Brick and Mortar

H Rap - Pro Athletes - JK Savage - Diogenes and more

2009-02-09T07:42:00.003-06:00

We have been busy, maybe too busy to even update the page. A handful of recordings have been happening as well as mixing and mastering projects, the spring is looking to be a busy one.

H Rap Brown: Chicago Hip Hop Artist H Rap Brown recently opened a studio space in the western space of the city. They have had a pretty solid recording schedule and are going to start funneling mixing and mastering through Brick and Mortar. The first project ready is H Rap's first solo album, Canvas. Learning the ins and outs of their new equipment I am sure has been exciting. Here is one such track from Canvas, I have been working on the mix and master. A couple more runs through and the project should be ready for press.

H Rap Brown - Grown Man Biz (produced by Bashir)

Professional Atheletes: Over the holiday season, these two great musicians made their way to cold Iowa and recorded a handful of songs with David Rossi. David has been working hard on percussion and drum parts, as well as getting the mixes right. We should have a song to share soon.

JK Savage: With his album in the post production stage, GaiDen Gadema can't stay out of the studio. Working on a collection of songs to press and accompany the Jim Kelly project, JK Savage has been through 2 whirlwind recording sessions with Gadema recording a total of 9 songs in about 4 hours. A sneak peak audio file will be available shortly.

Diogenes: New to the Des Moines hip hop scene this Nebraska native is a start up in what we hope will be a good young addition that can help things to blossom a bit. I plan on remixing one of the tracks he recorded and posting some audio before the end of the week.

Other projects: Maxilla Blue has slowly started work on a follow up to their first album, and Lead Breakfast has been making progress lately. Also, Des Moines Hardcore band Victim or Victory has scheduled time to growl at our walls. Looking to spend a lot of time in the space this spring.

Fuck you, power...

2009-01-08T21:39:00.010-06:00

That's right, I said it. I just told power to fuck off. You might think that's a pretty big thing to do; well, you're right. It's not every day a person tells energy that's produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means, and used to operate devices, to stick it where the sun don't shine. Well guess what, today's the not every day.

Up until about one hour ago this day could've passed as good, borderline great. Then, right before the first drum take, just as levels were set, LITERALLY right before the red line started moving across the screen...darkness. I dropped my sticks on the snare and gave the whole building the finger. That's right, I did it. I gave a structure with roof and walls, such as a house, school, store, or factory the biggest middle finger you've ever seen. It probably didn't do any good, in fact, I guarantee it didn't do a damn thing, but it felt alright. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe after we get the power back on, and right before I get ready to lay down a track, I'll get a fucking appendicitis and die. I just hope I have enough time to flip the bird to the universe, that is, to all existing matter and space considered as a whole.

2009 brings the New

2009-01-07T21:39:00.001-06:00

Some new things are coming with the New Year. A lot of music is sitting right on the edge. Stay tuned...

Snakes on the Brain, Good Wood, Perfected...

2008-09-30T12:10:00.009-05:00

It's been a big week. We ventured out of our comfort zones to build some

acoustic treatment for our live room. I'd be lying if I said it didn't turn out splendidly. We built three large corner traps that are over eight feet high, a large wall trap that is four feet by four feet, and a few stand alone traps that can be moved about the studio, which measure two feet by four feet.

Although we were discriminated against at the fabric store for being male, we did get some BEAUTIFUL fabric to cover everything in. I guess we're not exactly the Sunday afternoon fabric customers Hancock's is used to. We've also started going to Lowe's because the workers at

Home Depot on 14th St. don't appreciate our attitudes. Maybe it

has something to do with the fact that we keep telling the

employees we're constructing an Al-Qaida training facility.

We finally received our studio snake in the mail. It's a pretty sweet little contraption that allows us to set up drum mics in about a fourth of the time. You'd be surprised how fast you can run twelve mic cables through a wall when you don't have to guess what the cable is attached to on the other end. We'll definitely get some new and improved drum samples up this weekend.

As always, there's plenty going on. We've got the traps constructed but

now we've got painting to do and sound tests to perform. However, the end is definitely in sight. I can't wait for the moment when we finally get to say ignition. However, as with all labors of love, I'm assuming you never really get to the point where everything is exactly how you want it. The way things are going now, by the time this spot is done, we'll be on our way to a bigger one. That doesn't sound so bad.

Keep up the good work, us.

A Big October Looms...

2008-09-24T14:23:00.008-05:00

The headline says it all. Performances and engagements galore for everyone's favorite month.

I'm not sure if it's everyone's favorite month. Listen, either way there's a lot going on. Weekend shows for all nearly every weekend. A big wedding, recording, big life decisions. How does one handle all of this? How about not thinking about any of it until it's too late?

We got our first taste of acoustic recording last night. Elliot Imes from Tyborn Jig stopped by to lay down an original and a cover. We were happy with the results. Our first time micing an acoustic with a stereo condenser pair. We recorded him in the vocal booth, which was cozy, but appears to have delivered a smooth sound. Please take a listen to Elliot's cover of The Replacements' song Androgynous here.

Let us know what you think. Even if it's bad. Let's grow together.

One More Weekend...

2008-09-10T16:46:00.005-05:00

Is it possible that we could finish the remaining construction projects this weekend and be fully operational by next week? I certainly hope so.

We will be constructing bass traps this weekend and finishing up some minor wall construction in the live room. The space is starting to feel real comfortable. So much so that hanging out has become relatively easy, and possibly a problem. The lighting is comfortable, there's plenty to do; recording, watching MST3K, spray painting things, tuning drums, playing drums, rehearsal, eating sushi, drinking apple juice, etc. God help us if we get a couch and the internet.

There will be some big things happening soon and we'll keep the blog up to speed. We've got some bands on the roster for recording in the next couple of months, some Central Standard releases on the horizon, and a myriad of other things not worth mentioning now.

