Band of 17-20 year olds that I'm filling in for

[Jordon]

So, I'm producing this band's (Delightful Downfall out of Chicago) second record. I did their first one last year, and they've matured an incredible amount. Halfway through preproduction, their lead guitarist quit, so I've been filling in on lead duties for them life, and they are incredibly tight and great dudes to hang with. The drummer is 17, writes 80% of the music and vocals. The singer is 20. There is NO TUNING on his vocals. None. ....Though there is a shitload of it on my backing vocals This singer is a beast. He can do a one-take through the whole song, then double and triple that take and it's nearly 100% on. It's rare to find that talent in someone in their 30's and 40's, much less a 20 year old kid who has never had a lesson in his life. The bassist is also a crazy tight finger player with an insane amount of energy on stage....almost bordering on cheesy.

Here's a track I just roughed in tonight:

We will be releasing it on teaser CD's at the upcoming House of Blues Chicago show on May 25th.

Here's a couple live videos from the last sold-out show we did there. You can see me, I'm the obviously older, out-of-shape guy with the EBMM.

Opening song, "Dirty Little Secret" which will be on the new record.

"Alone" - also off the new record. (My backing vocals are pretty flat here )

Now I just gotta figure out if their offer to join permanently is something I'm down for. It's strange playing with a bunch of young-ass kids with almost zero real experience in the music biz. I gotta say though, even though I'm just filling in and helping with writing for their record, this is the most fun I've had in a band setting in a long, long time.

 

[sjk]

Sounds like your having a blast and yeah that bass player is crazy intense

 

[mrkmas]

If you are having as much fun as you are saying , I would say go for it.

 

[PrestoDone]

Just listened to the track you uploaded to dropbox...sounds good man. If Your having fun with them and have the time to gig and write music with them do it.

 

[Anonymous]

Those are the guys you "want" to hook up with...All about fun and energy...no " I've done this soo long and I know everything" bullshit to deal with..

 

[Michi]

If you have the chance to gig and write music with a bunch of guys you feel comfortable with doing it, if you really feel there's no problem except the age gap that's only on paper I'd say go for it!

 

[The Hoff]

If you have the chance to gig and write music with a bunch of guys you feel comfortable with doing it, if you really feel there's no problem except the age gap that's only on paper I'd say go for it!

Indeed

 

[university81]

sounds good saosin/story of the year vibe going, a chance like that doesn't come around too often, if you're feeling it/having fun, i'd go with it ,

 

[philb]

Sounds great. Looks like fun. I would go for it.

 

[squank]

If you are having as much fun as you are saying , I would say go for it.

Definitely. These kind of musicians don't come around often.

If you don't go for it, you'll likely regret it for the rest of your life.

 

[mixeduplydian]

Hey Jordon,
Steve, the drummer in that band, is my best friend/ longtime drummer's little cousin.
Not to be a downer, but Brian (Steve's cousin, my best friend) passed away recently. Steve wrote the song "Gift" loosely based (lyrically) on an old song of the same name from Brian and I's old band as sort of a tribute to Brian, who helped teach him to play when he started out.
Steve is a good kid and a good drummer, he's also turning into a monster songwriter. I think it's great that they have a guy like you helping them out Jordon. Steve had mentioned that they were working with a "really great" producer. They've got the raw talent, with the (continued) right guidance they could really blow up. These kids are only going to get better. They'll just get better faster with you helping them out.
Also, they sound better with you on lead than they did with their old guitar player. I say you keep rockin" out with them if you're diggin" it.

-Alex

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Yeah! Be like Mick Mars,.. the old guy in 85 and the dinosaur now that the other guys are old. Chances are the band won't stay together for 30 years so giv'er! I don't mean that in a negative way either..just the state of the industry , band sounds great.

 

[vchizzle]

Go for it old man, just be careful that hip don't give out on ya mid set!


But really, they sound great and will just get better. You just gotta decide whether you wanna deal with that part of the biz. You only live once, so I say go for it before you need a walker

 

[overthemountain]

I'd say go for it man- you guys sound great, and if you're having fun playing and hanging together, why the hell not? "Sometimes you just gotta say WTF".

 

[SFW]

Sounds great, Jordon. I've always enjoyed your playing. I'm currently debating leaving my current band- that I've been with for six years to join a younger band. Trying to weigh the pros and cons.

 

[severinsteel]

I can hear the Sevendust influence! Not my kind of music, but great talent for sure! Great recording as well!

 

[Gainzilla]

If you have the chance to gig and write music with a bunch of guys you feel comfortable with doing it, if you really feel there's no problem except the age gap that's only on paper I'd say go for it!

