Pete VanDyk Sings

recording with david in oakville.

2009-03-31T19:21:00.003-04:00

We layed down the bed tracks for guitar and vocals yesterday. All 10 songs were layed down, starting with Whiskey Queen. David will record the drums over the next little while and then we will move on from there. I can say that there will be a few special guests appearing on the album. It still has no title, but at a later date I will post the tentative track listing.

In the meantime I've been busy booking a small spring tour with appearances in Ottawa, Montreal, Hamilton, St Catherines and many more, including some radio spots and some local press. I will be playing shows with Zachary Aasman, The Boogieman Jordon Daniel formerly of "The Gorgeous" and a folk act called Orangutan.

tour

2009-03-18T11:21:00.000-04:00

4 dates booked, more to come. they will be posted soon.
i'm at the casbah for open mic next week, come hang out
pete

Friday the 13th in the Studio

2009-03-17T10:52:00.003-04:00

Friday was spent in the Studio, first official "session" for my new CD. As luck would have it David's computer decided to go all Friday the 13th on us and not work, so we decided we would jam through all 10 songs, figure out the drums and work a bit on the arrangement of the songs. I was also able to chop out the songs I did't need and condense the album to the 10 songs.
I will be heading in again this friday to begin the tracking. So all seems to be going well. The CD is looking like its going to be pretty dark, and a bit different from the last EP.

ps. listen to Muddy Waters.

peter

new record. watchmen. duma key.

2009-03-11T22:37:00.002-04:00

I hit the studio to lay down some scratch tracks Friday with David. It feels good to finally get the recording started. I'm also booking a 2 week tour of Ontario/Quebec too. Should be fun. I just started reading Watchmen, its good. Also reading Stephen King's Duma Key. Really good book also. Books.

Recording '09

2009-03-10T21:25:00.003-04:00

So....um.
New record is being begun. Yes that does make sense. It looks like it will be commencing Friday.
I will indeed be making my first full length LP album. That means 10 songs (hopefully). I have peared them down to 18 and now they must become 10. Lots of surprises including guest musicians, and this project will of course be being produced by the multi-talented David Partridge. More updates to hopefully follow friday.

In the Studio with Zac

2009-02-02T13:09:00.006-05:00

I have been in the studio the last 2 weeks for a bunch of days helping Zac record his first self titled EP. I co-produced the album as well as played slide and mandolin on it. Overall it was quite a learning experience with my first time in a producer role. Working closely with Tyler Mastantuono the engineer for the sessions. It was recorded at River 16 a studio located in Oakville, and it went really well. To hear the songs go to www.myspace.com/zacharyaasman
Here are some pictures.

peace

Cancer.No, T-Shirts and CDs.

2009-01-07T14:18:00.006-05:00

So as Saturday approaches and we celebrate 3 years of no cancer for Zac, Ive cooked up a few special surprises to add to the celebrations

1. MY First Ever TSHIRTS! (made by champion)

2. Special Edition CDs
Ive laboured most of the week to make a special edition of "Coming Down". The songs are the same but it has a brand new layout and the CD is a picture disk

3. Pete and Zac duet!
Myself and Zac will be sharing the stage for the first time in our solo careers to bring you a very special song.

the basement.

2008-12-10T16:33:00.003-05:00

Alrite so here are some pictures of the basement where the songs are written/recorded and where i do the majority of my music listening.
Also PLEASE go to www.myspace.com/petevandyk and check out the new song there "Fine Arts" a demo I recorded a while back with Brian Wirth, you could say a "rare" track.

Enjoy.

Here is the place where music is created...
this is the doorway to the recording room

The control panel(actually a diner table)

2 milk crates of records

record player (new)

these are the records i own

this is where i record ect.

And So It Begins

2008-12-09T19:18:00.002-05:00

So,
You may or may not have seen me playing open mics recently, but I have been travelling around Hamilton playing open mics, shows ect. Zac and myself have made a habit of attending most of the open mics we can get to which reminds me that there is one tonight so maybe I will head down after precon.

