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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 28, 2001
Damon: Ok, ok. Here I am. This is my big national debut to the wild and crazy world of blogging. Not to be confused with the wild and crazy world of logging. I actually tried this whole blog thing a couple of days ago and it denied me. I think it was pissed because I've been neglecting the blog. Sorry. I'm a busy man ya know. I hope this works. If it does I may become a (somewhat) regular. If not then to hell with this. Straight to hell. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Just straight to hell. I hope I'm not offending anyone. Well until next time (hopefully) be cool stay in drugs and don't do school. I mean stay in school and don't do drugs. Love, Damon* Peace.
mark: Ha ha ha ha.I wish everyone could have seen it...Me egging these crazy bastards to leap into the pool.I think Damon might have video taped it.I haven't laughed so hard in along time.The other day I offered to do it for free ,just to make Bob laugh. Well,it's been a fun ride,but it's time for me to pack up all my junk.I'm going to finish listening to some Dismemberment Plan and hop to it. I guess I should be stoked to get home,but not really.That makes me feel weird.Oh well,it's only for 2 days.Madison-look out.After that...we'll see what happens.
Todd: ARGHHH! My brain hurts. We'll not anymore, thanks to the coffee, but @ 9am this morning hearing people upstairs scurry around (Bob getting up to take his girlfriend back to the airport) and Damon scuffling around in the bathroom we share (he's always first up), unbeknowenst to both parties, I'm trying to gets some more FREGGIN' SLEEP here! Keep it down! And for some reason I have water in my ears?? Anyways, rolling out of bed around 10:30 to do a load of laundry before we leave, the last for awhile mind you, unless I try to cram a load in (dime) while at home for two days before going to mix, I notice 2 neatly displayed wrinkled 5 dollar bills on my nitestand and the evening comes rushing back! To Bob's dismay, though not conveyed in his blog, I was first in the pool fully-clothed. **wavy lines wavy lines (flashback sequence)** Sitting on the couch, coctail in hand, babbling to Neil our assistant engineer about records and how good the Zombies are and how good P.T Anderson is blah blah. What records I bought on tour, how good the new Hope Sandoval 12" is blah blah. Then someone is vaguely wagering something in the background of our conversation and Bob stands up and says "I'm not jumping in the pool for less than 20". Before my alcohol-soaked brain can catch up with my bodies competitiveness, I'm standing up drink in hand saying "I'll do it for ten!" Quick edit. Scene change. Poolside camera. I'm on the diving board fully clothed with 10 bucks in my pocket, being heckled by my peers. It's 2am. What went wrong?
Robert: 248 High - The Cure Lordy lordy, look who's 40. And just like that, it's over. I'm feeling VERY under the weather after doing some extreme method acting for the vocal presentation for "A Salty Salute". I still hurt a little. Apparently afterwards I did a flip into the pool with all of my clothes on for a measly $3. I did track down a Lemon Poppyseed muffin, though... So the money was well spent... Speaking of money, congratulations to Ebay user Crosstide1975 who picked up the "rare studio gem" for pocket change. $71. As promised, there will be a complete photo presentation of the fate of Mr Tide's money order, which should be arriving at the PO Box this week... It still hurts. I ain't kidding. Dan, hopefully we'll see you tonight! We can throw back a couple and listen to some rough mixes. Maybe?
