Day 2: Rehearsal

Howdy sports fans. Here’s the report from Day 2. We set up in Studio B upstairs, a large brick and hardwood floor room. Mark decides to take them up on the offer to use a VOX AC30. The sound is thick in the air—feels great. I plug into an old exposed-top Ampeg tube amp and try out a new pickup booster pedal on the bass. It doesn’t take long to get the sound dialed in and we get to work. First up is “Traces of Gold,” the title track (and my personal new fav). A few minor tweaks and ideas for the arrangement, but this one is mostly ready to go. The biggest change-ups so far are “Day and Night” and “Orion’s Belt.” We slow them down a bit, at John’s request, and they take on more of a roots-rock feel. Seems to be working out quite well and offers a nice balance with the other rockers. 

The energy is good. John, clad in headphones, moves back and forth between the board and the practice room—taking notes, making suggestions, and playing tambourine. We take a break and conversation drifts between European tours and synthesizers. Back at it. Miguel rocks the drums and we try some new approaches. Getting there. Still some things to work out, but we roll through 8 tracks, putting us in great shape for Tuesday. 

—Matt

Songs from Day 2:

1. Traces of Gold

2. Beauty Is Growing

3. Rest

4. Day and Night

5. Superstar Me

6. Shop You Around

7. Orion’s Belt

8. Weather