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
Saffron Falls - Johnny Schou lead guitar
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 I for a time and joined Saffron Falls, splitting guitar duties with me. I knew him as every bit the extraordinary, deeply loved human he is remembered for.
After spending a month living in the studio - recording, sleeping there, and finally working there - I couldn't resist sharing this unique view (not mine) of where we recorded and where 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 occasionally Andrew would pull me in to record on projects. When Love Equals Death, a Fat Wreck Chords band, came to record, I was given the chance to create a piano part for one of their songs. Andrew played the choruses and I played 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 to me.
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.
