365 Days of Tommy P: Day 120

Thursday, April 30, 2009 (120)

Workin the MCI at Third Coast while Oscar spits hot fire in the vocal booth.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 119

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 (119)

Out for a drink after a day of droppin vocal tracks on the debut album.

Kelly's -> State -> McGee's -> Raven's

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 118

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 (118)

1) Blast Avenged Sevenfold
2) Think about who you hate

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 117

Monday, April 27, 2009 (117)

This is why I.V. Lab Studios (In Vault Lab Studios) is referred to as “The Vault.”

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 116

Sunday, April 26, 2009 (116)

Working on Cherch of Smerch tracks.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 115

Saturday, April 25, 2009 (115)

Deaf Tom Crow at the Avenue Ale House in Oak Park. Then underground party – which I left when it ended at home, but that’s not the end of the story. I walked to the red line and boarded. While riding the train I was minding my own business while a few seats away a group of young men were creating quite a ruckus. I didn’t look at them or make any sounds implying that they were being disturbing. The train pulled to a stop at the North & Clybourn station and the group filed off, except for one. I was absentmindedly staring off not paying attention, and one of the guys ran up to me, hit me fairly hard in the throat and ran off the train laughing.

I spent the rest of the train ride thinking about how easily he could have slashed my throat and how I would have died alone on the train without anyone realizing that anything had happened until the train pulled into Howard. Pleasant.

I took the train as close to my place as it would take me at that time of the morning and walked the remaining four and a half miles. It took me two hours at a leisurely stroll - plenty of time to think.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 114

Friday, April 24, 2009 (114)

After 80’s night comes 80’s day. Like Tom Petty said, “I feel summer creepin’ in . . .”

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 113

Thursday, April 23, 2009 (113)

Spent the day painting at 3CRecCo. Then went to 80’s night again at Neo.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 112

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 (112)

Another day at Third Coast Recording Company. Mario dropped beats for Eric Stang’s “Distraction,” a few more tracks for the new band’s debut album, and song’s for The BLB’s next album.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 111

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 (111)

A night of shots and bottles at the Depeche Mode CD release party with KHA spinnin that craziness for the dance floor at The Debonair Social Club.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 110

Monday, April 20, 2009 (110)

Dancing to a raging set by Felix Da Housecat in The Boom Boom Room at Green Dolphin Street.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 109

Sunday, April 19, 2009 (109)

My plans got canceled so I decided to play bass instead.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 108

Saturday, April 18, 2009 (108)

Elliot’s birthday party.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 107

Friday, April 17, 2009 (107)

Jammin.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 106

Thursday, April 16, 2009 (106)

80’s night at Neo!

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 105

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 (105)

The taxman cometh and the taxman taketh.

The Beastie Boys said, “I’d like to have a say on the income tax. Don’t wanna help build bombs. And that’s the facts.” Let’s compromise. Just let me push the button once. Or at least let me choose where it lands. I’m obscenely bitter.

I thought that I lit and composed this shot so well to begin with that it did not require any adjustments.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 104

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 (104)

“If you think you’re fucked, then you’re not. If you think you’re not, then you are.”

Sometimes I worry that I’m becoming a tool or a d-bag. According to the quote above, I am not. But then again, on the other hand . . .

Downtown at Howl At The Moon, a dueling piano bar, after a meeting at The Third Coast.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 103

Monday, April 13, 2009 (103)

“Wish you were here.”

365 Words of Music: "Major Tom (Coming Home)" - Shiny Toy Guns

365 Words of Music: “Major Tom (Coming Home)” – Shiny Toy Guns

When I actually find time to sit down and watch my favorite programs on the DVR I skip through the commercials. Sometimes I do happen to catch a few. This has been quite fortunate since it occasionally introduces me to something I may have otherwise missed. Lincoln has been using a cover of “Major Tom” to push their 2010 Lincoln MKZ. I was instantly drawn to the haunting electro tune featuring a soft female seductive voice. This isn’t the first time that an electro cover used in a commercial caught my attention this year. Another similarity with this instance is that I care more about the song than the advertised product. However, I suppose if I talk about it to people and say “Did you see the new commercial for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ? It’s has a cool cover of ‘Major Tom,’” then that is good enough because I am still talking about the product.