I almost forgot, the kick-drum tone has been located and captured. I've used Remo heads my entire life but now that I've used the new Evans EMAD2 I'm a changed man. Expect to hear a sample up in the next few days; maybe even including vocal descriptions of the micing processes. Isn't brand loyalty bizarre? I honestly felt a little guilty switching.

Stay classy.

Been Working

2008-09-04T07:16:00.007-05:00

While the space has been in different stages of construction for the last few weeks, we still have the capacity, and have even found the time to record some vocals for Central Standard's next official release. GaiDen Gadema's "The Jim Kelly Acquisition"

We have 3 songs left to complete, and a lot of mixing and mastering to go through. But the album will be released before the end of the year.

This weekend, sasquatch.

Just As Elusive...

2008-09-02T21:54:00.004-05:00

The Sasquatch, also known as the Yeti, Yeren, Orang Pendek, or Yowie, seems to be as difficult to find as a satisfactory kick drum tone.

Where is it? What summons it? Is it the mic? Is it the EQ? Is it the tuning? Is it the compressor? Is it raw meat and the thirst for human blood? Is it all of the above mixed together. Mayhaps.

Or is a dream kick drum tone analogous to Harry from Harry and the Hendersons, starring John Lithgow and Melinda Dillon (also of Close Encounters fame). Maybe the tone must be stumbled upon accidentally and then treated with compassion and understanding. Only then will it befriend your family before it returns to the wilderness.

The search continues. Construction this weekend. More knob turning. Mic placement. Sound absorption. Repeat. Looking for a trophy sound.

Keep Dreaming...

2008-08-28T12:44:00.003-05:00

Another day of dreaming... We really should save for a Neve Console... until then... we continue.

A late session last night as Ace stopped through to record his vocal parts for the Tyborn track. We paused for about an hour between each take to talk about things completely unrelated, and allowing him to catch his breath, but the takes finished and this weekend we will move onto the mixing process.

Earlier in the evening, we had a discussion on the things that are still needed. And this weekend between mixing sessions we are giong back to construction to build some things to polish the sound. Once the ideas come to life we will test them and post some pictures.

Aside from myself, Luke, the others are heading back to school. So expect more akwardy worded updates from me in the future.

Vintage Bingeing

2008-08-27T13:54:00.004-05:00

Last night Fallen stopped by and finished up mixing the Tyborn Jig record for them. From what I heard of it, it sounded pretty good. Can't wait for it to be pressed and on the move. After that we rerecorded the bass for the sample track using the direct line through the avalon vt737, and it sounds much better than before. Ace is coming through to record his vocals tonight, so our first full sample should be done by the weekend. Not only that, but before Fallen left he gave me all the tracks for the Tyborn album, so expect some remixes in the near future.

Today, as part of my normal routine, I spent quite a bit of time researching vintage mics and shopping for them online. I found more than a few that I would love to have. I think I am going to have to get a second job.

Expect to start seeing some sound clips starting this weekend.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging...

2008-08-24T21:27:00.004-05:00

Where's the beef?

It's been a slow week but I think it was much deserved. The studio is coming along nicely, the sounds are getting better, the new carpet smell is dissipating, and we've unfortunately discovered that one of our circulation vents blasts air into our studio directly from the bathroom. We'll leave it up to you to figure out how this was realized. Here's a hint, it involved farts. Not ours.

We're looking forward to some recording. GaiDen's album is moving along nicely, the Tyborn track is being edited, and the final construction projects are being realized. Hopefully we'll have another band in for some free tracking in the next couple of weeks and samples will be posted. School is starting up again and the summer is winding down. Don't fret, those summers come as fast as they go and you can't stop Brick and Mortar. Well, maybe you can, if you ate something that didn't agree with you and ours is the only bathroom available.

Keep in Touch(Nice).

Our First Experiment... Tyborn Jig

2008-08-20T08:22:00.008-05:00

Last night was our first real experimentation recording a full band. Tyborn Jig, local Des Moines rock quartet, was kind enough to donate some time and willing to record an older song so that we could test room acoustics, mic placement and what little knowledge we have of all the things at hand.

So while David was eating dinner with his grand parents in Central Illinois and Christian was being a responsible adult looking at houses, I was guessing mic placement, and being slaughtered by Elliot's guitar amp in the booth room trying to adjust mics. Luckily the guys were really familiar with the song, and the entire recording process didn't take more than 2 hours once everything was set up. The entire process lasted just longer than Mystery Science Theatre 3000: Eegah.

Later tonight I am going to work on the mix, and hopefully we'll have a sound clip to upload tomorrow.

7/20/1969/8/14/2008...

2008-08-14T23:30:00.005-05:00

The Eagle has landed.

When Neil Armstrong was walking on the moon he said he shut one eye, put his thumb up, and blotted out the Earth. This didn't make him feel like a giant, he said it made him feel very, very small. A couple of years ago some of Neil Armstrong's hair was stolen by his barber.

On to our own Apollo Mission. One of the final pieces has finally fallen into place. Today we received our DigiMax Microphone Pre extending our number of inputs to 16 with 12 mic inputs. Works great for recording the drums.

One small step. Here's our first transmission. It can only get better.

The Tortoise and the Hare...

2008-08-13T23:42:00.004-05:00

Slow and steady. It's been quite a metamorphosis underground, but like cicadas every 13 years things have to break through the top soil. No glitz, but the bells and whistles necessary for what you need. Jagger was right.

We've had quite some success with the booth; a test today that left us smiling. Young Tripp came in and blew some minds. The guy lost his job this afternoon and came into the studio and dropped rhymes that most people only dream about. It's nice to record things that people were created to say.

Looking forward to more.