TSP Media - 04.12.04 - Billy Journal Post

Hi... i figured posting on easter was a bit obsessive, so I skipped it, but to keep the stream of consciousness flowing, I did take the opportunity on easter to play the entire 12 chicago songs in to-tal for my family, and it was good practice, making me realize (yet again) that I'm out of shape :) So that makes 3 full run thru's in 2 days, which has been helpful and has really helped to build my confidence for the show.... one sidenote: I was lazy and didn't want to take 3 guitars over to my family's house, so I just took one, which (because of alternate tuning issues) forced me to change the basic set I had written up.... i was surprised that the feeling was consistent even with a different flow of songs, and that was something I didn't expect....

ok, on to today, the first day of recording.... i got there at about 1:30 with the 20 fans supposed to come at 3. on Saturday past, we gave out 120 tickets (20 a day) for some fans to come (sorry if I am being repetitive, I'm just tired).... right away when I got there it was obvious that certain things still weren't set up, as ladders were being moved and microphones set up, etc. so, at 2:30 p.m., we started letting some people in even though we were not showbiz ready.... everyone that came was very nice and friendly, which made having to sit there and test levels more tolerable.... after a while, we were ready to go, and we had to let everyone know to keep absolutely still because the microphones are cranked up so much you can hear people breathing! the first song we did takes on is called "cease to be," which is probably not going to be the title at the end of it all, but works for now.... i picked it because it's a fun song to play and isn't a "chicago" song.... we did a few takes of that, and I got bored and we switched to a more important song, the 9-minute song "columbus"....

the first take was going great when I spaced it out and messed up after about 7 minutes, which is frustrating but goes with the territory of being in the moment. after I messed up, we tried one more of that one, which I got all the way thru with, and it was decent but not heart stopping.... in between takes I chatted with the people there, about things that were on their mind, like my past, and my past, and oh yeah, my future! I'm just kidding, we talked about all sorts of stuff, and everyone was very sweet and was kind about the whole process, which at the base of it I find boring.... the show biz part of me wants to keep anyone watching entertained but it is just not that forum.... i did a really beautiful take of a song called "friends and lovers" in a lower key that normal, which seems to make it more peaceful and pretty.... some fans were crying after I finished, and it felt good to finally hit the right moment.... the last song of the day was my vague swing, as a chicago cubs fan, at the other team in town, the white sox.... it's a good-hearted diss (cause I watch the sox too) called "black sox," which goes out of its way to glorify our beloved cubs.... anyway, after doing it once or twice, I hit on the idea of having everyone sing along, so we did a few takes like that also....

the day was shot with 7 cameras, and as I was going out the door lester was giving each person a chance to ask a question that we may use as part of an interview segment on the DVD.... that's all for now.... thanks to everyone who came today, you were great.... bc

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