el deth

Posts Tagged ‘acoustic’

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dinosaur by Mark Cline

“Crap Out”
“Fighters”
“Blue”
“Seeking the Sun (Before the Threshold)”
“Liquid Courage”
“Seeking the Sun (After the Threshold)”
“Getting Out of the House”

The sky is overcast in Knoxville today.  Much the same as on October 27th, when we recorded this one.  It was a Wednesday, our standard meeting of the minds.  Raining outside.  Solemn and subdued.  All of this increasingly so, as everyone except Katie and I decided to take the night off.

So it’s called the Depression Session based on the premise that we should be sad that everyone canceled on us.  The reality, however, is that Katie and I, working as a duo, pulled through just fine…even merrily at times.  In fact, we stretched ourselves further than we might have with everyone else there.

But it’s a good session name.   It still fits the tone of the day and the tone of the recordings.

“Crap Out” – This was how the session began, with the idea in mind to play in minor key and improvise lyrics about everyone canceling and how it made us feel.  I don’t know.  It’s hard for me to maneuver through that kind of lyrical mindset without eventually veering into the ridiculous.  Then again, it is perhaps refreshing to hear the ridiculous within the opening track of something called Depression Session.  Especially if you’re listening because you’re depressed.

“Fighters” – This is the only song from this session that we used beats on.  Katie was rockin’ the mandolin while I did triple duty with beats, keys and banjo.  Actually, that’s not nearly as difficult as it sounds.  It’s all about timing.  It’s not like I’m busting out some crazy solos or anything.  The end result is kind of fun.

“Blue” – I’m not sure how finished this song is, but it was definitely finished enough to use for this session.  I figured if we were calling it the Depression Session, we would need a truly sad core to it.  I think this one fits.  I’m doing vocals and guitar.  Katie’s playing the keys.

“Seeking the Sun” – These two little banjo / mandolin tunes sound more hopeful than depressing.  That’s why they are called “Seeking the Sun.”  Ideally, though, there’s always a little hope in depression, right?  Yeah.  So we got some trace amounts.

“Liquid Courage” – This is Katie’s chord progression completely and I love it.  Again, I am improvising lyrics about heartbreak and again, I am unable to do so without eventually touching on the ridiculous.  The devil.  I always talk about the devil.  It was such a nice little song until I did here.  I still stand by most of my cadence decisions, though.  Anyway.  Katie on ukulele…me on guitar.

“Getting Out of the House” – We quickly sketched out and rehearsed this little instrumental for the end of the session.  I’m playing banjo and she’s on the keys.  I am in love with E minor played on banjo.  Find it here and melt.

Katie Collins – ukulele, mandolin, keys
Arrison Kirby – guitar, banjo, keys, beats, vocals

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photo by McKenzie Michaels

“Rub and Slip”
“Bristol”
“Family Affairs”
“Squeen”
“Sweet Times”
“Afraid of the Ghost”
“Asleep in my Head”
“Fucking”
“Sucking”

This session was without our beloved Katie, but we pulled through quite minimally.

“Rub and Slip” – We introduced the keys to the set up and opened with this reggae bi-product type jam.  I played those keys low to a slowed down version of the beat Obadiah used to use for the song “Same.”  Dane handled the bass good and dubby.  I think Rachel is hitting the drums.  This song leaves as abruptly as it begins.

“Bristol” – I replaced the electric guitar with acoustic to strip down this one.  Dane on the bass.  Megan and I singing of course.  Rachel is laying back on the snare.

“Family Affairs” – We did a better minimal version of this one in an earlier session which is pretty much lost.  This one isn’t all bad, though…just a few hiccups here and there.  Same set up as on “Bristol.”

“Squeen” – Another random looper pedal moment.  I almost silenced it, but Dane told me to leave it on.  He proceeded to build it up and over.  I joined in on keys as well.

“Sweet Times” – This was Dane’s progression.  He’s playing the acoustic guitar.  I’m playing the piano.  I’m a bit choppy at times (and bendy), but the little dancehall interplay around the minute twenty mark is worth the wait.

“Afraid of the Ghost” – First recorded version of this song with keys.  I was a bit uncomfortable playing the keys while singing on this one.  Hence, my voice awkwardly dips out several times.  Overall, though, this is a fun little version.  Megan’s flute mixing with the feedback reminds me of some of Roxy Music’s more experimental moments.  The beat was actually constructed by myself and David Dalton together.  We used it in the Flashmob song, “Tanya Tucker.”

“Asleep in my Head” – This is Megan and I doing a sensitive little flute and piano jam influenced by Carlo Gesualdo.

“Fucking” – I guess this is comedy kind of?

“Sucking” – This one isn’t funny at all.

Megan Driscoll – vocals, flute, tambourine
Dane Hill – bass, guitars
Rachel Jae – axillary percussion, drums
Arrison Kirby – guitars, keys, beats, vocals

Thursday used to be the new Friday. Now Friday is Friday again. Like a foolish fool, I have been sleeping through my Fridays habitually and consistently. I absolutely need to break this habit. I missed some really good stuff last night.

In any case, I always end up waking up right around 3AM. This morning was no different. Having felt pretty shitty for missing the night’s fun, I decided not to waste the rest of it. Plus my emotive and creative faculties were running pretty high. So this video is basically a partial document of what I did when I awoke.

I know it’s nothing particularly interesting, and also that it could stand for a bit less talk and a bit more rock. Bare with me though. I wanted to make sure my video making and uploading process was solid. Since I now know it is (thanks to this video), you perhaps should be able to expect more videos to come.

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As preparation and promotion for Wednesday’s big show, both Zac Fallon and Arrison Kirby will be appearing live in WDVX’s studios beginning at midnight as Saturday, August 21st, rolls into Sunday, the 22nd.  Wayne Bledsoe hosts the weekly program, All Over the Road.  He’ll be genre hopping across an eclectic variety of tunes to carry the night and it’s also pretty safe to assume there will be a smattering of on air performances.

WDVX exists on the FM dial.  102.9 if you are in Knoxville, Tennessee.  89.9 if you are in Clinton, Tennessee.  If you don’t live in either of those places, then congratulations!  You’ve made it into 2011 where you can totally stream that shit.

Skippy and the Bellbottoms
What Happened to Turn Signals?
2005

“Big Head Syndrome”
“Life Looks Better in the Fall”
“Marshmallow Shoes”
“Stay Home, Brother”
“Dry Spell”
“Skyscraper”
“Dansu Shitai Desu Ka?”
“A Bomb and a Bull”
“At the End of Day Two”
“Speeds McGhee”
“Better Ways”

Written and performed by Jeff Maynard
Produced by Arrison Kirby

Bug – vocals on “Dry Spell” & “Better Ways”
Natalie Kimbro – violin on “A Bomb and a Bull”
Nathan Tipton – vocals on “Better Ways”

Recorded at El Studio, Knoxville, TN.

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