So am I in the band?

About 10 minutes later David called me and caught me up on what was going on. The last time David was in town the idea of them playing some shows to mark their twentieth anniversary was brought up and they were really interested in going to Europe since that was something they’d wanted to do back when they were playing together. They still hadn’t contacted London or Robert but would be doing that soon. He also stated that my name had been mentioned as well as a few other friends, in case Robert wasn’t interested and it was a matter of just seeing what the band decided. That was a pretty rad moment I have to tell you. Seriously, Distorted Pony’s music was such a big influence on Leopold and to be considered to play with them, I was pretty blown away.
David and I hung up and Ted called me soon after basically letting me know the same thing and that he was also interested in me playing with them. They also were interested in using my studio to listen back to some of the individual tracks from Instant Winner to try and figure out some guitar and bass parts that were buried in the swamp of distortion they’d created at the time. So I knew one way or another I would be involved. I’d also mentioned doing sound for them as well incase they didn’t ask me to play guitar. But come on, obviously I wanted to be there playing with them.
It’s kind of a weird feeling because on the one hand I was hoping that Robert would join them but on the other hand to play and tour with David, Tricia, Ted and London seemed pretty cool to me.

I waited for a month. Didn’t hear from anyone and started to think that maybe they had decided to go with someone else and they didn’t want to bum me out. Eventually I called them. I had been trying not to jinx the whole thing by calling but I really wanted to know what was going on with them regardless of whether or not I was playing with them. I left David a message asking what was up. He called me back about two days later and he said that London had agreed to play with them again and he and Tricia were going to start rehearsing soon. He also said I was in the band. Hell Yeah! I expressed how happy and appreciative I was and the conversation quickly led to talking about gear. Some of Robert’s parts had a bit of tremolo bar torture and behind the bridge noise and I had already started thinking about getting a Jazzmaster. We talked for a few more minutes and he said I should get in touch with Tricia to see about scheduling rehearsals and starting on a set .
I spoke with Ted soon after and he said he was glad I was playing with them, and ribbed me a bit as is his usual way. Do I still want to be on tour with this guy???

February 8, 2010 We started working more thoroughly on Fine View from the Temple and Slow Leak this weekend. Also came up with some things for Angel on a Haug. The stuff off of Punishment Room is starting to sound tighter. I think the arrangements and just overall writing was a bit more straight forward. Instant Winner has longer intros and more repetition, slight variations in the instrumentation and rhythms. There are some parts that go on for quite a while, building up the denseness of sound and working up the tension. Not quite like the Swans or Geronimo but still restatement of certain parts it’s definitely part of the power.
February 12, 2010
We’re been discussing ideas for a band photo. I don’t think anyone really wants a straight band photo but wants something that symbolize the band. How we’re going to accomplish that, I’m not sure but we’re throwing some things around. Also, we’ve been working on Cripple and Death in the Turnstile, two songs I really like.

February 14, 2010
Yesterday went pretty well, the 4 of us our sounding tighter and the songs are getting easier to run thru. The Punishment Room stuff comes together pretty quick and easy. The songs on that album were written when DP was still using a drum machine so their structure is a little easier to grasp. Those songs are way more punk rock as well, just full on in your face. The songs on Instant Winner on the other hand we have to focus on more. The contrast between having a live drummer as opposed to the drum machine is pretty obvious. I still have trouble with a few of the longer songs, Go Kart and Smitten throw me off a bit. We started on Death in the Turnstile and nailed that pretty quick, still a little fuzzy on my parts but I know enough to get us thru the song. Big Sprawling Corrupt is getting worked on and we’re working on the arrangements, and possibly modifying London’s parts. We’ll see how it goes.

February 24, 2010
No rehearsal last week. We’re trying to figure out when we can tour, nothing going on yet with bookers and I offered to be more involved with booking to try and get the ball rolling.
Robert has the master tapes of DP’s recordings and we’re supposed to get those from him soon. He also offered to give me some recording gear that he has from back when he was running Surrogate Spike at the DP house. I have no idea what gear he wants to give me but I’ll take it.