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 Your Hey Mercedes weblog. The Cast: Robert Nanna Damon Atkinson Todd Bell Michael Shumaker Dan Keehn Chris Bickert Norman Arenas Ryan Snyder 
Ebay: Bob Damon Todd Mike Ryan Go Clock Go: absolute punk all music guide alton brown art of the mix awkward pirouttes bipolar braid heaven c & c drums cadmium chicago shows! critical darling dullest dvd file ebay google news grandtheftautumn invisible city kempa look like kenny michael moore my friend goes left the new top ok plus three panaphobic pirate smiles pitchfork punk news quoc machinery recwreck rocket fuel the scout theme park thieves trouble vagrant weasel manor who would buy work of fiction you look good hallelujah it's the indieblogs webring list random previous next |
April 14, 2001
Robert: 7:17 PM: A chart is being made and we are listening to some insane recordings courtesy of Chris Roseneau, of Pele fame. Brilliant. The drum sounds are done. When i ventured over to the studio house, i saw that they had concocted this enormous cylinder that extends a good 4 feet out of the bass drum... with a mic sticking in it. Bass and guitar sounds are done, for the most part. Damon and Todd have gone to Minneapolis to pick up some last minute supplies, so once they get back, we may actually lay down some tracky tracks.
Robert: 3:30 PM: The pool is great. There is even a complementary boombox down there, so we rocked out with The Modern Lovers and showed our stuff jumpin' off the diving board. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, J and Damon are still plugging away at getting drum sounds. At this rate, we may actually wait to start recording songs until tomorrow...
mark: Hello,hello.It's been so long,but you've been in very capable(albeit DIRTY)handsAnd to think that they have to eat with those hands!Anyway,Bob already gave you the lowdown fair reader,so I'll keep it short.I don't want to ever leave.And it's only been 1 day.Check back in a week.I'll be a mess.I hope to run into the fantastic(and always soooooo sweet)Selby Tigers.Go see them if get a chance.You shant be sorry.My man Todd is diggin' in on some grindage,and I'm out the door to burn one.I might get to play some guitar by 5 or 6.Maybe I'll have a go at the pool...mmmm.I sent some e-mail to a friend of mine,and she never got them.If you(she) are reading this,write me,I don't have the correct address.You're the only one I can talk to.Need a triple Breve?No sweat. In good news,I quit my job at the Cafe.No official word to the higher ups,but a guy can only take so much before he loses it.I lost it.Anyone have any tips to get by for a month with no job that don't involve selling any part or liquid of my body?Write with ideas.Or a really slack job for a month in the Milwaukee or Chicago (more on that later) area? Ok,I'm done boring you .Dan or Bob will be back soon.
Todd: Sitting at Pachyderm, drooling. Sending some Emails. Its amazing here. Should'nt I be in the pool? What am I doing here? Where is Dirk Diggler? When do I sign the lease? more later..
