Late Night at Studio M
Not the most flattering pic ever now is it? Well, it was late. Jeff and Michael working overtime after a full band session. We revived the wood flute for some bits in “Sunrise.” This is a song we were working on completing last summer just about the time $#^t hit the fan. We are settling back into a routine now, and see completion of this unassuming little song is just around the corner. The full band is running through the next songs with gusto. “As Far As I Can See” is one you’ve been hearing about here recently. New guitarist JB is infusing the solo on that one with his own style and it’s coming along pretty well. Yes! I did say new guitarist. Our good friend Nick has relocated to Florida, making it damn hard to handle studio time and gigs in California. JB has jumped in with both feet, already making contributions. We will tell you a little more about him in the coming weeks.
See The Light!
Another great band session this past Wednesday night. We are seeing some light at the end of our tunnel and really it’s not the headlight of an oncoming locomotive! As of our last demo release (scary long time ago!), we had completed half the planned tracks for High Sierra, with 3 of the remaining 7 already in production. The final four still had some question marks. Well we had a blast working through these this week. Michael introduced several changes to the uptempo “Guitar Lake” that sounded pretty hot. We spent a good chunk of time on the waltzy “High Mountain Meadows” going through it enough times to make sure Jeff knows the words and for the most part is on key. Pretty sure now we won’t complete this project before the end of 2015. BUT! We are seeing daylight! Thanks for staying tuned in!
On to the next…
Sorry for the long silence. It has been crazier than you know this past few months. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. We are just happy to put 2015 behind us and we are ready to move on. Just before Christmas, the band got back to Studio M for the first time in many moons. We spent some time working through the changes to two upcoming songs, “As Far As I Can See” and “The Range of Light.” Range is an instrumental track that we’ve been working on for ages without ever taming. The changes we introduced are a very nice fit! We are likely gonna start the recording process for this one pretty soon.
We’re Number One!
WOW! Terrain is NUMBER ONE in Santa Rosa at ReverbNation today!
Thanks for listening to our new song “Storms in the Palisades!”
Storms in the Palisades
“Storms in the Palisades!” Inspired by a few pretty wet days in the high country, but most of all by the journey over Mather Pass, high and exposed to crashing thunder, ever so close lightning cracks and a steady downpour. Truly awe inspiring and nerve wracking. When it’s close you can feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Click here to listen
The Edison Queen
Here’s our latest demo “The Edison Queen!” Sometimes you get to take a “zero day.” A break from the wear and tear of the trail, real food! And a shower! Vermilion Valley Resort is a unique way station on the edge of the wilderness. It is a welcome break for hikers where we all can bask in some hard earned downtime. In a year with normal rainfall, VVR is reached by way of their water taxi, “The Edison Queen.” 2015 is the 4th consecutive drought year in California, so the Edison Queen will sit idle again. Even if you have to walk a few miles out of your way, VVR is a great experience. Enjoy!
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In This Wilderness
The deeper you go into the High Sierra, the wilder the landscape becomes. Above treeline we find largely bare granite expanse. But even here, life will find a way.
The higher we climb in this wilderness
Mettle gives way to the cold
The country grows wilder
With every footfall
Life is more precious than gold
Thanks to our good friend Travis for laying down the tasty lead guitar.
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Secrets
For Evolution Valley, the home of The Hermit. This is the spot on the John Muir Trail where things begin to change from beautiful to unreal. Civilization is left far behind as we climb into the vast, wild, high Sierra.
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San Joaquin
From 1000 Island Lake south to the John Muir Wilderness, there are many miles spent in the canyons carved by the San Joaquin and its tributaries. The river’s course includes two mountain passes used for thousands of years by the Chumash, Miwok and Paiutes for trade. The spirit permeates the land.
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Spirits Willing
The trail is like life. Some days are filled with wonder. Some days are really just a lot of work. “Spirits Willing” was an every day mantra, but mostly firmed up while climbing up Forester Pass, at 13180 feet, the highest pass on the trail. Major contributions by Mm on this one pushing out the chugalong, with just the right tone of rock steady optimism. Click here to listen