Abubilla Music

This Week in the Studio: 09.12.30

Written by Jimmy

Believe it or not our band of warriors convened on the eve before the EVE for a full day in the studio.   Fridges were emptied, drummers were floored, and Andy ‘went jungle.’

All in all a good day – one new song, one revisit, and most of the Christmas left-overs consumed.  Band met in laws and both parties survived.   The big news items:

1. Laid down new song, ‘Starin’ at my shoes.’  Jimmy wanted a little Donovan-Paulo Nutini number and band delivered a new wave meets New Zealand rugby Haka chant.   cute little song is now un-singable by Jimmy and unwanted by rest of band.  Will convince Louise to take the lead now as ‘Georgina of the Jungle.’  Please watch this space.  Mike did deliver some fantastic George of the Jungle drums as requested.   Ed and Rob were there ever reliable best.  Louise and Andy delivered vocals in Jimmy’s stunning absence.  Jimmy pressed buttons.  Andy decided the song need a series of Jungle chants have way thru, having grown tired (and sore fingers I might add) of playing acoustic guitar.  So sessions degenerated into jungle noises as Louise fled the room to complain bitterly about men to Morgan.
2. Jimmy was under instructions by Kathy that no Papa Johns was allowed into house until all X-mas left overs were gone.   So band enjoyed a re-heated turkey and lasagna feats.  Mike, being a student sucking off the teat of the public, consumed three plate fulls of food, and spend most of afternoon session lying face up in the middle of the studio floor complaining of a tummy ache.    Louise pretended to eat turkey but basically hung around the microwave eating ALL of the Pecan pie.  The rest of the boys did themselves proud and fridge was empty save for a bit of stringy turkey and red cabbage.  And a bit of a miracle occurred.  Stupid Toby, for the first time in his life, actually started looking up for the food source — vs. his normal habit of thinking food comes up from the ground near where people congregate near kitchen counters.  We think this is because Rob is secretly feeding him in exchange for ‘no more stones.’ 
3. We then returned to the studio, slightly wider, for a ‘revisit’ of Immovable Thing, from Spanish Jam glory.   Pretty good track if we say so ourselves — great, great vocals from Louise (who sings darned purdy when she likes the song), and the rest of the band laid down a great track, with Ed twurtelling a way on trumpet at end.   We all walked away happy, with a remaining discussion of whether Louise or Andy back up Louise’s lead vocal.  And we will get into a massive ‘less is more’ fight at the end  regarding ‘too many trumpets and strings’ (Louise’s inevitable position) vs. ‘but those are MY trumpet and strings (a position held currently by Andy and Ed).  Given the Louise wants to introduce a Cello player to the band, ‘more is more’ will likely win this one but do watch this space.
4. We then sorted thru website issues, including getting the blood-sucking-drummer-student-Mike to finally do an artist blog.  Watch this space in New Year.  As predicted, Mike is gradually falling in love with us, moving from the snobby drummer who sniffed down at our music, to the enthusiastic wallopper of all drums associated with Georgina of the Jungle!  We do a good job as a community of bringing everyone down to our level.  Welcome to the pavement young grasshopper!

That’s it from the London Studio!  For the record, Martyn discovered late in the night on Friday that he would NOT be able to make our session at 1230 because he had a 1400 flight to Paris…. it took him all week to sort that one out, and I believe Alice actually had to point it out to him.  Sigh…..