Nifty Noodles/ Two Studios At Once

7/23/03 Wed.
I managed to double book myself this week for recording stuff. I had a singer coming in to do back ground vocals on the CR project. Great singer named Molly Jenson. Actually we took her on her schedule and that meant I wasn't gonna be there. Why? Cause I was in Eagle Rock doing two shows for radio rehab. So I haven't heard the vocals yet...Paul Dexter is co Producing these songs so I will hear the songs maybe tomorrow night in a near final mix.

Anyway, I recorded two Redemption shows called you should know about the first one on "Isolation and Loneliness" not very inventive title but I'm doing 8 shows called "pot holes" on the Road to Redemption...it will be the second set that we will offer to the public God willing.

The recording want pretty smooth but the surprise was the next show... #14 "comparing myself to others" Songs played: Aaron Neville/ Steer Me Right Nicole Smith/ Soul Salvation ( she sounds like Anne Lennox on this) Keb Mo/ Everything I need Jack Johnson/ Posters Sweet Comfort Band/ Envy and Jealousy Doug Williams and Duranice Pace/ out of myself

Both shows came out great... I had planned to end both shows with up beat gospel tunes but ran out of time... There's a new problem... Used to be I couldn't find enough songs I liked... Found a couple of good songs on the Wow Gospel record for 2003 And I discovered Joe Pace and the Colorado Mass Choir.. Who are giving Kirk Franklin a good run for his money... I'll probably use the two tunes I just recorded on the radio show eventually too... Cause they are going on a 12 step compilation record.

I forgot to tell you about last Saturday... I sat in on the Praise and Worship seminar being held at Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest. I was asked by Cindy Diane (a worship vocalist who is just hitting the charts they tell me...) if I would sing a duet from her record. I would be replacing Tommy Funderberk who sang on the recording. That turned out incredible I must say... I also joined the choir and band from Saddleback Church on Maybe I'm Amazed Also went very well... Met several singers and players I'd never met before. I was very impressed with all I heard.

I left early to go to Martini Blues... A dinner club down the street about 30 minutes to hear my friends the Blues Chronicles... (they played on my new recordings for CR) I played a couple of "hurried up" tunes of mine with them. Everything in the Garden and Blue Skies... Then did a keyboard song called Don't help the Devil... Sound is nominal for what I'm used to at my gigs so I don't think I'll be giving up my other calling anytime soon.

OKC ya bryand

Nifty Noodles/ East Valley

7/19/03 Saturday
I met the sweetest folks in El Cajon just east of San Diego. A "coalition of small churches" one woman told me. Largely from the Philipeanno community. I was thrilled.... Everyone was shorter than I was! It was fund raiser/ celebration of the pool of talent in the area... O.k. It was a variety show... Singers, dancers... Singers. Met some early teen age boys in a band called "faded glory" which by the way is also a pair of pants at the Gap. "you're too young to be faded" I told him...

The whole pool of talent had rehearsed "One Voice" for the end of the show.. And I somehow had confused this date with another in San Diego that I had expected to do. So I was trying to remember the song on one re rehearsal...

I think there might have been a little culture gap during my part of the show... I couldn't see the crowd but they were quiet mostly...I felt too flippant in my sarcasm and embarrassed in my silliness...So I hunkered down in my presentation, relegating myself to the material... Trust the songs and get out of the way... I ended earlier than I planned... Remembering the audience had sat through a whole presentation before me.

Turns out there were people who had driven from as far away as Carson, Nevada to hear my songs... It's been two weeks since I played my latest tunes and I left the "unplugged" stuff unplayed...

OK so theres' that... bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Safe House

7/14/03 Monday
I was off this weekend... So I spent the time working on another radio show. Just finished one on resentment as you may recall... Sunday I found some resentments of my own and I was in a miserable place emotionally. I mentioned it to one of my "step brothers" and he came by and dragged me over to help out at a little meeting they have at "the Safe House". It's a temporary home for displaced children who's parents are on drugs or in jail or just plain abandoned them.