In other news the songs I have been playing around town are pretty brand new. I'd setting out to write what may be my first full lentgh album. This means spending lots of time out and about and lots of time writing about it in my basement. I have transformed the basement into my "beat factory" where I listen, record ect. My dad recently bought a brand new record player so I've been buying up records as of late and spending lots of time spinning them in the basement/writing in the basement/recording in the basement. Also there is a new demo on myspace you can check out. www.myspace.com/petevandyk

Pictures of "the basement" and more updates to follow
peace

Drum and Bass Tracking (Update #3)

2008-03-17T21:38:00.002-04:00

Today was a very good day. We got to Dave's nice and early, 9am or so, and unloaded the truck and set up in the basement.

I was very pleased to hear that Dave had tracked all the drums, (they sound wicked by the way), his drumming really steps the songs up a notch. We decided that we would track acoustic guitar first, So I layed down some stuff for "the country life" and "smoke on the mountain". Then Edward stepped in and layed all the bass down for 4 of the songs.

We haven't touched 'cottage jamboree' yet, were leaving it for Wednesday. Bryan will also be joining me on Thursday to add some lead guitar and some keyboards.

Stay tuned for a new song on the myspace and a layout overhaul.

peace

Track Listing and Such (Update #2)

2008-03-13T23:52:00.002-04:00

Ok, so over the last day or so I've tried to figure out exactly what songs I want on the CD and after scraping City of Sin, it looks like we've got the 5 final songs, in no particular order:
Calluses and Cigarettes
The Country Life
Smoke on the Mountain
Cottage Jamboree
Young Love

Tomorrow Dave will begin tracking the drums and next week Monday, bright and early me and Ed will head in to start laying down some of the guitar tracks. Bryan will also make an appearance later in the week to lay down some keyboard and guitar.

stay tuned
peace

Studio Day 1, (Update # 1)

2008-03-12T12:25:00.003-04:00

Today I went to Dave's and laid down the scratch tracks on guitar so that the drums can be written and tracked. Friday we will most likely begin tracking the drums with full scale recording beginning next week Monday. wish me luck

peace

Brand New Album - March Break

2008-03-11T14:11:00.006-04:00

Hey All.

So it has been a while, and after pondering alot of stuff, I've decided to scrap all the material I recorded over Christmas break and start again from scratch, I wasn't really happy with it so I decided to return to my trusted and true producer David Partridge. Over next week March 17-20th, I will be recording a 2nd EP, it will include 5 songs all written by me. It will feature Bryan Kieft on Guitar, my brother Ed on Bass and Mandolin, David will be tracking all the drums and I will do the usual guitar and vocals.

Tentative Track Listing:

The Country Life
Cottage Jamboree
Young Love (will keep us safe)
City of Sin
Calluses and Cigarettes
Maybe, Smoke on the Mountain

please stay tuned
peace

2008-01-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

So to keep you entertained here's a video of a song of mine being performed but Zac, Bryan and Ed and myself under the name of "Highway Heroes" at our schools Winter Formal.

Studio Shots

2008-01-01T19:56:00.001-05:00

Here are some photos to tide you over till the next recording sesh...\

Studio - Day 2

2007-12-28T00:06:00.000-05:00

Today myself and Edward ventured into the studio to record one of my personal favorites, some of you may know it as "Cottage Jamboree". Its a country/bluegrass number with guitar, a standup bass feel and some mandolin.

I tracked the guitar first, and it was as tedious as ever, after a few takes I decided to track to a click so it would be easier for the rest of the instruments. Recording acoustic guitar must be one of the biggest pains ever. After finally getting a succesful take we moved on to the bass. Ed was able to nail it in a few takes and we also discovered a pretty sweet standup bass tone we were able to produce. The mandolin was quite interesting to track. It was pretty much one big experiment. It turned out well and I was able to get the vocals down quickly.

We bounced a rough mix which I'm listening to now. Tomorrow I'll head back in to touch the song up vocally and add some extra guitar parts as well as to record a special bonus track for the myspace. Keep checking here and on the myspace.

peace.
pete

track list (not for sure yet)

2007-12-24T21:34:00.000-05:00

So while I'm recording I'm also deciding what songs to put on the record and trying to finish up half done ones that I haven't perfected yet.

The following list is preliminary song choices for the album...