Robert: Hey Mercedes “Everynight Fire Works” recording log: Night #1 (4/13/01) 11:30 PM: We arrive at the studio after a long drive from Minneapolis. Specifically from a quick eat/drink session with our pals, the Q and Not U boys, at the coolest restaurant within walking distance from 7th Street Entry. It is known as Luce, and it is amazing. We order a round of Veggie Drummies (mock chicken nuggets - wow) and indulge in a variety of specialty dishes. I had the Vegan Spaghetti with Veggie Meatballs. Are you joking, people? 12:30 AM: We have finished walking around and surveying the scene. Yes, it takes about an hour, because this place is magnificent. You could seriously get lost inside. I did. Twice. There are four bedrooms here, one master (J - he felt guilty, but we demanded he have it. Besides, we hear it’s haunted. Don’t tell him. It will be our little secret), 2 with 2 beds, and one with 3 beds. I was lucky enough to negotiate a 2 bedded room all to myself. Did I mention that each room has an attached bathroom? Merely describing this place would not do it justice. You really need a video camera to capture the true grandeur... but i’ll try. You walk in and the foyer is actually a balcony that stretches around the top perimeter of the room. This perimeter hosts 2 bedrooms on the right side, and if you walk to the left there is a huge open space that hosts the “dining room” and the “living room,” complete with an excellent selection of movies, a satellite dish fueled TV and a Nintendo. There also is a separate little living area off this room, which is equipped with a spiral staircase leading to the first floor. Off of the dining room is the full kitchen with a nice little breakfast bar with planks that you can close. Keep walking and you’ll get to a laundry room. Free. There are 4 other doors in this room that I have yet to venture into... Oh yeah, off of the dining room on this level is a screened in GAZEEBO, where I’m sure many a band has participated in some party activities. There is even a phone hookup out there, so maybe i’ll blog from there if I get some free time... just because I can. So if you go downstairs there is a huge room with about 8 sofas, a fireplace, and a wet bar. Down here are the other 2 bedrooms. If you go in the door to the left of the bar, voila, an indoor pool, complete with diving board and beach ball. Heated. Ready to be jumped into. It is surrounded by glass walls, overlooking the wooded surroundings (They have 40 acres here?!). I have yet to submerge. I’ll let you know how the water is. 1:00 AM: I unpack a little, make myself at home (read: throw some stuff on the floor), and doze. The gang stays up watching one of the worst movies ever made, Black Sheep. 3:00 AM?: I am dreaming about coming to a place to record and actually have to dig a tunnel through a snow wall to get there. When we finally get through, we are told that everyone is leaving and recording has been cancelled. Day #1 (4/14/01) 10:20 AM: Someone is knocking on my door. I curse the light shining in. Gotta remember to close those shades. 10:40 AM: I stumble out of the room, connect the LT, and enjoy some coffee. A League of Their Own has just started. The plan is to wait until our in-house engineer gets here (Neil - a swell guy who was part of last night’s chaos), load in to the studio, get all of the right sounds, and then take a break for dinner. Oh right, the studio! If you exit our building, there is a lighted walkway to the studio building. You can’t see it through the trees! Off of this walkway is a trail that leads to a babbling brook about 100 feet away. I only heard it last night. Now I can see it, along with a wooden bridge from the dining room from whence I blog presently. The studio is beautiful, and we load in the junk. The drums into the huge drum room (also equipped with marimba and baby grand piano, the bass into the secluded bass room, and the guitar stuff into the guitar room. Makes sense, right? 12:45 AM: J and Damon are tuning the drums and finding the best sounding spot in the room. Mark and I change strings and talk Paul Thomas Anderson and Queen. We jam a little on our GBV cover. It will be “A Salty Salute.” 1:00 PM: Mark, Todd, and I are back up at the house. Sweet and Lowdown is on the TV. As J and Damon bang away, we’ll be up here, relaxing, reading, shaving, blogging.
Robert: 262 King of Pain - The Police We have arrived. Oh my word, when they said this place was palacial, they were not kidding... More on this later... April 13, 2001
dan: my weekend starts NoW ....b!t*h..jk I mean oh my god I just saw two mullets in their cutlas's yeah cutlas...mullet heaven..they were following each other around this turn around and given it some gas and squakin' their tires...cool That WAs awesome.... dorks......10-4 good buddy...where you at? down here at micky d's krei...whats yer 20? wouldn't you like to know..what you drivin'? oh jeez..a green gremlin'..mopar ain't no car.. screw you..where you at bitch? up side yer head mopar woman.. *get it?
dan: make sure you make a complete stop at a railroad crossing when the lights are flashing otherwise it could cost you $130.00 and 6 points off your drivers license..I'm takin em to court though..I've got a lawyer..I pay taxes damnit ! getting a d.u.i. on my mountain bike is still the best arrest... "have a good day?" "pretty dog"..yeah right..I was having a good day...I woke up and tried to hook up my usb bus but then found out it's for PC..booo!! so that'll have to go back...then I recorded some dandy warhols songs on tape to listen to on my way to work..which was great but then I get pulled over..finally get to work on good friday and plan to pay one of my credit card bills cause it's due today but I forgot my checkbook at home and all of the banks are closed...and it's friday the 13th...should I just go home? or go to the party store and pick up a little some some and head home and fire up the grill??? no ones here anyway...looking outside at the beautiful weather is like going to a hotel that has a pool but you forgot your swimsuit..it's gotta get better?......
