February is upon us and, as some of you know, its Record Production Month. The basic goal is to write and record 10 songs or 35 minutes of music solely in the month of February. Last year I had a go at it, but did start until the last few days and only really got 6 songs written and 4 recorded, which I suppose is a fail. This year I’m taking another swing at it, but I’m starting at the beginning of the month and have recruited 2 of my classmates to join in on the fun. We’ve got 3 songs written and, given that today’s the 2nd, I think we’re in relatively good shape . The group is yet to be named, but I’ll keep you posted.

Hmm what else, oh yes! There are a number of happenings being spoken about on the interweb that could lead one to believe that Mr.Bowie will actually be making a go of it this year. I am currently in the hopeful mindset that Tony Visconti is recording a record for him right now (check out his twitter account). There’s a ton of stuff online if you look around.

The recordings I’m doing for treeline have been turning out quite well. While I haven’t done any proper mixes of the tracks yet, I have been experimenting with a Michael Brauer inspired mix method that is quite challenging and quite powerful. If it works out the aural payoff is definitely worth it.

As far as whats going on with The New Weather Machine, I still working on new songs and sounds. The other day I got a couple of new pieces of gear that are going to have a pretty significant influence on said sounds in very positive way. Especially if you like 1964-1968 british invasion music. hoorah!

Hope everyone is having a david bowie new year. As long as the weather stays warmer I’m peachy. Working on some great new music I’m excited to share with you in the coming months. Im also doing some recording for a local band called treeline that may surface in the near future and is definitely worth checking out.

If Ham Santa (posted below) was a little much for you to take (understandable) here’s a brand new improvised Christmas song (we did one take and didnt write anything before hand) that might be a little easier to digest (than Ham Santa, see how funny?). Thanks to Jason on the bass, Cale on the keys, and Clayton on the drums. *christmas songs are down try again next year*

On friday the 18th The New Weather Machine will be performing at Henotic in Lethbridge. Our set starts at 9:30 in the main room with other bands to follow.

In an effort to stimulate tradition and invoke the festive spirit, I would like to share an improvised Christmas song that my old band recorded last year. Hopefully we'll do another one this year and in 15 years there will be a space age holo-disc of holiday favorites.

For your listening pleasure, Ham Santa:

*christmas over try again next year*

It's been a month since my last update, time flies! I've been very busy working on a bunch of new songs and with school. If anyone who really really wanted a copy of the free "November Basement Demos" Cd I was giving out through the Facebook group and didn't get one, I found a few more copies in my travel bag. Email me and a copy is yours. Some of the songs found on the Cd are on the music page and should be up for a month or so.

The tough part of this next album is just keeping focused with a genre. As far as new songs go, they're stylistically all over the board. I've got a good idea of where I want to end up, but I'm also not going to stop myself from working on song that isn't going to fit into that idea so I'm just going with the flow. The coming months will tell which direction it goes.

If you haven't joined already, check out The New Weather Machine Facebook group. I just gave away some free demo Cd's through the group, and will have more exclusive stuff in the future.

I'm trying to add and update a few things on the website including the addition of comments to posts, and updated bio/faq, and a few other things. If you find something that isn't working properly please let me know so I can fix it.

Currently listening to:

Get Yer Ya Ya's Out Remaster - Stones (1969)
Is There Anybody Out There - Pink Floyd (1980-1981)
The Airborne Toxic Event (2008)
Rory Gallagher (1971)

For the last couple weeks I just thought i broke my website, but it turns out that I installed Snow Leopard and forgot to update my website program too. Oh well, its all good now. On to the update:


-Currently listening to Animals, The Mono Beatles Box, and Rory Gallahger (who I’m enjoying quite a lot at the moment)

-So after a string of a few great shows I've decide to not press my cd release show in anticipation of a more planned live album a bit in the future. Not saying that it wont happen, it just wont happen soon.

-Tomorrow I officially start my new recordings. This might yield a short run EP, a couple new songs on the website, or a dent into the next record depending on how everything turns out. Im going to start by knocking down the songs that I think are complete finished as far as writing goes, then move on to the stuff that might need a little work. For any non-writers out there, that is always the trickiest part because you have to pick and finalize the individual parts of the songs, the arrangement, certain words or whole verses, etc and basically decide on the final version of a song (even though you may have a hundred different variations you could use).

Im really genuinely excited for the new sounds and ideas I’m incorporating. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them.

-The show last weekend at Henotic with Pilot Speed was alot of fun. The PA wasn't ideal, but it worked out pretty ok. The band played great and we did quite a few songs the first time as a 3 piece as well as a couple brand new ones. Props to Jesse and the Dandelions (who also played upstairs) for putting on a kick ass show.

till next time...

For the first time ever tonight a New Weather Machine song was recorded with some people other than myself, and i thought i would share it with you. Its just a demo, and im trying some new things out production wise, but I hope you’ll get the idea. Thanks to Brad Brouwer for the drums and Jason Schultchen for the bass! The demo is called Drifters Moving On.

