We met the world's biggest dog, and other fun beings, while we were in Berkeley for Halloween.

It was awesome.

Read a short blurbity thing about our big trip to play two songs right here.

Nighty night.

Because we LOVE LOVE LOVE to remind you about stuff...



We hope to see you there.

We just wanted to let you know that we wrote a new song tonight and we think you are going to like it.

Also, we're mixing the record.

And we're playing in Berkeley on Halloween.

And we love you a lot.

Thanks for being you.

We're out of hiatus for a brief moment. Here's what we're doing this month (so far):

Saturday, October 17, 2009

BLUNDERBUSST
at the Broken Spoke (Reno)

with Nick Ramirez

10 pm
21+
$5

and

Tonight, Jen is scheduled to lay down the last of the lead vocal tracks, and then it's just auxiliary instruments, backing vocals, and mixing between us and the finish line.

To be more specific:

TRACKING STATUS

roll yr own
- pedal steel guitar

smashed
- done

choosing sides
- done

flustered
- backwards masking on "shake" (need 4-track)

art of war
- done

the queen's dreams
- trumpet
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- done

you get one
- done

drop to drown
- video

your checkmate's a loner
- vocals
- bells

whiskey vs wine
- done

OVERALL ALBUM TASKS
- backing vocals
- mix
- artwork
- master
- press
- release
- release party!

Yes, ladies and gentleman, we are completely finished tracking drums and guitars for the BLUNDERBUSST album!!! What can we say, besides that we are excited and pleased and satisfied and ready to finish up the vocals and the extras and the mixing and be done!

(Oh, by the way, we uploaded a new live track to our MySpace player: art of war / flustered (live) was recorded in the backyard at DogH20 Studios in April 2009. DogH20 is releasing a compilation of songs performed by all the bands who played the same anniversary/birthday extravaganza - more info on that when they release it - but we thought you'd like to get a taste of ours now. Enjoy!)

TRACKING STATUS

roll yr own
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- Eric Foreman backup vocals (scheduled for 6-2-09)
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

smashed
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- big muff guitar overdub on second half
- new cymbal stabs
- "go!"s

choosing sides
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

flustered
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backwards masking on "shake" (Jen to repossess 4-track tape machine, again)

under cover of
- will not be on the album (possible future newsletter subscriber-only release)

art of war
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backing vocals (shouts on "don't talk" and "night")

the queen's dreams
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- acoustic guitar overdub on bridge
- electric guitar overdub on chorus
- trumpet (in progress)
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- punch up vocals in choruses and outro
- add low end in the bridge: no

you get one
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

drop to drown
- drums
- guitars
- guitar harmonics on chorus
- vocals
- video

your checkmate's a loner
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- that fucking bell part

whiskey vs wine
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

OVERALL ALBUM TASKS
- backing vocals
- mix
- artwork
- master
- press
- release
- release party!

Guess that makes her "Basser."

Check out NANCY PLAYS NURSE and then come see them in action at the last HARDCOURTYARD show (this saturday):

Our man Jim Gustafson shot some video of our performance outside the Carson Mall yesterday. Check it out (and click the HD button for higher quality video)!

We were waylaid by life stuff for about a month there. We're back on schedule now.

roll yr own
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- Eric Foreman backup vocals (scheduled for 6-2-09)
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

smashed
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- big muff guitar overdub on second half
- new cymbal stabs
- "go!"s

choosing sides
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

flustered
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backwards masking on "shake" (Jen to repossess 4-track tape machine, again)

under cover of
- rehearsal/arrangement session with Vince (scheduled for 5-30-09)
- click and scratch tracks
- drums
- bass
- guitars
- vocals
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)
- OR scrap?

art of war
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backing vocals (shouts on "don't talk" and "night")

the queen's dreams
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- acoustic guitar overdub on bridge
- electric guitar overdub on chorus
- trumpet (Vince to schedule)
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- punch up vocals in choruses and outro
- add low end in the bridge: no

you get one
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

drop to drown
- drums
- guitars
- guitar harmonics on chorus
- vocals
- video

your checkmate's a loner
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- that fucking bell part

whiskey vs wine
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

OVERALL ALBUM TASKS
- backing vocals
- mix
- artwork
- master
- press
- release
- release party!

We're still tracking along, here...

roll yr own
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- Eric Foreman backup vocals (scheduled for 6-2-09)
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

smashed
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- big muff guitar overdub on second half
- new cymbal stabs
- "go!"s

choosing sides
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

flustered
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backwards masking on "shake" (Jen to find 4-track tape machine)

under cover of
- rehearsal/arrangement session with Vince (scheduled for 5-30-09)
- click and scratch tracks
- drums
- bass
- guitars
- vocals
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

art of war
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backing vocals (shouts on "don't talk" and "night")

the queen's dreams
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- acoustic guitar overdub on bridge
- electric guitar overdub on chorus
- trumpet (Vince to schedule)
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- punch up vocals in choruses and outro
- add low end in the bridge: no

you get one
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

drop to drown
- drums
- guitars
- guitar harmonics on chorus
- vocals
- video

your checkmate's a loner
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- bells

whiskey vs wine (NOT TRACKED)
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

OVERALL ALBUM TASKS
- listen to board mixes and decide on backing vocals (guitarer and the sister)
- mix
- artwork
- master
- press
- release
- release party!

