Esquela’s Second Album in the Works
Dec 9, 2011 1
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The Band-cation sessions : 12/12-14/2011
We’ve all heard about those ideal, amazing recording sessions, where everything is super-relaxed, comfortable, and fun throughout. Everyone is laughing and happy. Everyone in the room is contributing creatively, and having a ball sharing all parts of the process together. The engineer / producer and the band are clicking like they always work together, and have for years, and it never feels like the meter is running. And the performances don’t just surpass all expectations: they are so intuitive and moving that they help the song evolve into something more than just the successful interpretation of a cool musical idea. And, of course, the sounds the session yields are optimum, resulting from lots of smarts and collaborative discourse (and great gear, being the right gear for the occasion, clearly). And, of course, there’s more hot food, and applicable beverages, on hand then could possibly be consumed in a weekend, and everything’s really good. Perfect. Past functional, but never like “work,” with track after filthy, signature track down and done, bookended by howling laughter and general audible grab-assery. That kind of perfect. Know it?
I think, back when I was young, I kind of thought that “recording” was always like that. I mean, that is the best, coolest formula for getting the takes, right? What other way would one do it?
Yeah. The vast majority of us, who have ever gone through the recording process with any 3rd party, likely learned, quickly, about how things like time/money, pressure, interpersonal discord, and general discomfort, impact the process. Fighting to get takes, fighting with each other, fighting against whatever shortcomings have befallen the session: one would think that it would be very difficult to get those magic takes under such circumstances. Sure, the right 3rd party can do lots of polishing, in post and before…but magic takes are magic takes. Either you get ‘em, or you don’t. Either the session is wonderful, and amazing, or it’s something else.
I find myself struggling to get my thoughts down on the December 2-4 Esquela recording sessions (AKA: “Band-cation”). It was such an incredible time that words seem to treat the experience kind of dismissively. I’ll say this: we got way more than we needed, expected, or could have realistically hoped for, we got it all in a pass or two, and we never stopped laughing (I almost stipulated that we did, actually, stop laughing long enough to stuff our faces with ceaseless, awesome, local vittles. Looking back, I’m pretty sure that we laughed with our mouths full). We were all blown away during playback, track after track. We’re not done with those 6 songs yet, but what we captured is signature, warm, really special stuff. We bottled up some lightning.
I’m not boasting: I’m thankful, appreciative, and very excited. I’m so appreciative, and hold what we did together in such high regard, that I can’t possibly be responsible for conveying an accurate depiction of how Band-cation went down, in appropriate detail. Here’s some quick thoughts and thanks. That will have to do, for now.
Andris Balins (Dryhill Studios) – Andris is a good friend of ours, so we’re highly biased, admittedly. Regardless, he’s a comprehensively-great engineer, he’s a super-intuitive professional, and he’s a great guy. Can’t say enough good things here. He’s a super hero: he just leaves the cape at home, ‘cuz he keeps it really low-key. Great great great guy to work with, and to know.
Keith Christopher – Keith co-wrote most everything we recorded at the Band-cation sessions with our fearless leader, John “Chico” Finn. During Band-cation, Keith was out touring with Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, so we forged through the wilderness without him. Make no mistake: we were all channeling Keith during any/all keeper takes, and all weekend long. Keith is a musical genius, and an artistic phenom who personifies the art of music. He’s our brother-from-another-mother, too. Safe travels, KC, and safe home.
John “Chico” Finn – The father of our original, musical ideas, and the “big picture” man with the plan. All of this happened because of Chico. He created this wonderful canvas that we had so much fun painting on. It’s miraculous to me that a session could be so fun, yet so fulfilling and satisfying: Chico made that happen. His resources, his vision, his care and careful consideration in putting everything together, top to bottom. He’s a rip, too. He would disappear for a few minutes between takes, then come back in (what he felt was) a song-appropriate costume for the timely occasion. I won’t give up all of those details, but I’ll say that ski boots were involved, as was an Eagle Scout uniform. Chico gets it on a level that most of us don’t. He works hard to create favorable circumstances, and he surrounds himself with people he admires, and trusts. When it comes time to get creative, he’s not heavy-handed: he sneaks into the background and lets the ideas fly around him. Everything worked so well, and was so successful in every way, while being non-stop-guilty-pleasure-level-fun throughout, because Chico wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re all in, and we’re very thankful, brother Chico. Now let’s get back to “work.”
Rebecca Frame – As far as I’m concerned, it’s everyone’s job to enhance Rebecca’s awesomeness, period. She is such a tremendous talent. She’s one of those special performers that really immerses herself in the role-du-jour completely. She crushes it. She pounds her marks with boatloads of soul, understanding, and confidence. She transforms musical ideas into songs that invoke deep, emotional responses. Her performances always demand attention, and are always worthy of same. Always. And she’s so fun: such a buddy. She’s one of the guys, and she’s a wild woman. She can hang, very comfortably. Thank goodness. She’s an awesome talent, and she’s our awesome buddy.
Brian Shafer – With the all-world chops that he’s bringing, one would expect Brian to be kind of a rock-star-mentality guy – like a guy who is kind of hard to work with, but everyone puts up with him because he’s that good (if you are a musician, you probably know “that guy”). Brian is the polar opposite: quiet, unassuming, great to collaborate and share ideas with, patient, chill, fun. He’s the new guy to us. Even though we’ve been rehearsing and gigging together for a few months, he was the wild card in the deck to me, when I thought about how the sessions might go. I learned that he’s “pocket” in the grandest sense. Our guy Ira called his playing “downright tasteful,” and he’s right on the money. He knows what songs need to make them better, and that’s exactly what he does, deftly. Such a great guy, too. So often, it’s easy to spot best-player-in-the-room guy. You catch the attitude from across the room, long before anyone is plugged in. That’s not the case with Brian. Super chill, monster chops. No tremolo? No problem. Go volume fade. Done. Playing his tracks back is like getting paid. Great musical mind, great performer, great guy.
