King Kong Girio

I get a lot of messages asking me what the hell am I doing? As in what have I been doing with my time, as opposed to what the eff are you doing that for?

Here’s the update. Just finished Nicole Christian’s CD. Done. Will be playing upright bass for her CD release show on Sept. 17 at the Bread and Circus (T.O.). The bass wasn’t really part of the musical picture, but as we were getting closer to the end of this project it became clearer that a few low notes would go a long way to grounding it. Here’s hoping.

Just played a show at Lee’s with Prince Perry, this time I was pretending to be the lead guitarist. Ralph Pastore stepped in on Farfisa organ for the first time and it worked out well. We’re in the process of recording 5 new songs which will be done by the end of August.

I finished reading Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa. It was my transit reading and after just getting back from Portugal I felt drawn to take this book off the shelf. K. had read it months and months ago and recommended it, but it took me a three week vacation to light the fire. Or to fire up the sardines.

Now I’m onto John Irving’s Last Night In Twisted River. Trying to get over the 60 page hump. That being the amount of pages it’s taken me to get into it. Again, I hope. But not referring to, as some might think, some kind of sexual act with the printed word. No, no, no.

Radio Kong Aug 1

Here’s the breakdown on this Blog’s playlist.

First up, HARD LUCK WOMAN by Kiss. I grew up loving this band. I don’t have the same affection for their music as I once did, but there are certain moments that I still hold dear. This was on my neighbour’s copy of Rock’n'Roll Over. It was a failed attempt to repeat the monster ballad that Beth was. This record lacked Bob Ezrin’s touch, but I really love the jangle of the 12 string guitars and the brave tom fill before the fade. ha ha

DAYTRIPPER as played by Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66. That loping piano line, the pulsing kick and the charming accented vocals. Lovin the male echoed “I Found Out”. Go guys go! This album features one of the coolest covers. The suits, the attitude. You’d never know by looking at it that inside the sleeve was piece of pure bouncy happiness. Thanks to Chris Rolfe (White Cowbell Oklahoma) for introducing me to it. It changed my life.

SOLDIER off of the Red Light record by The Slackers. This is one of those songs that transcends the genre of reggae and as usual a blend of several things that make up the band. This I have on vinyl only. No idea if it sounds better than the CD. ha. Each Slackers release has at least two songs that completely blow my mind- songwriting wise. They’re always great, of course.

POLEGNALA E TADORA (LOVE SONG). It’s a crime that I’ve never seen (heard) the Bulgarian Women’s Choir live. This was a song that I first heard when I was in college or shortly after. A little hazy. Hypnotizing.

RING OF GOLD by The Melodians. They just played at Harbourfront, some of Sound One were heading to check out their set so I put on some when I got home. Everything is right. Just enough fuzzy for me.

OVER OUR HEADS. I play this to my nine year old when he’s in a funk. Listen to Mr. Brion, he knows what it’s all about. This is off of the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack – which I love dearly. I keep hearing scores for recent films and think – very Jon Brion of them – or better yet, very Brion-esque. What a pretentious fop I am.

IMPOSSIBLE GERMANY. This Wilco track reminds (particularly the guitar figure at the start) reminds my of Ottawa’s Snailhouse. But I enjoy how Tweedy jams the “impossible Germany” lyric into this song. It’s like he snuck some magazines into class is trying to read them without the teacher catching him. And then they go into that Babe Ruth harmony guitar journey.

CARPET CRAWLERS. This phase of my school boy years followed directly after the Kiss daze. If I even mention Genesis K. rolls her eyes. Never successful convincing girls that I was interested in that this was cool. Because it never was. But s–t, it’s still better than a lot of stuff that was going on in the 80’s. Right? Maybe? A tough decade for music all around. Anyway, it won’t happen again. The electric piano gurgles like a babbling brook with the swish of the rushing hi-hats. It’s all water to me, even if the lyrics are all sex.

OPTOMISTIC VOICES. One of my favourites from this musical. Could do without the dialogue right now, but I wanted to hear those fluffy light Andrew Sisters’ vocals floating over the field of Poppies.

Sending off Nicole’s final track for mastering. Good night.

It’s the season to release your art.

