So we've recorded a five-song EP. Contents: "I Got a Lot of Poverty," "We're an Un-American Band," "Best Days," "I'm Gonna Be a Mess," and "New Haven Is Where the Action Is." It took longer than we'd expected, or hoped -- three of us moved into new digs in the middle of recording, and then Jef bought a house. He's been very good to us, though, squeezing us into his studio despite his hectic schedule... which will involve, very soon, packing up that very studio and moving it to his new house. Anyway, we'll be mixing shortly, then hemming and hawing over artwork and track order. (Incidentally... anyone have any ideas for cover art??)
Martin and I (along with Martin's wife Christine and our man Jay) have moved into a rented house in East Rock. The basement, which used to be a speakeasy and still contains a scuffed-up old bar, is our new practice space. And, man... after renting a practice space (same time every week!) for so long, this is just great. Watch us get more productive.
Speaking of which, during practice over the weekend, Tom Dans of the Furors dropped by (Derek Holcomb's house is up the street) with an unopened copy of the Furors' 1986 LP Completely Furious... just because I'd mentioned to him in passing, at a Furors show the night before, that my old copy skipped. The sweetest gesture... and really an honor to have Tom dropping in on Attempt practice. Wow.
Mike, as some of you maybe know, has been unable to play with us since about the time he recorded his bass parts on our EP. My friend, former roommate, former bandmate and current neighbor, the multi-instrumentalist, thinker and all-around cool individual Alex Larson has offered to step in on bass. Some of you know Alex as the bass player from the sadly defunct instrumental space-rock band Noisette (from Danbury and New Haven), with whom the Attempt gigged in the spring of '03. Others of you remember him as the guy who played guitar alongside me in the Blowout! (not to self-aggrandize, but still, as far as I'm concerned, one of the great lost punk rock bands). Others will recognize him from making synth sounds with Fay Rey. Others will recognize him just because. Alex came around the corner to our house, played with us twice this weekend, and got it immediately. We're really happy to be playing with him... looking forward to playing out again.