The calm before the storm...

Blog 8/27/2011

It feels like my summer just began this past week. I didn't get much time for myself this summer but that can only lead to good things right? What's the phrase..."idle time is the devil's playground"? No rest for the wicked...

My band, Brand New Sin, began tracking our 5th full length CD in late May. It's entitled UNITED STATE; to quote Kris, "our finest work yet, until the next one". This is the first recording to include the extraordinary guitar work of our new lead guitarist, Tommy Matkowski. [Interesting side note: if you're not aware, we toured the country in February. we were lucky enough to open for the legendary Slash for two shows. Ironically and coincidentally, Guns N Roses' original artist, Billy White Jr., shared his amazing skills and imagination with us once again for this new album.] Shortly after the tour we signed a worldwide marketing and distribution deal with Goomba Music. Reminder- it's 2011; they're not just handing out label contracts at your local dive bar these days! According to our agreement, this means radio, video, international marketing and an entire staff of people pushing our music!! Very exciting times...life is good.

As with our 2009 release, DISTILLED, United State was tracked, engineered, produced, mixed and mastered at Subcat Music Studio which now resides in the building dubbed "219" in downtown Syracuse, NY.

I have a unique role in this amazing arts and entertainment complex. I teach private drum lessons full time in the drum studio on the 2nd floor. For the past 6 weeks I had the luxury and honor to be the drum teacher for Rock Camp! Yup. You read it right...ROCK CAMP! Not boring, completely inspiring, absolutely challenging and rewarding beyond words! I hope the program continues to gain momentum and cummunity support. This idea (locally) was spearheaded by local musician Bill Hider who is the chairman of the board for The Redhouse Theater and art gallery which is attached to Subcat. Thanks to all the artistic enterprises encompassed by 219 : Black Lagoon Productions, The Redhouse, Subcat Music Studio and Montage Cafe for the space and participation! Thanks to you Rock Camp ROCKED! [Much respect for our fearless leaders - Peggy and Emmett, and my fellow staff members, Leila, Seth, Rita, Parker, Jon, Dylan, Sam, Nathan, Justin, Koko; also, the Red house staff - Laura, Mike, John, Anton, Steve, and of course Scott Allyn]. These kids met eachother, formed bands, wrote and learned each others' songs, and performed a concert in 3 weeks! (We had 3 sessions in our first year). Awesome! [Useless trivia: Brand New Sin made a cameo appearance in the movie School Of Rock featuring Jack Black (Paramount Pictures)].

Between lessons, curriculum/lesson plans, tracking, practicing, delegating, co-producing, performing, lecturing, public speaking, conducting/arranging, etc. ...... I'm pooped. Whew! I should just forward my mail to 219 S. West St.

Somehow along the way I also managed to play some cool shows. Brand New Sin opened for Bobaflex at Mean Street Tattoo Studio's grand opening a couple weeks ago with When Everything Fails and Born Again Rebels. We played a rare acoustic gig at NOPL public library as intermission entertainment for battle of the bands last month. I also had the privilege to share the stage with a dozen of my closest childhood friends and fellow local musicians, including the infamous Jeff Tortora (2010 Syracuse Hall of Fame inductee and current Blue Man Group drummer) with The Whatafuocos at The Lost Horizon with Formerly Unnamed and the Born Again Savages. Jeff also was kind enough to donate his time and give an amazing performance and interview for the kids at Rock Camp last week! Unforgettable.

Subcat
http://subcat.net

Rock Camp
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Redhouse-Rock-Camp/128352840587973

Goomba Music
http://goombamusic.com

Whatafuocos blurb
http://mobile.syracuse.com/advsyra/pm_103282/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=JhUlyh4G

Brand New Sin
http://brandnewsin.com
http://reverbnation.com/brandnewsin

Anyway, I am seriously ready for this album to drop. I am MORE than ready to hit the road with Brand New Sin (no surprise there).

...on to bigger and better things....