But, the important-est of things IS that I’m back into the studio, in full-on recording/editing/mixing/listening mode, and Matt Scutt and I are flying through tracks.  In a few weeks, keep your eyes and ears peeled, as I’ll be making the first couple songs available for download.

In the mean time, I promise promise promise to maintain a steady interweb appearance on my lovely little site here.  I promise.  I miss the writing and such like none other, and I’ve missed all my happy internet friends!

Until next time…

Playing RIGHT now:  Suicide Medicine – Rocky Votolato

Then Ha Ha Tonka took the stage and blew my mind.  Perhaps cause it was so unexpected.  I had no idea who they were or what they were going to sound like, and it was all things amazing.  Turns out, it was their CD release show for their new album Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, which turns out is also all things amazing.

I purchased the vinyl version, even though my record player still doesn’t make proper sounds.  The beauty of buying new bands’ vinyl is it usually comes with a free download of the album.

In other news… I may, just may, be finishing my record much earlier than expected.  The details still need to be worked out, but if all the pieces fall into place properly, it could possibly be done in a few weeks.

That’s right, WEEKS!  I was leaning towards months until the recording phase was all wrapped up!

So, my minds is back in production mode.  I’m dreaming about arrangements again, and waking up early with songs in my head.

It feels good to be back.

Playing RIGHT now:  Hold My Feet to the Fire – Ha Ha Tonka

It’s been a quiet, lonely month in the apartment, needless to say.  It’s like all my best friends and roommates suddenly moved out and thousands of miles away.

To add insult to injury, a transformer in the alley behind my apartment has been emmiting this super high pithed buzzing noise for the past two weeks.  To say it’s super effing annoying doesn’t even began to express the way I feel about it.

A couple nights ago, I tried sleeping with my window open.  I was having fricken nightmares where I was being chased around and attacked by a sound! That’s like crazy sci-fi/twilight zone schtufff!

I’ve been praying to the gods of all things hearing related that Comed will pay a visit and fix it.

If the freaking ear polution is not gone in a few more days, I’m afraid I’ll turn to the dark side…

On to happier thoughts… I saw this picture yesterday…

which made me want to post my Top 5 Records I Miss Most Today Because My Stupid Record Player Is Being Stupid.

• #5 – Stevie Wonder – Talking Book – This album has ALL my favorite Stevie songs.
• #4 – Gravenhurst – Flashlight Seasons – Beautiful, sad, perfect
• #3 – Steely Dan – Aja -It’s Danger on the Rocks.
• #2 – Jackson Browne – For Everyman – Everyone should own this album.  Everyone.
• #1 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Dream – This is one of my most recent buys, I wasn’t expecting it to be anything special, but I was madly in love at first listen.  It’s all things brilliant, from start to finish.

I really need to see about getting that fixed.  Really, really need to.

Happy Friday, have a fantastic weekend!

Playing RIGHT now:  Portions For Foxes – Rilo Kiley (Baby, I”m bad news)

This is my Paradise, with a capital P.

Tinago Falls in the Philippines.

Until today, I had no idea what the name of the place even was, but I’m quite the nifty little Google Gumshoe and figured it out.

When I was 16, I spent a month in the Philippines.  We had a free day, and our group’s leaders took us here.  We had no idea where we were going.  I remember hiking down into a canyon through crazy dense jungle, all along hearing a rumble in the distance that kept growing louder and louder, when finally the most beautiful waterfall and clear blue pool of water appeared through the trees.  We spent the afternoon swimming and jumping off the rocks.  For a 16 year old kid from the plains of Colorado, it was heaven.

I didn’t have my camera with me that day, but didn’t mind.  My favorite memories are best left to my mind to remember.  Photos fail to capture the experience that lives in my head.

Paradise lives in my head.

…………

In other news, I upload some recent promo shots of Lauren Frost and myself to my flickr.  Here’s one:

Isn't my guitar absolutely gorgeous?

Tom Gallagher took many, many more, mainly of the pretty girl up there, but I sneaked my ugly mug into a few.  You can see more on my flickr if you CLICK HERE!!!

Happy day before Friday!

Playing RIGHT now:  nothing, I’m opening up itunes and hitting play with it on random, and I swear to you, even if it’s embarrassing, I’ll post the first song that plays.  (I’m a little nervous…)

Heavy Metal Drummer – Wilco (pfeww… that’s a relief…)

But, I keep getting hassled about saying stuff, so I’ll let my fingers push these buttons, and perhaps I will, indeed, say something.

I think the reason I haven’t written anything is because I don’t want to write about the one thing that’s been on my mind for the past couple of months.  Fuck it.  I’ll write about it.

