Un-intended benefits

Ok... So if you had told me a year ago that I could ever be one of those people that "go to the gym" i'd have laughed my ass off.....

Funny how things change..... as Just the other week... I found myself with an hour to kill and thought "Hey, I can get an hour in a the gym" and did just that...

I miss a day herer and there.... If I'm making up for it with biking, walking, or other manual labor, but for the most part... I go every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.... And I'm now at a point where I actually like it..
I find I'm pushing my self, and I'm even getting a rush from it on occassion... I got my locker lock, water, and my whole rotation all worked out... and its going well...

one down side, however, is as I can't afford a home set up, I have to share the facilities with other patrons... The majority of whom are of the opposite sex... That said, however, I'm very pleased to report that it appears that spandex appears to be coming back in style... and with a vengance...

thats right... Spandex! that revealing, yet leaves more then enough to ones imagination, wonder material that every man privately loves to see the ladies in! ... While there are a few remote occasions when its comparable to a car wreck (your drawn to look, even though it may gross you out) for the most part, it makes the whole gym experience all the more enjoyable.. the biggest challenge is trying not to stare.... oh my.. life is tough..


In other news... I caught THE DARK KNIGHT tonight, with my litle brother... perhaps the best movie I've seen in a long long time.. Highly recommend it..

A day with a Rock and Roll Hero!

While he may not be as well known as Mick Jagger or even Matt Minglewood, Richard Boudreau, aka Sam Moon, has long been one of my musical hero's... And I got to sit down with him recently, to interview him about his musical travels for the Documentary Project..

I'd first met Sam, in person, a few years back at a Matt Minglewood CD Release party... I'd met him again at the ECMA's in Halifax in 2007... and again in Fredricton in 2008...

Not only did he always remember me, but he also remembers my dad, and always tells me to say hello...

During this recent visit, I had the honor of hearing Sams story from the beginning.. From singing in the choir as a kid, to his first band... then the PowerHouse Rock band that could have taken over the world "Moon Minglewood and the Universal Power, right up to today... I also got to hear a lot of the side stories and back stories and while I'd burned through almost 3 hours of tape, it seemed like 10 minutes... I could have stayed there all day and listend... The man has led an extraodinary life...

His musical resume is as impressive as any... He's shared stages with the likes of Steppenwolf, Heart, "THE BAND" and more, but is so down to earth, that he'll get up and jam with just about anyone who asks... I myself was blessed with the pleasure just a few months ago at Bearlys, (while I was sitting in with Matchstick Mike and the Chain Smoking Altar boys)... A real highlight for my own musical resume.

Anyway, theres LOADS of stuff I would love to talk about, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait for the documentary to be finished to get all the details..

But, I will say this..... Mr. Moon is certainly one of those extremely talanted musicians that, in a perfect world, Should have made the big time... Certainly a perfect candidate for the "Almost Famous" project.. but that said, I still very much consider Sam a success. He's done and seen more then most musicians only dream of, and has also influenced far more musicians and singers then I think he realizes... Moreover, my interrpretation, is that Sam really could have made it further up the musical food chain... but like in many career paths.. there comes a point when one has to decide... How far do you really want to go, and what price are you Willing to pay for it... I believe Sam could have done anything he wanted to musically, the potential, talent and momentum certainly was there... , but I believe he simply "Chose" to come back to Nova Scotia and build a life... (my words, not Sams) And for that, I both admire and respect the man and I'm proud to call him a friend..

Anyway... like I said.. Loads more stories from this visit, but you'll just have to wait... But I believe it will be worth it... trust me!!!

What, me Crazy?

Some times its the simple things that get ya...

When we first moved in here, it was just me... no band... so I spread "my shit" out all over the room I'd claimed for my studio... Then the band fell together... and i quickly realized that the space wasn't working... so we shuffled things around.. and it worked space wise, but it sounded horrible... So we had a Sound guy... (I mean a real one, with real creditials and experience (i.e. he helped BUILD the CBC's studio) come in and give me some good practical advice... and to his credit it worked... We could jam, hear everything, no feedback.. and still low enough volume that your ears dont ring after...

So why mess with it? well... I had all my stuff crammed into a little alcove, some stuff put away, and i had to crane my neck over when ever I wanted to sing in order to reach the mike... So then I thought... "pete Sits to play drums.. why not put him in the alcove" So for the past TWO days.. I've been shuffling gear back and forth.. and I tell you.. its a LOT of work... But I'm really happy with the result.. and while I was able to get some stuff back out in the open that was previously put away... I think I actually also have MORE space??? anyway... We'll have to "sound check" it again next rehearsal.. and I still have some more wiring to as well.. but I'm some excited! .I even put up my acoustic foam... I'd not done it before as I have to paint the room.. But I figure that I have a LONG list of "to-do's" before I get to the painting of this room, so I figured... I can always take it down and put it back after painting....... But anyway...but Im like a little kid in a candy store. I keep coming back up stairs, turning on the light and just looking around.... sigh... simple joys! I'm so uncomplicated.. to bad I couldn't make a living doing something like this... But I guess Im pretty luck to have it as a hobby... So I'll dare not complain..

