What's new:
July 20th
The show in Concarneau has moved to Saturday July 31 (from the 30th)
July 12th
Hurrah for Spain:
Congratulations to a great football team and their victory for the
world cup. The most deserved team and it was a pleasure to watch
their progression through the tournament. My heartfelt best wishes
to the team and their country for a much deserved and waited for
victory!! Bravo!!!!
July 8th
New tourdates added, Finland - firts time ever!
July 2nd
New tourdates added, France, Norway and Spain.
June, 21th
HI Everyone-
jUst wanted to get the word out to Europe about this cool band
Kulturshock that's
performing mostly in the south but anyway - be sure to check them
out. Also one of my all time favorite Seattle artists Amy Denio own home page is outstanding. She's a
wonderfully talented, vibrant and gifted woman. Get your brain
washed out and check out her music. Just what you're needing...
June, 6th
Summertime Blues 06.04.10
Hey ho, hidey ho…
Just handed over 3 months of session files to Chris Eckman for mixing a couple days ago. I had no idea when this entire project started last February that it would take this long or be so frigging complicated. I felt better though after Chris told me that his most excellent solo project “Last Side Of The Mountain” took 11 months! What have I to complain about right? Of course our liner notes are not the same BUT what is the same for both of us is that we did this at home and ‘”LIFE” happens at home.
There can (nor should the be) be no disassociation. Your partner, the garden, shopping, visits with friends, movies, dishes, music business and all the rest just need to be attended to and taken care of. In my case I will say that a new computer, recording software (an upgrade to Pro Tools 8), some new microphones and hardware all made for a very big load to shoulder in order to get up and running. Of course the “proof will be in the pudding” as they say and I've no idea about what anyone will say or think about this.
Hell, I haven't even heard from Chris yet so I've no idea if what I've created has any worth or not. I “think” it's pretty good but that's just the creator speaking. In fact I've just been listening to a recent purchase of a very fine solo recording project of (mostly) just 12-string guitar music by current Dirt Music alum Chris Brokaw “VDSG- Solo Acoustic Volume Three”. I was thinking how very great it was sounding. From what I can tell anyway it's comprised of no more than 3 or 4 tracks, one or 2 microphones and some great playing and songs. Maybe next time I should think more along these lines? I guess we'll find out.
Your webmaster visiting the studio
Speaking of: I guess it'll be the fall sometime when we'll be able to offer this to folks for listening. I'm still looking for a name too although I do have a couple good ideas. Stay tuned…
Instrumentally yours,
Terry Lee
May, 11th
May 2, 2010 - I hope you're not getting bored with my tardy updates and seeming lack of movement from here lately. Nothing could be further from the truth actually. On the recording front I'm about 2 steps away from being finished with all my parts. This means the writing, recording and editing. Chris Eckman will mix the songs for me in June and after that there will be mastering to do. I suppose we're looking at being able to offer this for listening by September. I'm looking to find a way for print up a few hundred Cd's as well as being able to offer it digitally from this site.
I will say that this whole project has gone on WAY longer then I anticipated. I'd no idea I'd be sitting here now in early May and still not be finished. Just goes to show I guess. I started the actual recording back in February.
I've been using Protools, which is my digital recording medium. For the uninitiated this basically means that I'm recording into my computer via the digital program Protools that is recording and editing software. I also have some hardware preamps, compressors, microphones, and monitors etc., which make up my Rue Voltaire home studio. The only thing is that using Protools is not as easy as just setting up a microphone and turning on a tape recorder. I liken it to learning how to speak a new language and new languages are difficult. Basically the point here is that the main reason this has all taken so long is that my skills with this recording medium were minimal and so time was needed. I am moving forward though, learning a hell of a lot and feeling pretty good about myself on top of it all. As my friend Larry Crane (Tape Op magazine) told me one time, "good musicians can usually make good recordings. It's about listening". I might add the word patience here as well.
Anyway- I'm very positive about what I've done so far. The few folks that have heard the songs definitely think there is a marked improvement on past efforts (at home recording that is). I've whittled the songs down from around 24 to the current 13 and I've still to lose one more (and why 12 seems to be THE number for recorded music is a good question. Mostly it has to do with time and attention span I suspect).