Todd: Lotsa sleepy kids on the floor. Went and saw Q AND NOT U last night at the Globe with HAR MAR SUPERSTAR and ATOM(complete with his 'package'). Fantabulous show. It's good to see all the Milwaukee kids come out and represent at an early all-ages show. I'ts also weird to see the second band finish, turn around and notice it's still light out side. God bless daylight savings. Needless to say I got 8 persons on the floor of Mark and I's house dead-asleep, time to wake the posse. Gotta get going.. It's early and we are up and off to play a show in Minneapolis w/ Q AND NOT U, an early one. Then starting tomorrow we dive head first into recording "Everynight Fireworks". Doors are at 4:30 today so we gotta hustle outta here and get there to load in by 2:30. Bob will be arriving soon at Damons'. ETA 8:00 am. see you in Minnesota. April 12, 2001
dan: Tonight I'll be watching the bucks of milwaukee take on these guys at the bradley center....I'm a jock BOY...yeah right?..jocko..
dan: none of these for me for awhile..I've been on a strict diet of the anti sniffleing sneezing coughing..blah blah..bluey...
dan: millerpark is NOT the only retractable roof in the world..sorry..I didn't mean to mislead anybody..I should've checked this out before I went a hooten and a hollerin'..what I meant to say was that it's the only "fan-shaped convertable roof in North America" and that it's been described as "the most technologically advanced, esthetically appealing, ballpark in the world". and yes I'll make sure I check myself before I riggity wreck myself...thanks folks..
Robert: Posted at about 7:30 AM 264 Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor Posted at about 12:22 PM I hate food days here at work. You know why I hate food days here at work? Cause you can only eat so many chocolate cake donuts. You know why I'm eating chocolate cake donuts? Because the "main course" was a smattering of meat, meat, and more meat. You know why I didn't just go out and eat somewhere else? I have zero cash money. You know why I have zero cash money? I thought it would be funny to leave my check / ATM card somewhere in Philadelphia. Perhaps when I was purchasing that new bathing suit at Old Navy. I wouldn't be surprised if Magic the Dog mysteriously got some new chewy toys or something. I miss Anniversary and Dashboard Confessional. I miss touring. I miss you. Send food. Oh yeah, I also promised someone i'd blog about my "definition of love"... so i'll get to that soon. After dinner maybe. Dinner = peanuts and potato chips. Hey what is that Anniversary website? Not "Anniversaryrock" - the other one. I met you on tour. What is it again? Match in the gas tank. Boom. Boom. April 11, 2001
dan: last night I went to the new miller park here in the brew city...I was lucky enough to get a hold of some free tix and thought hell I gotta go see this place..it's the only retractable roof park in the world..wow huh?! anyways I realized I had the wrong attire on when I was looking for my seat and all the beer bellys were looking at me like what are you looking for so we sat a little out of the way..I didn't really go for the game some much as I went for the opportunity to eyeball the area...and have a hot dog..I almost got some cracker jacks but didn't... I gotta go help some customers with the copier..they're swearing at it..poor machine.. it's only a machine.. drinks on me...
dan: yeah..thanks for sorting those bloggs out for me bob.. I, me, dan-keehn was going through some "footage" from tour..and as much as I want to erase some of the anniversary stuff I can't bring myself to do so...now listen, the "footage" I want to get rid of was NoT filmed be me, there was a plethora of directors that had more than creative minds to help me out..it's just that I had tooooooo much drinky..you know why? Cause I was with "my boys". actually that drunk boy footage was really me..I was ACTING get it...acting. I'm an actor..so therefore I will leave the film "uncut" and partially unedited so the viewer can see the academy award winning performance..I also ordered a usb bus so I can start editing..can't wait...hours and hours of fun..
