Give me a woody!
Ok, let me start by saying that in no way do I want the following posts to sound like a verbal or literal wank fest of the people involved, it is a legitimate and accurate description of the facts (with a little subjective offering thrown in for good measure).
Exactly 1 month ago today I took my well rested, over fed (xmas style) arse up to the studio simply to pack it all down in to a series of cardboard boxes and empty beer crates. I was preparing to take a mobile version of The Sitting Room away to record an album in a remote location, something I’ve wanted to do for a very, very long time. This particular location was a wood cabin located in a national park within Arthurs Pass near the Devil’s Punch Bowl. The cabin is surrounded by native bush, Keas, waterfalls and alpine smells (mostly pleasant) simply wonderful, bordering on perfect.
I can’t think of a single musician that wouldn’t be interested in the idea of recording in a secluded atmosphere with zero distractions and only one task at hand. In the wild, in the woods, no internet, no emails, no fagbook. It seems to good to be true, and more often than not it is as sadly most bands just can’t organise the time off. They’re too busy working their day jobs as accountants or internet marketers or retail fiends. Not the Eastern. The Eastern are the only band that I know in this country that are not only open to ideas like this but have the balls to make it happen, and not only just make it happen but make it happen off their own backs, oily rags, tea towels and tea cups. Anyway, it was a month ago today I arrived at this wood cabin and started setting up gear for The Eastern’s 2nd full length album and what would turn out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Stay tuned for a fistful of posts, thoughts and photos of the madness that ensued.
Wonderful photos care of Michael Edge Perkins