Sorry it’s been a while since my last post, we’ve been a bit busy here on the home front and I guess I just lost track of time. If it’s any consolation, most everything around here the last few weeks would make for an awfully boring post… except for my legendary battle with a bumble bee. That was pretty awesome.

The new EP is still being worked on, I just got a couple of roughs the other day and it’s sounding great. I’ve been trying to spend some time with the tracks, figure out what works and what needs to be changed. It’s the part of the recording process that seems to take the longest but is probably the most rewarding. Everything starts coming together, like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place for the first time. There’s also a few exciting things on the horizon for this record so I’ll be sure to let you know as we get things locked down a little more. Until then, here’s a few things that I’ve been listening to lately…

Neil Diamond: Home Before Dark- I loved the last record (12 Songs) and just like that one, Rick Rubin is back in the producer’s chair. Really great stuff here and Rubin’s production just hits all the right marks. Plus, Neil Diamond is awesome!

The Weepies: Hideaway- I’m just now getting into this band and I’m really digging this record. A great one to kick back, relax and take in.

Once: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack- The movie was easily my favorite of last year and this record has been in steady rotation since we saw it. I also picked up this dvd which is pretty great… check it out.

Daniel Lanois: Here Is What Is- I finally got this one a few days ago and I like what I’ve heard so far. I’m a Lanois nerd so I’m just happy to have some new music. Can’t wait for that new U2 record he’s working on!

Counting Crows: Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings- I’m honestly really disappointed in this one. I’ve been a huge CC apologist but I’m just not feeling this album. While there’s a few great songs, it just starts to meander for me after a while. I’ll still defend the Crows any day though (I’m looking at you Aaron Melton!)

Radiohead: In Rainbows- Good grief this is a great record. I got it the day it was released online and I think it just might be their best yet… at the very least, it stands shoulder to shoulder with Ok Computer and Kid A. I keep finding more to love with every listen, brilliant stuff.

Ok, my Orioles just won an epic game against the Yankees in the 11th inning and I’m pretty pumped! Now it’s time for a little reading to wind down and then I’m off to bed… talk to you later.

Grace and peace,
Joe

(Thanks to my nephew Brady for reminding me that I have a couple of websites to update!)

After our Nashville trip two weeks ago and then a DC trip this past weekend, I’m feeling a bit disconnected. I love traveling and there’s nothing better than sharing that time with my wife and daughter, enjoying yet another memory for me to hold on to. After a while though, that tether to home starts to tighten up and our house seems like precious air to my gasping lungs. This post-trip time is when we tend to circle the wagons and try to keep the world at bay, even for just a little while. After that, there’s a need for the normal routine… reconnecting with our local friends, getting back to our church, even just cooking dinner instead of eating out every night. I’m very much a creature of habit and being away from that for too long starts to wear me down. As much as this simple man loves to roam, I’m always drawn back home… eventually. It’s good to be home.

Grace and peace,
Joe

Well, I was going to post from the studio Saturday but we ended up putting in a nearly 12 hour day. By the time I got to the hotel I was beat and then we drove pretty much all day yesterday. So I’ll post a few pictures now that I’m slowly returning to the land of the living.

It was a great, whirlwind of a trip and it was so nice to hang with the Casella’s again and even more so now that we’re all parents. I finished up my guitar parts and vocals before I left and now Casella will be working on stuff over the next month or so… adding piano, guitars, vocals, etc and then mixing/mastering. I’m really looking forward to hearing it all when it’s fleshed out instead of just hearing it in my head. I’ll post a bit more as I get back in the daily grind, for now here are some pictures from the trip…

I’ll post a few more later!

Joe

PS, happy baseball opening day!

We got to Nashville yesterday and since it was my one day off, hit some of our favorite places. We stopped by the Opry Hotel (very touristy thing to do but I don’t care, we love it) and mall and then went to eat dinner at Baja Burrito (a must every time we’re in town). Callie also got a bear from Build-A-Bear that says Nashville… it has guitars on it’s shirt.

This morning, we hit the studio and managed to track 3 songs (vocal and guitar) plus a few extra things. The Casellas took us to this awesome BBQ place for lunch and I had possibly the best beef barbecue EVER. We’ll be working again all day tomorrow and then heading home Sunday… I’ll try to post some pictures from the studio tomorrow as well. Can’t wait for y’all to hear these songs, we’re loving how it’s sounding so far!

Time to get some much needed sleep, talk to you tomorrow…

Joe

We’re getting everything packed up for a road trip to Nashville tomorrow. I’m heading out to work with Jeremy Casella again on a set of new songs. I love working with Jeremy and it’ll be good to get back into the studio and get these songs out for y’all. Plus, we just really love Nashville and any chance to be there is one we’ll take. This will be Callie’s first road trip, it’s a pretty long drive so we’ll see how it goes. We have Thursday open so we’re going to take her to all of our favorite haunts. Should be a fun and productive week!

I’m thinking of releasing this EP a little differently, possibly releasing it as a free download on this site… I’ll let you know more as I get it all figured out. I’ll also be posting pictures from the studio and keep you updated on our progress. So stay tuned for that.

Time to go finish packing, check the guitars and see if it all fits in my car… talk to you in a day or so!

Grace and peace,
Joe