You know, it’s no secret that I am living in my parents’ basement.
But what you don’t know is that, in order to get to my room, I walk through what I affectionately refer to as the dog room. And well, I love those dogs, I really do, but they smell. And they are large. And since there is so much of them, that can equal a lot of smell.
And the basement, it’s not exactly beautiful. It’s been lived in, yes; but there’s no carpet, the walls are sort of stripped away, it’s cold, and have I mentioned it kind of smells?
Like dogs.
Two of the nicest dogs you’ll ever meet, but still.
But then I open up the door to what everyone around here calls The Suite and it’s like I’ve been transported to a new world. The first thing I notice is warmth. And then light, cause the walls are painted this cheerful color that is soft and welcoming and with just enough hint of rose to make you wonder what you could have said to make the hallway blush.
It was probably my pop, though; he does love to tease.
But it’s very nice here. Not out there so much, but here. It’s a little sanctuary and I am grateful for it.
And well, the suite is to the basement as music is to my life.
It’s another little sanctuary in the midst of a situation that smells and feels like crap. And that’s what tonight was all about–recording music, I mean, not smelling and feeling like crap.
Not tonight, anyway.
Shane and I are working on putting some songs on an EP so we can hand it out to as many people as we can. We still don’t have a name for our band, but that certainly doesn’t keep us from playing music.
So this is a song that Shane wrote on his little mandolin that says aloha and everything. Though he’ll probably be upset that I wrote that part about aloha; he doesn’t like that his mandolin is stuck in a perpetual greeting, I guess, and has mentioned that to me before.
Oh, and Shane is playing every instrument you hear.
He’s stupid talented like that.
Except, of course, he’s not the one snapping. That’s all me. I will say that he did try to snap along, but since we only had one pair of headphones and, as the lead snapper (have I mentioned I have a wicked snap?), of course I got to wear them. So I tried to cue him silently as to when the first chorus kicked in, but it didn’t work. I’d never before seen a snap have a stutter but now I am pretty sure that I have. Let’s just say that after that little fiasco, he left the snapping to me.
Naturally.
Anyway, listen.
And try not to be jealous of my mad snapping skills.
oh wow, I really like the way this sounds! You guys sound good together, and the song has a really nice moldy peaches kind of sound (that main song from Juno, that band). Really like it.
haha I was like, We sound like moldy peaches..??? But I got it now–and thanks!
and what am I thinking, more importantly–HAPPPPPPY BIRTHDDDDAAAAYYYY!!!! (lettttt’ssss gettt readdddyy toooo rummmmbbbbllleeee!!!) !!!!
I am so excited for you to record some songs. You guys are awesome!
thanks, girl–I’m excited about it too!
Oh and yeah the difference between the dog room and the suite is incredible, it’s like a movie set that was built in an abandoned warehouse or something. Love the suite – smells wonderful, too.
I know–I’m so grateful that it smells so nice in the suite. Sometimes I kinda hold my breath through the dog room and then when I exhale and inhale in the suite it’s such a relief.
Great song! I really like how your voices sound together!
The suite & basement reminds me of the scene in romancing the stone: the town was really primitive but where this guy lived was absolutely beautiful.
Hey I’m the one who picked out the colors.
And the dogs have let me know that they think we all stink.
thanks, Mom! and the dogs think we stink, huh? Well they certainly don’t act like it–since you know, they basically like to sit ON me as much as possible!!
That is sweet. Nice sound. I like it!
thanks, PJ:-)
Sounds great!!
thanks, beth–that’s nice of you to say!
oh snap.
yep. keeeeeep working on it…!
I LOVE this song!!!
me too!:)
I love this.. gonna share it with Josh now. It’s great.. you guys really sound great together. Thanks for sharing it!!
hey Becky!! thank for stopping by and listening–that’s so kind of you!
Gosh I LOVE you two together!! Also, mandolins. And snapping.
you know, I got the small guitar-like instrument TOTALLY wrong..which is funny because we basically call it the banjolin now since I almost never call it what it actually is: a UKELELE. I usually call it a banjo or a mandolin…or you know, a banjolin. But it’s actually a ukelele. My bad. I need to be better at paying attention…
I liked it too. Especially the part about Shane, who can’t snap. Another drummer who can’t snap. When my Josh was a kid, he couldn’t snap his fingers at all, because he was only 4. Now he’s a drummer who picks up all the other instruments and plays them, too, kinda like Shane-Bo.
Which reminds me of how much I love it when Shane is around, and picks up a guitar or bass, we just knock out some nice chords and riffs. Or how he has this amazing ear, and says, “hey Jimbo, play that part again, but this time double-up on the rhythm and then finish up with these big open chords.” And of course it sounds awesome.
Wait, this is about the rabbit song: Yeah, it was good. Thanks guys.
Yep, Shane is pretty darn awesome like that…and ha! thanks for liking the rabbit song:-)
You guys sound great together…I think you complement one another well. I really like the song, too. Thanks so much for sharing it.
nice way to distinguish “complement” from “compliment!” though, coming from you, I am not surprised at all, kathie…;)
So Honor kinda jumped in her sleep with I turned the song on ….and then she smiled, sighed and settled back to sleep…I think that means she likes it….and I do too;)
well this is very good news, cause we are mostly targeting the infants with this EP! and I’m so glad that you agreed with sweet Honor:)
Great sounds guys! Can’t wait to hear more! And, ahem, who pray tell BUILT that suite??!?
well, he looks a lot like me, only he’s a boy…hmmmm…I…can’t…remember…:)
Jess!!!!!!! I love this song!!!! you guys sound great:) as always:)Jacob loves it too!!! can’t wait to hear you guys live again!
thanks, sarah–and I loved the song you played for me yesterday–can’t wait to hear you guys sing soon!!
Wow, I LOVE this song. You guys sound great together.
At first I thought the title of this song was an ode to the band, Frightened Rabbit and I thought, “hey i love that band, I am so glad that someone else appreciates them enough to write a song for them.”
Although I now realize this song has nothing to do with the band, I hope that they hear it some day because they are a folksy little enterprise themselves and they would probably appreciate something as creative and beautiful as this song.
I think I need to check out that band…I don’t think I know any of their tunes. And thanks–I really like how it turned out too!
Collin, I thought the same thing at first. Maybe in the vein of band names like “Frightened Rabbit” Jessica and Shane should call their act “Smelly Dog”.
and play a LOT of basement shows at mom and pops…
Col, in a way it is an ode to that band. You see, Frightened Rabbit’s music was a staple for me in a number of ways at the time when this little ukulele song came about. So, it’s kind of like a thank you to them.
great song! isn’t shane’s mandolin that says aloha, actually a ukulele? or that a joke that went over my head?
Nope, I WISH it was a joke–but you’re totally right and I always forget what that thing actually is. I either call it a mandolin or a banjo and every once in a great while I stumble upon what it really is–a ukelele…:)
THis is awesome!!
thanks, Lyric–I love you!!! <3