dan: checkin' out, pack it up, pick it up, smack it, rub it down, lets go.... guess where I am......at work.?. you're right. I love it.. I've got a wedding to attend at 2pm today followed by large consumtions of adult beverages...maybe bowling? I love to bowl..Last time I had three strikes in a row..(turkey) gobble gobble.. peace out- April 27, 2001
dan: Friday at work..yeah it's really fun...I wish I could work until it's dark out instead of getting off (dime) at 6:30..I mean..looking outside is pure torture on a day like this..it's friday so you know the friday FISH FRY is OOONNNN beatch's..walleye..we love it!!..I actually don't know what I'm gonna eat..I still have some of that wack ass ham left...gotta tend to a customer.......she's reading 6 inches from the paper..and shes driving.?..hold on a second peeps... ok shes gone...pretty boring down here..hopefully I'll get a break and go outside to find some lunch..be it going to a fastfood joint or stalking my kill the old fashioned way.....I just thought about how good this here beer would taste with a lime of course..sitting on the back deck getting ready to start my grill up..that's right I can cook up a mean anything on my grill..you name it....it's really fun grilling out when you have some of those tacky lights up that people use around their campers.you know little fruits and veggies..or you can go with the kittens and owls...also what will add to your serene set up is those tiki torches..yeah now I'm talkin'.....all I need is a fire!... and another flash pot! does anyone have any nichrome wire? enjoy your weekend ya'll, I'm sure I'll chime in later, after I have some liquid courage peace out-
mark: We're in the studio(Bob,J and me)erasing an extra vocal track at high speed.It totally sounds like the chipmunks. I'm into it.We are nearing the end of our stay here at the palacial Pachydern Studios.I'm going to be sad to go,but it will be nice to get into a city(with sidewalks,streetlights,and some good eats-Beans &Barley-Look out!!)I don't have much to look forward at home-no girl,no job and most of my friends are on tour(tpr-online)and Mike the Knife is out with Jets to Brazil for another 4 weeks.Woe is me.I guess I'll have to kick it down Chicago way.I'm psyched to see the Insidious guys,and the J's at Comet(Jason and Justin)but Milwaukee just isn't cutting the mustard anymore.What happened? I don't know-it used to be alot cooler,or maybe I was dumber.Is that a word?Anyhow-Madison friends-We'll be there Tuesday.Look out!
Robert: 249 Man Out of Time - Elvis Costello Well, last night, after hitting some ridiculously high notes (i feel sorry for the dogs of Cannon Falls), my voice decided to not work so well, so we did some more guitar overdubs, including a special secret intro for "The Frowning of a Lifetime". Oh yeah. Feeling much better this morning... Although i put too much soy milk in the cereal... High note? Think - the beginning and end of today's song... April 26, 2001
Robert: So how do you feel today, Bob? 250 Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd Stress. Work. Late nights. Right now getting the vocals done for "The Slightest Idea". If all goes well, we'll throw "Save a Life" in the bag as well, before i go to bed, which most certainly will be tomorrow.
Todd: Oh my gawd! Damon and I are kind of watching TV, whilest I check my Email and he does a little buisness, it's just on in the background.. Suddenly I here a second of faint guitar and I turn around and say "Ha! Three Sisters by Burning Airlines.." jokingly, mind you.. And it was! A brief snippet of the beginning, pre-vocals followed by a small part of a National Skyline song?? Awesome! Both of the songs are on this dumb little road rules/real world ultimate challenge kinda-thing on MTV. Listen closely kids!
Todd: A beautiful day out here in the woods, sunny and warm! Again?! Better than the rainy rain-rain last week. My shoulder is a little sore though, I don’t know what I did, maybe nothing, then something half-way physical like swimming, but, it hurts. I’ve been stretching before swimming, but maybe I just made a wrong move, it happens.. I do faintly remember NOT getting my tripple-lindy fully around.. Lets not forget folks, the Ebay auction is still up and full-on with just over a day left. Come on! I'd pay that much for the polaroid of Damon alone! Bob is doing vocals for the epic "Quit" as I type. Then its on to a couple more, I think I'll be tracking some vocals tonight and maybe a hand-clap here-and-there. Maybe I'll break out and dust off the ol' bassoon for a couple of squanking riffs. I also caught a moose in my trap last night down by the creek.. Dan taught me how via Email, never thought they'd be that big of a fan of maple n' brown sugar instant oatmeal. We'll be mic-ing the moose for a part in "Save a Life" which we're thinking of re-naming "Saving a moose, here in Cannon Falls, MN", but not sure how that's going to flow with the rest of the album titles, continuity is important ya know. Hmmmm. Cabin fever, been here to long..
