April 2008
42 posts
Day 21 Update...
Day 21: (Vocals) Take It Away (additional vocals) Sadie Fairly short day, tomorrow will be the long haul. But we knocked out some good ones today. We finished up Take It Away, doubled vocals and added some back up vocals. Then we did Sadie, I’m pretty happy with how it’s turned out, the music is amazing and some really great use of tremolo and Mike’s parts, especially the...
Comparisons so far while in the studio
From Others… Rush - Jay Harren Yes - Jay Harren Hank Williams, Jr. - Leila Regan-Porter music from Easy Rider - Leila Regan-Porter Lemmy of Motorhead - Matt Teisen The Zombies - Matt Malpass The Animals - Matt Malpass Steppenwolf - Matt Malpass Foo Fighters - Matt L. The devil’s fart - Jeremy Byrd (on the dirty Casiorgan tone) From us… Steely Dan - Trae Huey Lewis -...
A little background info on Death thanks to...
Laura: How did your band name come about?
DO2W: Death On Two Wheels came from a conversation Jay (drummer, vocals, & roomate) and myself, Trae (vocals, rhythm guitar), had while driving one day. At the time, Jay and I knew we were in a band together and that we were roomates, but we had no name at the time and we had hardly even began writing songs yet. Not to mention it was only he and I when the band began. Jay was telling a story and commented, "we may have been (something), but we rolled in there like death on two wheels." I can't recall what the story entailed, but I do know that I chimed in immediately and said, "Hmmm, death on two wheels, I like that, that's our band name!" It is somewhat ironic in nature and from the get go, I knew that is where the band was headed. Our music and the live show are somewhat dark and sinister, but whimsical, yet comes from a group of guys who typically cannot keep from smiling and spreading friendship and good vibe amongst one another and whomever we find ourselves around.
Laura: Who are the band members / instrument / age?
DO2W: Trae Vedder / Vocals, Rhythm Guitar / 25, Andrew Knox / Organ, Vocals / 23, David Fountain / Bass / 19, Jay Wilson / Drums / 28, The Phantom 5th / Lead Guitar / ?
Laura: What instruments do each member play and for how long?
DO2W: I've played since around middle school I think, never been as good as I wanted to be, but always leaned more towards songwriting and melody more than my guitar playing ability, but I can hold my own and it gets the job done. Jay toured for several years as a bassist, but this is the first band he's played drums in. The band started with he and I switching between guitar and drums in the practice space just hashing out our ideas and we decided we both liked our natural feel for the rhythm as the tunes came together. David is our little brother of the band. He keeps us all in good spirits amongst one another and is just a good kid to have around. He's played music the least amount of all of us, but grows so much each and every time we get together. He and I have been friends for several years, I dated his sister for a couple of years, we've been friends ever since. Knox has played in bands for years on guitar, drums, and organ. He and I met when he was in The Californias and I was managing them. He's always been a killer dude and when it came time to add organ to the mix, I knew that if he enjoyed the music, the chemistry would be a given.
Laura: What are your favorite places to play?
DO2W: Our favorite places to play are small and intimate. Somewhere that we can play on a stage, but be really close with the crowd. Our favorite local spot is the Star Bar in Little 5 Points. Small stage, keeps us close to one another, close to the people, we feed off that, and the whole group, band and audience, become one somewhat and everyone has a better experience. Our favorite show and venue thus far was on our first tour back in December. We played the Bottletree in Birmingham, it was a good crowd, the venue treated us great, it has more vintage random folk art awesomeness than I could even begin to list, and it's simply the best we ever played as a unit, everything just kinda fell into place you know.
Laura: Where do you guys practice?
DO2W: We practice at our house (Trae/Jay's) in the living room. We use the dining room as the living room and the living room as our practice space. The neighbors don't love us, well, they don't love the noise, but they must love us a little bit deep down, because they've kept at bay as best they can, and given us our space to do what we need to do. We love them for putting up with us. But Jay and I are moving out at the end of this recording session and moving into our parents places. I'm selling my car to get a van and we're heading our on tour at the end of May.
Laura: Who are your favorite bands to play with?
