Looks like there are a few bookers out there that want to work with us so that’s great news. Most of the bands that I know that have toured in Europe always have great things to say about how bands are treated there. I was just talking to Tony from Totimoshi and he was cluing me in on how it went the last time they were there with Helmet. They’ll be going back this month with Mastodon. The one thing that was a bit hairy was the initial expenses, plane tickets, travel arrangements, gear, lodging all this stuff that you have to really plan ahead of time. You can’t just forget it if things aren’t working out and drive home. So things are looking good.

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 the 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 the Swans but still restatement of certain parts is 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 rather 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. Funny things like that have happened at the studio over the years. I’ve gotten really lucky with getting gear.