Sunday, September 20, 2009


It's Gee-Tar Time:
It's Sunday morning and I am please to say that after a long but very productive week it's Gee-Tar time. OK that's the last time I'll type the word Gee-Tar because it's starting to annoy me and I am not easily annoyed.

After we spent the first part of Saturday morning on scheduled studio maintenance we set up some amps & cabs and started to dial in the guitar tone. WOW.... The song just sounds extraordinary! We have been taking the needed time with the track to make sure we get all the tones sounding just right... The bass,drums,congas and Farfisa just sound amazing... none of that "we will fix it in the mix" mentality going on here... We tracked the core rhythm section live as a four piece and it translates really well in the studio. With no click track used and after a handful of takes we found the magic... a very powerful, natural sounding, voodoo snake charmer on acid, makes me want to fire dance rhythm bed. To quote Mark Tulin A.K.A. @mtulin "The music is reflecting the passion of the process." Whatever the hell that means I don't know but it sounds good! So first thing Monday morning Billy will start up on guitars...

My friend Kat picked up the Flip Ultra HD camera yesterday so next week I'll start including more video in this blog...

Now for The Saturday trivia questions:
For the SP pick- (the first Smashing Pumpkins show with Billy,James, D'arcy, and Jimmy was October 5, 1988, at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago. Where was the second show?

For the Electric Prunes Pick Pack- How old was Mark Tulin when he recorded the first E.P. record?


Here are a few pictures of Billy Bear working his magic in the control room.

45 comments:

Andrew said...

The Avalon on October 29th

Goodbye, Beautiful said...
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goldengriffin90 said...

I was going to answer the Pumpkins related question, but I'll go with the Electric Prunes question instead.

Just to be clear, you're asking how old Mark was when he recorded the Electric Prunes 1st album? Just makin' sure. Haha. :P

If so, he was 18 years old. Same age as me. :D

linda1167 said...

couldn't log in, mark was 17 or 18

Anonymous said...

Avalon nightclub, 17

shanezy said...

AAUUGGGH I'm too late..

Oh well, Avalon Night Club 10/29/88

linda1167 said...
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Goodbye, Beautiful said...

The Metro

dollbabytina said...

i have really old photos that appear to be at lounge ax. that is my guess

linda1167 said...
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Unknown said...

Kerry, I would love to know models/vintages of the Marshalls in the rack there. I see the sound city, what's that on top of it though? Also is that a red jmi head and a Peterson strobe tuner I see?

Goodbye, Beautiful said...

I would love to know the models of the Marshalls too. Is he still putting the KT 88's in them?

Rose Moon said...

2nd show played at Through the Looking glass??

linda1167 said...

ok ,if someone was missing from the 10/29 Avalon show (or spfc is wrong), the next one was supposedly 10/18 in Milwaukee- but no venue is listed. After that Annie May Swift Hall in Evanston

linda1167 said...

can't type today- 11/18 Milwaukee...

studiodog said...

To win the pick need the name of the Venue for second Pumpkin show.

dollbabytina said...

that milwaukee show that you say has no venue listed was at a place called "the rat skellar". i have photos from that show also!

dollbabytina said...

oops i spelled wrong i meant rathskellar, but i thought it was madison, not milwaukee grrrr

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Billy had KT88's in anything but the main jcm800 head, I think the one that had "soul" written on it?

The Gish/sd/mcis head in other words.

Goodbye, Beautiful said...

You could be right, brendo_91. I just remember reading in Guitar World that he liked using those in his amps because they sound bigger. Wasn't sure if he just did it in the Soul Marshall.

Anonymous said...

Roselle Music

Btw, many articles mentioned 10/05 was 1st show w/Jimmy and 11/23 was 4th show as support act for Jane's addiction. So this would be also wrong... umm.

1988/10/05 Metro <--- 1st
1988/11/23 Metro <--- 4th

merveilleuse said...

must be working really well, very tight, if no click track was needed!

Outsiderlady said...

Tell billy he's very hot on the first pic !!!

AND THANK YOU for the updates by the way !!! Sooo cool !

Outsiderlady said...
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Outsiderlady said...
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Outsiderlady said...

For the Sp answer:

Avalon Nite club ,Chicago, il, USA

88/10/29

Right ?

Zeitgeisty said...

Ok, I'm gonna go with 1988/11/18 at the Unicorn, Milwaukee.

Zeitgeisty said...

Hmmm, dont know why it put my username as some article I read on the psychology behind enjoyment of horror movies. Oh well!

studiodog said...

We have a winner!!! Bruce Kawin... The Unicorn in Milwaukee was where SP played there second show.

studiodog said...

The Electric Prunes pick pack goes to CedarBird Mark was 17 when he recorded the first Prunes record.

Outsiderlady said...

really ? but what about the avalon nite club show the 29th ?

Outsiderlady said...

I mean it's the show after the metro one no ?
I thought the Milwaukee one was the third
-try to understand, try to understand-

Zeitgeisty said...

WOW! I won!!! I dont know why it came up with that article instead of my actual username. If you click on 'Bruce Kawin' it just takes you to my profile anyway. Twitter is @iamsamandrews. Do I send a DM to @studiodog??

Brandon said...

Thanks for keeping up with this every day, Kerry, you have no idea what an inspiration it is to read this blog every day while my band is in the process of recording as well. It not only continues to satisfy my hunger for updates as a Pumpkins fan, but also fuels me to try interesting new techniques when we are recording. Just wanted to let you know how much what you are doing is appreciated.

Unknown said...

I'm now 34 Billy. Been with you since the start back in what...92? 93? From the uk.. Tonight I watched 'If All Goes Wrong' on dvd and it was without doubt the most refreshing band dvd I have seen in the current climate.. I am more in support of your artistic delivery of new material as If I were in a similar situation, would I be doing the same thing of promoting an new change in self development that trying to please an old ordinance.... Growth comes from the plantation of new seeds. I for one am in support and am extreemly excited about your new work with Mike Byrne,

I Wrote to you 4 years ago about a first born, A new daughter I have. She has recently taken you under her wing with Tarantula, for some reason she thinks it is the the best song ever written along side Abba's every little thing and Empire of the Sun's 'We are the people", baring in mind she is only four.

As I have followed you since 1994 I would love a signed autograph signed to myself 'Dan McRae' & "Kitty McRae' my daughter of 4. And new fan.

I am not a man who would ask twice, and given 4 years between requests feel out of a comfort zone, so expect no reply.


xx



171 Middlebridge Street
Romsey
Hampshire
S014 088
UK

Cara Patricia said...
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Cara Patricia said...

Oh was one of them not at the 10/29 avalon show?
Awesome who won with the Unicorn pick.

http://www.spfc.org/tours/date.html?year=1988

DevinCReilly said...

i can't wait till the first song comes out.

linda1167 said...

That was fun- just trying to see how close I could get without actually winning... :)

Unknown said...

New trivia question! What were Billy's settings for his ADA MP-1 for Gish?

Prize is the satisfaction of knowing you helped me out with my new bit of kit from eBay that's arriving this week...!

Unknown said...

That SG is a sexy guitar. I like P-90's

Gg mgmt said...

From France, thx for everything :)

Anonymous said...

Aw! I think I missed the timing for raising my hand as a pick winner. I'm sorry, Kerry and Mark!

Unknown said...

Where's he hiding the Diezels?