For our 2nd album AOF has been fortunate to stumble upon producer extraordinaire, Geoff Ott (or he upon us). Geoff started at the famous London Bridge Studios (Pearl Jam 10, etc) as an engineer (possibly when he was a zygote), since working on albums for Alice In Chains, Queensryche, Melissa Etheridge, 3 Doors Down, etc - eventually becoming a producer and co-owner of London Bridge.
Geoff sifted through two dozen of our songs, to pick his favorite 6, which he did (We'll keep that list a surprise for now), and give us his notes/ideas, which we sat with, pondered, pontficated, cried over, posted on dart-boards, and threw things at, rejoiced, ate something and then started over again.
After revamping song #1 from his evil lair, Geoff joined us at practice and showed us how to re-do it again... thing is.... he's good! It's valuable to walk away from "how the song is" before getting married to it (also good advice in engagement situations I'd say), and a pro view it from a different angle.
It's not easy laying one's soul bare on a page, or in my bandmates' perspectives, laying music out to be disected by the music doc. But in the end, doctor may well know best. So here's to humility, new experience, and taking the medicine....
To blog or not to blog - that is not much of a question. Last night was our 47th show as Afraid Of Figs, and I'd say we're in the groove. We had some great industry people out, who were able to see a stage show that's grown over time, and hear a sound that's solidified. It was the first time that the majority of songs were not from our album, which means, we're heading down the road toward album number two.
With another festival next week, on the heels of our first mini tour, things are starting to open up, and excitement is simmering. While we'd like to be playing arenas and late night TV shows tomorrow, we're anxiously enjoying the ride there.
We're meeting some great people, both in and outside of the music industry, and, every day, this is becoming a bit more.... real.
It's fun to share our shows, our experiences, our pains, our joys with our first "Fans" who started as our supportive friends, and our newest fans, many of whom are becoming family.
Today we (begin to) bid farewell to the AOF website of old. Will you like the new addition better? Like an insecure second born child, we hope so. There will be blogging (occasionally), flogging (rarely), and snogging (hey, it rhymed - don't throw rocks in glass houses at the messenger. Well, that's it for today. Enjoy afraidoffigs.com 2.0, and ... tell a friend!
