SEALIONS LP

Studio Session #4 | April 25-26

2009-04-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

Tracking is complete! Mixing has begun!!!!!

Here's a photo of Joe recording some live toms for the record.

| J Trav |

Studio Session #3 | April 10-11

2009-04-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hit the vocals hard this past weekend. Knocked out 6 more tracks. 4 tracks left to finish up on vocals. Played around with the McMullephone on the closing track. Adam came along this weekend and was very helpful. Nice to have another set of ears around. Back again in two weeks to finish vocals and hopefully begin mixing!

| J Trav |

Studio Session #2 | Mar 28-29

2009-03-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Just returned from Athens. This weekend we finished up guitars, worked on vocals, and experimented with a few keyboard tracks. The record is proving more difficult that we anticipated. We're working hard though!

| J Trav |

New Live Video and Studio Update

2009-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

"Quarter Moon" Live from the Earl. New track from our upcoming full length album! Back to the Studio in Athens this weekend to continue work!
| J Trav |

Studio Session #1 | Feb 20-22

2009-02-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

We rolled into Athens on Friday afternoon. Knocked out guitars for 6 tracks. On Saturday we continued tracking, finishing up all electric guitars for the most part. We got the bass tones set up and Joey cut one track before we called it a day. Had some dinner downtown and caught a show at Caledonia.

Sunday we finished up bass, and I laid down a few acoustic guitar tracks. We all feel very accomplished and ready to move on with vocals and snyth during our next recording session.

Getting some dark sounds.
It appears that we adore fender.
Getting some different bass tones with this crazy rocket bass.
Joey trying to find the perfect setting. Joe on the boards.
"Golden"
Looks like B Minor.
See you all soon!

| J Trav |

Start Date

2009-01-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

An official recording date has been announced. We hit the studio February 21st. We've changed around tracks once again, and have been working hard on pre-production. Our recent shows have really helped us get a feel for the record and also narrow down songs. Constant criticism and refinement, if you will. We're looking forward to starting the process, one step at a time. After so many pitfalls and changes along the way we're still going in with a fresh and inspired attitude! We're more ready than ever for the challenge!

We have a show on the 11th of February at The Star Bar with our good friends The Coathangers. Its part of their month long residency.

Also, check out a remix of "Insecure Hearts" from our Luna Park EP over on our myspace page.

| J Trav |

Looking into the New Year

2008-12-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

Played last night at The Drunken Unicorn. We play again on Friday as part of a special night. Joy Division vs. New Order. We'll be covering 2 songs by each.

We've been putting the final touches on pre-production before we begin recording the record. I'll be out of town the first half of January. We have 2 shows lined up in the 2nd half, then towards the end of the month we hit the studio in Athens, GA. It has been a long process getting to this point, and I'm confident in our decisions. It's a process. Evolving. Creating. Re-arranging. Fine tuning. Destructing. Picking, choosing. Wrestling. Listening. Chewing. Maybe not chewing. You get the idea. In the end we plan to make something that makes us proud, and maybe gets a few toes tapping as well.

Jan 15th. The Earl. with The Goldest, Beige. 8:30pm. $7
Jan 24th. 529. with Judi Chicago. 9pm. $5.

| J Trav |

December 08

2008-11-27T07:57:00.000-08:00

White Lake

2008-11-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Played last night with The Coathangers and Baby Dinosaurs vs. Extinction at Mint Gallery. It was a benefit for the gallery. We were happy to play, and I also provided some artwork. Everything went smoothly and it was a lot of fun!

Another change with the record. We've decided to program all the drums. We feel it will give the record a nice cohesion. Still re-working and editing tracks before we hit the studio in Athens. Won't be long now! I created a new Sealions website.

sealionsmusic.com

Check it out! Soon the player will be filled with new songs!

| J Trav |

November

2008-11-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Halloween

2008-10-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Its been a very productive month. Matt from It's Elephants will be lending his drumming skills to 4 tracks from the album. Another slight change of plans. The rest of the album will be tracked, as well as mixed, in Athens with our good friend and former drummer, Joe McMullen. He's excited about working with us again, and I'm sure we'll have a place to record some McMullephone (his self created instrument).

We're playing our first show in awhile at 97 Estoria on Monday, Nov 3rd. Then Eyedrum on Wednesday, November 5th as part of the Ninja Puppet Extravaganza.

Also had a few new photo shoots with our buddy, Dan Hollister.