mark: Danimal-you are psyched.Me?I'm not too shabby .My mailbox has been pleasantly full(thans friends!)as of late,and it's beenkeeping me busy.Bob is already in "the cut"a.k.a. the studio.You came blame Malcolm and J.Todd for that one.I don't know where I pick up some of the crazy shit that comes flying out of my mouth(?). Anyhow,Damon's doing dishes Todd's still asleep(yeah!!)and I'm Bloggin".I should find something productive to do,but all I want to do is sit on my fat ass and smoke,watch tv,watch Bob sing and generally just fuck off.You know?Nothing.Nada.I have to suck it up,because in 2 weeks I'll be back home with no job,and a whole month before we tour again.Looks like I'll be hitting all the thrift stores(got a job opening?)rival coffee shops(need a Barrista?)or record stores(What do you mean,alphabetize?You don't go by color?)etc.If anyone has an opening at a slacker type workplace around Milwaukee,let me know.I don't have anything else to do. Dan-I still miss you.We've been brewin' without you.Pourin' a bit out for ya! Matt T-Write me back you....!@$#!@#$ BJ-if you ever read this,write me .I don't know your address. Lauren-get better Alicia_please do your laundrey(sniff sniff-EWW!) Justin-Keep up the good fight,brother and YOU-um...be good.
dan: today, again it's sunny..I will be representing with my loked out set trippin' gansta g new shoes today...words. peace out- April 25, 2001
mark: My god,I just looked at what I wrote 2 seconds ago,and I'm apalled at my miserable typing.You simply must forgive me.
mark: whew.Today I got tospend a plaesant afternoon with J trying to fnish up my guitars.Everytime we get done with a song,we sit down and listen to it.and then-WHAM!-a really good idea hits us.So,we go back in and try the new stuff.After 10 hours,I was ready to scarf a pizza(which I promptly did-hang my head in shame).Today I even played my brown guitar,which was only flying with 5 strings-I broke one the other day,and had no extras.But, the song"quit"called for some sonic mayhem,so off I went.Picture me about 6 inches from my amp(cranked)yanking on my 5 strings.It sounds great,but my ears are done.Wha?!My daily routine of 6 to 8 hours of cable watching was cut short.Oh well,I stayed up untill 4:15 last night watching "the talented Mr. Ripleyt".I wanted to go to sleep,but it was suprisingly engaging.Maybe I'll have afew more of these(pretend it's a linkt to Leinenkugels Honey Wiess.com-I'm soo lame)and crash out.Probably not.
Todd: Beautiful day! It's warm and sunny.. Drove back from the store just now listening to the contemporary 'rock' station in Cannon Falls, rocked some Edie Brickell, rocked some 3rd Eye Blind.. Picked up my first couple rolls of film from the Super Valu, some nice recording shots and goof-off photos too. Picked up some oranges for J. Some rice cakes for Bob. Some extra coffee and the mandatory snacky-snacks, today Bugles where on sale. Time to go catch up with the boys..
Robert: 251 Peel Me a Grape - Anita O'Day / Cal Tjader More vocals to do. Grueling. But thrilling. 8 songs done. 7 to go. plus the two covers. No sweat. April 24, 2001
Todd: Look out! Mark is walking around "pseudo wireless" rocking the Camel hardpack aka Cigarette amplifier. Too funny! Well, looks like I just got my next hour planned out, the Vanilla Ice 'Behind The Music' is coming on next. Boo yah! Mark! Keep it down! get outta here with that racket!!
dan: I've got a wonderful malt from a place that you'd normally think wouldn't have such a cool delicious treat. chocolate ..or....choculate' teh...misuer'.ei oui.. he he
Todd: Quesadillas with fresh avocado and refried beans! Yummy! A late lunch for me.. the question is should I wait 40 minutes before entering the pool? I can hear "the lost art of keeping a secret" playing from downstairs.. Which means one of two things, either QOTSA have left their tour with AC/DC in UK to play here for us poolside @ Pachyderm, or Mark is in the pool rocking their CD. Think I'll go find out, break the rules and dive-in...
Todd: So here I am in the studio with my back to J. who is tracking vocals(Bob is on the other side of the glass) doing "The Promise". I believe "A-List Actress" is next on the agenda. Roll film. Cut. Print. After a couple of days here in the studio, Neil, our trusty house engineer and all-around swell guy brought a computer in here to pass the time, while also giving support to the guy working.. pretty neat. Actually I think he brought it in for HIS OWN personal use and we just happened to out-number him and commendere it for our own needs and wants, being the nerds we are. Sorry Neil! Maybe we'll let you get a blog in. I hear a rumor that someone else will be making his debut on the Hey Mercedes blog this week. Two new bloggers within days? Halelujah! I don't think I've ever written that word out, is that how you spell it? Think so...
