> We're moving to PDX proper in February, and once we get set up,
> I'm going to be forming a new band

...

Discuss.

- Jeff

What was wrong with the previous band or solo stuff? CR has somewhat admitted he is doing better (sounds like financially) doing AI and seems to be having more fun. It will all just depend if it is a one time project or an actual full time band. Touring looks like it's not a personal option too much anymore, outside of a desire to do a few shows here and there.

So it's a wait and see kind of game. I just can't see CR giving up to much time on AI to start an actual band in the sense that we all think of when we hear the word "band".

May just be a desire to do a regional northwestern band, get together with some friends make music and a do a show or two at the bars (CR, please no coffee house's, I know it's PDX but your better then that).

Whatever CR decides we will all help him get through his midlife crisis. hehe

Brent

While I'm happy CR is putting food on the table via AI, anything that might entail more musical output works for me.

And, now that he's back on the west coast where he belongs, I might actually be able to catch the occasional show (even if it means a bit of a drive from SoCal).

- Jeff

Now that the prequels have spawned, another reason to delay suicide...

Now, Audio Damage gives me an income which, while not putting me in the "rich" category, is actually comfortable, entirely unlike the entire time that SMG was my main profession. I will say that what I do now is a natural extension of the things I learned doing SMG, and I wouldn't be very successful at Audio Damage if I hadn't done all that in the first place. (The reason Audio Damage products are successful is because they are designed for real-world use rather than some platonic ideal that an engineer thought up in a lab like most of the competition. I may be lacking in a lot of education, but as far as real world experience goes, I can hit it out of the park repeatedly.)

So, to put our current comfort aside and go back to rolling around in a van with a bunch of smelly dudes I don't like very much would do what, exactly? I'm in that rare category of people that actually has accomplished all they set out to do, and now I'm in the phase of my life where I get to enjoy the fruits of my labors. I'm afraid that it would be essentially impossible to drag my skinny ass back out on tour if it wasn't fly-in dates to theatre gigs, and off to the Grand Hyatt afterwards.

So, all that said, here's the plan: we're going to move to PDX in February or March. At that point I will attempt to assemble a band, and with this band I will write songs. At some point thereafter we will record those songs and play regional shows in the Northwest and California. Sound-wise, I'm starting at the logical extension of the CR album, and the band will most likely be named "Chris Randall & The..." something or others. This sort of music really needs a group to be pulled off well; I've been largely unsuccessful in my attempts to extend the sound of the CR album in my home studio by myself.

So that's where I'm at. Since most of you reading this know me pretty fucking well, you'll know that I could change my mind about thirty times between now and March, but then again, I might not.

-CR

I for one am looking forward to your new adventure. It's good and sometimes too rare to see someone realize they have reached their main goals and it's time to enjoy life for a while, long before retirement age.

I figured that your next step in music would be to join a band or become a studio musician for hire, just show up and add some music then get out without having to worry about day to day operations of a band and/or shows. I am happy to see you going this way.

I hope it all works out the way you would like. And thank you for not starting a tribute band! ;)

Brent