I hate music

02.22.2007- CST

I hate music, so it was funny when the whole Gibson blog thing started: "James, we know you're extremely busy meeting with world leaders, overseeing your tofu factory, and becoming one of the most well-known trainers of dogs who ride skateboards. However, we feel you might have something to add..." I thought about it for a moment and realized it was time to grab the bull by the horns and write this sucker. This blog entry will tell you what I've been up to musically, discuss Gibson's fine musical instruments, and, hopefully, about "me."

Who am I? Who are you? Why are we here? These are some pretty big questions, and this blog probably isn't the right forum for them, so let's get into our studio: Stratosphere Sound, a state of the art (I love saying that!!) recording studio that Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and I co-own. Music is an elusive creature: she laughs, She giggles, she burps! This aural demimonde, this capricious sprite with a glint of mischief in her eye is best captured in a recording studio. A recording studio like Stratosphere Sound. We have two rooms designed by Fran Manzel that each include HD Protools, Studer 24 track tape machine, and a Neve 8068 mixing board (for more info go to Stratospheresound.com). We also have many kinds of gear and instruments including a fine late 60s Epiphone Casino, a late 60s Gibson 330, and an 80s Gibson Les Paul (used on many Smashing Pumpkins recordings). Stratosphere Sound also houses a beautiful Baldwin piano, which I used extensively on a Japanese film soundtrack called Linda, Linda, Linda.

I just finished producing an album for a talented singer/songwriter named Eugene that should come out this summer on our label,Scratchie Records. Eugene has many interesting tales to tell and he loves whiskey. If you see him play out this year,buy him a round. He also enjoys playing a vintage Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar on this upcoming release. Also, coming out on Scratchie/New Line Records (in harmonious synergy) are Office (a pop rock machine with plenty of killer hooks; plus they're from my hometown, Chicago), Albert Hammond Jr. (a young man who may make it big one day), Midnight Movies (a cinematic, dreamy, dramatic rock band from LA,) and Robbers on High Street (an angular, punchy, smart rock band based in Brooklyn). You can find all of these on Myspace and the Internet. I am also writing songs for myself and will hopefully get in the studio sometime this year to rock on my own.

Well, I need to go. The sled dogs need feeding, and in 3 months time I will be in the Antarctic without a compass, computer, or a fellow human being. But i will have my dream. Now onward! Mush!

James