My working title has been “The Buddha Sessions”. Why Buddha Sessions? I was trying to remind myself to stay calm, take deep breaths when frustrated and, frankly, to try and surround myself with some helpful energy. Anyway, this doesn't mean that it's the final title but between you and me, I kind of like it.
UPDATED UPDATE: Today is May 11 and I will be finished with it all (or all I can do from here that is) tomorrow latest (knock on wood). I'm really ready to move on to other things. First thing on the list: relearn to be friends again with my long neglected guitars! Yippee!!
Terry Lee
May 11 th - Paris, France
May, 9th
Hey friends, this LINK just popped up on my Facebook site and I
thought to share it with you. please take a few minutes to read it
and then pass it along to someone you know. Preferably to someone
you know who's stealing music on the internet.
BTW: Dayna Kurtz is a fine vocalist and songwriter and I DO own her
records.
March, 30th
03.26.10 Spring Update
Hello everyone -
Spring is here again and happy are we! It was a long winter for us in Paris. And you? Seems from what I heard from around the planet that it was pretty much the same. And not just speaking about the weather either.
USA: President Obama has almost single handedly drug America kicking and screaming into the group of nations where quality of life triumphs over corporate profits, the insurance monopolies and greed. Health care for the poor, the sick and aged and just about anyone if they want it. It's not going to be free though - but the way it is now, it's truly bankrupting the country! What a strange concept for the Americans. To read the blogs coming out of that country you'd think the end of world had arrived. This is a mail from a friend of mine in a recent dialogue we had about the fascistic rhetoric and violence that abounds stateside. His mail expresses quite clearly my thoughts on the current demagoguery that clogs the airways: “… And how working people in America can buy into all of this shit is beyond me...the ignorance is deep and frankly inexcusable. They have been duped but they allow themselves to be. The narcotic of hate that is spewed by Fox news every night into their living rooms is somehow more desirable to them than making sure that diabetic children are not denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. It is all beyond comprehension”.
This certainly is not the end of the story by any means but it was an important first step. Every president since Teddy Roosevelt has tried to bring universal health care to America. I am one of millions and millions of people from all over the world that applaud our president and those members of congress who did the right thing and forgot (for a moment anyway) about the politics of it all. Bravo!! I say vote those other conservative naysayer's out of their jobs and lets get on with the business once again of enshrining the principle that “all men and women are created equal!” America must be about more then how much money you have in your pocket!
HOME: I've been trying to get into the garden and get the soil turned and ready for seed but the weather has been terribly wet and makes any kind of digging almost impossible. Last year I planted radishes on the first day of April. Not going to happen this year I know!
Home studio in Paris
MUSIC: I've just concluded basic tracking of about 20+ songs or so. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what I have it's good! It was 6 weeks of almost daily recording so maybe 20 songs isn't all that many but anyway that's what it is. I had a good time though if not challenging. It felt great to be creating and recording new music! As you might expect, it's quite a mixed bag. Slow, quiet, old timey, bluesy, traditional, modern and ambient and some loop driven, devil beats as well. I did try to keep it honest though. It's all played live so I can bring it to the stage. I am planning to release this myself from my own soon to be posted web store, which we will get to after this recording is finished. I guess we'll probably press some CD's for those of you that want them versus digital versions.
It's going to be something like 12-14 songs. Again, this is all instrumental and that means being pretty much all guitar music with the occasional percussion, harmonica, melodica, keyboard or drum. So far anyway.
TOURING: I'll be up to Norway again this summer in late August and hopefully just after that over to Finland. I don't have anything else planned at the moment, but again, I've just been doing the recording. It takes a lot of time to book tours. I would never have had time for this recording now if I had to do the booking as well. So, here I sit with no work,but we'll get to have some new TLH music and hopefully the better for it. I can feel a large backlog of words floating around inside as well. Fall booking awaits me though and I can feel the pull believe me! First I gotta get this one done!!
Happy spring everyone!!
