We at the Compound Studio are having a Benefit to aid victims of the recent southland fires. Hard good donations are being accepted. As well, a $20 donation is your ticket into the Compound to enjoy some live music, DJ's, food and drink.
A Gathering of Goods for the Communities of the Southland Fires
WHERE: the Compound Recording Studio, in Signal Hill , CA
WHEN: Saturday, November 24, 7:00 pm - midnight
HOW MUCH: $20 Donation at the door (Limited capacity, RSVP is necessary)
LIVE MUSIC: OO Soul, The New Fidelity & an acoustic set by Shave
There are a lot of singers in Texas that like to play up the whole cowboy thing, but I've heard that you're actually pretty good on a bull.
I've ridden a few in my day, I guess.
That was part of your travels early in life too, right?
That's what I always wanted to do was be a cowboy. My uncle rode bulls and my grandfathers were all ranchers. I never thought I'd ever play music. It was never a plan or a goal. For me it was rodeoing. That lifestyle of being on the road and going to rodeos, sleeping in your truck and dusty rodeo arenas – when music came along and the lifestyle was so similar I thought, “Shit, I can do this”. “What do you mean drive all night to play a gig? I just drove all night to get my teeth knocked out by a bull”.
A lot of the new tracks on Mescalito were recorded in a big open space and it was all live. You realize a lot of musicians would think that's absolutely insane.
Yeah. [Laughs]
There had to be bleed on every track. Is that something you were going for?
Definitely. From the get-go Marc Ford, who produced it, is really into doing things the old school way. A lot of stuff I really like from the 60's and 70's was recorded that way. That sound and the warmth of those old records, I think that's what fits what we're doing more than anything else.
To me the spontaneity really comes through on those recordings.
It's a lot more real and you can feel it. Instead of playing to a digital signal with a pair of headphones on when you can see everybody and feel everybody it's more real.
The vocals were cut the same way I take it.
Played live and sang it live right there on the same take. The engineer in that studio, Anthony Arvizu, he and Marc worked really good at knowing what sounds they wanted to get and knowing how to mic things in certain ways. For example they had a grand piano and they opened it up and took an electric guitar amp, a Fender amp, and plugged my acoustic into it, turned it upside down and laid it on the grand piano's strings. They had mics in corners of the room and placed pieces of wood to reflect the sound just right.
That's a real lost art.
A lot of guys don't know how to do it.
To book your next recording session at the Compound call 562-335-5623.
OCT 02 2007 Mikey Meyer
Dudes having fun on the weekend, makin' records.
[mikey, tuning]
[mikey, hodges, arvizu]
[fabian, hodges, arvizu]
[hodges, taking over Compound North]
[Tympani in the Tip]
[anvilicious]
[buckets o' percussion]
JUL 26 2007 Summer Updates
We've had a busy summer at the Compound thus far. Here's the highlight reel...
The Mars Volta finished up overdubs for their next record over 9 days. They brought their own engineers, but it still goes to show that the Compound is a great sounding room. Unfortunately no photos were allowed during their stay, so you'll just have to take me word for it. We even had special guest John Frusciante stop by and blow our minds. It was a very exciting week indeed.
Greater California has put the finishing touches on their record, yet to be titled. Hopefully this record gets them the attention they deserve.
Jessica Kaczmarek has started working on her own songs after playing in Busstop Hurricanes and numerous other local bands. Think Roy Orbison meets David Lynch meets Mod. She's one classy gal.
Ikey Owens brought in more work in the form of the Lookdaggers, Free Moral Agents, and a new production project that's in the works.
Finally, the summer has been the start of me finding my own footing in the engineering world. Instead of photos in this update, included are two mp3's from sessions that I engineered (note: both songs are unmastered):
This is 1 of 4 songs that was recorded over 2 evenings with the Victorians. Brad Lindsay, a Compound alum, kindly came to me with this new project headed by friend Erik Trickett. After seeing them play at the Prospector and knowing of Brad's good taste in music, I was excited to work with the band on their own brand of piano/gtr based rock/pop music. You'll have to pick up the EP to find more of Brad's tasty guitar work and Eric's catchy tunes.
These kids are rocking. They're not modeling themselves after all the pretty bands in the pretty magazines. They came to me talking to me about bands like the Clash, David Bowie, and Sonic Youth. High School really should include a school of rock, because the Business Cats have a great start to great careers. I'm looking forward to see what they come up with next. Like the Victorians, the Business Cats recorded 4 songs over the course of 2 evening sessions. You can pick up their new EP at any of their shows.
So if you'd like me to engineer your next project, just email me or call Anthony (562-335-5623) and ask for the Jeff Lewis discount!
Until next time,
Go Compound Go!
MAY 24 2007 Ryan Bingham
Anthony Arvizu and Marc Ford recently finished another record with Ryan Bingham, his first record to be released with Lost Highway Records (Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams). The album is turning out to be a collection of new recordings, revisited sessions, and remixes. When we first worked with Ryan, his only bandmember was his drummer. Now they've added Corby on guitars and Jeb on Bass and the record needed to reflect the expanding sound of the live band.
Initial tracking took place over 5 straight days with overdubs and mixing take another 8 days. All tracking was done live without headphones, straight to ProTools HD, mixed down to our Otari MX5050 on Emtec 900 1/4" tape. Look for the results of our efforts at your favorite record store in the fall.
[couch]
[ryan]
[producing]
[guitars]
[patio]
[corby]
[jeb]
APR 27 2007 Blood Brothers
Blood Brothers "Set Fire to the Face on Fire" Director: Roboshobo Producer/Editor: Warren Woodward
Filmed October 2006 at the Compound.
MAR 12 2007 the Secret 6
March is rolling right along. Just started a record with locals, the Secret 6. Again, we're tracking basics to 16-track tape, dumping to ProTools, editing takes, and starting overdubs. The photos below were taken during the tracking of the song Settle Down. This was an abnormal setup as Glen was playing keys instead of guitar. It's great having space to spread out and have the full band playing in one room. Next weekend we will start overdubs. Keeping fingers crossed, we will have a record by the end of the month.
[the consequence of being tall]
[john on drums]
[back room view]
[full body shot]
Once again, I'd urge anyone who's taken photos of sessions at the Compound to please email me. Many great sessions have gone by and I'd like to report them all, alas I don't have any photos to share. Thanks.
FEB 01 2007 Particle, Free Moral Agents
New year, new projects, new photos. 2007 took off flying out of the gate. Every day in January was booked, as it should be. We've made new friends with Particle and Porterhouse Bob, continued projects with Free Moral Agents, MOD, John Gregory, Shave, Sixstep, and we keep rolling into February. Particle brought their friend/accomplished engineer Mark Johnson (Keb' Mo, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne) to capture their tones. Mark is as cool as they come, a pleasure to work with.
In gear news, we have a new baby grand piano! Everyone agreesit's a beauty. That puts our piano count up to 5, although we will be selling the Yamaha U2 soon. Photos of the new piano will be posted shortly.
New mp3's will be uploaded soon as well. Look for new tracks from Marc Ford, Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, Stinkeye, MOD, Signal Hill, and the Lookdaggers. Until I get around to that, here is a glimpse into the last month...