The small company I work for (and by small, I mean 4 people) has had slow business for the past six months, and so we’ve received cuts in pay.  I’m glad I have a job, and I’ve been able to stay up on all my regular expenses.  But, the portion of my pay that I’m not receiving was the portion allotted to the finishing of my album and helping me start another side project/business to help propel my music career to the next step.

Like any sucky situation, I’ve learned to make do with what I have, and as much as it has bothered me at times, I know that in perspective, things could be much worse.  In fact, all is well, just a bit behind schedule.  But, the schedule was merely in my head.  I’m one to stand by the importance of timing, so schedules can and should be changed to adapt.  If the timing doesn’t happen naturally, then it shouldn’t have happened at all.  I hate forcing things, but instead, do my best to do my part, work my hardest, and allow everything to come together in it’s own way, on it’s own time.

Actually, on second thought, that’s all BS.  If I had the money to finish it, I would have finished it.  Timing is simply a fantastically poor excuse for being broke.

On third thought, if the money was there to complete the project, it could still suck if I didn’t take my time in completing it properly.

Balance, that’s what’s important.

With all that said, I really really can’t wait to finish my album.  It’s so fucking close to finished, but not quite.  And that “not quite” is huge; the difference between releasing something I’m happy with and something I’m extremely proud of.  Money and timing aside, I want this album to be the best it can be.

Moving along now… what have I been up to?  As much as possible to keep things moving and my mind occupied from that giant elephant that follows me around.  Because I can’t use gun-points, bullet-points will suffice…

• Doves performed at The Vic a couple weeks ago.  It was beautiful.
• Lauren and I had a photo shoot with our good friend Tom Gallagher (here’s a sample!)
• Daley Hake was in town for a couple days, and we introduced him to the wonder that is warm-weather Chicago.  He even took a couple photos of Lauren and I when we had 5 minutes to kill before taking him to the train.
• I built a table for Stephen Morrissey that  I’m very proud of.  It’s not quite finished, but here’s a sneak peak.  That man makes a mean carbonara, and a great cup of coffee (extreme understatement of the year).
• Played a benefit for a great new chicago arts organization called The Seen.
• I’ve grilled and eaten more hot dogs in the past month then… well… can’t think of a good comparison.  Alot.  I love them.
• Traded in my cold weather Manhattan for a warm weather Tom Collins.
• Dexter is amazing.  I’ve been borderline obsessed.  Which kinda makes me wonder about my mental health.  I’m obsessed with a show about a guy who’s a serial killer who kills serial killers.  Great.
• I saw The Brothers Bloom on opening day.  It was me and my Lady and a handful of old people for the matinee show.  Needless to say, we got the best seats in the house.  I haven’t been that excited for a movie to come out in, well, ever.  I also haven’t geeked out about a moving coming out ever.  But I did.  And it was everything I dreamed it would be.

Let’s see if I can make a habit of this whole blogging thing again, shall we?

Playing RIGHT now:  Everyday – Buddy Holly

Thing #1 – I played poker with the men of my Girlfriend’s family on Friday night.  I was a little nervous going into that situation, to be honest, but ended up having a great time.  So great of a time that I didn’t leave until 4:30 in the morning, stinking of cigars and with an extra fifty bucks in my wallet.  I don’t know if they’ll invite me back for poker.

Thing #2 – Couches were highly involved in my weekend.  I attempted to sell mine on craigslist, but the initial buyer, upon delivery, realized it was only a loveseat, and they wanted a full length couch.  But they invited me up for a beer for my troubles in bringing it over.  After talking for a bit, we realized that we both are really good friends with the same people.  Chicago can really be small at times.  I ended up helping them pick up another couch that bought from somebody else on craigslist the next day.  The wonders of owning a truck in a city.

Thing #3 – The rest of my weekend was spent building things.  Julie at Dovetail (a really cool vintage store near mi casa) needed a table built for one of their display cases, so I offered up my services.  I’m really happy with the way it came out, and I think she was as well.  The display case fit perfectly on top of what I built.  I had a moment of worry as I was painting it that I took the wrong measurements and it would be an inch to short or something.  Thank the lloyd, I got it right.   Here’s a quick pic I took with my phone when I delivered it yesterday:

I also built a little shelf for my bathroom.  My Little Lady has been begging and pleading with me to build one for her for months and months, so she’s pretty happy about it.  And a happy Girlfriend makes for a happy Ashton.

I think we’re going to paint it light blue to match the rest of the bathroom, but for now, it’s my favorite color:  Wood.

Thing #4 – Doves, one of my most favorite bands, released a new album today.  It’s pretty fricken fantastic, and making my day pretty fricken fantastic.  It really was love at first listen, and I rarely, rarely love an album at first listen.

