Boulder, CO – “Re-rooting and Recording” – February 28, 2001

Back in Boulder after attending my dad and Kim’s wedding in Boston, I called a band meeting in my living room.  We hadn’t seen each other as a group since December and everyone except Soucy and I looked well-rested. 

“My plants are dead,” I said shaking one in my outstretched hand.  “Even the succulents,” I continued somewhat exasperated placing the skeleton of a jade on the table.   “I don’t know about you guys, but I need a break from the road.”  The rest of the band shuffled uncomfortably in their seats, unsure of what to say.  No one could deny that our last tour had been emotionally challenging and it was no wonder why. In 2000 alone we’d wracked up over 180 shows and whittled each other down to our very last nerve. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind it’s paid off to tour so rigorously.  We’re playing bigger venues, getting better pay and better interviews but It’s too much.  I’m exhausted.”

“So what’s the plan?” asked Delucchi, always on the lookout for the solution.  I took a deep breath.

“The plan is to sleep for the next week.   Then make a record and book a tour in May to promote it.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” said Kenny “You want me to hang out with my wife?!?  She’s gonna divorce me in less than a month if she has to actually live with me.”  I was grateful for the comic relief.

“Why do we need another record?  6S is only a year old,” Soucy pointed out.

“I know, but we need new material to sell at shows.   Our fans aren’t going to buy the same ol’ albums again and again.  We’ve got a ton of new tunes—”

“Thanks Sam,” Soucy rolled his eyes at me.

“—And the plan is to record the whole thing in a week.  It’ll be a demo* with a mail insert offering fans the opportunity to get involved in our music.  We’ll let them vote on their favorite tunes, offer production ideas and feel part of the whole record-making process.  After we tour with the demo for a year or so, we can gather everyone’s ideas and make a professional version of the songs and retire the demo.  It’ll be like a special limited edition.  What do you think?”

“Why don’t we just make the professional version now?” asked Soucy.

“I still haven’t recouped what I spent on the last album.  I can’t justify spending more than 10G on a new record.” The plan excited to me—something that would give us a chance to regrow our roots at home, get some well needed rest all while ensuring the band gets paid without breaking the bank.  So I was dismayed to see their heads bobbing unenthusiastically in response.

“I booked a studio downtown called Fourth Stage for the week of March 11th. We’ll call the demo Shotgun—as in shotgun wedding to represent the record as a fast and furious effort.”

“Like shotgunning a beer,” said Kenny.

“Like sitting shotgun,” suggested Soucy.

“Who’s goanna produce it?” asked Delucchi.

“No one — I will.  Mike Gworek is gonna engineer it.”  Kyle Commerford hadn’t said a word all meeting so when everyone agreed to my proposal except him, he announced he had big news.

“Jen’s pregnant,” he said “I’m having a baby.  To be honest, I’m not sure I can commit to recording in March and I’ll definitely need to take August and September off.  I’ll let you know. But whatever you need to do, I’ll understand.”

While we were obviously excited about Jen’s pregnancy and the prospect of a baby Drumerford, the prospect of an alteration in the band lineup was daunting at best.  I couldn’t bring myself to contemplate the idea of having to find and rehearse a new drummer so I let the matter be a problem for another day and the band meeting concluded with slaps on the father to be’s back and a march down to the local pub to celebrate. 

In the most recent issue of 5280, Denver’s most prestigious magazine, I somehow ended up on “Denver’s most eligible bachelors” list and have been getting endless shit for it from all my friends as well as endless attention from random strangers.  Yesterday, someone I’d never met sent me flowers and the guy who delivered them asked me out on a date!  It was surreal.  But I’ve started dating a handsome young waiter, we’ll call him Jack, who happens to share Sam’s last name (an annoying coincidence) and works at my favorite restaurant Jax downtown.  Though my heart is still closed for renovations, I’ll opened it a crack for Jack.

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*Footnote:

Demo: A music demo is a recording of a song or group of songs that is usually not ready for public release. It’s a rough draft or sample that showcases the core elements of a series of songs and gives listeners an idea of what the final product will sound like.