some trumpet more vocals and maybe even a little bit more, just a little bit more. Today Candle is heading down to Lompoc to do some promo pics (hopefully not in the rain). William A. Clark has agreed to take our pictures and we are going to meet up with Randall and have him add some vocals to "let me love you." Candle is also playing three shows in a row real soon. The first is new years eve at the Mormon dance in AG, then the next day an acoustic show at the SLO Clubhouse for a song writer showcase, and then finally on the 2^nd with Sparrows Gate and Lauren Mulderrig and Downtownbrew. Enjoy the rain and get ready for some Candle.

PAUL

Looks like we can finally see the end of recording as we have now started and or finished all the songs.  Yesterday we recorded "keeping my feet on the ground." It is completely done and turned out well. That song is another acoustic guitar driven song, with bass, drums, organ, Kevin vocals, cool Jon harmonies and a great harmonica hook. I'm very pleased with that songs and it is a keeper for the new album. Ross has some working titles for the album which include, "see you sometime," and "let it come." Kevin gets final say on that topic, but will we see what happens with all that. Traven came over yesterday to listen in at the recordings. He also took some outdoor shots of the us just hanging loose. Today is piano day. We are going to record Piano to 7 songs at Ross church here in Paso Robles. We hope to finish up all the instrument adding recording to the songs by tonight, so that we can go to Lompoc tomorrow to take pictures and record with Randall at Certain Sparks. Basically "Prisoner Song" is all that remains for major work left. We need Kelly's Trumpet work for 4 songs. Possibly more fiddle and more female vocals on others. Enjoy funny pictures.

PAUL

Believe or not but today was the sixth day of Candle recording. Time is either going by really fast or really slow, at this point I'm having a tough time telling how much we have done and or have left to do. Well today was a semi-productive day, well a pretty productive day at the least. We recorded drums to, "hotel eyes," "say goodnight," "prisoner song," and "let me love you." By 12:00 pm I left to label and capsule some wine for Sculpterra for this busy Christmas weekend. While I was away, Nolan, Jon and Kevin recorded acoustic guitars for the songs mentioned above, and Jon added bass. Then I returned and we added vocals to "say goodnight," and "let me love you." Patrick and Andrea came by at about 10pm and we played them the best of the best of the recorded songs. We will diffidently have them sing or do something cool for these songs, I also called Randall (of Le Petit Protest) and he is going to record with us for the song "let me love you," next Friday after the Crash Plastic show. Tomorrow I have to work at Sculpterra, but Jon, Ross, and Kevin are going to add lots of instruments to the songs that we recorded. Stay the course because this Candle album we be completed and it is going to sound amazing when it is all said and done. Pictures below…you know the drill.

PAUL

Yesterday was a very good recording day. Jon Wilson came up to Paso from San Luis and recorded his bass parts to, "the lonesome wind," "pretty please," "pennies in a well," "so it goes," and "8^th and pine." Bass certainly adds a lot that much is true. Jon also added some sweet vocal harmonies on "pennies in a well," and "the lonesome wind." Jon's got the country harmonies down well, he can sure belt out the blues. Rachel Spotten stopped by and sang her dialogue section on "the lonesome wind," and added harmonies on "pretty please" as well. Those songs are sounding super full and they are almost complete. We also jammed out Kevin's other new song called "Hotel Eyes." Ross helped Kevin come up with some good chorus chords and we added a break and bridge to that song. Kevin also played us "keeping my feet on the ground," and we are going to record that probably at the beginning of next week. Today I am recording drums to "say goodnight," "let me love you," " hotel eyes," and "prisoner song" then we can add the instruments on top of that. Our goal for the weekend is to complete "say goodnight," "prisoner song," "hotel eyes," and  "santa cruz," by Sunday. I am very pleased with our progress and it looks like we will have about 12 or 13 songs to choose to put on this new candle album. The songs are turning out great, and so far our we have not had any major set back or equipment problems.

PAUL

Fiddle! We recorded Fiddle last night with Zach Angels and it added a lot to our Candle recordings. Zach and I went to Jr. High at NCCS together and he also grew up in the back roads of Paso Robles together as well. We used to ride ATVs in the river bed and shot BBs at little innocent critters. Those were the days. So anyway, I called him yesterday and he came over last night and recorded Fiddle to "Pennies In A Well," "The Lonesome Wind," and a brand new song called "8^th And Pine." He is also planning on coming back next Wednesday to add more Fiddle for the next batch of recordings, and he is going to play with Candle at Downtown Brew on January 2^nd. Yesterday day we finished up "Pennies In A Well," then we started another new one now called "So It Goes." That song is a predominately acoustic driven darky/folky number with an enormous ending.  Then we worked on "Band of Horses Song," now called "Cast it Away." Ross and David did some well needed OOHs and AHHs in that one and each one  of them (including Kevin) added a different guitar part to the song. Also, yesterday we went to Rachel's Christmas Party, where we sang Christmas Carols and made big time fools of ourselves once again. Today we are going to add lap-steel to "8^th and Pine" and probably go to the Major's home for some Piano and Cello recordings. Enjoy the photos!