dan: eh..! adell..? so I'm at work..imagine that..and in walks the little old mint lady..she's a sweet little woman that collects the money that generates from all of the lion mint sales for the lions club...she held me negligible for the small amount of coins in the coin collector..how rude..like I'd steal lion mints..I told her that I'd keep a close eye on those mints..so nobody would walk off with a few..exciting hey.. things I packed up already: 1. 14" woofer 2. oak, maple, and (some other wood) chess/checker board 3. cow enzyme tonight me maws gonna ride down to milwaukee with me so I can take her to the airport on wednesday..she's outta here...I might have time for breakfast tomorrow..I've been eating the hell out of this ham I got for 15 bucks..It's delicious especially in the morning with eggs and toast, juice, milk and coffee too..maybe some browns if I'm down..and don't forget the scrapple!!..
mark: I just got done playing my guitar thru a cigarette amp.Suprisingly,it sounds pretty bitchen.I'm not at liberty to say where on the record it is,but maybe we'll have another stupid contest, to see who has the best ears.I'm going to have to hit Willy's guitar shop in St. Paul and pick one up.Also to see my friend Nate.He's one of the best folks I know.Sadly to say,I rarely see him.I'm in a band,he's in a band(the Selby Tigers-go see them!!)and we don't get to see each other all that often.I'm getting all rubbery.Time to split.Neil's going into town,and I'm out food.Man's gotta eat..
Robert: 252 Spanish Bombs - The Clash Up until 2 doing vocals last night (5 songs done, 12 to go)... and i just woke up. Lots to do today. Get to work.
mark: Today we're off to do more guitar stuff,and maybe a little tambourine.Boo-ya.Last night Neil(pachyderm engineer) convinced J and me to get in on some pizza(onion and jalepeno-mmmmmmmmmm)and today i feel shamefull.I'm a bad man.As Bob would say,'it's your funeral'.I have been suprised by all the mail I've gotten.I didn't think anybody actually read this junk,aside from Danimal(I still miss ya)so,thanks for keeping me occupied.I'd better get going before J comes over here and picks me up by my beltloops.Be good. April 23, 2001
dan: going out to eat tonight..typing with one hand...the other is holding my head up..slow day today..nothing to blogg about...lemme think..there's a pain in the back of my head..I'm not gonna let it get to me though...monday night..booorrring...oh I went to the garage on saturday night..dark, loud..tired.. drunk..crowded too...none the less it was fun..I was in a mode not to hold conversation...probably cause I went to albanese's for italian wine and food..notice not food & wine..wine & food..wait food is wine i mean wine is food..I mean fruit..
Todd: Yee Haa! Just got out of the pool, swimming with Damon. I can still hear the faint mur mur of the Alkaline Trio blairing and splashing sounds through the floor. Hope Damons OK down there, lotsa splashing going on, sounds like hes being attacked by a frisky walrus. Decided to actually start doing something fairly physical the next few days so I can get some sleep. Damon and I where talking poolside, the first few nights here we slept like babies because we where really working it on the tracking tip, getting little sleep and really doing something, we where glad to be out of the studio and into a cozy bed, justly, we slept like babes. Not lately though. Too much downtime for me, guitar tracks being done the last few days (although I did a little bass through the gutiar rig yesterday. Fun! Total sansAmp sounds..) and now vocal stuff which won't involve me for awhile. Mark and I don’t have the luxury of good television options at our house back in old Milwaukee, so it seems I’ve been spending too much time in front of the tube too, I think we all have, viewing the 100+ satelite stations. BOO! BAD! Gotta start exercising more, swimming, jumping jacks, er something.. Bob is doing vocal stuff now over at the studio, just went and checked on him a bit a go. He was doing "Eleven to your Seven" and it was sounding good. He's best left alone with J. to really make progress, considering the bulk of material to get through, so we all duck in to see if he needs anything here and there then come back over to the house until we are needed. It's a nice formula and works pretty well. I'm getting hungry, so it's time to get some grub, maybe something involving the oven. French fries maybe? I hate Creed.