A couple days ago I was figuring out what my set was going to be for Dr.hook. Instead of taking the easy way out and just learning a couple of covers, I wrote a couple of new songs. I had a couple hours today after a couple of classes, so I put up a couple mics and did a demo of one of the songs. Its up on the music page, the song(which is still a work in progress) is called If No One Knows, well for now anyway.

Its been a couple weeks, whats new? Hmm the other day I ruptured something in my neck causing both what the doctor likened to a “bad chiropractic adjustment”, as well as extreme pain. That was pretty cool, well it is if I recover soon. Im getting sick of walking like a robot(the bad kind), not turning my neck, and sitting up straight. Oh well, the sleeping for 20 hours isnt so bad for now.

Just prior to the injury, I managed to complete the mixes the upcoming instrumental album. This is not a New Weather Machine, but a side project I am part of. The record is 10 tracks of sort of jazz, sort of rock, jam music. I will have it available on the site when its released, there still is a lot of papers and packaging to figure out so it will be at least a few(6) weeks.

The writing and song development is going well for the next Weather Machine album. Expect some new sounds. Im looking at having an EP but ideally an LP done by November. I am currently planning on recording with a least a couple other people, schedule permitting. My new distressor is sitting and waiting for me to overuse it.

Well, time for more to take some more T3’s and dream about and the fantastic voyages David Bowie and I could go on together.

Last night I assembled a small group of people who have a secret love for 80’s new wave pop music and we recorded a very tasty rendition of modern english’s ill melt with you. thanks to tyson, taylor, and clayton for making this diet pepsi moment possible.

As far as new music goes, still working on new songs for the next record and doing some pre production stuff so i can really nail the sounds im looking for when the time comes. im just about finished the mixes for the live album, and also just about finished the mixes for an instrumental cd im working on with a couple of guys from around town.

until next time

June has been a rather interesting month. For some reason when you make plans to get certain things done, life has a way of interrupting and replacing. Hmm notable things in June.....

We’ll the most fun and disappointing was my crazy week writing and recording a theme song for a new animated tv series for Marvel’s Avengers. Unfortunately for me my song did not get selected for a very silly and fixable reason, but thats life. You can judge for yourself, the song should be posted on the music page by the time anyone reads this. **Please note that I had lyrical and content guidelines to follow!!** There are some cheesy moments, but really, its for a cartoon for 35 year olds and the song is supposed to sound like the foo fighters, ac/dc, and led zeppelin. hmm

Ive been working on 3 particular songs that will definitely be on the next album, which hopefully will be sometime before the end of the year, maybe early fall if im lucky.

Im also finishing up the mixes on an instrumental album that im part of, which should be released sometime in the near future. Ill have more details as it approaches.

dont forget to wear sunscreen and listen to your fair share of david bowie. actually this week you can have a pass to listen to emotional rescue a few times too.

jon

normally i wouldnt make a post about virtually nothing, but this week has been pretty decent so far. I also know that there are a few people checking the site for something new to read, so you know who you are - heres something new to read(i also put up some new pictures for you)!. the prospect of my music in movie and tv placement has surfaced again and its kind of fun and exciting. i am excited about at least 4 of the new songs im working on for the next album. not saying that there are only 4 good songs, but there are probably only 4 truly finished songs. its really just been a very positive week.

im hoping to have a new demo or two up in the next couple of weeks as well. The songs im working on are..hmmmm maybe more singular than plural? does that make sense? to fill my desire of not redoing what i have done already, im trying something totally different as far as song writing goes, which i hope will work out for the best for someone at least.

before my late night ranting gets too ridiculous, im going to bed.

jon

Jason and I recorded what i think has been the best of the “one take basement tapes” recordings. if youre not familiar with the idea yet, basically we get together for a drink or two, pick a random song(which lately has been beatles stuff) and then in as few passes as possible record the track with usually only one take per pass. It can be quite a challenge sometimes but is quite a lot of fun. Last night we did “Im So Tired” off of the white album. Check it out on the music page

The first new original track since the album was released is now available for you to listen to on the music player, or on myspace if youre into really low quality. The songs called Falling Apart, you can have a listen before you hear it live next friday.

Havent posted an update in a couple cold weeks so i thought i would post some thoughts and what im up to. currently im writing and doing some demos of new songs. i have one in particular im excited about and hope that it works out the way i want it to. as a songwriter, i think that the ability to properly translate what you have in your head lies somewhere between not knowing nearly enough and knowing to much. its why the “legacy” artist cant write important music and the amateur sounds like he should keep his day job. its why slick nashville country can be so bland. its why lame indie rock can suck so badly. im sure it doesnt just apply to music, other forms of creative art probably suffer the with the same issues.

as a listener i want to hear a bit of struggle. i want to see dripped paint where the artist took a chance and was unsure if it would payoff.

i do however think that this eventually comes around as well. after the knowledge saturation point has been reached and sustained, a new avenue is opened. there lies a true master of craft whether it be songwriting, painting, building, speaking, design, etc.. a master is ultimately someone who is truly aware of what they dont know.

in regards to music i can think of very few good examples. its seems like these artists eventually had some sort of break through very very deep into their careers, and somehow harnessed the ability to put out very brilliant, very direct communication. this might be a turn off to some people as the most direct communication can be simple and incredibly threatening. it can be uncomfortable if not taken in context because of the instant level of connection.

ultimately i think that there is a sweet spot somewhere in the middle that resembles or exceeds mastery of craft, when someone knows enough to accomplish the desired task, is fully aware of the unknown, but is still hungry enough to put in some real effort and take a chance or two.

