Category — My Songwriting Demos
It’s a bit politically insensitive…but…funny
So I wrote a little chord progression for a song, and my boys Ben Smith and Matt Parmenter decided to make it happen one night. They just slapped some stuff on top of my riff and this is the result.
I laughed my ass off when I heard this. No, it’s not PC. So what? It was pretty funny considering all they had was the piano track. I am not sure, but that may be me playing the drums..
Enjoy “Shake for Me” ’cause I know I did.
April 26, 2009 No Comments
A Logic Remix – “Around The Block”
I added a little instrumentation and remixed this years-old Acid track in Logic Pro. Used the opportunity to learn about FX automation (note the vocal delays) – so it was a good learning experience.
April 13, 2008 No Comments
Production work with Logic – Jon Mellen’s “How Do I Get Through?”
This was an experiment I did last weekend. Jon Mellen and I modified the lyrics and music to one of his tunes, just coming up with a verse and a chorus. We then recorded it over a piano and a click.
I then used Logic 8 and an assortment of plugins and virtual instruments to test a full production. Turned out ok, considering it’s the first time doing this on the Mac and with Logic.
I did get to use some cool tools while doing this, including:
- Softube’s Amp Room (on rhythm guitars) and Acoustic Feedback (on the lead guitar)
- Steinberg’s Virtual Guitarist 2 (acoustic guitars)
If we were going to finish this, we’d obviously write a couple of more verses, but you get the idea. Repetitive, but hey, it was a test project.
April 8, 2008 No Comments
Comping Old Tunes With Megan Fong
Megan and I worked on some more tunes last night. Other than a misdirected mic (don’t ask!), no more tech woes. This is a song I wrote about fifteen years ago. Megan picked it up and comped on the keys while she sang. With a little work I think we’ll have a pretty nice track.
March 27, 2008 No Comments
Megan Fong – Demo “Same Look Twice”
After we got over some of our technical issues, we recorded this through a Neumann TLM 103 into a DBX 586 tube pre (not my favorite pre, I am going to get an Avalon soon I hope). One mic, ambient, just a songwriter and her craft. Next time I capture this talented singer I will do a much better job (probably a different mic) but one can still hear the potential on this track. She’s awesome.
March 12, 2008 2 Comments
Foolish
January 6, 2008 No Comments
Friendly Fire
Written after the first gulf war. Another one of those sequenced keyboard things with just a mic and cassette player.
January 6, 2008 No Comments
A Classical Christmas
Recorded in 1992, this is a sequenced, semi-classical track that I wrote around Christmas in 1991. Just a keyboard.
January 6, 2008 No Comments
Wishin’ For A Miracle
This is one of the first demos I recorded when I was putting together my studio in the mid-nineties. My partner, Chris Raspante, did the guitars and sung the track – I did the rest.
January 6, 2008 No Comments
Walk Away
I wrote this in 1992 or so – just me, a cheap keyboard, tape deck and mic. This is another one that I will produce someday. Pretty crappy recording, but passable.
January 6, 2008 No Comments