As for the rest of the month, practice practice practice. And get ready to record!!!

| J Trav |

Big Ralph Studios

2008-10-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I happened to catch some local bands at Lenny's and Star Bar. Had some great conversation and was very entertained. Ended the night chilling at Big Ralph Studios shooting the shit, drinking some beers and digging some Hall & Oates. The guys that run it have been doing some fine work with local talent and are very knowledgeable.

Our engineer Chris came by for another pre-production meeting this past Wednesday. Talked about more ideas, and possibilities for the recording. Its starting to feel more like a whole. Getting more cohesive and tangible every day. Took him and Joey by Big Ralph Studios, where they record the "Have You Heard" Sessions. (HaveYouHeard.net)

So it looks to be the perfect place to track our live drum tracks, as well as some acoustic guitar. They're helping us out securing a drummer for the session. The rest of the album will most likely be tracked at Chris' home studio, Joe's studio in Athens, and also where we live.

The track list for the LP is looking more fleshed out as well.

01. Bellwether
02. Spine
03. Workhorse
04. Restless
05. Arrows
06. Quarter Moon
07. Paper Buildings
08. Wish Me Well
09. Apparition
10. (Uni Stereo)
11. (Instrumental)
12. Renna

Had a few more photo sessions recently. We're gonna keep on truckin' with more updates to come soon!

| J Trav |

Progress Department

2008-09-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Been kicking around a few album titles, none that hold significant weight yet. Joey and I have been busy working on the album. Fleshing out some structures, lyrics, extra melodies, etc. Coming more together every day and starting to look like a whole.

Thought I would post a new track in the meanwhile. {Right Click to Download}

Spine | Live @ The Earl | 6.19.08
Live version of a track that will be on the new record. Recorded with Keefe Justice on drums.

Jobless, Show on Friday, & WRAS Interview

2008-08-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm afforded more time to work on the record right now. Joey and I are working on some songs tomorrow. I will be attending Brooke Waggoner's Album release in Nashville tomorrow night. I designed the album artwork, and she's playing with a 20 piece band so I'm really excited.

Been thinking a lot about everything. Redesigned the Sealions myspace page. Talked about the new record and ideas with my best friends The Coathangers while getting some pizza tonight. Started writing some new lyrics and worked on some intricate details within a few songs.

I'm still very excited about recording the full length! Its one of the only things keeping me going.

You can download and listen to the radio interview we recorded back in June for WRAS 88.5 FM. It's pretty ridiculous. We mention the new record, squeejers, and our photographer, Rivers. Also got a few of our songs some airplay.

Download an MP3 of it here: Sealions WRAS Interview (29 MB)

| J Trav |

Athens

2008-08-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

More Pre-production work this past weekend. Joey and I drove to Athens to go over some tracks with Joe McMullen, Sealions original drummer, and engineer of our 2005 EP, "Ultramarine".

We worked though "Arrows", "Workhorse", "Quarter Moon", "Can't Be Sure", "Wish Me Well", and "Spine". Joe set up two mics and recorded what we did. Still deciding what will be electronic, sampled, or played live. We recently parted ways with our good friend and latest drummer, Keefe Justice. On good terms of course. We've asked Joe to fill in some spaces on our upcoming effort.

We may also be replacing one of the tracks with a brand new one. Still undetermined. Practicing this week for a show on Friday. We will playing to Electronic drum tracks. We've played this way once before and are exciting to move in that direction as a live act.

We're still also determining what drums will be on the record and where we will be recording them. They have to be incredible sounding, and I won't settle for any less.

So, the tentative date has been pushed back for various reasons. Hopefully things will work themselves out and progress will continue.

| J Trav |

More Work!

2008-07-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

Joey and I continued working on the album last night. Figured out some structure on "Arrows", and the "One String" song. We put together some ideas for the least completed track, "Ballad" as it's called right now.

I've been working on lyrics all week, and Joey is going over them as we delve farther into the songwriting process.

Also been working on the album cover which has been evolving with a strong idea.

| J Trav |

1st Pre-Production Meeting

2008-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Met with Chris Gonzalez yesterday, our engineer for the first as-yet-untitled Sealions LP. We discussed initial thoughts, ideas, and recording arrangements. We'll all be updating the blog with inspiration, details, stories, photos, and any other odds and ends that come about. We set a tentative start date for August 10th, 2008.

So far the tracks for recording are shaping up a bit like this, in no particular order:

Spine
Bellwether
Workhorse
Wish Me Well
Quarter Moon
Arrows
Untitled Ballad
Untitled Rock Song
Untitled One String Guitar Song
Untitled Closing Track

Possible More Straight Forward B-Sides:

Can't Be Sure
House on Oak

That's it for now. I have a lot of lyrics to complete!

| J Trav |