I was cranky even as I walked in the door. There were five adults sitting with seven kids ranging in age from around 7-14. And I listened. The adults were telling the kids about the mistakes they made in their lives and with their own children. I was struck by the fact that I don't remember ever as a child any adult being that honest with me about their personal failures.

They were passing out recovery chips to some of these kids. One was celebrating 3 days without drugs... One 30 days. Think about that. I was asked to tell my story briefly... And it's interesting to hear your own first words about where you are and where you've been when your story is singled out by surprise... It comes out differently. No time to edit your thoughts or improve your "image" How refreshing and surprising.

I sung a couple of songs to the kids... Don't ya wanna rap and mr bailey's daughter. Played em my radio show intro. Afterward I was given a prayer request from one of the kids as they were asked what they wanted prayer for. It is heart breaking to hear what goes on in their lives and what they're dealing with not even into high school.

I left suddenly realizing that I had lost all my resentment! that step 12 in recovery really is the deal... "you can't keep it until you give it away" suddenly made sense in so many ways.

I'd like to thank the guy the gave me a push to get me out of a funk.

OK so theres that bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Changin' the Things I Can

7/10/03 Thursday in L.A.
One more trip to Sound Foundations... To do show number 12 for radio rehab... This ones on resentment. It's just different still from any other show. Interesting to me though. If no body else gets it, I sure have the opportunity to look at specifics with some clarity.

David Rowe's editing the live DVD audio section for the other thing I'm working on right now.. I live concert release for sale! We "reinvented" the introduction to the show to sound a little more professional. I think you'll like it. I do. And I've been watching the Steely Dan DVD... Which pretty much puts me in my place and yet I'm still happy to do something in music and I'm not totally embarrassed either... I just know my limitations.

But see that might be where God could step in on my part and add something special in the way of a spiritual lift that just music and talent can't reach!

Man I'm in a great place today and it took me two hours to drive home on the freeways of Southern California ... The support that I'm getting around my own town about the Radio Rehab show has been absolutely amazing. I've got what's starting to look like a board of Directors... In that I have nine men who have shown specific interest in praying for the show and offering insights and in some cases financial investment... Nothing big, but I like the grass roots of all this.

I've been asked to put together a mission statement about radio rehab and my intentions with it. That's easy: to maintain my own new found sanity, to offer encouragement to others who can relate to my experiences, to support recovery groups around the country by providing a radio show they can put their own name on as a sponsor in their own area. And finally it puts my passion and music out there and gives me a chance to continue to sing around the country as a chosen way of fulfilling my calling to sing and make music.

O.K. So theres' That! bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Who's In Charge?

7/8/03 Tuesday Huntington Beach, Ca
I fired myself today as the full producer of the two songs for recovery. My attention deficit was showing. Paul Dexter who is engineering the project is also a producer and found me frustrating to work for. PDX as I like to call him likes to run with no slack in the chain if you know what I mean. Overdubs were taking too long... And "comping" the lead vocal took twice as long when I was in the room. Hey, I'm not expendable! I can handle the criticism... I think... I was burning too much time with no budget. People get antsy when they're on the clock. And sadly, I don't always know I what I want. I have poor people skills too. I'm a writer mostly because I don't communicate well... Think about that for a second. Anyway, I'm gonna drive from the back seat on these tunes so as to keep it running smooth.

I watched the DVD of Steely Dan when I got home... I'm ashamed of my self for trying to be in the music business in the first place after seeing them up close.

I brought home a copy of "never lied to you" the rough mix and unfinished... But I must say we've captured the real essence of the tune.. It is so full of emotion and the music doesn't get in the way or overstate. I think I'll be happy with this, all things considered. There's a sweet little guitar solo played by Ian Keen that I liked after fresh ears.

