here are some cool highlights from the past few weeks...enjoy

I found myself on stage over in fairfax when I had intended on being a fly on the wall to see Oona and Dave play...

To bring you up close and personal to whats already happened here is my alternate ego Mr. Smalltext;
"Nick (bass), Dave (drums/producer), and Matthew (singer/songwriter/guitar-slinger) went up to Caspar for a week and came back with photos and recordings (exclusive update!!! they have video as well, however Matthew is being a dick and keeping it really close to his chest...maybe we'll see something pop up soon).
Since their trip to Old School Studios, Dave and Matthew have been plugging away at this and that.  Last weekend Nick visited the studio in Oakland and helped track one of the last two songs to be recorded "In the Place of You."

Thanks Mr. Smalltext...brilliant report

For those guitar geeks out there who care what gear I'm using on the record, I'm doing my best to keep track...everything is so spontaneous I've been having a little trouble keeping it all straight....so, as I try and remember if it was a Twin, vintage deluxe reverb, re-issue deluxe reverb, vintage princeton, or some combination of the lot...you can sit tight for another couple of days....
Oh, and for everyone who knows about that Bill Nash custom guitar I have, it's sprinkled all over the record...so versatile.

shit, I'm late for the studio, I'll catch up later

MJH

As the pictures suggest; I am back, and it was quite incredible on many different fronts.
For those of you who don't know, I went up to Caspar (a tad north of Mendocino) to "Old School" studios...owned and engineered by Calvin Turnbull. 
My band for the week was Dave Tweedie (drums/producer-man) and Nick Tost (bottom end). 
I'm calling this my introduction to the whole process because up until now, I haven't had a positive view on the 'recording process' (If you're asking why? I'm not going into it, because it don't matter).
Our days were from noon till 3am. 
I would wake up, start coffee and head out to the back porch, enjoy the view and envision the day ahead.  I would then step off the back deck and rip a few golf balls out over the field and over the trees in the distance...I was focused and ready to go.
This was not a project that was rehearsed for a month straight so we could just go in and bust each tune right away...although Dave and I had begun to get a feel for what my tunes needed (arrangement, parts, more tone, less..etc.) it was by no means charted out on a piece of graph paper...it was a discovery. 
And that was the only (and perfect) way to do it.
The studio was a heaven.  I've never felt so excited to create. 
Nick, Dave, and Calvin all had the most perfect connection, it was a joy to watch these guys realize that they were at the same shows, and knew the same people, and had similar stories of trouble and mischief as kids...what a trip (I don't think I've laughed so hard in a really really long time).

As I am now lost in the memories, I am also lost in my blog....

An update of where I stand now:
Dave and I have been meeting up once or twice a week, laying down some here some there.  Two more tunes will be recorded....along with more instrumentation on the existing tracks we cut up at Old School.
I haven't set a release date yet, and if I do I promise ya'll will be the first to know...

I can't wait to show this off to everyone
I can't wait to get started on my second attempt, I've already started writing it....

Hope all is well with you,
Pretty soon here you'll be able to hand me off to your friends, "check this out"

MJH

Before saying 'hello' I have decided to start off this email with more of a fashion statement (of sorts);
I love Thanksgiving, but not just the food, the day resembles a starting line for clothes you can now be justified in wearing...you all must know I am a scarf guy/pea-coat/warm stuff man...My fashion sense is now acceptable (made possible by my/our sponsor "the season").

Hello! and happy holidays

I have a few things to bring to attention;
First, I have a very exciting show planned for you at the start of the new year.  I will be opening for The Tommy Castro Band at Blake's In Berkeley on January 10th.  Tickets are now on sale here (http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=blakestel&referral_id=blakes) I should actually say; they have been, and I've waited a little too long on getting this 'btw' (stands for 'by the way' for all of those who don't own BlackBerry's and iphones) out because I need pre-sales...and you are the ones that help me get that!
Now because this will be advertised everywhere (kfog, the bone, and the side of milk cartons) you should get you tickets.  I've got an all-star band assembled and am ready to throw the tone down! 
Hope you grab your pre-sales and put them in your stockings (if you do that sort of thing).  If you don't, nail them to you calendar.
Can't wait to see you there!

