Fort Collins Part One
The Blasting Room - Fort Collins, CO
Rise Against - Blasting Room
Rise Against explaining how meaningful it is to play in front of Bill, Jason, and Andrew
Saffronfalls - Johnny
Through my relationship with Andrew and all the time we spent at The Blasting Room recording Saffron Falls, Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore already knew me. Because of that - and my close relationship with Andrew - I was able to get a gig as Bill’s assistant, doing an awful job putting together an entire house of IKEA furniture (I’m sorry!) and other jobs around the studio.
Eventually, I began helping around the studio more consistently and working as something like an assistant to Andrew on projects. It was incredible being part of something so connected to who I was as a musician.
Meanwhile, Saffron Falls was trying to figure out what to do for a singer and bassist, and during that time we connected with another incredible guitarist and person, Johnny Schou. Johnny moved in with Andy and me and joined Saffron Falls, splitting guitar duties with me. He was every bit the extraordinary, deeply loved human he is remembered for.
Saffron Falls - Johnny
This next video, as with most of these videos, isn't mine. But after spending a month living in the studio — recording, sleeping there, and being in that space — I wanted to share this unique view of where we recorded and so much incredible music is produced and created.
The Blasting Room Tour
Tour of The Blasting Room
Love Equals Death - Truth Has Failed
Love Equals Death - Truth Has Failed
Fat Wreck Chords
One of the highlights of working at The Blasting Room was when Andrew would pull me in to record on projects. When Love Equals Death, a Fat Wreck Chords band, came to record, I got to work out a piano part for one of their songs. Andrew came up with the choruses and I created and recorded the verse parts. The band later made a video of the song that featured members of Pennywise, AFI, Rise Against, and No Use for a Name.
To have even a tiny musical fingerprint on something like that — on a record, on a video — was very special.
But despite everything — the music, the opportunities, the people — I couldn’t move past the end of my relationship. Andy eventually moved back to Maryland, and shortly after, I would move back as well.
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Saffron Falls