Thing #5 – My Girlfriend came home last night.  She’s been gone for over a month.  You have no idea just how happy I am to have her home.  And God, she’s even more beautiful now than when she left.

Thing #6 – Show tonight at The Elbo Room here in Chicago.  8 PM (I think).  Be there, or suck the big one.  No, that’s dirty… Be there or eat really bad Chinese food.

Playing RIGHT now:  Winter Hill – Doves

This happy:

Actually, that’s a bit more frightening than happy.

BUT – that is my Mother Dearest!!!  And today so happens to be her Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

See, she makes me happy.  And her birthday is in April, so that’s one more reason for April to make me happy.  And that picture, as frightening as it may be, also cracks me the frick up, so that makes me happy.

There’s just SOOO MUUUUCCCHHH HAAAAPPPPYYYYY today.

Happy happy happy happy!

Happy is kind of a weird word.  Say it a few times… happy.  happy.  happy.

Moving along now…

I’m building stuff this weekend.  I LOVE building stuff.  I have a new blade for my saw and everything.  I’m gonna be measuring and cutting and screwing and building and it’s gonna be awesome.  And my Little Lady Lover Pants will be so very glad to have her shelf in the bathroom.  Perhaps I’ll share some pictures of it all when I’m done.

Perhaps?  Of course I will.

So, also this weekend, Lauren is playing a show in LA Saturday night, and if you’re in LA, you should most definitely make an effort to see her sing her songs.  The info is on her website here.

Here’s a picture of her too, cause I’m in a picture posting mood, and she’s pretty, and EVERYbody lovers pictures of pretty girls:

I’m a bit bummed I’m gonna miss her show.  I think that this is quite possibly the first show that I haven’t been to, either as an audience member or performing with her, since she started writing and playing out almost 3 years ago.

(Side note – if you don’t own her album already, seriously, click here to buy it.  It’s the best $10 you could spend today.  Plus you’re investing in an amazingly talented independent artist, and she’ll really really really appreciate it!)

Happy Friday everybody, enjoy your weekend responsibly, somewhat… I know I won’t!

Playing RIGHT now:  Take It Slow – Lauren Frost (acoustic demo version)

The last couple weeks were two of the toughest I’ve faced in quite some time, as I so self-indulgently expressed in the last couple of posts.  I was stressed and frustrated and confused like a crazy mofo.  Maybe I was dealing with a case of the real March Madness.

Is there such a thing?  I’m looking it up…

My googling only revealed basketball related topics.  I’ve never been a fan of basketball.  I think I can safely say it is my least favorite professional or collegiate sport.

What does that even mean ‘I can safely say’?

Moving along.

The point of this post was two-fold, as I actually don’t have any real coherent thoughts to express.  My mind’s still a little muddy in recovery.

Point 1 – March Sucks, but it’s over soon, which I already mentioned above.

Point 2 – If you notice up above and to the side, I have a new page up.  It’s very cleverly titled Photo.  If you click there, and click on the photo, it will pleasantly lead you to my bright and shiny new Flickr page!  If you happen to be on Flickr, what do ya say we become friends?  Come on, I won’t bite.  Too hard.  You like it…

I suppose, I could also mention a 3rd point.  Twitter.  I have one. Let’s annoy each other with our constant updates.  Or, if twitter annoys you, WordPress made it so very easy for you to see all my updates right over there on the left side of the screen without even having to join.  See how easy this all is???  Amazing, really.  Hooray!

You see folks, this is Mr. Low-Tech himself trying his damndest to make it in a high-tech world.  I’m trying.

(although, apparently, the WordPress Twitter widget hasn’t been working properly.  See, High-Tech isn’t everything)

Playing RIGHT now:  Go Ahead – Rilo Kiley

Now, if you choose to push play and watch this video, be warned:  You’ll probably continue to do so for hours upon hours.

And then you’ll find yourself searching for all their other videos and songs and repeatedly listening to them as well.  For hours upon hours.

And live, they’re almost too much fun.  It kinda hurts your face to have a stupid smile for a lengthy amount of time.

It’s amazing what emptying your heart and head to friends can do.  I’m so fricken fortunate to have such beautiful people in my life.  That’s worth everything.  Everything.

It’s amazing what a good, hard run can do for your sleep habits.  I thoroughly tuckered myself out last night, and slept like a baby.

It’s amazing how soothing music can be.  Good, live jazz always inspires to keep on keepin’ on.

It’s amazing that people who aren’t exactly family, can take you in and make you feel like family.  That meant the world to me last night.

It’s amazing to know that, no matter how alone I may feel, I never am.  And never will be.  All I have to do is walk out my front door.

Playing RIGHT now:  Ships In A Bottle  &  Here Comes The… – Both by Butch Walker (that’s right, 2 songs)

Thank you Butch.  You’re also amazing.