Beware! The Leopard

Promotion ideas?

With two big gigs coming up in the next couple of months, I'm trying to think of new ideas to increase my promotion and ensure that I get decent crowds out to the gigs.  There's the usual Facebook, Twitter, blogging, email list, and postering, but can anyone else out there give me some ideas on what else I can do to get a good turnout?

New Purchase

So I've picked up a new purchase, an Akai Headrush and I have to that hands down it is the best delay pedal I own, and arguably the best digital delay on the market. 

Initially I was taking a look at the RE-20 Space Echo pedal by Boss which sounds a lot like the original Space Echo tape unit, but it doesn't have true bypass and tends to suck the tone out of my guitar sound.  The Headrush has none of these problems, it's an awesome subtle delay sound, or an in your face, balls to the wall, funky sound generator. 

I can't believe I've gone without tap tempo for so long.  The idea of getting a new delay pedal came to me while in the studio.  I was playing with a DL-4 and the tap tempo function is something that I've never really played with, but it really cleans up your sound when your delay is in time with the song.  It gets rid of a lot of the mud on some of the tracks where I'm looping a lot of delayed guitars.  To be honest, it is indespensible for the professional musician looking for a delayed sound. 

The Akai also has a loop function, albeit a short one, that I probably won't use.  One thing that's really cool is that I can change the spacing of the simulate tape heads to give it an uneven delayed sound, which is awesome. 

All in all the Headrush is a great pedal, and if you need a delay go pick it up!

Big ups to Sara Kamin and Amber Long

This week has been crazy long and its nice to have it finally finished.  I've got no scheduled work for tomorrow, so that's awesome.

I played a gig at the Cantina on Dundas W on Friday, and I have to give huge props to Sara Kamin whose poetic lyrics and stunning vocals made for an awesome opening set.  If you haven't heard her music, then hit the link and do it right now.  Right now. 

Amber Long followed Sara with an awesome set of her own.  She's got a great three piece band together and they have a very Yeah Yeah Yeahs sound to them, and I look forward to them coming into their own. 

I've got to give a big heartfelt thanks to the Cantina Resto-Bar at 1288 Dundas West for having us, it was a good night, and they are a great addition to the Little Portugal area. 

Two new gigs!

That's right, gigs have been confirmed at Rearview Mirror in Toronto on August 21st, and at Avant-Garde Bar in Ottawa on Sept. 12th. 

Keep checking the gig listings at right, or stay tuned to @bewaretheleopar on Twitter for updates and details about who else is playing!

Fanlist Reminder!

Just a reminder to all those fans out there, if you want to get the latests and greatest, and have access to special promotions, merch and tunes, make sure you join the mailing list.  It's easy, just add your email below and click submit!

Pedals for trade

I've got four great pedals that I'm not using and want to trade for a couple that I will.

Danelectro CoolCat chorus -- this is the original big blue metal pedal with stereo out, 18v adapter included! Mint Condition!

MXR Phase 100 -- another great pedal, works great, minor scuffing.

Danelectro Fabtone - excellent super distortion for bass or guitar. This is the original metal pedal, not the cheap plastic one! The 9v plug input comes loose (minor fix), but it works perfect on battery power!

Funky Bunny - DOD440 clone, works fine, just can't find a use for it.

What I'm looking for

OC-2 or similar octave pedal

and

RE-20 or similar delay with tap tempo.

The bain of many musicians

Apartment Hunting.

Yep, it's that simple.  Whereas most people would be perfectly content with a decent sized one-bedroom apartment for a young couple like ourselves, because of my music gear and neonfoxtongue's craft stuff, we require a decent sized two bedroom apartment, or at the least a 1+den.  I'm a bit shocked at the prices in Toronto.  I know I shouldn't be, but when we had a three bedroom townhouse in Ottawa for $1500+, seeing small two bedrooms go for $1400 is a bit disappointing.  I guess it will cause us to be much more careful in how we accumulate material goods.

The second problem of apartment hunting of course is location.  We'd love to live in the trendy areas of Roncesvalles, or Parkdale, or Queen W, where good coffee and good eats are steps away, but to get a two bedroom in those areas is damn near impossible.  So we've spread our wings a little further afield and are testing out the junction.  Going to see a place in the Junction later today, so we'll see how it goes.

I'm kind of excited about moving into a new place, and making it our own.  Our flat in London never really felt like home, and my parent's basement, as nice and free as it is, is still my parent's basement. 

So wish us luck, and hopefully a home for all my gear!

Studio Pics

Super engineer Alex behind the desk, viewed from the iso-booth

The studio at night, check out that monitor!

Bridge for "Locked up Tight" written on site.

The replacement for my Fender which blew a tube on the first morning!

EP ready for mixing!

So I just spent two full days this past weekend in the studio recording the debut EP.  I went to Orange Studio on Queen West, where they have some awesome gear, an awesome room, and even better people to help me put together some great sounding tracks.

I even managed to get all 6 tracks done, 5 for the EP, and 1 for all those generous souls who donated during the fundraising drive.  I'm super excited about how this all turned out, but there's still more to be done.  This week I'm going to arrange some more time to complete the mixing and talk about when and where it can be mastered. 

I must admit that the recording process is a bit taxing, but it is more than worth it. 

Heading to the studio

Tomorrow's the big day.  First 12 hours of recording on Beware! The Leopard's debut EP.  It's very exciting.  I can also say that it is a bit nerve racking.   When you are a songwriter your songs tend to go through a bit of an evolution, you start with an idea and it progresses to the point of a song.  Until you record that song for public consumption, it's never completely finished.  I change songs, add things, take them away, and play around with them, and they're never completely finished.  So I'm a bit nervous that they're not good enough yet to record.  I know in my head that they are, and that as an artist I have to let them go, but also as an artist, I'm striving for perfection.  When do you know that your art is finished?

So it's going to be a long weekend, but I'm sure the fruits will be well worth it.  I can't wait to hear the results.