Shit is Starting to Happen (13 days remain Part III)

When I downloaded the files from the band's (we'll call them ABO) myspace just shy of three weeks ago, I had to let it sit for a while. Let the music stew in my head to allow my interpretation to surface and form into lyrics and melody. I walked around with the first track coursing through my brain from my ipod for a week. Nothing. Hrm. "Well..." I thought, "maybe it'll be like my very first song with that other band." That other band was the second of the three so far. We'll call them 4 guys in Whitby. When 4 guys in Whitby sent me their song, it was on a Friday night and I had to have at least SOMEthing prepared for that Sunday afternoon. It wasn't until Sunday morning that I began to jot furiously in my notebook while humming notes into the shitty microphone in my computer. It gelled pretty quickly and went over well at the audition later that day. As far as first songs go, I thought it was alright but I found the band's ability to play much more loose and not especially my style. It was evident that they only play for fun once a week. Not for me...

The point is that the first time around, the song came easy. This second attempt was proving to be much more of a bitch. The second of my two available weeks to get this new one together had come to a close and I had a basic idea but still nothing concrete. I left work early the day before yesterday to go back into my closet and not come out until I had a solid start to finish song, shitty or not. Funny because all the while, another of ABO's songs was running through my head while I was putting the finishing touches on the one they gave me. I wrote the chorus down and it drilled its way into my memory over the next day and by the time I finished work yesterday, I had a song and a half ready when I was only asked to prepare for one.

The downside for me at that time is that though I was pleased with myself for meeting the deadline, I must confess that I hated both the lyrics and the melody that I had come up with for "Hardly Wait" (first song). I completed it and was embarrassed. I expressed this at great length to Mightydoll patient as she was. She told me not to sweat it, that it probably wasn't as bad as I was making it out to be and to just ride out the audition with it. Damn. Her support continues to move me. I heeded her advice and made it to the audition with the thought that, "Well, at least I finished it and at least I got a solid chorus that I really like for the extra song." True I wasn't too confident about it but it was to late to let that show in my face or especially my voice.

ABO seems pretty serious about their project. They rehearse 4-6 times per week and have a lot of great ideas other than the ones I worked with. They rent out a large practice room from a warehouse that has been dissected to gear itself to this exact purpose. Dozens of bands are in this one building. I've never been in a place like this before. Upon walking in, its nothing but hallways and doors with numbers. Yet, like walking backstage at some arena. Tight corridors and many band's loud noise filling the space.

I found the right door and the room was empty so I had to wait a few minutes for some of the guys show up. It only took a few minutes until I was met and invited into the room. The drummer and guitarist asked a slew of questions and chatted with me as we chilled on their couch. As I answered the same questions that two other bands had asked me, "what's your musical background, can you play an instrument, who inspires you" and all that, I looked around this fabulous room. On the walls hung posters from concerts, about a half dozen guitars and a huge dry erase board with a slew of notes. Everything from press kit costs, CD pressing costs, merchandise ideas to things as simple as finding a singer and a bassist.

During this conversation, the drummer was pleased to find that I had prepared for this. As he read what I wrote, he mentioned that it drove him crazy to place ads for weeks saying, "take our songs and make them your own. Write lyrics and melody" and then people come in and say, "Yeah, I'm just gonna wing it."

So, right about the time the second guitarist finally arrived, so did the next applicant. As I greeted the second guitarist, I overheard the next applicant say to the drummer, "I forgot my lyrics that I prepared so I'm just gonna wing it."

*snicker*

Well, if nothing else, I get points over that guy. Next applicant parked his ass on the couch during my set after I told the band that he didn't have to wait in the hall.

So it began. They started with the one I had completed and I was more than surprised to learn that I was indeed on the right track! It sounded completely justified (and vastly different) from the crappy recordings I made in my closet. We ran through that number a couple times and it was decent. What really made me feel good was the second song. The chorus running through my head the last few days was a really nice fit.

I was told by the band that I have a killer voice, that they were very pleased with the preparation I had done and I will definitely be called back for a second audition after they have had time to see the other applicants.

I left that building in a daze of exhaustion and bliss.

and then went straight to the jam night at my local pub to sing my ass off all over again.

thanks for reading.
love,
HH

Audition #1 of 3rd Band (13 days remain Part II)

HUBRIS- "2 weeks it has been. when is good for you?"

ABO- "Well we are open for tues and or wed if u can make either night for 30-45
mins jam? We tend to do two auditions per night, we are really giving everyone a shot."

HUBRIS- "is Wednesday at 7:30 okay?"

ABO- "111 Hockey Avenue, northwest corner at Blubber and Bouffant. Room 33 is our jam space."

HUBRIS- "Sweeeet. Looking forward to it."

ABO- "Awesome, you're still down for tomorrow right? We have two auditions tomorrow, so we have about an hour with you and then someone coming at 9 which my other guitarist booked.... Looking forward to it man!"

HUBRIS- "Seriously I'm fuckin psyched! Is your practice space bike friendly? 8 pm right? Look for the kinda blonde guy. Here's my cell if you need to get ahold of me. xxx-xxx-xxxx
cheers,
Nick"


This band is expecting that I have prepared for one of their songs. That is half of what I'm ready for. I took the liberty of downloading another of their songs that I happen to like better and I have set lyrics and melody to that one as well. They are a heavy act and listening to their recorded tracks, it is my hope that they are just as tight live. After all, I'm not the only one auditioning. They are auditioning for me as well. Further reports to follow of course.

Love,
HH

Happy Anniversary to Me

Today marks my the beginning of my 5th year of living in Canada!

In a phone conversation with my sister last night, she confided as she does every time we talk on the phone, that she misses me and wishes that I did not live so far away. I informed her that the rest of my family out here in Reasonable Healthcare Land felt otherwise. I know my sister understands this, but that doesn't keep her from missing me terribly.

13 Days Remain

This band has responded to my inquiries about singing for them. My samples have been sent. They responded by saying,
"So tell you what,
Come down prepared with lyrics and melodies to Hardly wait, we play it the way it was recorded, we jam a few times and see how that song goes... And judging fromt hat we'll move from there.
Please note we are a heavy rock loud band, the singer for this band will have power and projection to his voice.
We need a singer who can not only sing, but project his voice on key.
Please focus on Hardly wait, make it your own lyrically and melodically with vocals, come in and wow us, and remember we are looking for a loud projected voice to soar over top of our music.
Get back to us when you're done, let's say in the next 2 weeks....
I just don't want to leave this hanging long as we have auditions this week, but at the same time, your mission is to impress the shit out of us right?
So yeah let me know when you're ready"

*Drags laptop to closet and closes door*

Included in this week's goals: a guitar playing friend of mine is going to come over and aid me with recording the song I have written, or at least the chord progression, I have roaming through my head so that I can lay some lyrics and melodies to it.

Also scheduled, I am meeting as many as two different other bands, both at Jam night this week, to talk music and potentially singing for their bands.

I wonder if it still remains to be seen wether I want it or not...