SOME THINGS I'VE SORT OF LEARNED
That reads just like the headlines to the columns by the stoner kid in the Onion. "Hola. I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya." That guy.
It's very very late, and I should be resting in preparation of tomorrow's studio time. I've been working on Benji's album. It's starting to take shape. It took most of this week to really sculpt a framework for what the songs will be built upon. But I've made some really cool sounds--most interesting are the ride cymbal hits that I pitched up an octave--I had the drummer hit a lone ride cymbal, close mic'd in stereo by a pair of PPA-2ube mics from Pacific Pro Audio in Seattle. He had recently had his mallets stolen, and thus we fashioned one--out of a drumstick and one of benji's socks (earlier I confiscated benji's and drummer Isaiah's t-shirts to cover the drums and deaden them!)--and it worked just fine. I then used the pitch shifter audio suite plug in to pitch the hits up an octave, with time correction, and they sound quite unreal. As they trail out there's some truly weird artifacts, little dark pops, that are really spooky.
We've been canvassing Tulsa for its finest dining options--and I've found Tulsa has numerous examples of two of my favorites--barbecue and authentic Mexican cuisine. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that one of the best meals I had was at Legends, a barbecue place by the Latham's staffed by a Hispanic crew. You get a brownie with your meal. Meat is served by the pound. Bottomless iced tea. In fact, the night we were there the special was all-you-can-eat ribs for around ten dollars. Thing is, their regular order is already all I can eat.
Driving to our morning coffee, at Shades of Brown (which is where Isaiah baristas from 6am to 1pm, all these mornings between recording included) we saw a pair off bald eagles circling above us as we drove along the river. To add the unexpectedness of that sighting, there was also one of those Mylar balloons, escaped perhaps from the Tulsa State Fair, in purple, caught in the same thermal.
I have to give a heartfelt thank you to Dave P., who came and helped us sort some computer issues the other day, and Shannon who came and Super-Tech'ed, ultimately solving our issues. And my man on the set up day, Wayne. The studio we're working in is very new and the opposite of trashy; the sounds have been good and the monitoring is very pleasant and accurate. And there's wifi. Zac, the proprietor has been generous and unobtrusive. Oh, and thanks to Kelly for letting me use his Photoshop--thanks to him I put some new photos up in the photo section.
And thanks to Whitney for the mints. Benji's lovely Mrs. put clean sheet on my bed and left a mint on my pillow. Or so I thought. I found out that there had actually been two, one of which was stuck to me when I woke up. And, bless her heart, Whitney changed the sheets *again* as they were all chocolate-y now. Seeing as she is a very busy resident at the pediatrics ward of a local hospital, that's a lot of extra work and I felt bad that she insisted on doing it. Bottom line is, Tulsa's good people.
Love
KS
Tulsa OK
