Chris Gage's blog

Saturday, November 14, 2009 4:00 pm Mood: A little sad

Okay, so it's a yearly blog. I have a feeling no one was waiting around for me to say anything.

Producers sometimes have to join a competition to get the artists they want to work with to come around. The meetings feel like auditions even though my work is public. I got news last night that a local act who I've courted for years to do an album has decided on a different producer, and I'm disappointed. Oh, I know there's a gift in every fist, that every closing door opens another one, but I'm still disappointed. I've expended considerable mental energy and some real time into meetings and pre-pre production, and now wish I had that time back. You never know, you just have to keep rolling and offering and being true, so that's what I'll do. What's next?

Tonight I'll play guitar at a CD release for Steve Brooks in Austin. His CD came out great and I'm thrilled that I passed his audition back when he was making his decision. An excellent songwriter, and a very open minded artist.

Thursday, November 19, 2008 2:00 pm Mood: Tired

Catching up on home computer work as opposed to studio computer work. Do we all go from one flat screen to the next all day long? I need to get out more. Happy Thanksgiving to y'all and yours. I'm thankful for healthy families, living breathing supportive parents and children, and a doting wife. I hope each of you get to spend some quality with the people who mean the most to you. I'm also thankful that the election is over, and I don't have to check CNN every hour to see if anything's changed. The time for change is now. Congratulations Barack Obama!!

This weekend, a trip to Houston for me with a local group, Murphy's In-Laws. They're putting together a larger-than-life version of their duo for a private party. Should be fun.

Friday, August 1, 2008 11:50 am Mood: Hot

Today is an outdoor show day, and it's supposed to be 100 degrees again. Christine and I perform this evening at 6:30 at Central Market in Austin. A strange venue - it's a high end grocery store with a huge outdoor patio / restaurant / concert venue. This evening will be special because we've enlisted the drumming talents of Mr. Ernie Durawa to join David Carroll in the rhythm section. I met Ernie 30 years ago in Iowa when Red Willow Band opened for Delbert McClinton at the Black Stallion in Davenport. He's an awesome drummer after all of his years with the Texas Tornadoes and everyone else in Texas.

I'm also going to the studio to work on a publishing demo for a song that Abi Tapia brought in recently. It's called "You Wouldn't Let Me", and I hope you hear it on the radio very soon.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 3:30 pm Mood: Yes

Revamping the personal website, thought a blog might be in order for anyone interested. I'll be slow to start, but I'll try to share what I can about my learnings and observations. For example, today I learned that websites don't update themselves, you have to sit down and add content. I've added a cook's page, and a page that will feature Winker's wonderful photos from my weekly gig at Donn's Depot in Austin.

I'm in the middle of almost half a dozen recording projects all at once. It didn't used to be that way, you had to finish what you started, but with computer based recording you can just save the session file and call it up the next time the artist steps through the studio door and everything's just as you left it.

Today, though, no session. Tomorrow Christine and I begin preparations for our new Tom Peterson Songs CD.