So, this is my second posting on my blog, and being that I can't firmly decided what this blog is going to be, (I actually started it in January and forgot about it till just now), I think I'm just going to make it about all aspects of life-stuffs.
One "stuff" that recently came to a close is The Campbell Apartment. The Campbell Apartment is a band that I was in for the better part of 3-4 years, it was a good band with a great songwriter, a good guitar player, an ok lead singer, and less ok backing vocals, but it had a damn great rhythm section. The singer happened to be able to sing great in the studio so our recordings always turned out awesome--the backing vocals that were created by the rhythm section were even perfect when recording too, so being that our records sounded great, we garnered pretty consistent positive reviews for our first (and only) full-length record.' A year or so after its release, we were starting to become a blip on the power-pop radars of the world.
Like any inspired band, we booked shows, toured, wrote, interviewed, honed our skills, and even hired a second guitarist so that we would sound better live (singer had problems singing and playing at the same time without going into a deep almost cartoon-like--think Goliath from the religious claymation series, Davey and Goliath--voice).
Anyway, we worked really hard at becoming better, and miraculously towards the end, it was actually starting to pay off. But, as we were getting ready to record our somewhat anticipated (believe it or not) second record, the trouble began.
December 2009: In order to change scenery, the singer decides to spend some time in San Francisco. This started out as moving out West for a few months to "write the new Campbell Apartment record." A few months turned into a few more months, then finally "I am officially becoming a California resident, NYC is too crowded and I'm sick of smelling other people's farts on the subway." The singer was also extremely funny at times. Although a little disappointed, the drummer and I wished him well and figured that we'll stay on to put out another The Campbell Apartment record, play a few shows once in a while and just not put so much stock in the band anymore. After all, the drummer recently got married and I recently divorced, so we both had considerable work to do within our personal lives. Not to mention, we had been putting off writing and recording our own songs for a few years in order to play in The Campbell Apartment, so we were itching to play "our music" again.
I will now list, in order what took place (note: there are always two sides to the story and this is just mine).
This was the basics of what was
supposed to happen: 1. He stays with me for a month (keep in mind, I'm a grown ass man and just bought my first place a month prior, so having a house guest for this extended stay wasn't my ideal situation), 2. We rehearse everyday possible in a room I pay for monthly (I worked it out with the other bands that share the room so we would have the majority of the days). 3. Then on the weekends, record what we worked on during the week in yet another free situation: the drummer's (awesome) basement studio--perfect situation, right?
Here goes:
- Picked singer up from airport--drive home is filled with excitement.
- First night is ok, only complaints: singer felt the couch divisions, my new cat was a little too loud, and my place was too cold.
- We start rehearsing new songs (and old songs) with new guitar player--it actually works quite well. He even learns a few keyboard parts, even though he never played keys in his life.
- Starts to actually sound like our records for the first time ever.
- By the end of the 1st week, we are ready to record 5 of the 12 songs.
- Singer buys air mattress because the couch is too uncomfortable. (Apartment is still too cold and cats still too loud.)
- More rehearsal, more better.
- Singer begins to complain about everything (I've seen this before and know exactly where it is going).
- After 3rd night, singer asks other JC friends if he can stay at their house to escape the coldness of my home. Packs up air mattress and walks to their house. Calls me up 20 minutes later because the bar under their house is too loud, would I mind if he took a cab back to my house to stay?
- Jumping on a completely irrational thought process, he pays a girl that he works with to stay at her boyfriends so he can stay at her place, she agrees and he moves to the the upper east side...way out of the way of any means of transportation to JC where our free rehearsal room was--this story has also played out prior. Band starts to predict when the commute will become too much for him...
- We play a show in Asbury Park at Asbury Lanes to 10 people, 5 of which are bowling. Singer storms off stage with 3 songs to go because new guitarist missed notes on the keyboard in one of the new songs.
- Next day we were supposed to record.
- Due to flooding and the drummer's computer misbehaving, recording is put off for a day. Singer throws tantrum towards drummer and threatens to go back to San Fran after the next show at Maxwell's.
- We record one day and it sounds as amazing as anticipated.
- Afterwords, singer says basement is too dark and damp and would rather record somewhere else. Also doesn't want the new guitarist to take part in the recordings (even though he dedicated his life to learning the songs for about a month prior to his arrival).
- Singer starts blowing off rehearsals due to "being sick" and UES commute "takes too long."
- Singer throws another tantrum because other bands in the rehearsal room need to practice on his free night. Date change falls on the date singer was supposed to have a date. Declines to cancel date and decides to cancel rehearse prior to big show.
- Viewing this as the final straw, I quit and plan to cancel Maxwell's show.
- Instead, he calls up Maxwell's and says he would like to now "play the show solo." Being that "this is the only place my fans can see me..."
- Singer re-books it solo, no fans make it.
- Singer goes back to San Fran.
- Singer asks drummer to record all the drum parts and send them to him out in Cali so he can keep the band name, record the record by himself, and start the new west coast The Campbell Apartment. Drummer declines.
- Drummer, new guitarist, and me start new/old band, life goes on...
There is so much more to this story that i couldn't fit here, but I wanted it documented so I don't forget. I may write more, but for now, that's it. Stay tuned for Oranges.
Double-cooked Pork: This dish is amazing: chewy, spicy, sweet, pork strips and medium hot rustic-tasting small green peppers served in an Asian red chili oil that basically goes well with anything. The flavor of this dish envelopes your tongue and mouth, but after swallowing each bite you are left with a (almost) mineral-like tingling in the center of your tongue; it is ridiculously flavorful, and when eaten with rice (brown), it becomes the complete meal that we are always looking for at a Chinese/Sichuan restaurant. Surprisingly, it's not too salty either.
Dan Dan Noodles: Basically spaghetti with red oil and cooked ground pork topped off with steamed pea shoots and scallions. The way it makes your tongue tingle, the flavor the ground pork, and the crunchiness of the pea shoot makes it a great side. It's listed as a side, but it can easily be an entire meal.
Pea Shoots (spicy): Snappy, leafy sweetness (yes, sweetness) with a kick. But in order to have this kick, you have to ask to have it sauteed with red pepper. (It makes the dish in my opinion.)
Kung Po Chicken: This spicy, slightly fried, sweet potato-y dish is the one that I can't get enough of. The Sichuan peppercorns mixed with leeks are the secret crunchy, tongue numbing ingredients that makes this dish pop into my head at work, late at night, and even when I sleep. 