I did the lead vocals on both songs today... I'm having some trouble with my hearing in my left ear. Hopefully it's just a recurring virus but I have a low grade hum in it on a regular basis... I don't notice it when I'm driving around with the car top down and the radio on as usual. But in a quiet room it feels like low grade line noise.

One more reason to co-produce!

O.K. I'm fired and there's that! bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ independence days

July fourth week end... First time ever that I saw no fireworks on this holiday...stayed home and worked all day Saturday on the next Radio Rehab show... It's on "resentment". Needless to say I had to go with edgier stuff musically... The line up on this one is Fastball, Creed, 3 doors down, Switchfoot, 12 Stones, ME and Rebecca St James, Small Town Poets. My point might be to just state the obvious in my opinion. Put music to it... And pray for guidance... Maybe offer a little hope, but I haven't gotten to the bottom of this barrel! I'm short on insight. Never the less this show helps me look at specific issues that I personally would ignore for lack of desire to look at the problems.

Sunday morning I left home very early to sing at Saddleback Church... Now the second largest church in the country I was told. They do four church services at the same time. Different styles of music but the same message at the end. I was at the "up tempo" service..., I opened with "thank you Jesus for one thing", did America the Beautiful "Ray Charles style" I sang the National anthem without music, just delay, like it would sound in a baseball stadium. led my own worship tune, "Only You" And closed with "a Heart Like Mine". I must say it sounded really good to me... And I don't recall saying that very often... I'm either becoming deluded or I've adjusted my need for perfection.

Monday morning I was in Huntington Beach... With members of the Blues Chronicles" for my first recording session outside a label contract. We put down basic tracks to two songs they plan to use on Celebrate Recovery's 12 step project. They're both pretty mellow. I'm producing them... With the help of half the band, Paul Dexter engineering and my live date soundman David Rowe tossing in his take too.

I felt a little lost... I've never had to walk myself through the recording process quite like this before. I have every confidence in these musicians. But I discovered that I'm afraid to make a decision that will make someone unhappy. Recording went pretty smooth but there were some moments where sounds and techniques varied. Several guys have produced things themselves and became quite opinionated... I had to go with what I liked and I felt stupid and alone in my opinions. I'm a novice at this end of development. I tried to listen to everyone's thoughts on the task. In the end I have to take the credit for any "lapses in judgment". I'm working with almost no budget, also a new reality these days. So these songs will be sparse in their accompaniment which in this case will benefit the vulnerable nature of both tunes... Jesus Loves Me Anyway... Which opens with the lines "I have never tried so hard to have a heart someone could love... But I never could" And the other song "I never lied to you... Until I lied to myself". They will not sound like anything I've done to date. "I just hope we don't suck too much" to borrow a line from Waynes World.

The players are great but you can have good actors in a bad movie. The script can be good and the editing terrible... Just lots of places to not get it right... Especially when you're tight on time... It has to be delivered by the 30th of this month... No more hiding behind the poster for me. I am being redefined in all humility. And I'll leave you with a great line from a cheap movie I saw this weekend called Sweet Home Alabama... As the fiance of a bride to be gets dumped literally in the isle at their wedding.... He stops for a minute, thinks about it and says... "Wow, So that's how this feels" !!! That is so perfect!

Ok.So theres that! bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Rehearsal for Recording

7/4/03 Montclair, CA Rehearsed with the "Blues Chronicles" a band I'm using locally on my gigs and they are going to record the two songs I'm doing for Celebrate Recovery's compilation CD... The songs I'm recording are: "I never Lied To You" and "Jesus loves me anyway".

We're recording Monday morning at ten a.m. At Paul Dexter's studio in Costa Mesa, Ca. The rehearsal was cool..."Jesus Loves me anyway" is a kind of "Nora Jones meets James Taylor" production "never Lied to You" is straight "Simply Red" approach so far... And the drum kit in the studio we used was The kit used on Steely Dan's " Two Against Nature... I love those little tid bits... Maybe some of that class will rub off on us!

Stay tuned... Bryan d

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