At our Split-Rail (Patrick and Steve acoustic) show tonight the PA blew up after our first song. For a few weeks we had been discussing trying to do a show with no PA just to see how it sounds.  We decided this was the perfect opportunity.

It was really one of the better things we have tried out. There is something quite liberating about not being beholden to the sound changing beast that is most PA systems. No cheap mics or worn out speakers to color the sound of our voices, no poorly designed pick ups to remove all life from our guitar tones. It was awesome and I think we'll be doing it again soon.

Everyone should try it at least once. I'm just sayin'

Started recording two new songs today. Actually banged out most of the basic tracks pretty quickly. This leaves us with 17 of the 20 songs that we have on tap recorded. Thats quite a few songs to have in the can. Maybe we'll actually be able to squeeze an album out of it this time around.

Show at Frog this past week was pretty great too. We had about as much fun as we can ever expect to. Thanks so much to everyone who comes out to see the show, we really do love playing for you guys.

Got some more work done with Mr. Brent Spiegel at the recording studio. At this point we are further along in the process then we have been before so that is nice. But our world doesn't stop spinning just because we're working on the damn record. Not by a long shot.


Here are some things you will be seeing more of in the near future at Pennyjar shows:

George Jones
Banjo
Patrick on Harmonica
Butch
Empty Space on Stage
Lucero

So in day two at the Studio we managed to get the remaining tracks down. Drums and Bass are now done for:

Take it Away
Devil I Know
Wasting Time
How Ya Got 'Em

So the foundation is laid and now the rest of the work has to get wrapped up. This is the longest part of the process. Yee-haw.

So we put in some hours in at ye olde studio today. We laid down Drum tracks ( and some Bass tracks) for a few songs:

Want You Around
Rooster
California
I'll Be Sorry
Good Year
Dress
Caught in the Switches
Left This Town
Cryin' Drunk
Arms Length
Alleys

Hopefully tomorrow we'll get started on these ones:

How Ya Got 'Em
Take it Away
Devil I Know
Wasting Time

And maybe some other stuff to. Hard to say. That should give us a pretty good pool of songs to choose from for an album right? Start lobbying for your favorites now.

It was a very productive day for us and I anticipate tomorrow will be the same. Also we are enjoying ourselves, thanks for asking.

cheers,

- Da Jar

Once again we will try our had at actually recording album 2. Good god I hope it works this time. We are rolling tape starting tomorrow at Fast Trax Studios in SLO with Brent Spiegel. When Brent was a young lad he was in a band with his brothers that was aptly named "The Spiegel Brothers", they were a straight up country band that did rather well for themselves. Brent also recorded an old band called Omega Red's first album, it was not country at all. Far as i'm concerned this qualifies him to helm our next album. We'll get your progress updates as they happen.

A big beautiful "Thanks" to everyone who made our deut at the Paso Robles Downtown Brew so spectacular. We had a great time up there. Although we should remind you that it is Red Eye Junction that gives away free T-Shirts for starting fights not us so knock that shit off.

Saturdays show is our last show in this first quarter of 2008. We are taking a short break to work up some new tunes, originals and covers, so that y’all will still be suprised at our shows every now and then. We’ll be back at our home base of the Frog and Peach Pub on Tuesday April 15th.

One of the cool things that happened in Paso was a chance meeting with a gentleman named Brent Spiegel. I hadn’t seen Brent in quite sometime but I had been thinking about him lately. You see he produced an album by a band I used to be in called Omega Red, and he recently re-opened his studio. Hhmmmmmm....I’ll let ya fill in the blanks.


- Patrick Pennyjar

So right now we’re kicking down a few doors and tryin to set up shows all over the place. Also looking at putting together a new booking demo in order to help that situation out. Steven had to move out of his house so we lost our near-bar practice space. This should make us somewhat more productive.


- Pennyjar

Howdy all
Well it's been a bit of a break for us here, unless you count the "Oxblood Yellow" shows in December and January. Those weren't really pennyjar shows though, but they were hella fun.

Anyhow, quite a break but we're all set to fix that in the near future here. With shows in Los Osos, Grover Beach and Atascadero we are bringing the Pennyjar love out there to the people. But before that we will be doing one little hometown set this Tuesday Jan 22nd. It is jenny's birthday so we are celebrating here with one set at the Frog and Peach, she picked the set list and naturally it features some of her most harmonica centric tunes. We are doing an early set opening for the Deacons. So get there early and get a few in ya so as to fit the Pennyvibe.

Shortly after that the Pennyjar boys are heading out to Colorado and the freezing temperature with nothing but WhiskeyJackets to keep us warm. We will be bidding farewell to Drag the River while we are out there so naturally it is a somber affair. Wish us well won't ya?


- Da 'Jar

Well it's gonna start with the wet season here soon. i always like it when the rain starts up. Keeps all ya bastards from hanging out on the patio smokin' while we play the night away. Something about a wet night seems to bring everybodys body temperature up on stage. We play harder faster and with more then a hint of desperation. We'll do that Friday December 7th at Sweet Springs Saloon. We're gearing up to bring you the finest SLO Alt.Country availible. Should be good times. Wear clean underwear and some dancin shoes.