Rehearsal

We’ve been a little quiet of late as there have been a few big changes in the ACAS camp over the summer months. The biggest being that, after 5 solid years of service, our drummer Grant decided to move on to pastures new in June. 

Rather than search for someone else to fill the drum stool (I’m not sure we’d be able to find someone who would be as good a fit for our style…), we’ve been trying out a new computer-aided, three-piece line-up. 

Having less people to coordinate has also meant that we’ve been rehearsing more frequently than ever before. 

...Friday's rehearsal was a lot of fun, and actually a lot more productive than we thought it probably would be. It was our first foray for a while into the world of metronomes and using programmed backings, but was great to bring some of the extra effects and instruments from the recordings brought into the live room.
 
In order to make it work, you need a drummer who can guide the rest of the band through in time to the backing (as only they hear the metronome) so everything comes together when it should and it doesn't sound like an unholy bloody mess. Pleased to say Grant did an excellent job of keeping us where we should be.
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Have just returned from rehearsal. We spent the 3 hours stitching together the disparate bits and pieces of a new song that was begun last year some time... it was a difficult one that contains some really good riffs and chord progressions that we couldn't bring ourselves to throw away. Sometimes songs just come together without too much soul-searching; oftentimes, however, they need lots of persevering. So it was really satisifying tonight to be able to come up with some new little sections to stitch all the bits together, and it was a good joint effort.