Speaking of which... Im off to NB this weekend to do Sound with Da Rock! I've opted to stay at Chucks place as opposed to crashing with the band at the "band house" I've been at "band house partys" before... and be it the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's or now... the music may change.. the partys the same... and to quote Danny Glover... I'm getting to old for this sh-t!" ha ha...

well.. its late.. I should go get some sleep..

The Milk Run

Foresight, it seems, is not something I posses any measurable quantity... at least not lately...

ever the dutiful spouse, I volunteered to drop off my wifes car at the dealership.this morning, and more importantly, our daughter at daycare...

I knew full well that the shuttle couldnt get me back home.. but thouhgt I could at least get a ride to the bus depot, and catch the next bus... it never dawned on me that the bus stops running to Tantallon at 8am ish.. and doesnt start again until noon...

So I take the milk run around metro, browse a few shops, and eventually.. just wait at the depot...

The ride home was equally slow... literally taking the "long cut"... As it turns out, it was actually the very first time since moving to NS in 1992 that i was ever on the bus, except for a pub crawl in my 2nd year at MSVU... but that doesnt count..

Anyway.. on any other day, id have just got a cab.. but being off, with no particular agenda or schedule... it wasn't half bad a day at all... I'd over done it yesterday, so I felt I'd earned a slow motion day today... all in all.. not bad.. but I doubt I'll choose to try it again... at least not anytime soon... times to valuable to waste...

My studio session int he afternoon got canned, so I took it as an opportunity to reorganize the studio lay out..
You wouldnt think it would be hard shuffling stuff from here to there, but with all the cables and sh-t, after starting at about 2pm today, some 12 hours later, Im still no done.. but then again, Im not that efficient at this hour... so I'd best be calling it a night..

And the Band Played on!

Well... it took over 2 months of un-coordinated schedules.. but we finally had our first Full rehearsal on July 2nd with EVERYONE in attendance... ... and it was magic!!!

Not perfect, I mean... were human, we have day jobs and familys... and we were Rusty.. but its like pure adrenallin... just intoxicating..

I was actually up until 4am mixing down the recording.. and while not perfect, lots of mistakes.. especially by me.. But still, i've listened to it at least 20 times over since... Im actually listening to it still now...

If you want to hear it.. add me to face book (ROB Crewe) and its all on my profile page... theres pics of the band in there to.. in my photos..

anyway.. Im too wired to sleep.. but to tired to think clearly.. so I'll call it a night... I promise a more interesting post next time...

MacGiver Eat your heart out

How to install a window airconditioner in a Roll out Window....

or maybe it should be.. how not to...


So it gets really fucking hot up here in the ol band room... REALLY hot... unbearable...

After the last jam on the 2nd... I was so drenched in sweat, I got approval from management (aka da wife) to get an air conditioner for the window...

Problem.... those units are designed for windows that slide up and down... not the freaking role out ones...

I took the Window out on saturday.... but the rest, I had to think on.. and tackle when I had time...
Problem to... time flies around here...

So its 4:30... the guys are due over at 7ish... and its at least 28 degrees up there... easy...

I gotta get this done..


So i grab a scrap piece of plywood, and give it a try... I'd thought the whole thing threw previously, but never sketched it out like I normally do... you know, measure twice cut once....

I get it close, but trutch be told, I have to re-cut that last f--king piece like 7 times.... (trial and error)

Anyway... with a lot of help from the guys in the band... we gott-er installed.. and while practice is long over...  its really starting to cool down now... (hey... it had to come down a long way... thats a lot of degree's to drop)

whew...

Well worth the effort..I even got to use 3 of my 4 power tools...  Yes.. I know have four... hmm actually . I've added a recip saw and wet saw to my small, but well used arsenal.... too bad my wrist hurts from all the screwing.. (the screwdriver... get your mind out of the gutter) so with that, and the calluses on my hands from moving rocks today.. but thats another story...

Im in hard shape... even got a cramp when playing bass on a tune tonight... but i dare not complain

funny thing is I should be passed out.. but band practice seems to give me soo much energy, I end up awake for hours... piddling away at stuff..

Guess I should go clean up the mess of sawdust..


later!