I have a show this coming Thursday at Columbia City Theater in Seattle. I am pretty stoked about this. It is a great sounding room and is a lot of fun to play in. It is a free show, so if you are in the area I hope you can make it out!

I have been working on a lot of things. Finishing background vocals for the album, a few little guitar things and getting really close to being able to get this thing mixed... 

This has been a longer road getting this album done than I had thought, but that is how many things go if you are going to do it right. Regardless I am very excited about sharing some of the new music with you soon.

I have also been spending some time working with the Occupy Seattle movement, which has been an interesting experience thus far. I haven't blogged about politics in a while and right now this isn't exactly the time for it except to say that I am amazed at how well intentioned citizens on both sides of the aisle are so very often full of shit to the point where I find it hard to wonder why we never get anything done. That's all I'm gonna say for now.

Come out on Thursday and check out some of the old and new songs at Columbia City Theater, lets drink some whiskey or rather I'll watch you drink whiskey from the stage and wish that I could have some on stage myself.... :)

See you soon!

-andrew

We have most of the album done. There are a few things left with backing vocals and maybe a few small guitar parts, but overall the album is tracked and is sounding great. It didn't come without a lot of sweat and maybe a few tears, but to my knowledge no blood was spilled so that is something at least.

I head back to Seattle in 16 hours and counting. 

I drove to Lockhart, TX today and had a look around, ate some BBQ at Smittys and took a few pictures of the dead scorched earth where my wife and I used to Live in Maxwell, TX... This place is a hell hole. Life shouldn't exist in the area at all. I am going back to the northwest where things are fertile and green. Hopefully us humans don't fuck things up up there too.

I'll post some more pics and some videos of the session soon!

There have been too many crazy nights drinking of late. A few of us went to a bar the night we recorded horns. Things got a bit out of hand... It was fun(ny) at moments and hell at others... you know the story.

I am really pleased with how everything is sounding. Mike Vasquez is a badass engineer and has a really good ear, the tones he's getting are simply fantastic.

We have a few electric guitar parts left, keys, and vocals. All if it has to get done by Saturday. Believe it or not I think we can make it happen. I've got a plan. 

As tired as I am though, I am at the point where I can't wait till it is over. Phil and I butt heads too much, Luke is bored because we got all of his drum track done in a day, Alex is chill, Mike is chill, Joe isn't here yet... I don't know things feel weird and I wish I had a manager who would have told us to go to bed on Saturday. Instead we stayed up till 4 a.m. 

Really it would be nice to not be dealing with everything, getting food, getting people back and forth, producing, performing and also having to be social, when I really just want to fall in my bed and watch a movie and tune the world out... 

Maybe we all just need a break. But we don't have time. Maybe everybody else takes a break except for me and Joe tomorrow. I don't know. All i know is it sounds great, so there is that.... Just gotta keep going. 

 I would really like to start tracking Sunday but the schedule has been kinda fucked. Half the band is from Austin and have jobs and responsibilities to deal with while the other half ends up bored during the down time.

 It will feel better in the morning (more like 8 hours from now when we start practice) nothing else will be on the schedule except practicing and eating a meal here and there.

Here are a few pics from last nights rehearsal.

Okay, whiskey then bed.

 My sister Katie gave me this moleskin notebook for writing music the staff lines in the book are mostly empty save a few ideas for a song I haven't finished and some horn ideas for Blackbird.

 It really is taking a long time for them to get me my bloody mary... Oh well.

 I don't know my exact purpose for writing this. (Bloody mary just got here btw...)

 I guess one could argue it could be that in this shit storm called the music business there is this need to appear interesting or cool, while still being 'accessible' to 'fans' or potential fans or labels or whoever. This is because Facebook has ruined everything, and yet somehow this entry will probably end up on a facebook post... But my purpose in writing this isn't to create buzz or whatever even if a manager or publicist might beg to differ, and fuck who am I  to assume that you will even believe me if you happen to be reading this.

 My purpose is more to document and reflect personally about this whole process of making the new album, maybe it is just for my own sanity. Maybe if nothing else so that when i finally call it quits I will have something more than just the finished product to look back on and show my kids.

 Not that I WANT to quit being a musician or a songwriter but I guess it all just seems impossible. I have worked hard, but I'm  not trending on twitter so I am apparently not quite legit.

 ('Bells of Harlem' is a great song btw)

 So I am not trending on twitter. Why make a record?

 Because I have to? 

 No, I do not have to and I would be less in debt than I am if I hadn't made the last one. 

 Because of Theodore Roosevelt and his man in the arena speech?

 Maybe. 

 Maybe I am just hoping against hope that after I die someone will appreciate what I've done.

 Maybe as long as I have things to say I would be an un-American sonofabitch no exercise my right to say or sing those things.

 Chances are if you read this you already know me. If not you probably are here by mistake and will close the page before too long. But more than likely you'll never be here reading this post in the first place reading this blog entry or listening to my music. 

 Why? Because you are leaking information out of every pore in your skin. You know too much and consequently nothing at all. You are America and you have be robbed, bought, sold, beaten and drugged till you have no idea what is going on or how you got here or how to fix things. 

I guess that is why I am really making this record. Knowing that it will probably fail but hoping that it might wake someone up who has fallen prey to the poison in the wires. But it is hard enough work making a record that sells without adding politics to the mix. So basically why I am doing this is arguably the worst reason to make a record ever.

 To hell with it. (it took a lot less time to get the second bloody mary.)

Joining me will be several friends and musicians from around the country Luke Meade on Drums, Phil Ajjarapu on Bass, Alex Tomaino on guitar, James Bookert on banjo and some other stuff, Joe LaChance on keys, Kait Berreckman might even sing on a song or two, and more...

We are really excited to make this album and hope that you are excited to hear it. Stay tuned to updates and videos from the studio!

-andrew

Send checks to this address:

Andrew Anderson Music

760 William Pettus Rd

Maxwell, TX 78656

More to come!!!

-andrew

In addition to the new EP Andrew will be releasing a Live Album of performances from shows that Andrew has performed all around the US a little later in the spring. Later this summer Andrew will be entering the studio to record his 2nd full length record! Check out his music on iTunes or order copies of his handmade and screen printed albums here!