RECORDING MULTIMEDIA OVERLOAD!

So I finally finished mixing the "When Worlds Collide/Dragula" medley that we are submitting to the nu metal/ska compilation. I posted the video already, but in case you didn't catch it you can find it here:

Now it's time to go on a journey. A photo journey!

This is the guitar rig I used to get close to nu metal territory for the cover. The 5150 has been my live amp since...2004? The Voodoo above it graced the 1s and 0s of most of "Closet Polar Bear's" distorted tones and that little guy on top is what Country Dave calls an amp.

I decided to reamp the guitar DIs through real amps, instead of using PodFarm 2.0 that I use for demos. Since PodFarm doesn't have a dual mic option, I decided to try out the "Studio Fredman" dual 57 mic technique for extra metalic girth.

Some sort of cable tester is essential for any sort of complicated reamp bedroom -> garage -> amp -> bedroom monitors setup. Test tones will keep your friends from shooting you after you ask them to play the same riff 50x straight.

I tried a few pedals as input boosts before the signal hit the front of the amp. This OS-2 has a story...and is broken, but you can hear more about that in the video.

Here is the back view of my epic "Tower of Power" (take that horn section!).

Rear view of the Voodoo Amps custom built JCM800 clone.

This is how it looks with the "garage door" up. I found a pleasant ambience added to the sound after the Isis sticker was added. But seriously, the presence and global mid sweep knobs came in handy in dialing in the HP2 grind.

Curtis called my 5150 "vintage" a while ago, but I'm starting to realize that his assessment was somewhat accurate considering that there is now a 5150 II, a 6505, and a 5150 III. So here it is: the slightly "less-vintage" back of my FJA modded 5150.

Recording and mixing was fun as always. I went through 5 mix iterations before I was happy enough with something that I could present to the band. I hope Curtis isn't going to rage quit the band because he's been replaced by triggers. Actually the room and overhead mics made it to the final version, I just replaced his toms, kick and snare with Steven Slate Samples.

Other highlights included "correcting" (not because they were out of pitch but because they were actually wrong) the first 3 notes every time Anthony played his bassline on the "When Worlds Collide" verse and finally figuring out how to automate my wah-wah in PodFarm. I kept the "in the box" tone for the extra guitars that come in on the instrumental parts between verses on the "Dragula" part of the song. I actually "played" the wah with one of the faders on my Akai MPD24. It's so much easier than multiple takes with your foot, haha.

Now your real reward for making it this far down my blog: the premastered mix that the rest of the band is currently deliberating over. Enjoy!

When Worlds Collide/Dragula Mix 5asdfk; by Half Past Two

Ska in the Park is over!

Holy crap guys, was that a fun show or what? Yes/No/Maybe (Circle one)

So to recap Saturday's Ska in the Park in Dashes acting the part of bullet points:
- Bhakti danced a whole lot, played with Half Past Two, then danced a whole lot more!
- Lindsey wore a tiny top hot
-I kept telling people my old band isn't getting back together, but they need to watch Half Past Two's set for awesomeness
-Half Past Two delivered said awesomeness
- Tyler's Zoom Q3 Handy Video Recorder fell off our combined superampstack 6000 (that's it's spiritual name, anyway) but it survived!
- Curtis wore a killer purple shirt!
- Patrick Holder returned from his Asian adventure
- Dave encouraged a kick with a broken foot and in a wheelchair to get in to the pit
- That kid totally got into the pit with his wheelchair
- Bands rocked
- There were lot of horns
- Mustard Plug made me feel like I was in High School again
- I ate a free hot dog, but passed on free cake (chocolate, no less!)
- Defunked made a mess on the roof with silly string and streamers and I was totally jealous
- Grim Luck fans marched into the main room carrying their cello player above their heads from the alley stage
- We played a NEW SONG and it ROCKED!!
- Most importantly I made funny faces while playing, like this one:
-Last, but not least I learned that the Ska scene is very much alive.

So there you have it kids, that was Ska in the Park. Sure there was about 27 bands that I didn't mention, but hopefully a lot of you were there and got to experience the day! Hopefully there's a next year and hopefully it's awesome.

Speaking of awesome!!! We're making our awesome return to awesome Pomona, California for our next show!! We're playing the Glasshouse on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 with Defunked, Maxwell Smart and Pato Banton! Check it out because there will likely be rocking and/or rolling happening! Also, the Glasshouse now has a glass front again, so it's no longer the particle board house! Everybody wins!!!

Thank you and Goodnight!
Anthony

Patrick Holder Sighting...In Thailand!

Patrick discusses why Thai ladyboys make the best adventuring partners.

Chart + Re + Use

A redefinition of the concept of Chartreuse. Current band members of HP2 get theme songs. Enjoy!

SPECIAL FREE VERSION OF "IT'S ABOUT TIME"

Hi Internet,

For the next 24 hours Half Past Two will be giving away a special April 1 version of their full length "It's About Time" via download from their website.

This limited edition version of all 12 songs will only be available before the clock strikes midnight on April 2, so make sure to download it TODAY!

Free download of APRIL 1 SPECIAL EDITION "It's About Time!"

Rude and Crude, Which Are You?

Half Past Two deliberates on the fine points of being rude...or crude at the 2009 Rude and Crude Rockabilly and Ska Festival at the Glasshouse in Pomona 12/1/2009.