mark: As J mentioned in his first(hopefully not last?)blog,the irresistable pull of 100 channels of cable was too much for me last night.I beleive I hit the bed around 4 a.m. I know ,it's pretty disgusting,but firstly,I don't have cable at home,B-I didn't have to get up early for any reason,and seventhly-River's Edge was on.You all know how much I like that movie. I'd like to think that J was waxing my car about the really good guitar sounds(it is my amp and guitar after all,combined with the studio's Vox-ac30) I think the credit should be draped across J's shoulders like a freshly killed animal pelt.I mean that inn the nicest way possible,really.Someone write me-I'm goin' crazy out there by the lake.
dan: nothing going on here..it's dead..where is everybody? just here at work..I did get a pkg today though..it's a manual...called the lost art of the rabbit punch revealed ...check it out here, I think ..I didn't tell you anything..
Robert: 253 Battle of Who Could Care Less - Ben Folds Five Uh huh. J be bloggin... Well, today is Bob vocal day, and i'm going to try and knock out 5 or 6 songs, vocal cords willing. Last night, I was still a little too full from the garbage pitas, so today the trick is: "don't eat". Brilliant, I know. April 22, 2001
j.: Wow. Blogging. It's everything I'd dreamed it would be, and more. How will I ever thank the good men of Hey Mercedes for introducing me to the wonders of "Jackass" - ? This installment features Christmas-inspired costumes, which is a special surreal touch. It's turned into the second early work night in a row (two shortish days = our version of taking a day off), we've postponed the vocals so Bob can take advantage of his Barry White-esque "morning voice," and I myself am excited to start tomorrow with fresh ears after a few days of blisteringly loud guitar sounds (whose car am I waxing by saying they're REALLY REALLY GOOD guitar sounds?). Time to go for a swim in the hot pool (dime? ugh), and crash - if I can escape the powerful pull of 100 cable channels. Somewhere in my luggage is a book dying to be read. Loosen up, Santa.
mark: Well,well,well,I'm almost done with ALL my guitar tracks.Just a pinch of feedback here,some skronks there and some leslie stuff.After that the ball is in Bob's court.He's actually starting vocals right now(I'm in the control room at the moment)I don't know what songs he's doing tonight,but I'm going to stay out of his way.I kick everyone out o the studio when I do my guitar stuff because I make a lot of mistakes(A LOT) And I don't want to torture anyone(except poor J)with my shoddy work.I think I'll head back to the house and take a dip.We turned the heat up,so you could cook pasta in the water.It sort of makes me want to go to the bathroom.Weird.I think Damon is probably done watching Good Will Hunting,so maybe he'll join me.I'll keep you posted.Danimal-I still miss you.
Todd: Yes! Mark was just flipping through channels and Superstation is showing Jaws! Robert Shaw(Quint) just got his demise from the fish. Seriously, for shooting with a mechanical shark that didn't work half-the-time and for the time period it's pretty remarkable. 1975 was a loooong time ago. One of my favorite movies ever. Scared the hell out of me as a kid and I'll still not go to far out into the water while swimming in the ocean. Thank God they didn't run with the original working title "Stillness in the Water". Boo! I don't know where Bob is, doing tracks with J. I assume. Guess i'll refill on the coffee and go see whats up. It's going to get real fun now, Bob will start vocals tonight and J is rough-mixing as we go, sounding pretty nice. More later.
Robert: And of course, Superchunk's Foolish and PJ Harvey's Rid of Me were recorded here as well. I wonder if PJ stayed in this very room. I wonder if she had the same problem with the cardinal flying into the window every morning... Hmmm.
Robert: 254 And the Same - Fugazi In the last 6 years, i have been on tour every single time Fugazi came to Chicago. What a joke. Here's another joke: What am i doing awake and blogging at this hour? Let me know if you come up with any good punchlines, cause it's pretty confusing to me as well. I even did some laps in the pool! Only 6 though. After that, I got a little too freaked out, being down there alone, in the dark and all. Maybe I'm nervous, anxious, eager. We're going to be starting vocals tonight. Oh boy. Can i even wait that long?! After I'm done a-blogging, i'm going to head to the kitchen, quiet as a mouse, so as not to disturb our sleeping visitors in the living room... and make some good ol fashioned egg in the hole. That's right, I said it. Peter Buck got arrested for air rage. There is a spider scurrying across the wall. And then there's this auction. |