On this day of somber commemoration, there's also a spark of happiness--my Dad's 64th birthday!
In honor of that event, I've FINALLY gotten around to uploading and editing the video I took during my aunt and uncle's "roofing vacation" last June, which coincided with Father's Day.
Well, tonight is the night--we're finally releasing our debut CD, "We Are the Joans," a year after its completion. Such a long wait!! But I think it should be worth it.
I've listened to the CD a few times, and I think Taylor did a wonderful job of mixing it. I'm not overjoyed with my performance in a few places, but I did, after all, record all the drum tracks (for all 10 songs) within one eight-hour period (the first day in the studio, as a matter of fact). This was definitely a limited-budget affair. But for all that, Taylor (musical genius that he is) gave us a really retro/garage-band/surfy 60s sound that works well for the whole package. (He also played multiple instruments and was our session "dad" the whole time, which I'm sure often drove him nuts! But he bore it with good grace.)
Everybody has their moments on this album and the packaging, thanks to Mike Miller (layout), and Bill Morey and Chris Tisone (who graciously allowed us to use their house for the photo shoot as well as the "Mad At the Dirt" video shoot), looks crisp and colorful.
(I'm told that the photo of me on the cover looks "handsome." Denver the photographer must be a fucking SCIENTIST.)
If you're in Chi-town, come on out to Schubas and join our party! We're playing with the Wanton Looks and The Handcuffs! Party starts about 9:30-10:00.
As luck would have it, the "Mad At the Dirt" video was just released on YouTube yesterday. And here it is (we'll be showing it tonight too):
