The Weblog of Daniel Tashian

Well we came over to Zurich to play a show with my friend Holly Williams. It was a pretty nice flight. I had “Skybed” and got a whole row to myself. Me and the bass player, Chris Boyle. We got in and took a cab to the hotel and it was snowy. I forgot that people smoke all the time inside in Europe. My nose is sort of….annoyed.  Hotel fine, nice but small. European breakfast…bread, cheese, tea, etc…nutella…Then short nap and over to the venue where I was bad and ate veal. I had a Jack Daniel which was 20 Fr. The first set we played was quite good. The dance floor was filled for the whole set. Then the second set Holly put in some slow songs and the dancers took a break. My pedals worked except my Memory Man died on the way over, which kind of sucks because I rely on it a lot. It’s like my reverb. Back to the hotel at 2am and it was a blizzard! Beautiful snowy wonderland. There was talk of trying to find the heart of Zurich on a Friday night but I went to the room instead and read the intro to David Byrne’s “The Bicycle Diaries” – he’s an excellent writer. Took an Ambien and went night night.

Well I guess I have a cold. I couldn’t go to sleep last night because I was rolling around. I kept thinking about the Grateful Dead and how much I used to love to listen to the bootlegs. 12/31/78. Wharf Rat, I Know You Rider. So exciting the transitions between songs. I guess I used to lie in bed at night in high school and listen to those to fall asleep. Then I thought wouldn’t it be cool like Grimey said to start a band and the only recordings you have are live ones people trade on the internet. You’d have to play every night for a couple years but then there would be tons! But you would have no “studio” records. But have really good songs, but the only way to hear them is to trade some bootlegs. Then last night I watched that show “Intervention” about alcoholics and drug addicts. I like watching it for some reason. Anatomies of lives unravelled. L. thinks it is depressing, but I don’t know. I guess it is. I don’t find it depressing for some reason. Then we watched “Hoarders” about people who hoard stuff and can’t get rid of it, and i’m fascinated by that show. I’m fascinated by the process of personification, where people infuse objects with meaning. Went to the Toybox to do the Vinyl only record. Mixing to 2 track tape! It’s nice to think you can make a record and never have the sound inside a computer. It sounds nice and dark. Talked to Angelo yesterday and he is in LA. His record he produced on the Kings of Leon is up for the record of the year Grammy. He said he didn’t have a speech ready. My brother called yesterday and said I should put a Silver Seas song up on “The Sixty One“.

Well it seems like I have a bit of a sucky feeling in my throat today. Could just be allergies I suppose. Anyway I read in the times this AM that apple is putting out their tablet on Wednesday. I don’t need one but it would be interesting to see. Last night we went to Jay and Leann’s and had Chilli and then watched the Saints win and that was kind of exciting for them. They’ve never been to a superbowl before. Then L. and I watched “district 9″ and at first I hated it, and we almost didn’t finish it, then it got good. Although I wanted a different ending but I think they left it open for a sequel. I hope I don’t get a cold because I have to travel on Thursday.

Well the Silver Seas were in the studio at Lij’s Toybox the last few days. We were recording an “acoustic” version of Chateau Revenge that will be released on Vinyl only. Man. In some ways I think it’s better than the other one. Gosh I don’t know. Sometimes I like things because they are new. Been working on some country songs too. One with Kate York, one with Nathan Barlowe, Tami Hinesh, who else? Mindy Smith. I think today we will go over to Germantown to get Coffee and Croissants for breakfast, after we walk the pup. I wonder if there’s any Football on today. I would really like to go on tour with the S.S. We just have to figure out how we can make it make sense financially, i.e. afford it. SO. Been reading these funny articles about John Mayer, I like him. He’s kind of a philosopher in a way. Cocky. Not self-effacing, but at least funny. But sometimes when I’m reading Rolling Stone (which L. got me) I get kind of jealous how they always write about the same people every month (Lady Gaga, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, Spoon, Owl City, Ke$ha, Lil Wayne, MGMT, I don’t know. It just seems like they always write about them. They all get articles every month and I’ve never been in there ONCE. I don’t know. I know jealousy is unbecoming. It’s just that every time Lady Gaga gets an ice cream it’s in there. I do think she’s kind of fabulous though. I love the avant garde-ness of it, I guess, you know, it’s sort of like the Studio 54 days of  ’be as “freaky” as possible and you will be a star.’ I heard Fleet Foxes on the radio the other day. Very excellent. Also The Grizzly Bears. L. plays them all the time. I like them. Well I’ve been sort of winding each evening down with a couple of cocktails and it probably wouldn’t hurt to take a break. I dreamed I was listening to records with Jay Joyce last night. Bee Gees. Mad Men, why is Don Draper so fascinating to watch? Why do I hate Pete Campbell? Also Peggy kind of annoys me too. I think one of the major strengths of Mad Men is that the characters are so like real-life: multi dimensional and complex. Hard to understand. Well here’s the Mindy Smith demo.

Well I dreamed about Taylor Swift last night. I was looking at her album cover with Lillie and there was a song called “Boomerang” and I was thinking: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Anyway we were all playing a concert together and it was one of those dreams where you are setting up for hours but never play. Then we woke to the disturbing news via facebook that Joy Shaw was in the hospital. Some kind of head injury. She is a dear friend and a singer songwriter and fellow member of the Guilty Pleasures group. But they say she is stable and lucid so that’s good. But it’s quite scary and unsettling to wake up to that and a reminder that life is fragile. Thoughts and prayers going out to Joy for a speedy recovery.

Well I’ve been a big fan of these “Take Away Shows” for a long time….My brothere turned me on to them. Then, I woke up today and found this one of Josh Rouse doing our song “Quiet Town”. Man. These guys know how to set the aperture on the lens and get some great sounding stuff. I just think these films are just beautiful. Watch the Phoenix ones too.

Well yesterday I made a demo track with my parents and Ryan Carr helped me. We did a kind of a Reggae song called “I’m Lucky” and they said they wanted me to sing it, but then they said I didn’t sound happy enough so my dad sang it. It came out well and I think they liked it. I played my new bass which I absolutely love. That was the best part. Then we went to Jay and Leann’s and they were having a cocktail party and Courtney Little and his wife Sophie were there and they’re both really interesting. Then we picked up Jessica and went to see Trent Dabs at the Basement and he was really good. Also Andrew Belle sounded good too. And Matt Kearney was there and Ian Fitchuk and Jeremy Lister and I talked to Angelina Presley and we’re going to write. Then we had to drop Jessica off and Troy and Gordy Sampson were there and we all played charades and drank wine til 4! Super fun. Woke up hungover and hungry and I had switched coats with Troy by accident! The best thing was that mine was a Banana and his is Burberry!

Well we celebrated new years in style with Guilty Pleasures and then we left pretty much right away for knoxville. Celebrated Xmas with Captain Jack and Laurie and Jack gave me the biggest bottle of scotch i’ve ever seen. Also a lovely bottle of wine and some Benton’s bacon. I’m very excited about when the vegetables from the CSA become available again! So we drove Leann’s car to Knox. and it was nice. A Toyota Avalon. Swanky. Then when we got home to the grocery for a major shop. ($118). We got shallots and onions and garlic and two kinds of lettuce and cheese and all kinds of stuff. Pickles. Olives. Then we went to H. for some Chicken Tagine. Bueno.