What a crazy week. The last 7 days have been a flurry of artistic activity.At a high level I took part in a podcast, performed two public show, front the first act of the Buddy Row follow up, returned to Jiu-Jitsu class, and oh and I made an amazing music video, first shot to completely edited in 48 hours. Read on if you want the skinny on all the awesome that went down this week.
Tuesday night was another short notice performance at Little Tokyo Lounge. I love playing at that place for so many reasons but this time my new friends Bonnie & Chuck as well as a few friends they brought just really made the whole thing special by really getting into the music. I even got to bust out my version of an Elvis Costello tune, loose as it was. I even sold a cd and got a few tips. Even though I accidentally left my acoustic there sitting in an open case for 2 days it all worked out in the end.
Friday night I played at Harmancos with my part time band, Break By Sun. I’m not going to sit here and lie. Going in, I felt like we did not have enough practice, but Braden and Daniel are such pros it just came off without a hitch. Once again, Bonnie & Chuck, some family and friends and even the Frokciest of Jacksters Eric Cook and his wife were in attendance. Several of our regular crowd at Harmancos were there and they were into what we were laying down. Because of such a large crowd actually paying attention, clapping and tipping, we played 90 minute sets instead of the normal 45 minute sets and even played an extra 15 minutes. So the Legendary Harmancos got a bargain that night.
Saturday morning I was booked to start work on Belton Hortons music video for his song, “Sunshining.” He assured me he would be there at 9:30, I thought for sure he wouldn’t arrive until later because of traveling from Hickory. I was wrong as he was Buddy Row on the spot. If ya’ll didn’t make the connect, he played my Trailer Park slasher Buddy Row.
Our very first location was the bar at Harmancos and we got in there about an hour later than I wished we had but we just got finished by the time the drinkers started rollin in and bellying up to the bar. The staff was very accommodating as always.
From there we moved to a neglected dead end road behind Still Oil Company by the railroad tunnel. I wound up dropping that setup from the cut but we shot it anyways. Then we broke for a pleasant hour long lunch break and headed back to Optimist Park behind the old Wiscasset mill to the railroad tracks. We shot our day out in the general vicinity and headed back to the office to start the edit. Before Ben left around 8, we had a loose assembly.
Sunday morning came quick and I’d arrange a pickup shoot with my friend and sometimes crew member, model production assistant Chantel. She’d just got a new car so she carried us to the shoot location. On the way I noticed a bunch of Sea Gulls in the sky near Ingles. I suggested we go shoot over there so we did. When we got their I ran into the store and got some Cheese Nips to manipulate the birds with. We parked in the spot we wanted to shoot and then calamity set in. I could tell you about it or I could just show you. Suffice to say though, I managed through some miracle or devine destiny to get the shots I need and did they ever turn out awesome.
More editing Sunday night and a final cut got close. Just then a phone call from Belton that he was back in town with his family and wanted to get them into the end of the video. First he said he’d be around in 35 minutes which would have given us decent light. That became an hour and he got here just at twilight. We made a make shift set of the wooden seating area by Snow Biz and I shot a dozen photos and literally 3 video clips as best I could in magic hour. I wound up using all 3 of the clips in the cut. By the time I left the office Sunday night the project was buttoned up. We took a day to look at it with fresh eyes and released it via FB and Reverb Nation on Tuesday.
I’m sharing this video here with a caveat. I in no way endorse this songs message. Belton is a friend of mine who I feel like I really get as an artist in several mediums and as such I was creating this as a favor to him and a skill builder for myself. We have a history of making cool things together such as C For Chaos and Buddy Row. The song is sort of an autobiographical theme from his life not mine. I do not endorse valum, shrooms, seeds or wraps, apart from the chicken kind. This strong has a small amount of vulgar language. You’ve been warned. Do not watch it if that offends you. All that said, I am very proud of this work.
SunShining from Brent Bowers on Vimeo.
Sitting here today after a long day in the studio finally producing what comes out of me without a senior producer providing some sort of direction. The song we recorded today combines all of my influences in a way nothing before it ever has. That’s pretty cool Braden kept saying something like, “It’s like the Beatles but not exactly the Beatles, like Thin Lizzy but more….something.” MORE COWBELL!!! I knew when I finally got the arrangement for this one that it would have more vocal gymnastics than anything else on the album. I am pretty happy with the rough mix even so I know with refinement it’s only going to be better than what’s in my ears now. I look forward to the day that we can really deliver this song and the other news to an audience. This really feels like Bonefide vision at long last. Today was light on behind the scenes video because I was too distracted making our next Gold record! LOL! Check out what little I did get with my iPhone here.
I could go on and on with this subject really all night. I’ll just close out with this thought. I’ve got a very, very talented group of guys working with me now. Braden, Daneil and Jeff, sincerely thank you for your efforts on this music!
I’m back to doing basic Jiu-Jitsu class 2 nights per week.
So the other big news that’s afoot. After 2 years I’ve started writing a script to expand the Buddy Row Universe with a sequel. I’m kidding about the Universe part since BR is a short film, but I have a story for a feature length Buddy Row and a number of the folks involved in the original are on board. Mostly, I’m just looking for a cool project to do this summer between sessions for the new album. As always the day to day progress will be posted on the Buddy Row fan site.
Work has been very busy and when there’s a bit more to post on that project or the album I’ll try my best to get it represented here. In summation, I’m busy. I’m very busy and busy is good. It’s when I do my best work.