Twelve Days

I've been in Southern California for ten days. To most of you, you probably think "oh wow, you get to enjoy some sunshine and nice weather for a change" others of you more in the know say "nice - working on the new album with the band, that must be an awesome time."

I say humbug. I am just not an LA person. It's too hot, it's too dry. I can't see the ocean, I never know where I'm going, and to run down to the corner store for a soda, you need to take two different freeways. I'm not one of those people who really gives much of a damn about regional biases and all that. I don't hate SoCal sports teams because they're in our divisions, or because they're better than us, or because of some great sportsball sense of rivalry, I usually root against them because the SoCal sports fans as a whole really annoy me.

Yes, I am lumping a huuuuge mass of people together here, and I'm sure there are more exceptions to what I am saying than those who fall into my stereotypes. I have had nothing but good experiences with all the friends-of-friends and other well-wishers that I've met in my time here, and despite our differences in regions and our differences in sports affiliations, our mutual love of music and good times has been a big part of what has redeemed this trip.

The studio experience has been great. Erik Ron, our producer for the new Hello Monster record, has been flat-out inspirational to work with. It's always amazing to see someone in your general age range who is pushing towards mastery in their craft, and using their talents to help people realize their potential. He's also been just a great guy to spend time with; we've drank together, we've hung out at his place, we've played FIFA, and we've gone to shows together; it's been a definite rockstar experience. Our music sounds amazing, even if the majority of what I've done on this stage of the recording is sit in a windowless room and verify lyrics and melodies as they're being performed by my bandmates.

But now I'm ready to go home. I'm tired. I've slept on floors, couches, and air mattresses for almost two weeks. I haven't shaved at all. I have been surviving on energy drinks, fast food, and not nearly enough sleep. I think the days I've showered only outnumber the days I haven't showered by maybe one. Maybe. I know I'm currently on showerless day three, and I suspect people are starting to realize that. Everywhere I've spent the night, the host owns some kind of pet. I am ready to crawl into my bed, in my cold corner of San Francisco, freshly showered and comfortable.

I know, if the band goes on tour, this experience will be expanded. But the difference is that on tour, there is always something new and different around every corner. I have seen the interior walls of most of the same places for almost two weeks now, and while the recording studio definitely feels like home away from home (especially after sleeping here for like five days), it's dimly lit, windowless, and soundproofed, which means if I want to know what time of day it is, what the weather is like, or if I just want to see another human being who isn't Erik or Paul, I need to leave the building.

But yeah, that's what I've been up to. There are a lot more stories from this trip, but most are not blog-appropriate, so I'll save you the time, and if you want to hear them, you know how to get a hold of me.