Indulge me while I lump the rhythm section together into this paragraph (sans Chico, the bass in your face), and indulge me, further, for lumping Ira McIntosh into this category, because he plays some hot leads, too. Ira McIntosh: guitars (a slew of them), vocals. Matt Woodin: guitars, mandolin, vocals. Todd Russell: drums, vocals, and your humble narrator. The three of us are old friends from back in the high school days (and before, actually). We know each other really well, and we’re tight. We always have a good time together, and we work well together. We all try to help, we all try to lay up and accept help. We can finish each other’s sentences most of the time, so sharing creatively and building musical ideas together comes as naturally as does jumping in a swimming hole, or throwing a snowball. The rhythm section has its own language. We always check in with each other before moving forward, on anything. Hey, did we get that? Feeling it? Let’s take five and take a walk. All of us worked past our apparent job descriptions during these sessions, rhythm section included. In fact, I’d say that the rhythm section brought tons of out-of-nowhere bang, in part by the way we got great harmony lines together, on the spot. True, we need to go back and touch them up, but we got some great guts. Lump-in-your-throat, huge-smile great.
I’ll leave you with this: we can’t wait to get the new stuff out in front of you, we love what we’re doing, and we love who we’re doing it with. We love us. We hope you do, too. If you don’t love us yet, we’d say that there’s a fighting chance that you may soon. Either way, we’re too thankful, and way too excited, to sweat it, or anything. We’re all basking in the Band-cation glow, for now – not in a resting-on-our-laurels way, but in a freeze-that-amazing-moment-in-time way. At the same time (and I think I speak for all of us, here), we can’t to wait to get back to work on the album. In part, we can’t wait, because we all love what we do, together.
Esquela (the band) to Perform at Athens Arts Fest Sat May 1st
Apr 26, 2010 1
ATHENS, PA – Esquela, a rapidly-ascending, six-piece “indie-roots-soul” band, will deliver a special performance this Saturday, May 1, at the 11th Annual Athens Arts Fest in Athens, PA. Showtime is “high noon” on the Arts Fest north stage.
Esquela will also perform regionally on Saturday night at Waverly, NY’s Rail House: 366 Broad St., Waverly. The Rail House show will kick off around 9:30pm with special guests The Honest Mistakes.
Esquela is the collaborative brainchild of (co-writers) upstate-NY-native John “Chico” Finn (bass, vocals), and virtuoso rock-n-roller Keith Christopher (lead guitar, vocals). Christopher is a founding member of the original, world-renowned Georgia Satellites’ band, and he has recorded/performed with a wealth of industry hit-makers, such as Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Billy Joe Shaver, Paul Westerberg, and Todd Snyder. Christopher has also written for the great Ray Charles.
Esquela features the renowned vocal stylings of newcomer/phenom, Rebecca Frame. Oft compared to the likes of Janis Joplin, Susan Tedeschi, and Bonnie Raitt, Frame’s powerful delivery and passionate, soulful interpretation never ceases to mesmerize audiences, drop jaws, and transform strong songs into unforgettable moments. Esquela includes pro-player Richie “All-City” Touseull (guitar, vocals), Matt Woodin (mandolin, percussion), and Todd Russell (drums, vocals).
Esquela released its first album, ‘The Owl Has Landed,’ April 8 (Bovina Records) at a special launch/concert event at New York City’s Bowery Electric. The album was produced by veteran industry heavyweight Eric “Roscoe” Ambel at his Cowboy Technical Services studio in Brooklyn, NY. Ambel is a founding member of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and The Del-Lords, and he has served as producer for such hit acts as Ryan Adams, Marshall Crenshaw, Robert Randolph, and Mojo Nixon, among many others.
Esquela has also completed the video for The Owl’s first single, “Hands on my Jammies,” which was directed by ace filmmaker Andrew Huang: named one of the top “Directors to Watch” in 2008 by Creativity Magazine.
For more information on Esquela, please visit www.esquelatheband.com.
For more information on the 11th Annual Athens Arts Fest, please visit www.athensartsfest.com.
Good Radio Lovin’
Apr 22, 2010 1
A little love is coming to us from our Dutch friend Landslide from across the pond. His radio show, The Rootsy Mix, will be featuring Esquela’s Here and Now in a line up with K.D. Lang and New Heathens.
We’re in the big time now! Check out Landslide here and check out the lineup below.
Playlist Landslide 586 – The Rootsy Mix(week 16)
Artist, song, album, label
Barrelhouse, Comeback baby, Vintage blues, Munich Records
Kooimans & Carillo, Chelsea Hotel, On location, Universal
Sally Spring, Summer’s end, Made of stars, Sniffinpupp Records
Shane Lamb, Free, Disengage, Rough River Records
South Memphis String Band, Bootlegger’s blues, Home sweet home, Merless Records
Ricky Koole, Your time to cry, To the heartland, Coolhouse/Bertus
Nick Lowe, I knew the bride, Quiet please… the new best of Nick Lowe, Yep Rock Records
Donna Ulisse, He will, Holy Waters, Hadley Music Group/Hemifran
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & the Cairo Gang, Troublesome houses, The wonder show of the world, Drag City
Beth Nielsen Chapman, My religion, Prism, BNC Records
New Heathens, I thought you were my friend, Hello disaster, Avenue Records
K.D. Lang, Helpless, Recollection, Nonesuch Records
Esquela, Here & Now, The Owl Has Landed, Bovina Records
Jodymoon, I know this, Who are you now, CRS
Incendio, Rosarito Beach, Vihuela, Self released/Hemifran
