It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long. Just about 5 years ago, Norman had a first rehearsal in the dining room of our first drummer, Mark Blanding’s house in Corvallis, learning a handful of songs for our first show in October 2005. We had played in several rehearsal spaces, many shows, and done some great recording projects with some really caring people that went out of their way to help us build our sound….ahem….Kyle Shaeffer and Mike Schaadt (Thank you!). We’re still here and working hard at preparing new songs for the eventual recording of album #3…but one day at a time.
In the studio, bands always have some wild moments, where fried brains end up taking over what was once sane. You end up being in the studio all day, working on a track and sometimes a vocal take that was meant to be sung about hopes and dreams turns into a ballad about a 10ft. tall Jesus that rows a boat to South America to start a vegan farm. If that doesn’t make any sense that’s fine, because it’s really out there in field. What I’m trying to say is, that the ridiculous, and humorous moments are a part of what keeps Norman so lively. Our friendships as well as our musical drive are what keep this project up and on its feet. We love to play this music, because it’s an important release away from the rest of the responsibilities in the world. We get to play concerts with all these wonderful bands and friends we’ve made along the way. I know I talk about how this community we have musically being something special, and I really mean that. We are so thankful to have hard working companions at Timber Carnival (Joe and Ryan…and yes….even you Nathaniel), working to help us along the way with making good records. Most of all, you people who see the shows, listen to the music, buy the music, and support us make this music project even more worthwhile.
I was procrastinating on music history homework reading today when my itunes switched randomly to a Norman mix that I had entirely forgotten about. This is one of those moments that happened to be captured and kept by me over the last couple years. During the recording of our first record we wrote a song called “Seasons” which featured a stomp/clap gang shouting and cheering almost like we were at a pub. Well, we wanted to find a way to have Kyle, the recording engineer become involved in the gang vocals. We finally convinced him to add his own track into the cut, and upon hearing the new mixes of the album, this little surprise was hidden as the last track on the disc, an almost mixed version of Seasons, with Kyle’s addition to the mix. When Billy says “Don’t be that guy” he might be referring to the obnoxious guy that Kyle is portraying in the song. It’s a moment that made me laugh and remember how fun that first record was to make. Enough said…
Give it a listen, the track comes in at 9 seconds:
Thanks everyone, for a wonderful 5 years. Let’s keep this good thing we have rollin’!
We’ll see you at Bombs Away for the local celebration, and then on Oct. 21st, opening for Fruit Bats and Wye Oak at Mississippi Studios.
- Eric
