JCHRants

A compendium of musings on music and this business we call show

I Still Like It

12.22.2015

Epic ships 01/25/16. Uncle Ciaràn ate the same lunch every day for ten years. And liked it. How mixing is like that. Repetition can be good. And bad. Elvis. Hound Dog vs. Holst.

Roger CortonSo you’re done with Epic?

JCHYep. Unfortunately, I have to wait until after the holidays to get it mastered, but then it’s off to the manufacturer. So DV, the CDs should be shipping the third week of January.

RCCongratulations! I’m sure you’re relieved.

JCHI am, for several reasons. First off, I’m so sick of listening to the same songs over and over and over and over and…

RCLet me stop you here because I think I get the point. Silly me, I was thinking you might start on a positive note.

JCHSilly you. But as much as I like these pieces,

RCWait, you still like these pieces (laughs)?

JCHAbsolutely. I always tell people: I make the music, I wanted to […]

A Guitarist’s Christmas Story: The One That Got Away

12.15.2015

Hmmm...

Rog takes the week off, so JC has a Christmas Rant just for you: Don’t let the right one get away. Intuition.

Every guitarist I’ve ever met has a hard luck story something like this: they find a really interesting guitar at some out of the way place. And even though it’s not the guitar they thought they were looking for they have a great time messing with it. There’s just something about it. But for once in their life they decide to be ‘sensible’ and so they drive home to, you know, ‘think it over’. And by the time they get home they’ve talked themselves out of the whole thing. And of course, that’s the guitar they spend the next twenty five years wondering about.

I’ve done that. On multiple occasions. 😀 As they say, I’ve got the tracks of character tattooed all over my face. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror some mornings and I swear I can see at least a few of ‘*the ones that […]

Niagara Falls, Are You For Real?

12.8.2015

Albums, Gigs, Marketing

Slowly I turned. Step by step. Inch by inch. The Three Stooges. Plans for a fan party in Niagara Falls in February 2016. Great questions: CD Release Party or tragic marketing mistake? Is Roger for real? And if so, are there any other prog fans in Atlanta?

Roger CortonNiagara Falls. Slowly I turned. Step by step. Inch by inch.

JCHDamn. You beat me to the punch. I wonder if anyone under fifty will get that reference.

RCIt’s a sad day for America when you have to explain who The Three Stooges were.

JCHPreach, brother.

RCSo the upshot is that you want to revive the annual Niagara Falls Fan Party at Spring Break February 2016? Right on, man! It’s about time. We haven’t done that in six or seven years.

JCHNot since THE ICY HAND OF DEATH!

RCI […]

Epic Fail

12.1.2015

Albums, Marketing

Not just in time for Christmas, the new album is Epic. Marketing failures and success. Compilations and complications. Robert Plant’s voice may not be able to hit the high notes, but JC’s hand still can! Shredding. Beautiful Sounds. Oceans Below. Why not Compartments? Reaching that base of constituents.

Roger CortonWhen you emailed me before this chat, you told me the subject was ‘Epic Fail’. When I hear that I think about some girl in a bikini falling off a diving board. Epic Fail! A guy tries to do some fancy moves on the half pipe and gets smacked in the balls. America’s Funniest Home Videos! On steroids.

JCHThat is, if steroids kicked you in the balls.

RCExactly. So… aside from the obvious pun, what’s the point in using that reference to announce Epic, the new record?

JCHAs we discussed in The Plan, I had planned to get a new record out early next year. But from a marketing standpoint

[…]

Mr. Rogers Interviews A Bass Player

11.25.2015

Culture

There’s really no point to this other than the nostalgic pleasure of listening to a young Bill Murray and Christopher Guest. Although, I must admit, Bill’s affect matches that of about half a dozen bassists I’ve replaced over the years due to various substance abuse issues. 😀