Live show? What?!

Turns out I can't just hide in the Barn forever making music. There is an expectation that I will perform it! I'm as surprised as you. Well either way I'll be doing just that for a very short window of time on Sunday, May 7th at the Secret Society. I'll be opening up for my good friends in the Empty. They are releasing an album (maybe even a CD?!) and they're rad. Played in bands with a couple of the guys in the group. Should be a fun night. 

Anecdotally, this will be my first solo acoustic show. Maybe my first show not behind a drum kit? Don't tell anyone. I'm not nervous though, so don't worry about me....

Rant

I'm not a naturally good singer, or guitar player for that matter. Maybe I'm a naturally decent drummer, though who can say. I feel like it's important to call out, for some reason. I take singing lessons because it's something I've always felt was my weakest point, and I'm getting better. I always sucked at guitar, but I've been practicing all the fucking time for the last 10 years, and I'm getting better. I didn't really know how to record anything, and I still suck at it! Haha, but I'm getting better. 

This is important to me, because I don't make any money playing or making music, aside from the random unicorn. My assumption is that most people have this random, burning fire in them that they chase most of their life - not for pay or glory or even because they might see someone attractive naked. They do it because they have to. That's why I do it. That's why I'm writing in this wasteland of a blog, that approximately 7 people visited last week. That's why I habitually stay up until 1 or 2 am to make things that may or may not see the light of day. 

When I'm so god damn tired that I want to fall asleep in my chair, I often remind myself that when I'm lying on my death bed (to be so lucky as to have a death bed), will I regret chasing this impossible dream or will I wish I would have put it all down to focus on the things that pay the garbage bill on time. I won't opine further, because there is nothing wrong with either. Though you can guess where I lean. Also, if you're a fanatic like I am, know you have a fellow zealot out there making shit for no one just because he can, and has to. 

Keep fighting the good fight, and I'll be right there with you. Not with you, of course, but alone in the barn drinking, yelling and making weird sounds. With you in the, uh, metaphorical sense. 

Nick

RANDOM UPDATES

Shot a music video on Friday night. Proper video. Should look rad when complete. Also did a small interview, there is a slight concern of having had a little too much to smoke/drink. We'll see how it comes out. 

I am in the rabbit hole of mixing and tweaking songs. 

I'm playing a show May 7th at Secret Society in Portland, OR. This is my one and only show for a minute, so if you're interested you know what to do. 

I fixed my barbecue tonight with a hack saw and some left over parts. Felt like a badass. Cooks like a dream,

Love you all. Keep coming back I'll keep posting weird shit. 

Drumming with Morgan Grace

Took a little breather from working on my own shit to play drums on Morgan Grace's upcoming album. Holy shit, what a blast. Haven't met someone who embodies rock and roll quite like this one, and also got to spend some time with my old friend Adam Pike in his legendary studio. Overall, very solid weekend. Too much drinking, and my ears are ringing a bit, but all totally worth it. 

Plan on posting a new From the Barn this weekend. Also, still sprinkling some finishing touches on a couple new tracks. Hopefully will be worth the wait.  

- Nick

Updates

Getting pretty late......

Back from Austin. Spent a few days down south soaking up all the tunes and booze that fine state had to offer me. While there for my other "paying" job, I managed to get away quite a bit and see some rad tunes. Sam Cohen stole the week, his pro band and off the charts guitar tones were an inspiration. Also met a lot of kick ass people (you know who you are) and had some bbq that changed my whole opinion of bbq.

Few things in life bring me more satisfaction than booze filled adventures in new cities with new people. Adventure that either brings you face to face with what you aren't supposed to be or pushes you down a flight of stairs and leaves you gasping and looking for advil. No better way to spend my time, I've found. 

I have been saying I will post some new songs for much longer than I'm happy about. I realize this, and am working to rectify the situation. You see, I'm a busy fucking dude. I have kids, career and wife that need to be taken care of (the wife doesn't need me to take care of her, but I like to try). I write, record, and practice all after all of that shit is done - which means there are often stretches of time where I can't be as productive as I'd like. If only I didn't have to sleep. Either way, I barely do. 

Currently I have two songs tracked, one fully mixed (release early April), a new From the Barn that I just recorded tonight and a new guitar player that I will announce shortly. 

My final night in Austin I stayed up until 3 am and wrote some pretty hefty words that will accompany some new music I'm working on. Dark as always, but with a hint of silver lining that we all are chasing. Keep driving down the road, towards the light, and eventually we'll all get there. Meaning, for me at least, that pushing and pushing and charging at what I know I'm supposed to do is the only acceptable way to go about livin'. 

Why am I leading myself on
Wishing for things that will never be
Not brave enough for either
So I just daydream

Don't do this....

SOFT LAUNCH

Hello friends.... I'm soft launching a track, so if you're interested you can shimmy on over to my SoundCloud page and listen. 

Working working working

Got a few songs in the works, a potential video project and of course the Live From the Barn series that I've set up. Songs are coming along nicely, feeling so strong progression in the crafting process as well as really digging the tones I'm getting out of recording in the barn. Big wooden structures have a way of sounding fucking kick ass (technical term). 

Patience my friends, will serve all of us well. Expect some shit to start dropping (as they say) pretty soon, though might be dark for a couple while I focus on the stuff that matters most. Finishing this post with "The MUSIC!" would have been cheesy so I won't do that (def thinking it though). 

Hit me up if you ever have questions about gear, songs, whatever..... I promise I'll respond. I can nerd out about this whole music thing for hours on end. 

Keep coming back, and I'll keep posting cool shit. 

- Nick

Thoughts on Rock and Roll....

My good friend said, "of course you have a rants page." Damn right.

Is Rock and Roll dead? Of course not. Am currently reading the Bruce Springsteen autobiography, and I encourage it to all. We're going through a weird space in rock music, but I think there is void that always being filled. I feel very passionately that fervent, musical, driven, organic music will always have a place in our culture. Trends come and go. Auto tuned EDM bass dropping dance clubbers can have their fun, and they should. No judgement. I'll take some grimy rock and roll over any day of the week. Give me something to study and watch, let me figure out what riff the guitar player is noodling, or how the drummer is playing his beat. I still get more than a little excited when I wake up and my ears are ringing and the tips of the fingers on my left hand are tingling/numb from how much I played the night before. 

Further, if we want to think of one positive to Trump being elected, it's likely that we're about to enter a new phase of incredible music - very likely in some vain of rock and roll. Happened with Reagan, happened with Bush 1 and 2. Trump is worse than all three put together. Bring it on. 

I should have made a rants page a long time ago. 

Live song

Live version of the World  Melts. Really just me fucking around in my basement. Full song at my SoundCloud page, obviously. 

Live acoustic version of the World Melts by Nick Arneson.

Currently.....

Working diligently on two new tracks. One will be a cover, but won't sound like the original, the other will be an original (and hopefully won't sound like a cover). I am also planning on posting some videos up on the site soon, both of performances and me talking about my gear/process. Had a couple folks ask what I use and how I go about it, so these ought to inform. 

Thanks for checking in. I love you all. 

Wonder.fm is awesome

These folks down under give me a lot of love.