Second on the list for discussion; I have literally started the process for the record!
Yes that's right people you will be able to buy my cd which will NOT be called "only for my bitches" in the near future.
I have the perfect partner in crime, Dave Tweedie who has been laying the road out in front of me.  I'll go into the finer details later on, however for now I will say I just booked a week out in beautiful Casper (North of Mendocino) in late January.  I will have cameras on site as well as video to document the session, and will most likely put a video together entitled something like "the making of..." (wow i'm off to an original start haha). 
Be excited, be very excited....I will not let you down. 

Lastly I would like to wish all of you a great holiday season, and why don't we talk about your details/doings/ and wine choices at the show on Jan. 10th...

Be well, TONE, and thanks for getting to the end of this....there are exciting times to come

Matthew Hansen

PS:  If you've got people you want to forward this too, don't be afraid...the FBI won't show up upon your choice to get your friends involved in my goings on.


look me up on facebook with this email address matthewjhansen@gmail.com
look me up on myspace www.myspace.com/mjhansen

just got a phone call from one of my heros of radio; Steven Seaweed....
Nicest dude around...he's having me over at the bone for a noontime cup of tea and crackers....OH, And I'll be on the air on "hey mom, I'm on the Bone!"
I'll be playing some of my favorite songs, and get to shoot the shit with the Weed Man....how cool is that?  pretty fucking cool if you ask me....Those guys/gals from the bone are so damn supportive...Love you all!

And if any of you were wondering, I'll be playing Sailing Rocker during my set of music....

Can't wait to be inside your radio!

And thanks to all at the bone, I listen everyday

TONE
MJH

For as long as I can remember I've looked in the mirror every morning and seen a man looking back wearing an "I'm from the future" t-shirt (XXXL) lush with stains, complete with thick glasses, camo shorts, and 3/4 length socks.
You may ask why?  Why the hell would you see that?

The answer is simple, i've always wanted to be a computer nerd and last night I made a very small step in the 'right' direction.  I am now using Aston (if you don't know what that is, you should look it up and you will too be turned to the "big gulp" drinking, order out (dominos) kind of person.  I'm excited because it's now really simple, before (probably right after I had seen 'hackers' for the first time) I tried to use a similar application and completely destroyed my computer....oops
Years later, a wanna-be, poser of a computer nerd like me can feel like he is a distant cousin of (the great...and very real) Trinity.

So, until I learn C+++, flash and other ridiculous 'real nerd/genius' languages....three cheers for Aston and those who spend hours making new skins that look and act really freakin cool.

i'm also writing hits

MjH

I only have a second to put this down....

for the past week I have been obsessing over a tune that in it's most basic sense is about drowning.  I came across this idea by accident, but once I started to unflold the idea, I became absolutly surrounded, I was so intrigued.  I realized that instead of haveing the tune explain more than just the physical, real feeling of drowning, I discarded any other meanings or references all together...it's only about drowning.

Now for the part that freaks me out...Ever since I started writing this tune, I've been having the worst, most vivid nightmares i've ever had. 
I've been trying to find a new way to look at songwriting, but if this is the answer, I could almost throw it away all together.  Don't misinterperate what I said ealier, I'm having dreams that will wake me up in sweat and fear, and then bring me back in for more. 

To wrap this up:  I don't know how I feel about this, however, when this tune is finished and you hear it...appreciate the backstory, and know this song has scared the hell out of me, and i'm not going to play it like I love it, I'm going to play it like I hate it.

Hope to see you all soon

Tone
MjH

You want to know how things are?  Really?

I need a job, yea one that pays hourly...got any leads? 

I need a record!  Radio is showing interest...yea seriously....so if anyone has 10 grand layin around for me to use towards a cd, I'll take you out for a drink and we'll call it even.  And don't make any jokes about 're-packaging' "USHER : MY WAY" and selling that under my name...i know, I know we've got the same sound, but please I want to make something original.

I think someone needs to start a fan site...www.mjhandsome.org (you can be more original with the url, just wanted to get you started in the right direction).  I really think that would take me to the next level in a musical kind of way (not a 'big headed artist' way at all).  think about it...i know it would make me feel better.

Please!  if you have any pictures of what my next hair 'style' should be post it somewhere (maybe the fan site that doesn't exist yet??)  I'm ready for a change!

Hope all is well out there people,

meanwhile

MjH