February, 28th
2010 Late winter musings…
Hello-
I'm happy to say that I've begun recording an instrumental only CD here at Rue Voltaire. Seems to be something I can do and perhaps even need to do at this point. This is an album I've always dreamed of making and it's time. No words, just guitar work with perhaps some simple embellishments. 6 and 12-string guitars and of course the Dobro. So far I have 6 or 7 already recorded (not mixed) and I'm quite busy collecting and writing the rest. There are no release plans, label interest or anything of the sort but I'm not at all worried about this either. First thing is to get some good music down on tape (or onto the computer as it were) and after that we'll see. If nothing else, I can sell it off my site and at shows so that's no sweat. I was thinking perhaps of posting some recording diaries but this self recording that I'm doing is a slow go and I don't think it would be all that interesting after a few days of turtle news.
I must say that it's much easier to have an engineer pushing all the buttons but, as you can see from the picture, I've arranged everything so that I can pretty much reach it all from my chair. It's slow though and not having a third ear (i.e. a producer) makes me doubly cautious. Also I'm a latecomer to Protools (which is my recording software) so that slows me down. It sometimes takes me a long time to figure out how to do basic editing or even corrections. As an example: the other day I had somehow ‘grayed' out my record button on track 1 so I couldn't do anymore recording on that track (which I needed to do). I ended up having to go to the Digidesign user forum and write out my problem and it was the next day that someone wrote in suggesting that I do a <control - click> over the offending record button to highlight it again. Yes! Fixed me right up! Anyway, just to show you what it's like around here. Once I'm up and running though it's been going well and I'm having some good moments. I'm happy to be recording again and it's feeling good. I do need to get focused though. I've quite a collection of songs from the past couple of years, which are all over the map stylistically and in various forms of undress. I've got to find a way to bring that all together now into a comprehensive and listenable package.
On a more sober note, I've just finally had to admit to myself that Michael Statsman, the owner and label boss of (now out of business) Borderdreams Records/Dock Distribution had been lying to me for the past 2 years.
The short story: money was supposed to be paid to me in the form of sales figures (a percentage of every record sold) and he was also required (by law!) to pay publishing royalties (also known as mechanicals). More then 2 years after the release of the record I have never received one accounting and I know from my publisher that the mechanical royalties were never paid at the pressing plant. I have had some advance CD's to sell at shows AND to use for promo and so I was able to put a little money in my pocket. Many of those Cd's (more than100+) I gave to the press and used for publicity purposes. And just recently I gave him 500€ more for the rest of his unsold Shotgun Pillowcase inventory (400 CD's) but that was only after he had again assured me that he had paid the money for publishing royalties which, by law, he is required to do (“… you should be collecting that soon”, he said).
How was this possible? In the shark infested waters of the music world I suppose this is a naïve and even stupid question. This is a guy that I trusted and who I even thought of as a friend. But this situation I am describing is not new is it? I've never understood why, when it comes to paying time musicians, on whom the whole pyramid of the music business is built, are the very ones who are last in line to be paid. Read any musician autobiography on the shelf and it's the same story. Now you can add my name to that very long list of artists. ‘nuff said!
Speaking of records: I've heard that Wilderness Years, Frozen and Leaving West are all sold out now at Glitterhouse records and so that is the end of those CD's. I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later but I have to say its kind of a drag. I've lived with these records as my friends for long time now. It is strange to think that these CD's will no longer be available for folks to buy and listen to. Some more music for me to put up on the Internet for sure and I am doing that. I've just posted Blue Room and Leaving West on Tune Core and Shotgun Pillowcase has been up for awhile now. The full albums and the downloadable songs should show up at all the various digital music outlets in the early springtime. BTW - please be sure that if you are looking to buy TLH music online that you only purchase songs that identify TuneCore as distributor. There are some unauthorized sellers of my music out there. The names that I know about are Bongo Beat, New Rose, It's About Music and I think there's one more. I appreciate you helping me out here. The digital music world is a place with little oversight or control and it's full of types who knowingly collect and pocket money from the music's rightful owners.