Six-hour mystery session scheduled for 6-27-09. I wonder what we'll complete then...

If you're following our studio progress, get a load of all the things we've crossed off!

roll yr own
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- Eric Foreman backup vocals (scheduled for 6-2-09)
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

smashed
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- big muff guitar overdub on second half
- new cymbal stabs
- "go!"s

choosing sides
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

flustered
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backwards masking on "shake" (Jen to find 4-track tape machine)

under cover of (NOT TRACKED)
- rehearsal/arrangement session with Vince (scheduled for 5-30-09)
- drums
- bass
- guitars
- vocals
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

art of war
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- backing vocals (shouts on "don't talk" and "night")

the queen's dreams
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- acoustic guitar overdub on bridge
- electric guitar overdub on chorus
- trumpet (Vince to schedule)
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- punch up vocals in choruses and outro
- add low end in the bridge: no

you get one
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

drop to drown
- drums
- guitars
- guitar harmonics on chorus
- vocals (scheduled for 6-16-09 // maybe video too?)

your checkmate's a loner (NOT TRACKED)
- drums
- guitars
- vocals
- bells

whiskey vs wine (NOT TRACKED)
- drums
- guitars
- vocals

OVERALL ALBUM TASKS
- listen to board mixes and decide on backing vocals (guitarer and the sister)
- mix
- artwork
- master
- press
- release
- book release party!

We are really loving the way it sounds; we think you're going to enjoy it, too.

Now we have a plan! Here's what's up with what:

[edit 5-19-09]

roll yr own
- Eric Foreman backup vocals (scheduled for 6-2-09)
- pedal steel guitar (Vince to schedule)

smashed
- big muff guitar overdub on second half
- new cymbal stabs
- "go!"s

choosing sides
- done! (unless we decide to add some backing vocals)

flustered
- backwards masking on "shake" (Jen to find 4-track tape machine)

under cover of (NOT TRACKED)
- rehearsal/arrangement session with Vince (scheduled for 5-30-09)

art of war
- backing vocals (shouts on "don't talk" and "night")

the queen's dreams
- acoustic guitar overdub on bridge
- electric guitar overdub on chorus
- trumpet (Vince to schedule)
- "green" reverb/delay

pippi long stalking
- punch up vocals in choruses and outro
- add low end in the bridge

you get one
- done! (unless we decide to add some backing vocals)

drop to drown
- guitar harmonics on chorus
- vocals (postponed due to lingering questions regarding completion of the video)

your checkmate's a loner (NOT TRACKED)
- drums (scheduled for 5-31-09)
- guitars
- vocals
- bells

whiskey vs wine (NOT TRACKED)
- drums (scheduled for 5-31-09)
- guitars
- vocals

And that's where we are now! Our goal is to have the tracking completed by 7-1-09. Still not sure how we're going to release it or what we're going to name it. Plus we will still have to mix it and sequence it. This baby is a long time coming... (four years at this point.) Woo!

No, you're right. We've neglected our duties as your broad band and haven't really been keeping you abreast (ha!) of the happenings in Studio G.

The sessions have been so spread out over the past year that even we weren't really sure how we were doing.

As of last night, though, the basic drum, guitar, and vocal tracks for eight of the 12 songs are done done done. Only the fun stuff is left: guitar overdubs, backing vocals, cymbal stabs, shakers, bells, what-have-you. And then, mixing.

If you are keeping score, those eight songs are:

choosing sides
art of war
flustered
roll yr own
you get one
smashed
the queen's dreams
pippi long stalking

After we finished tracking last night, the three of us (Drumist, Guitarer, and Producist/Engineerer) listened to everything we've done so far. We haven't been able to do this all together yet, and when we were done, we looked at each and said, "Holy crap. We are making a great record."

Next week, we are scheduled to track vocals for drop to drown, so long as Videographist can come capture his footage (we are hoping the video plan is soon realized, too!).

Then, we return to tracking drums and guitars for:

your checkmate's a loner
under cover of
whiskey vs wine

At least, we think so. We are contemplating axing some of those.

Last year, Ryan Stark expressed an interest in Slander House releasing this record, but we still haven't been able to make a date to talk about it. No matter what, though, a 2009 release looks promising, even if we have to release it ourselves!

Now, if we could only agree on what to name it...

Last night was dope. Read Jen's personal account here. (If you tried to read it earlier today, be advised some idiot set the post to "preferred list only." That is now fixed.)

Also, enjoy these lo-fo videos "shot" by our friend Chris Hunter. The first is art of war and flustered, and we meant them. The second is the lighting of Jen's birthday cake (thanks again to Nancy Plays Nurse and Jessica, who did the hard part.) and singing of happy birthday.

There are also pictures in Jen's personal profile, as well.