First off, The Thundermonks released their Get Fed EP while I was beached in the Algarve. Josiah Michael Bonnet completed his year long journey, Lonely Man. Hear, Comes The Cavalry AND Wool And Howl have just been mastered and are planning their grueling (though absolutely rewarding) struggle to have their genius see the light of day. Can they do it? Stay tuned as we document their descent into DIY marketing insanity.

Which reminds me. Bri-anne Swan had this lovely little review at Amazon.com

“I saw Bri-Anne playing with just one supporting guitarist in a bar in Toronto (a fundraising event for Multiple Sclerosis) and I was captivated by her voice, her personality and the lyrics of her songs. I bought this CD that evening and it is simply beautiful (although a bit surprising at first to hear a backing band). On this evidence Bri-Anne is surely destined for a great career. The songs are mainly very personal but speak for what most have been through in love and life. And all sung in that captivating voice. Not so much variation in tempo, but each track is perfectly crafted. A real “find” – and one I would not have made if I hadn’t been stuck in Canada because of the airspace closure due to volcanic ash.”

But what am I doing right now?

Up to my knees in the muck. I’m working on Nicole Christian’s blues LP, Prince Perry’s EP, Emma-Lee’s demo recordings and foray into rocksteady (what out!), The Cavaliers, The Expos and have begun work on Nich Worby’s LP – where that leads – I dunno, but it’s great so far. No injuries.

And with that I’ll leave you with a live clip of The Bodysnatchers (named after one of my fave films), from the film, Dance Craze filmed in 1981.

Are you familiar with that sucking sound through the front teeth? That was the sound the head piano mover made when he saw our stairs leading to the studio. Within the hour they had it sitting beside the Hammond, lovely and out of tune.
One bill at a time, please.
The piano arrives in time for the Nicole Christian session and the Cavaliers.
A close one.
Yes.
Off on my way to re-arrange things and so my best to tidy up before Luke Nares shows up for his percussion session.

When we arrived in Montreal on Thursday, the first thing we did was load in at Le Petit Campus. The second thing was to walk our butts over to Shwartz’s for some legendary smoke meat. The drive over was a little taxing and most of us felt a little weird after (and I speak for myself) snacking on pretzels and whatnot. I shared a sandwich with Brendan and it was a half portion of perfection. Melt in your mouth topped with mustard. Yowza! Lo(rraine) Muller joined us and we moved on to a coffee shop around the corner form the venue hoping to drink something that would help us feel less full before we had to flop onto the stage. As we ordered we realized that there was going to be live entertainment in the form of a piano/ synth and a very emotive jazz singer. Immediately, everyone started groaning a little (the band that is), Meher put his foot down declaring that he’d walk out if they sing Summertime. I looked over to watch the act for a second and like a heat seeking missile the singer locked eyes with me and was winking and smiling a way that suggested that everything would be alright and perhaps I could get a foot rub out of it if I played my cards right. I blushed, naturally. Following that song, I clapped whole heartedly, to the exasperation of the my colleagues “what are you doing?” “you’ve got to be kidding” or “don’t encourage them.” Feeling no fear, Perry got up and slowly (like he was floating on the current) moved towards the act. When they had completed another Humber Jazz school gem he leaned over and spoke his magic to the singer who looked unsure, but nodded as if she dared not deny someone brave enough to cross the performer/ spectator line – that line moves depending on the venue and in this case, it was about 3 inches from Casio’s plastic chassis. Well, before you could sing out “All Of Me” Perry was in the middle of a honey on your toast duet of Summertime. Meher looked back in horror and Perry smiled and winked at the audience…

First off, happy to say that Winterbeard Records is celebrating landing 2 festivals for Prince Perry this week. No one has attempted to steal a trombone from the studio this week – so far…  Outbred Inlaws have been mastered and off to the presses. Going to send off the Thundermonks Ep to mastering (Benoit) today or tomorrow.

This morning I was doing my walk down Broadview avenue trying to get enough steps in (a few more thousand will do) and then Old Man Bladder rang me up. I hopped the streetcar and walked down from Dundas. Just as I was getting withing peeing distance of the studio there was this guy pissing in the parking lot. Was that all I had to do? Should of thought of it first. Maybe before having 2 cups of tea on my way out the door. tsk tsk

Mixing Hear, Comes The Cavalry this morning. Thinking about panning and that yesterday a nine year old boy was telling me he’d seen Kick Ass the movie this past weekend. A little more inappropriate than urinating in a public parking lot at 8:30 am.

Time to print the vocals to tape.