DO2W: Hmm we haven't played with a whole lot of recognized bands. But we do love the local bands here in Atlanta and we've somewhat created a brotherhood amongst one another, especially with Ponderosa (www.myspace.com/ponderosamusic) and Ski Club (www.myspace.com/skiclubmusic). We'll be on tour in May and June with Ponderosa and that will be good times. We played with both Norma Jean and Janelle Monae in the same week, both amazing bands/artists on complete different ends of the spectrum, we loved playing to their crowds and both were kind to us and have kept in touch since.
Day 20 Update...
Day 20: (Vocals + Percussion + Organ) How Love Is Made (previously referred to as New Song) I’m going to make this quick as we (I really mean I) seem to get to the studio later and later everyday! And there is too much work left to be done on this album in 2 days for me to not be sleeping right now and getting there on time tomorrow for a FULL days work! Today was a bit stressfull, but...
“Come on Dancy Kerrigan!”
– Trae Vedder
“It’s a good day for a burrito.”
– Matt Malpass (every single day of the week!!!)
“I couldn’t be one, didn’t marry one, so I had to birth one. A...”
– Charlotte Knox
Day 19 Update...
We took off Day 18 off as Matt and his buddy Matt took the day to home brew some beer. There is talk of possibly building a bar in the Tiki Lounge and having two taps, one with Marigold Brew, the other with Monster Brew. All in due time I’m sure, but there’s a bucket in there fermenting and we can’t wait to drink some down! I took some time to work on completing lyrics and let...
“That better be a belly button and not a ball sack!”
– Trae Vedder
Concern for a cord in need...
Vickie Vedder: "Dear Vocal Cords: I have never prayed for a vocal cord before, but in the way of a personification, let me say: "I need you up and on all fours tomorrow. I need you to walk out on that stage, and give the performance of a lifetime! Even if you limp into home plate late Thursday nite, you will know that you're sure to win Muscle of the Year. Now, GO and do what you were born to do. I'll be just offstage with a fresh Lemon, some honey, and a shot of Jack Daniels!" ... - Your mother, The Mighty Thunder Tongue"
Trae Vedder: HAHAHAA ... I think I might print this out and hang it over my doorway for daily inspiration ... or maybe just duck tape it just above my Adam's Apple ... whichever seems more appropriate! Goodnight Mother, talk to you tomorrow afternoon!!! ... - Trae
“I know we’re supposed to lick lops…”
– Andrew Knox
“It sounds like the devil’s fart.”
– Jeremy Byrd
Day 17 Update...
Day 17: (Vocals + Organ) Vocals Sweet Love (group vocals) Take It Away Organ Shaking Like A Leaf Sadie Bobby Calling Us All Back Home Take It Away
Day 16 Update...
Day 16: (Percussion) Shaking Like A Leaf (beer bottles, tambourines, shakers, frogs, hookah bubble banter) Better Way Bobby Take It Away
Day 16 Update...
Day 16: (Vocals + Percussion) Vocals Sweet Love (doubled vocals) Bobby Calling Us All Back Home (re-takes) Percussion Calling Us All Back Home (tamborine) Shaking Like A Leaf (tamborine + shaker)
“Knox(y) Cotton”
– Lane Johnson
“Yeahhh, that’s got some Umph(rey) Bogart!!!”
– Matt Malpass
“That’s a Keeper. Keeper Sutherland.”
– Trae Vedder
Catching up (you and us too!)...
So I went and got sick, the sniffles and snorting and blowing and all that gross stuff finally got to me and I went to the doc and got some medicine and rested through Day 14 and 15. A real bummed as vocals had just gotten started, but Matt got some initial mixing done and now we’re trying to get back on schedule. Its tough to play catch up in the studio when you don’t feel like you...
“Do you say Sherbert or Sherbet?”
– Liz Malpass (Wikipedia Explanation)
Day 13 Update...
What an unlikely day to start vocals eh? What were we even thinking? Ha, but so far so good. Started tracking with Shaking Like A Leaf, an older tune from the original recording session, we’ve made a change or two and they are starting to grow on me. We tracked Two Dollar Bills as well, I’ve debated on how to record the track, its a tune I’ve had for a while as a demo with...