Robert: Hey. I'm still cracking the code to get these on the website, but for now you can check em out here - PICTURES! from cbgb's: number 1, number 2, number 3... and then from Worcester (courtesy of Robotix) - number 1, number 2, number 3... and lastly, from our in-store at Good Records in Dallas - number 1, number 2, number 3... Working it. Ordering checks. Rubber Banding. Filing. Ordering. Rubber Banding. Filing. Yawning. Ordering. Rubber Banding. Filing. Ad. Nauseum.
Robert: 265 Hyper Enough - Superchunk Last night, I was so brilliant that I locked my keys and three loads of laundry inside the apartment laundry room. I wish I could blog all day, just like I did back in Key Largo. All in good time, I suppose. April 10, 2001
dan: Red House Painters..songs for a blue guitar is the best record I've played today...you know at the end of the day when everybody's done bothering you and all you have on your mind is going home and seeing your girl or guy depending on what your deal is..and going out to eat at some nice place and then going home and lighting some inscense and candles and laying around on the couch watching a movie or latenight tv .. just to relax, sleep, breath,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, breath in the air... OR getting done with work and lighting up a big fat crack rock and driving to a liquor store to buy some 22oz's of budwiesser or some of these and going home and throwing a turkey pot pie in the oven, or you can ask betty for helpful advice on just what is the best help your hamburger can get... I'm listening to come on eileen by dexy's midnight runners..next up is duran duran..hungry like the wolf..which I am right aboot now... 45 minutes to go..long day today..I woke up at 6:30am and I get done at 6:30pm isn't that aweSome...I love it.. maybe I can stay late...hope hope..
dan: I can only take so much of top forty..I only get a couple of stations in here at work so I'm forced to listen to whatevers on...I've got cd's to listen to but not a lot that older people like..I'd have to play like red house painters or something mellow but that'll put me to sleep..you know..The place where I work has a rep..I can't just pop in fugazi or queens or something...now the police are on thats fine..shaniaw twain?? and that big fat guy in that pick-up follow me where ever I go? that totally reaks of havock!!! I shouldn't get that upset about different kinds of music..but for the record there's some crappy crap out there...I think I'm gonna start a rap metal group too...ahhhh get me outta here...shut up when I'm talking to you....o.k.
Robert: Get thee to a computery... I have been ruthlessly reverted back to Temp mode, as the real Temp has taken my place for the week. I have been opening envelopes all morning. That's it. Opening. Extracting. Trashing. Opening. Extracting. Trashing. Yawning. Opening. Extracting. Trashing. Ad. Nauseum... I've got a big plan lined up for tonight, though. It starts with playing a trick on my body by downing a nice caffiene-injected nectar as soon as i get home from the sap factory. I then use the $10 worth of quarters I negotiated yesterday to do a long overdue batch of laundry... And then I sit and write. The spirits willing, I'll be alone. On the porch. Thinking. Writing. Rewriting. Thinking. Writing. Rewriting. Stretching. Thinking. Writing. Rewriting. Ad. Nauseum... and so it goes.
Todd: It's Tuesday. That means I have three days to get my taxes redone before going to record our record. Ugh. My most dreaded time of the year. I'll gladly pay to not have to even look at a form. Ostrich Syndrome? I don't even want to look at it. Get it outta my face. Reminds me of that time I kept covering up my court date notices with junk mail until I was sent a warrant for my arrest. Another story for another time. It revolves around me getting four tickets in one traffic stop on my birthday. Yup, believe it. "You can't win! What do you think about that?" Just flipped over to side two of Brainiacs' masterpiece 'Hissing Prigs..' I saw Blow last night. The 'true' story of George Jung? I don't really know.. but, it wasn't bad. Is Penelope Cruz getting skinnier? Is that possible? Props to Ray Liotta. He never dissapoints... Well, not since Operation Dumbo Drop anyway.. It was nice to see Paul Reubens making a comeback, he was good. A big thank-you to the guy that gave Mark the copy of the Oscars to give to me in Orlando. I still haven't watched it. Plan on saving it for downtime during recording. Oh yeah! I know, you're thinking.. "You know who won. What's the point?" Well, sometimes you gotta pretend. You ever watch the same movie twice? Same scenario. It's good for the soul. "I am a cracked machine." Looking forward to seeing Q AND NOT U on Thursday here in Milwaukee. Come out and support them on tour. They're playing with Har Mar Superstar and Atom at the Globe. Crossed paths with both of their bands on tour. Hilarious! A sight to behold. Long live Har Mar. Coffee's running low, gotta refill.
