Its a funny thing what happens when a guest musician is brought in to add to a band’s sound. A touch of fresh musical inspiration can go a long way. On Tuesday, Jordan Lietner, keyboardist and frontman of the Mad-Sweet Pangs came into the studio with us to add some keyboard sounds to three of our tunes. Jordan and the band just finished recording their second full length album, Witness and Wait. It is a much different sound than their first album, Stumbling Through Blydepoort Canyon, with a more guitar heavy sound highlighting new member Gordon Lippincott on lead guitar. Jordan’s keyboard work is tasteful, spacious and textural. If you listen close you may find three or four keys parts and sounds at once weaving in and out. His rootsy and soulful feel seem to hug the rest of the band’s music into what makes the Mad-Sweet Pangs sound.

So far, so good.  All the tracking for bass, drums and guitars are finished now and today in a couple of hours I will begin tracking vocals.  Josh Dubois is joining us in the studio today to throw down a conga part in the title track, On The Road, and we are all stoked to have him in the studio for the addition.  Gooch laid down some killer slide parts last week and we are really happy with the performances of the band so far.

After completing two days in the studio, 61 North is right on schedule. We have 7 sessions left and are kicking some ass so far. The goal is to finish rhythm tracks (drum & bass) this week, guitar tracks next week and vocals the final week. Yesterday was a particularly interesting day for myself. Ironically, on my 22 Birthday (June 17), we recorded the drum tracks to two of my first original songs, Loaded Gun and Midnight Hour. It feels good to be laying them down in their final version with 61 North. They have been circulating through Riverside, Slick Rick and The Hot Contents, 61 North and other musical acts I’ve pursued for the past three years. For Loaded Gun, this is it’s third time being professionally recorded. I’m ready to put these songs to rest and move forward.