The Musical Schizo

As we just got contact from a few opportunities that we didn’t expect. Hmm…maybe things will be better than I thought! So that’s good.

On the album front, I’m starting to have issues with doing my record, because I really am not satisfied at all with the majority of songs I have picked. I don’t know if it’s self-editing ruining things again or what, but I really don’t love my music very much right now. That might change, or I just might have to write some songs, because everything seems kind of “almost there but not good enough”. Why can’t I just suck it up and let other people decide if it’s good? Artistic integrity is irritating.

Time to go see if I can write a song. 🙂
TMS

Roman Holiday disbanded. After four mostly fun years (you can read about all the fun and not-so-fun stuff if you go through the archives of this blog), it’s over.

It’s been a fun ride, Ned…and much love to all the Roman Holiday members through the years. We went through drummers like Spinal Tap!

• Lee – it was too short, but it was a blast!
• Greg – thanks for all the silliness.
• Rachel – sorry it was so short, and sorry the end was messy.
• Rob – you NAAASTY (and a genius).
• Luis – we will play together again!
• Mike – thanks for keeping it fun and LOUD.
• Patrick – thanks for all the fun and singing.
• Casey – thanks for leaving your drums at my house for almost two years…if I had only had the space to enjoy them…

All the great shows, all the great fans (none of whom really stuck with us, but that’s okay…people have lives), lots of great memories. We’ll gladly regroup for private parties…so send your friends to www.romanholidayband.com – you never know.

In current music news: Finally got all the songs arranged and printed and in a notebook…rehearsing them, fixing lame or clumsy lyrics, and figuring out the best arrangements is next. WHEE!

TMS

Or is it nowhere?

Kidding…anyway, haven’t gotten much done, but have discussed Roman Holiday doings with Ned, trying to figure out where that band’s headed for 2011 since we have nothing booked. Going to print out and put all the songs for the record in a notebook that I will take to work everyday and play on my lunch break to really get inside them and see what changes need to be made. Also going to make acoustic-and-voice demos of every song that will be on the new record, which should be interesting for the more “rock” songs and the ones that generally require more production. Just need to get the structures and phrasing down. Once those are done I’ll post them here (over on the main page).

Pieces!

TMS

I’m going to move this sucker over to my own web server here in a little while and change blog software to something more editable and customizable that works better with multimedia content.

Not just yet, though this blog will exist in both places for the time being.

The new blog (and its permanent home) will be at http://www.musicalschizo.com/blog (how original!)

I’ll be redesigning that site soon, and once that’s done, that’s where this blog will live (not that anyone reads it).

Happy New Year!
TMS

I took “I Know That I Can’t” off. It was always kind of on there tentatively, since it’s one of my older songs and it’s really not all that great. The best thing it has going for it is a little lift to a D augmented chord in the hook of the song (much like what Eddie Money did on “Baby Hold On”), and that’s just not enough to get past the crap lyrics I wrote. I was in a phase of writing about guys who aren’t good enough (which apparently comes and goes in my writing), and this was one of my lesser attempts at telling that guy’s story.

I’m actually hoping to write a few that can replace the older ones, but since my writing has been crippled by my “creative bladder’s swollen prostate” (hoping it’s not cancer), it’s just a trickle these days if at all.

I’m hoping to get 15 songs on the final album (up from the 13 I originally picked), and there are 17 or 18 in contention now, so here we go!

Happy New Year to all!
TMS

Some demos are present on the site, but many are not. There will be sonic experimentation with some tracks – layering sound and heavy production – while others will remain fairly spare. Anything that serves the song best.

I am SO EXCITED!

Anyway, here’s the list of titles (subject to change…):
A Smile
Better Than I Used To Be
On My Birthday
Even If I Don’t See You Again
I Know That I Can’t
I Want You
I’ll Be Fine
Jellybox (Song For You)
Miserable Bastard
My Old Man
Only Just The Start
Send Me Far Away
She’s Got It All
The Path Of Eternity
To Be Free
We Really Just Don’t Care
Why Didn’t You Show?
Without You With Me Tonight

No gigs recently. I’m missing the band camaraderie and general silliness. And the money.

I went to an open mic night tonight and met a local singer/songwriter named Julie Nolen. She was nice. I’ll be back out there soon to play some of these songs for people. Now to compile and rehearse these little song bitches so I can determine what I need to do to get them effectively recorded!

Happy New Year to all!
TMS

Yes, folks, I have decided to shit.

Well, instead of getting off the pot (as the old saying goes)…

I am going to be recording my first album of songs. I’ve picked what I consider to be my 13 strongest songs to date, and I will be putting together proper recordings of all of them. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a real drummer to cut the drum tracks…if not, I might pull a Jason Falkner and just record everything myself.

The album will probably have “Musical Schizo” in the title, and will feature cover art designed by me. It will include an electronic booklet (probably in PDF format) that will contain all lyrics and chords (most musicians don’t do that), and credits for all who contributed to the record (of course).

My bet would be that it shifts styles some, since that’s what I do, but since most of my strongest material was written on an acoustic guitar, there might be sort of a strummy Americana/roots feel to a lot of it – that might be the way it plays out for cohesiveness’ sake. I want it to really “fit”.

Some of the songs need some production work, structurally and lyrics-wise, before I record them, but I anticipate a finished product in the spring or early summer of 2011.

When it’s done, I’ll be releasing it on iTunes and Rhapsody, so you can buy it.

Unlike some people I know who have self-released stuff digitally, mine will be properly mastered and very high quality. I’m going for good songs, recorded beautifully. A little Musical Schizo ear candy, if you will.

So let’s see if this goes the way of the never-seeming-to-get-off-the-ground acoustic project…
TMS

Saturday night I had a great time filling in on bass with Moving Blues at Rabbit’s. It was just nice focusing hard on the groove and just worrying about playing bass.

Over the past couple of weeks a few friends of mine in another band previously mentioned on this blog have been asking me if I’d be interested in playing lead guitar with them with this singer-songwriter from a little north of Austin. I listened to the music, and though it’s not bad at all, one thing always comes to mind when I explore making music – especially original music – with other people: What about my music? Why don’t I focus on doing that instead of learning other people’s music. I mean, being in an original band where you’re not a songwriter is one step down from cover band. So why would I do that and not be paid for it, and not advance my own writing?

I know the answer I’m going to give them, and I do always appreciate when people are interested in playing with me at all and see some talent here. I just have to do the same thing I did when the guitar seat opened up in that band back in Jacksonville – say “no thanks” and make a commitment to my own music for once.

It’s just time. Now that Casey is taking back her drum kit (after almost two years, I might add) I might do a little re-arranging of the studio to better suit my creative needs (and clean the damn thing up – it’s a pig sty).

I need to start writing songs again. It’s been a long time since I cranked one out.

Maybe I’ll go try and do that now…peace to all!
TMS

I really feel like things are going to go pretty well with music. I’ve come to terms with the limited time that I have to devote to it, come to terms with the reality that Roman Holiday is evolving into something else (which is good), and am super excited about rehearsing my acoustic set. I’m going to be posting a series of videos of me sitting in my bathroom singing songs, just me and a guitar. Mostly covers, but I’ll probably throw one or two of my originals in there for fun.

Inspired by the new Steven Page album, “Page One”. I really didn’t expect it to be as good as it is. I love it. No. I LURVE it.

Okay. Back to work. 🙂

Peace be the journey…
TMS