Absolutely this!!!! These guys obviously have a boatload of enthusiasm and excitement in addition to talent and you cant help but feed off of that, Its going to affect you in a really good way. I know that If I was in your shoes, Id feel like a kid all over again thanks to them...

 

[Jordon]

Hey Jordon,
Steve, the drummer in that band, is my best friend/ longtime drummer's little cousin.
Not to be a downer, but Brian (Steve's cousin, my best friend) passed away recently. Steve wrote the song "Gift" loosely based (lyrically) on an old song of the same name from Brian and I's old band as sort of a tribute to Brian, who helped teach him to play when he started out.
Steve is a good kid and a good drummer, he's also turning into a monster songwriter. I think it's great that they have a guy like you helping them out Jordon. Steve had mentioned that they were working with a "really great" producer. They've got the raw talent, with the (continued) right guidance they could really blow up. These kids are only going to get better. They'll just get better faster with you helping them out.
Also, they sound better with you on lead than they did with their old guitar player. I say you keep rockin" out with them if you're diggin" it.

-Alex

I had a whole reply typed out when Chrome crashed. God dammed Google!


Steve sent me "Gift" the day after he wrote it and had Mike cut vocals on it. Knowing the subject matter, it's given me chills each time I've heard it. I know Brian had a huge impact on him and his playing (he even still uses Brian's china live!). He showed me some tracks off of the "Cinesthesium" record (were you on that?) and you can really hear in Steve's playing where he was influenced by Brian.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

 

[mixeduplydian]

Steve sent me "Gift" the day after he wrote it and had Mike cut vocals on it. Knowing the subject matter, it's given me chills each time I've heard it. I know Brian had a huge impact on him and his playing (he even still uses Brian's china live!). He showed me some tracks off of the "Cinesthesium" record (were you on that?) and you can really hear in Steve's playing where he was influenced by Brian.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Brian was one of those guys that could teach you something and you wouldn't even realize it until you found yourself doing it! Cool that Steve's using his china, I remember helping Bri pick that cymbal out!
Yeah, I'm on Cinesthesium. I did the guitars (yes I know the tone and playing is bad ) and sound design/ synthesis (only played some of the synth, but made all of the sounds). Don't hold that album against me though! We had no time or budget. The studio was FREEZING cold. We did 90% of the album in one take, then added some overdub stuff. Nothing on that record was recorded to a click either. There's a whole bunch of "murphy's law" moments about that album. Long story edit: We had a lot of problems with the engineer. I was already learning to record and mix at the time (didn't do any on that album obviously), but suffice it to say, that album is the reason I learned how to engineer, record, mix and master so I wouldn't get ripped off again.
I'm glad to know those guys have you to help them out and navigate the BS, so Steve won't have to deal with as much garbage as me and Brian had to in all of our earlier projects. Sorry for the novel BTW. Just have some time to kill while I upload some tracks for a client, and I had to make excuses for my shitty playing and tone

 

[Jordon]

Steve sent me "Gift" the day after he wrote it and had Mike cut vocals on it. Knowing the subject matter, it's given me chills each time I've heard it. I know Brian had a huge impact on him and his playing (he even still uses Brian's china live!). He showed me some tracks off of the "Cinesthesium" record (were you on that?) and you can really hear in Steve's playing where he was influenced by Brian.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Brian was one of those guys that could teach you something and you wouldn't even realize it until you found yourself doing it! Cool that Steve's using his china, I remember helping Bri pick that cymbal out!
Yeah, I'm on Cinesthesium. I did the guitars (yes I know the tone and playing is bad ) and sound design/ synthesis (only played some of the synth, but made all of the sounds). Don't hold that album against me though! We had no time or budget. The studio was FREEZING cold. We did 90% of the album in one take, then added some overdub stuff. Nothing on that record was recorded to a click either. There's a whole bunch of "murphy's law" moments about that album. Long story edit: We had a lot of problems with the engineer. I was already learning to record and mix at the time (didn't do any on that album obviously), but suffice it to say, that album is the reason I learned how to engineer, record, mix and master so I wouldn't get ripped off again.
I'm glad to know those guys have you to help them out and navigate the BS, so Steve won't have to deal with as much garbage as me and Brian had to in all of our earlier projects. Sorry for the novel BTW. Just have some time to kill while I upload some tracks for a client, and I had to make excuses for my shitty playing and tone

Hey! I dug what I heard, man. Tone doesn't make or break a song for me. Yea, I've been through the shit, man, and those kids definitely needed someone to come along and weed out the bullshit they were being fed.