As far as gigging and touring plans go I really haven't spent much time doing it to be honest. As mentioned I've been focused on this recording and by design I've had to pull myself away from the readily available distractions of the computer. Although having access to the Internet from my home office has certainly made booking tours much easier this is also a time gobbler in a major way. Quite literally I could spend 6 hours a day for a weeks just plugged in and to book shows that are months down the road. The point being here that when this recording is finished I will again turn my attentions to touring. Hopefully for next fall. I'm sure I'll be quite ready to get back on stage by then as well.
So - that's the story here from TLH central. I'll post some more recording updates I'm sure so do stop back. Thanks again for your support and I do hope that your winter has been a good one wherever you might be now!
Your friend in music,
Terry Lee
January, 26th
Favorite Artist Auto Biographies-
Charles Mingu s- “Beneath The Underdog”
Art Pepper - “Straight Life”
Miles Davis - “Miles-The Autobiography”
Motely Crue - “The Dirt”
Twyla Tharp - “Push Comes To Shove”
Arthur Miller - “Time Bends”
Marianne Faithful - “Faithful”
Bob Dylan - “Chronicles”
Phil Kaufman - “Road Mangler Deluxe”
Marliyn Manson - “The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell”
January, 20th
"Tetro" Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Edited by Walter Murch, Music by Osvaldo Golijov. Running time: 127 minutes.
Starring Carmen Maura, Maribel Verdu, Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich, and Klaus Maria Brandauer.
I liked this movie. In fact it surprised me how much I liked it. Yes, Coppola has had his mega blockbusters but that's definitely not what you're going to see with Tetro. Boldly operatic, this movie is I think very inventive. Almost something like a film school graduate would make. But no film school student could make happen what this master writer and cinematographer bring to screen. Shot mostly in black and white it has a very film noir kind of feel. Visually it's stunning for the most part, a bit raggedy in others yet still the director holds it all together and delivers us to the very end with a casual wave of his hand. It's all here folks. Death, glory, mystery, music, dance, love, family, conflict and resolution. I haven't been able to shake this film from my thoughts for 2 days now and that's good. There's a lot to chew on and that's rare and most welcome. Leave your preconceptions at the door and try to just open yourself to this glorious ride. The master is back!
PS- I read that it was edited all on a Macintosh computer with Final Cut!
January, 18th
Top 8 + 2= Top 10
Ok, so I'm a little late. A few folks wanted to know why I couldn't get a list up to a top 10. Well not that it matters that much but JUST to be normal here I've included 2 records that I've I think are wonderful although they were NOT released in 2009 (both were from '08). Great records nevertheless.
Sam Phillips "Don't Do Anything".
I probably listened to this record the most last year. Everything (vocals, songwriting, performances, etc.) works on this record but what impresses me most is the production (she produced it too!). It's very NOT business as usual to my mind. You don't find the bass or drums in usual places. The mic's are recording from the back of the amp instead of the usual 12" from the front. On and on. Never a dull moment and the songs… ah the songs. This woman can write a song and that's a fact. I'm a fan of all her work but this record is her best. Mature, slightly ironical and full of life, hope and passion. Must be an interesting gal to know.
John Mellencamp - "Life, Death, Love and Freedom"
This songwriter has been a kind of guilty pleasure for me I but I used to like him a lot a decade or more ago. I just lost interest somewhere along the way. Too much bombast, too many words and not enough "point". Too much smoke and not enough substance to my way of thinking. This new record really brings it all back home though and it's truly awesome. He stripped away all the crap and got down to writing the kinds of great songs like we know he can do. The record is honest and interesting, unflinching and simple, colorful and directed and best of all: clear as bell. This one is a true winner and this guy is back on my "A" list!! I'm glad too! Another record produced by T-bone Burnett BTW. Does this guy have the best producer ears in the business or what?? Check out this new recording medium (CODA) that T-Bone and company have developed. It's like listening to the master tapes on your home stereo. I surely hope they can make it stick!!
January, 4th
I know most folks make a list of ten but I didn't have 10 records so here are 8. Alphabetical order only. The sad note at the end of ‘09 is that Vic Chesnutt took his own life at Christmas. A fucked up and dreary ending to a very, very difficult year.
You might also see here a preponderance of more rootsy Americana type recordings. Not sure why that is because I listen to all kinds of music at home. And I'm not much of one for nostalgia but who knows. Listening to boom-chickachika French rock and roll might be taking its toll. Still, the list is what it is and these were my favorites of the ones I bought that were released from 2009.
