Holy Crap - that's finally it! After 19 days of work shopping and arranging and 37 days of recording, we're finished the heavy lifting on this, the 12th Studio Album from Barenaked Ladies. It's been both challenging and incredibly rewarding over the past three and a half months. We've undertaken our first recording as a 4pc, changed up our management, and we even got out to play a bunch of rock shows for y'all. As of today, the super-genius Mix God who is Bob Clearmountain has completed 12 songs out of the 18 we recorded and we absolutely love the way they're sounding. It's actually kind of Bittersweet right now, as we wrap up things at Jimmy C's and get ready for a few weeks of R&R ('cept Kev, who never stops). I'll miss the collaboration and the joyous unity of these sessions.
I'll also miss cooking for my band and MPW, Keith and Kenny - our awesome assistant engineer. I kinda approached the last few meals of Tychow like they were feasts of accomplishment. Yesterday was slow - smoked BBQ Brisket with sides of Tangy Pit beans, Braised Collard Greens, and Crunchy 'slaw. Wednesday I did Tandoori BBQ's Chicken with Turmeric Rice, Gently Stewed Beets and Spinach with Ginger and Green Chillies. I think we may have started a tradition with this cooking thing. It's great to have everyone around the table, enjoying home-made food after toiling in the Music Mine all day!
What sweet slavery though, cause this has been the best workplace environment ever for this band. Uncle Tyler highly recommends doing a job you love, with dynamic and exciting people who are committed to each other and to creating great things. That's what this process has been like and as my main man George Gershwin once said, It's nice work if you can get it...
Though all that work sure made me tired:
Hey Y'all,
Uncle Tyler here with a little re-assurance. We want everyone to know that we are definitely planning a big tour in and around the release of our kick-ass new album. We'll get to as many of you as possible, we promise. The recent Festival Shows and the September and October casino gigs are ones we'd booked back in the spring, before the multitude of amazing and positive developments led us to where we are now: Namely, sitting on an incredibly exciting new batch of songs and heading off in a great new direction with Cam8 Management. You've stuck with us through the past year and all the ups and downs, so we're asking for a little more patience as we plan out the next phase for this little pop-rock orchestra. We thank everyone who has travelled far and wide this summer to see us rock the 4-piece science. We had a ton of fun at the gigs, and we feel so energized with each and every show we play. We really can't wait - but we have to, for a little while. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer and know that autumn will arrive with a brand new soundtrack by your Barenaked Ladies.
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When I first joined Barenaked Ladies in 1990, we had a residency at a Toronto Club called Ultrasound Showbar. It's long gone, but we remember it here.
One of the hardest parts of recording for the drummer is the over-dub process. All the drums are done and, aside from the occasional tambourine or shaker, there's not much else to do. Luckily, two factors contributed to me having more to do this time around. First of all, I get to sing a little more these days and I'm loving it! Secondly, JIM BOUGHT A BIG GREEN EGG so I became the session Chef! It was great to cook for my boys while we polished up the tunes. Maybe I should do it on the road?? Special shout out to the Lempka Family in Chicago who totally hooked me up with a box of delicious rubs and spices at the Taste of Chicago. You can bet they'll be put to good use this summer and beyond. Bon Apetit, my Peoples.