Live at Broken City Studios
C.S. Lewis:
"It is easy to think the State has a lot of different objects — military, political, economic and what not. But in a way things are much simpler than that. The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden — that is what the State is there for. And unless they are helping to increase and prolong and protect such moments, all the laws, parliaments, armies, courts, police, economics, etc., are simply a waste of time."
Wise words.
Gannin came into the studio with this title, the main melody and chords. We just went on the ride. A few takes later, we had something we all felt good about. These kind of 6/8 grooves are always a lot of fun. . . you can tell we feel that way since we all didn't mind taking a solo to see what came out. This like all the others was recorded live to protools.
Drums: Adam Watts
Bass: Melvin Lee Davis
C.S. Lewis:
"The Voyage will be a success only, in the first place, if the ships do not collide and get in one another’s way; and, secondly, if each ship is seaworthy and has her engines in good order. As a matter of fact, you cannot have either of these two things without the other.”
Adam here. I'm pretty into antiques. I make art out of these found objects but recently I've started using old iron objects as percussion. I had this groove built around this very old ship bell I had recently attached to my kit. This sent the rest of the guys on a journey toward the chord progression and vibe that became this piece. Again we did a few takes and started to feel it take shape and then it was in the can. Kind of a good kind of hypnotic, this one.
Bass: Melvin Lee Davis
Drums: Adam Watts
C.S. Lewis:
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."
After listening back to the final take of this one, Melvin started talking about how nice it is to be a bit older and not always feel the need to blow chops all the time, but to just play music. There was a kind of collective "Amen" that swept the room. . . hence the title.
This one just felt good. Lots of space. For me (Adam), this song kind of sums up the overall feeling of this day of playing and recording; three old friends getting together to just see what happens. To listen to each other and play. Respond. Create.
I hadn't hung out with or played with Melvin for well over a decade. He'd been an early mentor to me when I was a young buck back in the late 90s. So supportive of me and my playing, and songwriting as well. Having him over to my studio to play was an honor, it felt like home to be back grooving with him and his massive bass!
Such soulful playing by Gannin and Melvin on this tune.
Drums: Adam Watts
Guitar: Gannin Arnold