As I have done in the past I went to the company’s website to download the full song version. It was not available. I searched the Internet only to find false information. Finally this week I received a tweet from Shiny Toy Guns saying, “In 15 minutes ‘Major Tom’ is yours . . .” The power of the digital age! I found the artist of the song and fifteen minutes later I had the complete version of the track. The fact that it is performed by Shiny Toy Guns explains why I was drawn to it. However it is not an obvious STG track with their recognizable dance club groove featuring a pounding house kick and hypnotic synth hook – which explains why I did not realize whom the artist was at first.

STG is no stranger to cover songs. The first two versions of their debut album, We Are Pilots, features covers of the nearly eighty years old “Puttin’ On The Ritz” and Depeche Mode’s “Stripped,” respectively. They also recorded a cover of the Prince hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” for a goth electro tribute to Prince compilation. I have yet to hear the full version of that track.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 102

Sunday, April 12, 2009 (102)

The real axe effect.

My brother and I chopped up a fallen tree in the wooded coastline of Michigan. He made about two-foot long segments with the chainsaw, as I separated them into quarter pieces. We estimated that we produced about one hundred logs. That should be enough to sustain three nights worth of a moderate sized bonfire burning from 11PM to 3AM.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 101

Saturday, April 11, 2009 (101)

As the sun sets and delivers the night, it offers the recurring opportunity of a fresh beginning with its return in the east.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 100

Friday, April 10, 2009 (100)

Cruising down CR-378. Great Lakes. Great Times.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 99

Thursday, April 9, 2009 (99)

While listening to new music I was struck by a lyric and inspired to lay down a demo.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 98

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 (98)

Luna’s waxing gibbous shines light on the evening walk home.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 97

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (97)

“Tom, come over and watch Rome with me.” I think she showed me the most terrifying episode possible.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 96

Monday, April 6, 2009 (96)

“The faceless victim of the victimless crime.”

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 95

Sunday, April 5, 2009 (95)

Timmy C had a lay over after his weekend in Milwaukee on his was back to Boston. Here we are at The ORD. Cease The Day was there as well. We had dinner and made complete asses of ourselves as per usual.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 94

Saturday, April 4, 2009 (94)

Today I assisted on a mixing session at I.V. Lab Studios. Kazy was in the studio mixing the final song to his new album. The track features guest vocals by Picasso (Crash Poet / Shades of Fiction).

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 93

Friday, April 3, 2009 (93)

Construction continues at The Third Coast. Followed by some well-earn merriment (at someone else’s place). I haven’t seen the cops at a party since Clubhouse Beach.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 92

Thursday, April 2, 2009 (92)

Today we built another wall at Third Coast Recording Company. The place is really shaping up.

Oscar brought food from The Taco & Burrito House (TBH – 1548 W Fullerton Ave). I purchased this 2-liter at a local Consumer Value Store. Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Throwback. I downed it all that night.

365 Days of Tommy P: Day 91

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 (91)

Here is a paparazzi shot of me returning movies.

Trent Reznor has an entertaining April Fool’s Joke regarding an album release with an improbable producer and an absurd list of features.

1) Intro Skit
2) Everybody's Doing It (feat. Chris Martin, Jay-Z & Bono)
3) Black T-Shirt
4) Pussygrinder (feat. Sheryl Crow)
5) Coffin On The Dancefloor
6) This Rhythm Is Infected
7) Slide To The Dark Side
8) Even Closer (feat. Justin Timberlake & Maynard James Keenan)
9) On The List (She's Not)
10) Clap Trap Crack Slap
11) Laid, Paid And Played (feat. Fergie & Al Jourgensen)
12) Feel Like Being Dead Again
13) Still Hurts (feat. Alicia Keys)
14) Outro Skit

Album Title: Strobe Light

Producer: Timbaland

Site: http://www.nin.com/strobelight/