The tour is over, we survived…

It’s been a long time since I have posted a blog, but I have a lot to say about the music.

First, a HUGE thank you to the Craig’s for sharing their house, truck, and overall kindness with us while we were in Utah on the Hometown Tour. We had so much fun and hopefully made some new fans along the way. In my experience, a tour will either make you sick of the people you play with or make you stronger and tighter. I think we are stronger!

A lot has changed since “As The Leaves Were Changing” was released a year ago. Tara has since gone partially electric which has really changed the overall feel of the band. We are definitely more indie rock than I thought we would be. We also have some keys thanks to an iPad and a 25 key midi keyboard. Hopefully we will expand even more.

I think the way we record and release music may change as well. The songs will sound different as we grow as a band and start expanding. We had the opportunity to share some new songs on tour and at Momo’s on August 20th. We think you will like them…radio may as well (I think “Hold On To Me will be a hit).

Thank you to all the fans and we look forward to sharing even more new songs with you soon.

-M.A.H (drums, keys, rock)

2010: Year In Review

As 2011 approaches I thought I would take a look back at 2010.

I think the word that can best describe 2010 would be love. My sister got married, I got engaged, and Tara looks happier than I have ever seen her. I guess Brenna is a breath of fresh air The band is stronger than ever before and love moves us forward.

We completed a much anticipated album and celebrated it with an amazing CD release party. I recently watched the footage from that show and all I can say is Thank You to the fans and the other musicians. It was the first time I really heard us sound perfectly in-sync live. I also found myself listening to the album last week and for the first time I heard it outside a technical role. In all honestly, I enjoy it. It feels like an amazing album and I hope you feel the same way. If you haven’t heard it in a while, I recommend revisiting it. This has all given me hope for bigger and better things, and it appears 2011 will bring us exactly that.

We will start the year off with a show at Momo’s on January 2nd which will serve as a warm run for our show with Alpha Rev in San Antonio on January 15. What makes these shows, and the year to come, interesting is that we are slowly experimenting with the sonic palette. Be ready for amazing new things!

May your 2011 be filled with love and happiness!

-Marco – Drummer

As The Leaves Were Changing…

3 weeks ago we released our debut album, “As The Leaves Were Changing”. It has been getting some amazing reviews and the fans are loving it. So, what do you think about the album? Do you have any questions about the album? The songs? Our recording process? What is Wayne really like? Is Tara really a She Wolf? Let us know! To celebrate the one month anniversary we  would like to post some answers!

-Mix Master Marco

CD Release

I am thrilled to announce that, “As the Leaves Were Changing” will be available for purchase this Friday, August 20th. There are several ways to get a copy. You can download a digital copy, order a physical copy or both directly from my website. The album will be available at Waterloo Records in Austin and will also be available through various online channels including, iTunes and Amazon.

On Friday, August 20, two events will mark the album’s release: The band and I will appear on FOX 7’s Good Day Austin television show at 8:30 a.m.

We will host a CD release party at United States Art Authority, 2906 Fruth Street, Austin. The show will feature DJs, four solo songwriters, and the band and I joined by special guests including a trumpeter, a violist, and my mom Laura on backing vocals. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and admission is free.

Also making its premiere that evening will be the music video for the album’s first single, “Resolution,” directed by Chris Peters.

We’re really excited and hope you are too!

Peace,

Tara

Album update…

Hello!

I just wanted to give a quick update on the Tara Craig album.

On Saturday, me and Tara did a few vocal overdubs to fix some errors and add some punch to a couple songs. We also started talking about possible album titles. Exciting, right?

I know that my target date to get the album done was 6/1/10, but I want the album to sound as good as it can. Because of this, my new goal is to have it done by 6/16/10, which happens to be my sisters 26th birthday. So far, everyone has loved the album and I hope you do as well. Until then, here is Resolution:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3777873

-Mix Master Marco (and Boscoe!)

DELAY DElay Delay delay….

Hello!

The album is sounding AMAZING and we will definitely have everything finished in June. The thing is, it may not be by the first like I had originally planned. Why is that you ask? We didn’t run into difficulties or anything. We just wanted to add some extra flavors to the album…and maybe another song.

What kind of flavors? Well, trumpets and trombones for one. Also some extra tambourines for that jingle the kids these days love so much. We are also planning on adding one more song. What song you ask? Time will tell. Until then, here is Resolution:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3777873

-Mix Master Marco (and Boscoe!)

The 58 sound…

Hello again!

Before I start this blog I wanted to give an update on the album. Unfortunately, I got a bit of a cold so I had to cancel recording. We only have to do some vocals on one song and re-do a bass line on another. That will complete the tracking for the Tara Craig album. I still have a lot of mixing to do, but it is coming along well.

I am currently working on “This Weight” and “City of Sorrows” and it made me think of the Sure SM58 mic. We have the luxury of getting nice pre-amps and a full array of mics, but we always come back to the Sure 58. All the vocal takes were done with it. As the mixing went forward, I deleted the one (and sometimes 2) condenser mic tracks and just left the 58 one. It is crazy to think that a mic that costs under $100 can sound so rich and full. Tara has a HUGE voice and it captures all the dynamics  very well.

On a side note, I used the SM58 on a drum track. On “City of Sorrows” I needed a tambourine but didn’t want to over-dub and I ran out of drum mics (yes, I had that many drums on this song). The solution? A tambourine on top of an extra 16″ floor tom. When I would hit the main floor tom hard enough, the tambourine would vibrate on the second one. That is the sound that the SM58 picked up. Once you hear it, you will be amazed!

Until next time…

-Mix Master Marco