Fine Arts
The Country Life
Cottage Jamboree
Calluses & Cigarettes (Bonanza)(name undecided)
The Lady of Deceit(undecided name)
What Would Your Sister Say?(undecided name)

peace and love

the Producer

2007-12-24T21:30:00.000-05:00

Just incase you didn't know,

My new record is being recorded with Brian Wirth (The Sitcom, Kilhuminzu, Kosmonaut) @ Taskforce Studios in Stoney Creek. Its a pretty slick basement studio complete with isolation room and a pretty huge live floor. Its a pretty sick setup with a large selection of amps and other musical instruments I'm sure it will be a pleasure to cut the record there.

Studio - Day One

2007-12-22T20:03:00.001-05:00

And so it begins...

Today was the first day of recording for the new record. As of late it looks as if our "band" CD will be put on hold for a while. Because of that I've opted to record another "solo" record. This solo record will be a step up from the my last solo record "The Streets in this City".
On the new record there will be some songs of just me and my guitar, but there will also be a bunch of songs being backed by Zac Aasman on Drums and my brother Ed on Bass.

Its going to have a very country feel, even more so than we were expecting to have on the full band. Hopefully it will turn out good. As for now the project is untitled. Today I recorded "Fine Arts" by myself the guitar was a bit of a pain to get done, the vocals and harmonica were a bit easier and I was able to get them done in a few takes. Check the myspace, www.myspace.com/petevandyk for new songs in the near future. Well be recording again next week for a few days so check back for updates.

peace.
pete

New Name

2007-12-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

So with the release of the CD, which is still untitled, we will be christened with a NEW NAME. 'till then it will remain a secret, but you can try and guess.

New CD/Recording News

2007-12-02T19:32:00.000-05:00

Things have finally started falling into place. In math class Zac and I were able to compile a tentative lists of the songs that we would like to appear on the CD. It will be half country and half rock. Were trying to stay within 6-7 songs, preferably 3 country and 3 rock.

In the "rock" category we have:
"Coughdrop"
"Gram Parsons"
"These Great Days"

In the "country" category we have:
"Calluses, Cigarettes and Shakespeare"
"Cottage Jamboree"
"The Country Life"

and the "maybes" are:
"Streetlight Spotlight"
"The Gold"
"Shoulda' Stayed in Bed"
"The Weight" by "The Band"

It will begin over the Christmas break at Taskforce Studios with our good friend Brian Wirth. More updates to follow soontime.

peace

Hamilton Music Awards Career Day and Daniel Lanois/Garth Hudson Concert

2007-11-24T21:24:00.001-05:00

So last week Friday Zac and I decided to take a day off school and pursue something much more worth while. We spent the day at the Hamilton Music Awards Career Day @ the Hamilton Convention Center. The keynote address was given by Daniel Lanois, who rather than talk alot just jammed for us with his drummer Brian Blade. We heard some sweet beats and sweet stories about his work with Bob Dylan and his life in Hamilton.

We also made some sweet connections with a bunch of industry people and were able to hear from them how to make a career and money as a musician among many other things. They talked about touring, merch, getting signed to labels and most importantly songwriting.

Some highlights of the day were meeting and talking with Dan Lanois after his speech, meeting and talking with Graham Rockingham about the day, and getting our promo kits out to a bunch of industry people.

*****************************

So Saturday night rolls around and it turns out that there are tickets left for the Daniel Lanois/Garth Hudson/Brian Blade concert left. I was able to convince my dad so we headed down to the box office and bought tickets for the Orchestra section, row L, seats 1 and 2.

Garth walks out dressed in all black, approaches the grand piano and hunches over it. With no sheet music he plays the 4 minute intro to the concert. Right then I realize, this is the closest I'll ever get to seeing "The Band" live in concert.

The show goes well Dan plays a bunch of his classics and the drummers are awesome, so many drum showdowns and so much skill. At the end he shows a clip from his movie "Here is What is". A scene from a Louisiana Baptist church with the preacher singing "This May be the Last Time"

My New Music Blog

2007-11-24T21:12:00.000-05:00

WELCOME!

to my new blog. I decided that it was about time I started my musical goings-on on the interweb. Some of the stories are interesting and some might not appeal to you. However through this blog I hope to keep you well informed about what is going in my musical life. Stay tuned for weekly posts(hopefully) and lots of other cool things such as pictures, lyrics and music news.

take it easy,
Pete