Day 12 Update...
Day 12: (Guitar + Harmonica) Guitar Better Way (Mike Lead, acoustic) Calling Us All Back Home (Mike lead) Shaking Like A Leaf (Mike lead) Sadie (Mike lead) Take It Away (Mike) Two Dollar Bills (Mike lead, acoustic Knox (Knox acoustic)Harmonica Hey Hey Hey (Mike) Today was a good day. I got to relax a little bit as Mike came in and knocked out his parts. He shreds like nobody’s business...
WatchKnox and I like to dance and Better Way makes us do it!
WatchI’ve been tracking a whole lot of solos on this record! - Trae
Day 11 Update...
Day 11: (Guitar + Organ) Guitar Two Dollar Bills Take It Away Organ Sadie New Song Take It Away Today was a good day. Boutique Guitar Exchange and Earthshaking Music have both come through for us keeping us set up well and intonated. That made the difference getting the Guild back today for Take It Away. Its sounds crunchy, dirty, and good and Knox and I doubled up some parts at the end that...
Day 10 Update...
Day 10: (Guitar + Organ + Accordian) Guitar New Song Calling Us All Back Home (Jeremy Byrd of The Bridges) Organ Better Way Accordian Sweet Love (Kyle Hale) Today started out a bit rough actually. The Guild fell out of intonation and kept me from finishing up guitar, but I will knock it out tomorrow. But I did lay down New Song and Knox came in the evening and layed some beautiful lead guitar...
Day 9 update...
Day 9: (Guitar + Organ) Guitar Sweet Love (additional guitar added) Hey Hey Hey Sadie Organ Knox (additonal piano added) Sweet Love Shaking Like A Leaf Calling Us All Back Home Knox layed down some killer parts on Sweet Love today, the bridge to that song is so fun and so different for us, but exactly what we should be doing. I know every band is completely into themselves and uber excited about...
Daily update...
Day 8: (Guitar + Organ) Guitar Shaking Like A Leaf Better Way Sweet LoveOrgan Knox I decided to knock out the rest of our previously recorded tunes today. I love all 3 songs from the sessions we did with Kyle Hale (one awesome dude!), that time in the studio and those songs are what made this project come into fruition. But on the other hand, we’ve been playing them for a year now and I...
Guitar update...
Day 7: (Guitar) Knox Bobby (additional guitar parts) Calling All Back Home (intro) Oh it feels so good to get some guitars going on! Maybe I’m partial since I play guitar, but really, the rhythm sections are so tight, I’m so proud of us so far, Jay killed it, and now as the guitars be to layer on top, it really begins to come together so nicely. Knox and I have gotten some killer...
Quarter of a century...
It’s been a busy weekend thus far. We knocked out all the bass tracks in two days and also got a start on guitars. Here’s what’s gone down: Day 5: (Bass) Sweet Love Bobby Take It Away Knox Two Dollar Bills Calling Us All Back Home Better Way Day 6: (Bass + Guitar) Bass Shaking Like A Leaf Hey Hey Hey Sadie New SongGuitar Calling Us All Back Home Bobby Thanks to a few...
So far, so good...
Tomorrow (actually later today) is Day Five in the studio. Let’s fill you in on what’s happened thus far… Day One: (Set Up) Set up drums upstairs Tune / Mic Check Relax and get ready to rumble Day Two: (Drums) Calling Us All Back Home Shaking Like A Leaf Better Way Sadie Day Three: (Drums) Two Dollar Bills Take It Away Knox Bobby New Song Day Four: (Drums) Hey Hey Hey Sweet Love...
WatchYou’ll be seeing a lot more of Pineapple, that’s for certain!
In Studio Photos from Brian Manley →
Black & White and Fisheye rule our universe! RAW!
Watch“Finger Face”
Day One. Done.
Day One is over. We got the drums all tuned up and recorded several guide tracks on guitar. Day Two should get a bit more interesting, as the record button will be in full effect! Jay’s gonna knock out all the drums tracks in one day, ok, maybe not, but trust me, this is gonna be a killer day for him, he’s gonna slay! Something tells me he won’t have time to record another...