Until next time david bowie


Jon

So now that the first album is done, boxes of discs pressed, interweb littered, and cd release party complete - whats next. Thats a good question, a question ive been thinking about for the last couple months. Lets start with start with a short recap.

-after “29 Months” my debut album was completed. as planned I was able to play all of the instruments, write all the songs, mix and produce it, and somehow figure out how to pay for the replication and mastering.
-the record was well received, ive managed to get it in the hands of a healthy number of fans both locally and abroad via the internet with regrettably minimal promotion
-the cd release party was a success, the band did a great job of presenting the album material live. it was a lot of fun and very gratifying
-during the month of february i took part in the rpm challenge(make an album in the month) and though my best efforts were put forward in the last 10 days, i did not complete it.
-ive been writing a fair bit lately and have recorded a few new songs - some of which im excited about
-found 2 collections of bowie material that i had never heard from 64-66

that about sums up the last few months for me as awesome or anti-awesome as it sounds.

however the question remains, what do i do now? i have a few different options for consideration. i can:

-pursue promotion and perform of the “The New Weather Machine” album solo or with a band
-put effort into some visual arts im interested in, including photography, painting, video etc
-put a legitimate band together, work on new material, and play some gigs
-record another album by myself
-record another album with other other musicians but not in a typical band format
-listen to david bowie until im “defecating ecstasy” - (we are the dead - 1974)
-do some dennis gigs
-stay/remain in isolation and read books
-do nothing at all

of course im always open to suggestions, and my short attention span will probably cause me to change what im doing 4 or 5 times before something sticks, but i do know that i a) dont want to repeat myself and b) improve on what i have done. Im not sure what exactly that is but im sure i know what it isnt. will keep you posted

jon

As of today the album is official available on itunes for download and on amazon.com for download and physical purchase. If you havent picked up a copy yet this is the easiest way yet of getting one.

Sometime in october Red Rock Rebellion wrote and recorded a special Christmas song. Here’s a little background:

The song was initially a jam we recorded to test out some new recording equipment but setting up and getting the recording going, we didnt have enough time to do record a proper song. It would have been a shame to not finish anything at all, so we ended up just leaving a vocal mic on and doing 2 or 3 passes through the jam we had recorded. The end result was for one reason or another a Christmas song with the express purpose to make the listener feel uncomfortable. Without further ado I present

Ham Santa - C 2008 Red Rock Rebellion

Jason Oakes - Guitar/Percussion/Vox
Shad Chollack - Drums/Percussion/Vox
Jon Martin - Bass/Percussion/Vox


Feel free to enjoy, hate, share or delete!

A big thank you to everyone who has shown their support and bought a copy of the album! Then initial response has been really good and in the next couple weeks there will be an article in the Lethbridge Herald about myself and the album.

Speaking of the album, it is now available to purchase in physical and digital formats it can be purchased at

http://cdbaby.com/cd/newweathermachine

it will also slowly trick out on amazon mp3, itunes and the like.

So after 2 and a half years The New Weather Machine album is finish and is now available. Starting today it can be purchased for $12 from gigs and my web store. Within the next couple of weeks it will also be available at a few local shops as well as online from iTunes, Amazon, etc.

The first track, Sink Like A Stone, is now available to listen to on the music page to listen to.

The official cd release show will be tentatively be held on January 30th at the Slice.

Enjoy!

So i have added a music player to the site. you’ll need flash to use but in some peoples opinion its worth the trade off. It will open a new window so you can use the site and listen to music at the same time.

My finger is re-covering from a knife based injury, but there will be lots of new music soon.

So Jason from red rock rebellion and I got together tonight to play some beatles stuff and for a challenge we decided to learn, record, and mix a song in under an hour. we only did one take of everything in order to get it done it time, but we did do it. i thought somebody might find it interesting!

*update*
i spent another 5 minutes on the mix, so this is a revised version.
*now on music page

Sorry for the lack of updates as of late, here’s a little bonus. Last week we recorded a version of Changes, its just a quick mix that i did and it hasnt been mastered and all that but you may find it enjoyable.

*now on music page

Jon

Here's a couple tunes from last weeks Dennis 4 gig for those of you that missed it or just cant get enough. enjoy.
*now on music page



If anyone is interested in getting a copy of the show email me and ill email it to you. If dennis does make a return there will be some original music. They are very short notice shows what we play can be limited. Im making good progress on the Weather Machine album, Ill have some more information about it in the coming weeks.

Jon

ps i put a some new pictures up as well