A new song version, and more Nashville
Before we get to Nashville, I promised on Instagram that I would share the latest version of Where Are You as an "email subscriber-only exclusive", so let's start with that.
I wrote this song years ago and of all the originals we do it always leaned the farthest in the direction of country music. So how perfect that as Simon got older he sounded more and more like a country singer.
Previously I was the lead on most songs - which was mostly a function of being unable to convince the boys to get past their shyness and take over the primary vocal, but those days are long passed. So I suggested on the re-recording of this one that Simon take over – as it is such a fit for his voice.
The original version is on Spotify as a part of the Roads EP that we recorded in 2015, but on that one the boys were pre- and mid-puberty and they do indeed sound very much like pimply teenagers. But they sound almost nothing like that how so we are working on new versions of the songs on that EP.
Where Are You and One for the Road will be first. So here's a preview of what Where Are You sounds like thus far:
You might notice on that track a level of acoustic guitar ability that is beyond what you may have come to expect from me. No, it is not that I have improved my playing. What you are hearing are the skills of the Nashville friend that I mentioned in last week's email. Here he is again:
On the Monday before we left Nashville we made our way to 2 studios to meet some new producer friends we had been connected with. The first, Brad Sample, was not only an incredible guitarist and singer, he's also a top-level producer. And if that wasn't enough, he also makes and manufactures studio monitors that produce just about the most perfect, crystal-clear audio that I have heard (they also cost $6000 so they wont be in my basement any time soon ).
It is not at all difficult to see why a musician living in Nashville might be consumed with self-doubt and tempted to say "why do I even bother to attract to make music." It's like trying to become a hockey player while surrounded by NHLers.
Then we got to four the back rooms of RCA Studio B, the place where Elvis recorded, where Dolly Parton first tracked "I Will Always Love You," and where our new instagram friend Diana works as a producer. Jason sat down at Elvis's old piano to play a few tunes (I didn't even know he could play piano) and we watched and listened in from the control room as tours made their way through the museum part of the studio.
To close, a quick reminder to anyone who is interested in kicking off spring at the Brandon Winter Fair, we will be there on Monday and Tuesday, March 27, and 28. Great for families, with lots of opportunities to see and play with unruly farm animals. I don’t mean the band, I mean actual farm animals at the fair. Check it out here:
https://provincialexhibition.com/royal-manitoba-winter-fair/
