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Obligatory Recording Progress Update

johnv — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:45:03 +0000

When it’s good, the recording process is one of experimentation, thought, trial-and-error, and work. All these things combine to make recording a creative endeavor, different from going in and playing songs like you did in rehearsal. Working on this record mostly alone has the “benefit” of never having performed these songs in rehearsal. So, I get to try new instrumentations, new melodies, and different tones overall.

Most of the songs on this record were written in the studio. Some a while ago, only seeing the light of an audience in a very stripped down, acoustic performance. Of the rest some are several years old, getting a chance to be re-worked through the benefit of time, better ability, and new instrumentation. One is a cover and a couple were in the Mendoza Lie repertoire for a few months.

So, in the past few weeks, with the help of some great folks, a majority of the tracking is done. Ms. Abigail Henderson of the amazing band Tiny Horse came in and lent her voice to a couple songs, including a super secret cover tune. There are a few more parts to iron out, re-cut, and honestly, thanks to a new song yesterday, there are lyrics still to be written. Some songs that were favorites a few months ago have been trashed. Replaced with new ones that came up during the recording process.

I’m hoping to start mixing in a couple weeks. Then mastering, then maybe pressing or Drop Carding or whatever comes in the year 2010 after that point in the process when you are genuinely sick of the record and just want it out of your life.

All this means is that, hopefully, amid all the guitars, pianos, drums, accordions, tambourines, and Rhodeses – some risks have been taken. Not the kinds of life-and-limb risks people take every day, but the kinds of risks that will make people either love or hate your work.

All this to say it’s pretty much your standard recording project. It has a beginning, a middle and an end and this one is somewhere in there.

Reverb Nation Profile

johnv — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:33:21 +0000

I set up a profile at Reverb Nation. You can (hopefully) check it out here:

The Feelies — Only Life “$8.00 VG”

johnv — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:02:13 +0000

Many years ago I walked in to Recycled Sounds (my friends and I still called it “Dirt Cheap.”) I bought a record, something like Chronic Town, the lady behind the counter, a really sweet woman, saw the REM and said, “Hey you might be in to this.” She walked down a row of records (which at the time was bigger than the row of used CDs) and picked up The Feelies “Only Life.”

A so began a 20-year musical mentorship of myself by Anne Winter. Over those years I bought stacks and stacks of vinyl from Anne. Every time I bought one record, she recommended one I’d probably like.

Today I learned that Anne passed, unexpectedly. There’s not much I can say about what Anne did for me that the many others whose lives she touched don’t already know.

People turn to music to make sense out of life and death. And for some of us, that meant turning to Anne. So right now this all seems a little, well, confusing. I can’t offer any kind of clarity.

This morning, when I learned about her death, my first instinct was to play records. I walked over to my record player, untouched for months, and what record was on there?

The Feelies — Only Life with the tag still on the clear sleeve “$8.00 VG”

What does it mean?
What can you do about it?
What can you say?
You don’t even know about it
Nobody talks
Nobody listens
Well look around
Yeah look out your window
They’re having a ball
Having a party
Well come inside
You can do what you like
Well it’s a nightmare
It’s all negative
Nothing matters
And what if it did?
You could lock your doors
Close all your windows and
Hide away …

It’s only life …

Theme song for “Parks and Recreation”

johnv — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:20:57 +0000

This weekend I wrote and submitted a theme song for the new Amy Poehler series “Parks and Recreation.” It’s from the producers of “The Office.” I think the end result is a mix between the theme from “The Kids in the Hall” and “King of the Hill” and The Office.” So maybe it should be named “The Kids in the Hill Office.” Anyway…

We’ll see what happens, but until then you can check out my theme here:

http://johnvelghe.com/2009/music/Evans_DrumsHeSaid.mp3

John takes the Proust Questionnaire

johnv — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:26:28 +0000

John sits down with the Proust Questionnaire, something everyone is supposed to do periodically. Translated; one more thing he’s got to do today.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Understanding my place in the world at this very moment and resisting the urge to take it upon myself to change it.

2. What is your greatest fear?
Understanding my place in the world at this moment.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The urge to focus too much on rhetoric.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Getting in their own way or prideful ignorance. I can’t decide which.

5. Which living person do you most admire?
Today, probably Bruce Springsteen.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
My studio equipment or my jeans. I can’t decide which.

7. What is your current state of mind?
Contemplative

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Intelligence.

9. On what occasion do you lie?
When I’m writing a song or when someone might get hurt. But those are pretty much the same thing.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The sanctimony.

11. Which living person do you most despise?
Right now, its tied between Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. I have no use for hate and insecurity masquerading as entertainment.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Simplicity.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Grace.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“All I’m saying is…”

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Who = Juj

What = music.

16. When and where were you happiest?
Memphis Tennessee, around 1998.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?
It’s almost impossible for me to distinguish between talent and aptitude. But I guess the aptitude or talent to be able to teach.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My inability to teach.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting this far.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Hopefully I’ve earned the right to come back as a family pet, a dog perhapse.

21. Where would you most like to live?
Europe, the warm part.

22. What is your most treasured possession?
I would be lost without my 1964 Hofner acoustic guitar.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not having someone to share everything with

24. What is your favorite occupation?
Janitor

25. What is your most marked characteristic?
Impatience

26. What do you most value in your friends?
Patience

27. Who are your favorite writers?
Richard Powers, Robert Pirsig

28. Who is your hero of fiction?
Chris Pirsig (is that actually fiction?)

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Bob Stinson (is he historical?)

30. Who are your heroes in real life?
My mother. Alejandro Escovedo. Juj.

31. What are your favorite names?
Aeshel. Clara. Napoleon.

32. What is it that you most dislike?
I most dislike lack of empathy.

33. What is your greatest regret?
Taking too much time away from doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

34. How would you like to die?
AFTER everyone else, in my sleep.

35. What is your motto?
always be compelling

Sad Trombone

johnv — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:05:33 +0000

Ever have one of those days?

This is for you:

First Post on the new site

johnv — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:33:23 +0000

Here’s he first post on the new site. Websites take longer to make than songs do. Many projects are in the works for 2009. Including a new EP, composing the soundtrack for a feature-length documentary for broadcast, and new songs and shows from the rock band. If you’re interested in hearing some of the new songs, just check out John’s page on lastfm here.