Robert: 266 Red Paint - The Promise Ring Last night i was spared any nightmares, thankfully. The worse thing that happened was - my laptop got run over by a truck. It still worked, except all you could view was an online Toys R Us catalog. April 9, 2001
Robert: Well, that ever so important email is not there, so I can post any specifics on the Hey Mercedes news site, but I can tell you this much... What I know now... What I can surmise... The Hey Mercedes new single and full-length release dates have been PUSHED UP to June 12 and July 24 repectively. How cool is that? Usually, release dates get endlessly pushed back... Why this shift? It may have something to do with the huge Vagrant America tour, which we will be a part of. Tentative - We’ll be playing shows from Cleveland through Boise (July 19-August 5) with Alkaline Trio, Saves the Day, and Dashboard Confessional. Tentative - Some of those shows may also feature Reggie & The Full Effect. Tentative - We’ll be playing shows from New Orleans to Myrtle Beach. Those shows may also feature Hot Rod Circuit and Rocket From the Crypt. As of right now, your guess is as good as mine. I’m just the messenger. You know, like Milla Jovavich. Make sure I do the following things in the next 3 days: Catch up on all awaiting email. Start writing the tour diary. Clean / Unpack / Do laundry. Put finishing moves on songs to be recorded in less than a week. Write entire rock opera based on a boy that sleeps too damn much. Get pictures developed. Complain. Before I go, i’d like to address that last point on the “to do” list by stating that I have NO access to work on the first 2 “to do” points while at work. I agreed to go in for this week, cause they need the help and I need the monkey, but lordy lordy look who’s 40, it is a real drag. Originally, I was going to take off this whole week, anticipating a flood of responsibility, and a need to go stretch out in the grass by the Fullerton Ave. beach while it’s newly warm and light outside. No can do. What a bummer. The GBV song fiasco... Thanks for voting in the GBV song survey, however, we’ve decided to go at it from a different angle. (dime) We have taken your suggestions into consideration, however, the choice will ultimately be made by Damon, who will choose the song that he likes the best out of the 3 presented to him, by the other members of m’band. Tis only fair. Now to work. What to do first?
Robert: 267 Slumbering - Samiam The worst part about coming back from a tour is unpacking. It never seems to get done. It litters your floor for days, and for those days, you are still on tour - living right out of that duffel bag. Seeing what isn’t too wrinkled, too dirty, too ruined... It’s rough, because you’re also at this point where you are so excited to sleep in your own bed, that you tend to overdo it a little. I just did. I owe somebody a fin... But I feel OK about it. I actually did get a good amount of stuff done before I gave in... Now I can’t help but feel a tad braindead. It’s to be expected. I love your weblog, too, but was I at the wrong Flat Top yet again? I’m going to check my email now which will contain some important info about some future HM endeavors. I’ll get back to you.
dan: don't stand so close to me beatch ! Right now as I sit and type my house is buzzing like it's under a waterfall or some shit.! thank you for joining me for joining into tonights ajoynings without further a do.... peace out -haus.. April 8, 2001
Robert: 268 Can't Stand It - Wilco Just got back from the Anniversary show at the Metro. Had some Red Bulls and Vodkas. Jumping off the walls. Tomorrow, big big news about the release date of the HM album and single AND tour plans for the summer and the fall. It's all falling neatly into place, oh yeah...
Todd: Howdy all. Doing a little blogging. A little Email. On my third cup of Alterra Blue Heeler. Making plans to get provisions for recording starting this weekend. The Zombies are playing on the stereo and it's sunny outside.Today is also laundry day, so I'm out of here to enjoy the day.. See you in Minneapolis. |
