December 2, Aunt G and the Stone City Nephews took to the studio to record the songs we've been learning and rehearsing. It was a monumental experience, honestly...
For starters, it was well north of 60 degrees, beautiful clear autumnal blue sky, gentle breeze... And we were recording in Pete Becker's converted corn crib out in the Iowa hinterlands south of Iowa City. I got there a little early and spent some time walking around the yard with my fiddle playing for what few birds were around. John Waite got there next, and we stood outside the studio and played fiddle tunes for 30 minutes until the rest of the crew got there. It was the perfect way to warm up and get in the mood for what was to come.
Once inside, Pete began the challenging work of setting up mics to record this motley crew. He and I conferred a few times, decisions were made, and things began to take shape. Once Pete was ready, the boys set up and began to play. I sat in an alcove slightly above and beside them, sort of "conducting" and keeping track of where we were in all the songs. One by one they dropped into the pocket, like wild, shining treasure. In a few hours, we were seven songs richer, and exhausted but too elated to stop. We decided to track the lead vocals.
I stayed in the same spot, and the Nephews sat on the ledge or on chairs below me. And I sang these songs like I had never sung them before. Their playing gave me so much energy and inspiration. We all had goosebumps at least once or twice. It was magical. Perfect. And it all happened out in a corn crib in the middle of Iowa...
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/187535541/aunt-g-and-the-stone-city-nephews-cd-and-band-laun
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