Ava...wha?

So, Monika and I tried to go see James Cameron's Avatar in 3D last night at a 6:15 show here in town. I figured, "it's Wednesday night...it shouldn't be too crowded."

But, as I stood in line and looked up at the digital screen of show times the words "sold out" rolled across the time that I wanted to see it. The next 3D show wasn't until 10:30. Beaten, Monika and I left the line and wandered into Border's Book Store. We stayed for a bit and I even bought a few books for Monika of a manga storyline she's recently fallen in love with. We did have to leave when a father and daughter came in and started gushing to one of the sales people how wonderful Avatar was and how she just "had to go see it in 3D!"

Urghhhh....

So, I'm not sure when we'll get a chance to try and see it again. I am guessing that tonight will be just as packed since most people have no where to go tomorrow. And, with the schedules Monika and I keep it's hard for us to both have time off together to go see a movie in the theater. So, we'll see.

I did get to come back home last night and watch the second airing of the Colorado Avalanche hockey game. So, it wasn't a total loss.

I also played around a bit with my music recording software and discovered some new things about mastering already mixed and finished tracks that has me really excited. The difference I was hearing of the before and after mixes was like night and day. The new mixes were bright and clear with all the different instrument parts nicely separated. It made the old ones I had been doing and calling finished sound, at best, muddy by comparison.

So, it wasn't the worst night ever.

But, it still felt like a kick in the stomach for most of it.

Today, back to the drawing board so I can actually show you a new project I am working on. As much as I love the music side of the OilCan Drive project it does make it hard to blog about. But, when and if I get into the full tracking of the album (hopefully soon) I have some ideas of things I can write about here that will go along with the music.

Have a great New Year's Eve and stay safe!

Pulling Strings

Not much creativity happened in the last few days so I didn't have much to blog about yesterday. I was going to start laying down tracks for the OilCan Drive album but realized I hadn't played guitar in any serious way in a week or two. So, I decided I'd spend the day with the guitar in my hands loosening up a bit.

But, I couldn't just sit on the couch and play guitar while I watched TV all day (only part of the day). So, I hit the computer and started scanning in and cleaning up some of the new artwork I'd inked over the holidays.

With guitar on lap I scanned the art and started laying it out into the last few pages needed to complete the interior of the new OilCan Drive book. It was nice to be able to play guitar and do something with my hands as I stared at the screen and made decisions on the layouts of the new pages. All in all, it was a good day and my hands are feeling loose and ready to play.

And, I even came up with a new riff that could be the nugget of a new OilCan Drive song.

So, yeah, a good day indeed.

More Inking

With the finished inking of these two pages all the art for the interior of the OilCan Drive book is complete. Oh, they still need to be scanned to the computer, cleaned up, and laid out in some sort of design but as far as the art by hand goes, the interior is done.

So, that's one more little victory I can claim on this project.

It feels like this is taking forever and I'm not working fast enough. But, I'm doing it when I can, between client work and friend and family obligations. And, it is getting done. Slowly...but it's getting done.

Now I just need to design and draw images for the book cover, CD cover, and sleeve cover.

Oh, and do an album full of music.

But, I have a feeling some of that will be tackled this week. I'm feeling that itch to really start get this moving again.

Sneaking in Some Inking

Over the last few days of holidays, friends in town, families to visit, being tired, and having a stomach ache, I still managed to sneak in some inking here and there.

The main image seen here of the OilCan Drive band will be used as a header for an exclusive one-on-one interview I plan on doing with the guys sometime soon. The smaller head shots will be peppered throughout the article with sound bytes from each character.

The interview, as of now, is tentatively titled "Pulling Strings."

After drawing the piece, and seeing how Vince was re-stringing his guitar and stretching the new string, it seemed appropriate.

From the Vault - Holly Christmas 1999

From ten years ago, have a Holly Jolly Christmas, one and all!

Happy Henry Holidays!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Here is Baby Henry, all ready for his first Christmas tomorrow morning. He's been really good and has been trying his best not to open every wrapped present he sees in the house.

So far, so good.

One of my favorite things about Christmas Eve is sharing with all of you my favorite Christmas song that you've never heard before. It's Bruce Springsteen singing a song that may or may not be called "Pilgrim in the Temple of Love." It's the story of how Bruce decided to spend one Christmas Eve in a strip joint and all the people he met and the adventures he had there. It's probably the dirtiest and funniest Christmas song I have ever head Bruce do.





And, if the player above does not work for you, you can hit the direct link to the song HERE.

So, enjoy your Christmas Eve and have a great, safe time!

Happy Holidays!

Since I wanted to do something special tomorrow for Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day I wanted to do a special Christmas "From the Vault" I figured there was no better time than now to show you all my Mr. Mucho 2009 Holiday card and wish you all a happy holiday.

With snow blanketing Colorado this afternoon it definitely has a white Chrtistmas feel around town.

So, have a great and safe holiday and say hello to all of your friends and family for me!

Be good!