Animal Collective - "Merriweather Post Pavilion"
A "strange" CD and one I didn't like at first listening. It took me awhile to come around to it but this record uncovers its mysteries slowly, which is not bad. If you get everything on the first date what's left right? Very ambitious recording I think and with an utterly unique sound and style. Fascinating production and vision. This band changes the rules of the game and that makes me happy! A rich and very rewarding album. I can understand why this one made many critics top ten lists. Something new with every listen. How they do it is another question. I need to see these guys live!
Bill Callahan - "Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle"
I knew some of his work with his band Smog but this is the first CD I own by him. I love his songwriting, voice and laid back demeanor. The first track "Jim Cain" is a standout! I think the album wobbles a bit in the middle but still, a noble effort and worthy.
Vic Chesnutt - "At The Cut"
What can I say? Vic's recent death gives this collection of songs a transparency that is poignant, wrenching and utterly compelling. Still, it is yet again a great outing from one of my all time favorite songwriters. Backed by the same musical crew (A Silver Mt. Zion & Fugazi member Guy Picciotto) who also recorded with him on last years powerful “North Star Deserter” this CD is slower in revealing its charms. Still, Vic always finds refreshing ways to guide us into the shadowy corners of his heart, memories and life. Would that he could have followed through what he proclaimed on "Flirted With You All Of My Life". Bored with your current musical diet? Mr. Chesnutt and this mighty band will pump some life into your breast. He will be greatly missed.
Bob Dylan - "Through Life Together"
His 33rd studio album and some folks don't think Dylan's been trying much lately with his focus on roots American music styles. I don't agree at all. He's put together an outstanding band that plays the hell out of these songs. Interestingly enough the lyrics on the record were co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (except “my wife's home town” co-written with Willie Dixon). I think this co-writing thing gives this recording a little something different then his latest outings and why the hell not? This guy is just getting better and better. I've found this record to be quite addicting.
Buddy & Julie Miller - "Written In Chalk"
A real treat from this man and woman couple. She writes the lyrics, they both sing and play guitar and he produces (just like the Handsome Family couple/team who I also like a lot!). Pretty much straight ahead ‘country/folk' music but great songwriting from top to bottom and excellent performances all around. Business NOT as usual I think.
Willie Nelson - "Willie & The Wheel"
Nothing fancy here: just straight ahead Texas swing music featuring the long lived Asleep At The Wheel. Instead of the baritone voice of Ray Benson "at the drivers wheel" it's Willie Nelson doing the lead vocals. Asleep At the Wheel is the longest running (40 years!) and probably best band of this Texas music on the planet. Great playing by all these musical veterans makes this album a treat to listen to.
Richard Shindell - "Not Far Now"
Speaking of songwriting, this man is the real deal. I'd never really paid much attention to him before but a couple years back I had the chance to be the sound engineer for his Paris show and I really was bowled over. Vocals, guitar & bouzouki playing and lyrics. All top notch. This is my second CD of his and although his recorded music can get a bit "cluttered" by the arrangements (in my opinion of course) I love this guy's warmth, insight and eye for detail.
"Got No Chains - The Songs Of The Walkabouts/Various Artists"
Ok - I got one cut on this record (“Got No Chains” actually) but it's not why I put this on the list. It is truly is an outstanding collection of bands playing covers of The Walkabouts music in celebration of their 25 years of existence.
I've come to appreciate many of these tribute CD's which surprises me. I think it's because they tend to hold together (even given the varying styles of the bands) because the songs are all written by (usually) one hand. And if it's a good songwriter then you are in luck. In this case Chris Eckman's lyrics really have the chance to come to the fore and lets us hear what an outstanding songwriter he is. The arrangements on "Got No Chains'" for the most part tend to follow the originals but even with that said, they do veer all over the road. There are some great surprises as well. A bonus CD featuring the remastered original versions brings the whole project into focus. A great collection of songs and performances celebrating a great rock and roll band!
[ARCHIVE - Old news]
For the club owners....here's TLH's Patch List.