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Shaking Through
Man, you just never know. I spent last weekend mixing “The Desert Star EP.” The last thing I would have expected to do this weekend is spend it in front of my laptop. But there I was, recording a new song, all weekend. And loving it. Check this out. It’s Saturday afternoon. I’m taking a…
Read MoreReality Bites
There’s a spot on the hill above campus where we used to go. Sometimes we’d take a forty, or a fatty. Other times we’d pack a picnic, and sit there in the car with some sandwiches, some songs, and the view. All of Syracuse sprawled out below us. It wasn’t much of a skyline, really…
Read MoreHomecoming King
I’m going back to school. I haven’t been back to Syracuse in something like ten years. It was circa “Out Of Your Head,” which should tell you something about how long ago it was. Eric Gilman, Paul Perreault, my brother, Chris, and I play were on a small tour through the Northeast. We had a…
Read MoreEverything I’m Cracked Up To Be
On paper, my weekend might look like a bust. But in person, it was everything I’m cracked up to be. Somewhere along the way, we’re taught to look for plumes, fireworks, earthquakes and thunder. But the angels in the atmosphere are distant. Their chorus is far off and faint. We hear it only when we…
Read MoreThe Count
I feel like Edmund Dantes: locked behind iron bars, stuck in a cell high above the city, wind-whipped and exhausted. After four hours of mixing “Angels In The Atmosphere” last night, my headphones were crushing my glasses into my temples like a medieval torture device. Still, vengeance will be mine when I unleash this EP…
Read MoreClouds
The wind was terrible and swift last night. The walls buckled and swayed. The rainspout slammed against the stucco. The window panes threatened to pop from their frames. It was another long, cold, sleepless night. My apartment felt haunted. I mixed “Carmelita.” I listened to it over and over for two hours straight before committing…
Read MoreCalling All Angels
It began with a celebration, and ended with a nightmare. I prepared my taxes today, and discovered that it was a banner year for Benjamin Wagner Deluxe, LLC. I nearly broke even. For that reason, and on account of the good fortune that I received a mysterious direct deposit of $117.67, I decided to celebrate.…
Read MoreInto The Great Wide Open
My friends are the best. They’re the kinda guys who’ll willingly sacrifice the first 60° Saturday afternoon of the young year to lay down a few rockin’ tracks. And afterwards, they’ll gladly down a few pints and hot wings at the local dive bar. Chris and Tony came over to record today. In four hours,…
Read MoreSecond Guessing
This is the second time in a row. As you know, I’m working on a new record, “The Desert Star.” Just a little one — an EP — to keep me busy, keep me creative, yunno. And twice now I’ve tried to re-track songs I wrote and recorded in the desert. And twice now I’ve…
Read MoreWind Me Up
I stopped cold at a box of wind-up bunnies as I walked through the Hallmark store last night. I couldn’t resist. I wound one up, and watched it hop around in circles. I bought three, wrestling with the urge to immediately walk over my brother’s place and give ’em to Ethan. Many years ago, my…
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