-EL GORE-

The pre-recording session is over. Even though one could have had the feeling that now and then it seemed quite probable that one of the guys would become insane, I think everyone will miss this great week.

The last two days were a little shorter because Jan had other obligations. Pre-recording the last two songs turned out to be pretty difficult, especially because the guys were having trouble to find a better chorus for Got No Chance Against Rock’n’Roll. Everyone’s quite confident that it will turn out all right in the end though. Time was short, but there are still over two months left until the final recordings will take place in the Ghost City Studios in Germany.

The band now has three important tasks before entering the studio: first, clean up the mess that was left in the Fiction, secondly, undergo caffeine withdrawal, and last but not least, work on the remaining songs and rehearse the other ones ad nauseam.

At the end of the day, one must say that Dirty Crows now have a newer, deeper sound, which is more desert than ever before. The guys learned a lot in only six days and they are very thankful to Jan for the chance he gives them.

“Don’t think, PLAY!“ Is for sure the most used, NOT overused, sentence in the “Fiction tent”. I really like this approach and after a few initial difficulties it is also the band who tries to change their attitude into a less forced one. Playing by what you feel and not what by what you have (strictly) defined. It is all about feeling the music.

The band is still aroused by an inspirational atmosphere and they already have re-created 6 songs. The result is stunning and I especially dig Daniel’s “new” style of hitting that bitch of a drum kit.

The eating was great again. Thanks to Liz and to the guys for the leftövers ;).  After the delicious “Gromprenzaloot”, Cés and Ben from Inborn paid a visit to the Laduno and had a beer with us.

The band just as ElGore are really going to miss these inspiring, enjoyable and funny times in the Fiction.

ps: Jan just thinks too much instead of just playing Smack Down 2, that’s why he lost his match against Marc!

Day 3, the longest day so far. While Luc was trying to set up a new personal record on Tekken 3, the boys together with Jan were still working at full blast. People show up from time to time to bring food, coffee and beer, and the best thing about that is that also those who aren’t in the band benefit from it (yes, it is true, the guys from El Gore are all spongers but damn sexy ones!). Thanks to Liz, Jasmine and Ted to name but a few. Also Ben from Inborn! dropped by for a short visit.

Mood is still good, although a slight cabin fever shows up from time to time. Normal thing to happen. Productivity doesn’t suffer from it, on the contrary! Little Kalashnikov Blues has grown to a man-eating monster, live and in colour straight from Armageddon. Jan motivates the guys not to think so much but just to play as much more. Daniel’s drumming is getting better from day to day, the same goes for Marc’s singing. Mauro’s bass is powerful as never before and Phillippe has taken pleasure in making his guitar freak out from time to time.

As for the physical problems, Daniel’s fingers are now bleeding the whole day and Mauro has started to assist him. Well, considering the fingers it’s not that bad, but sometimes you need to bother about brain damage, especially when you observe a crazy drummer nearly break down the whole rehearsal tent with a rubber-snake! Don’t ask for details, it’s just too complicated to describe. Use your own imagination.

So, the most important points of day three in a nutshell: Daniel is going nuts, coffee is important when working until 2am, “Nuddelszalot” is yummy and spilling beer inside the rehearsal tent is rarely a good idea.

Stay tuned!

It is cold in the Fiction, fucking cold, and the guys are working their asses off. Together with Jan, the band analyzes and deconstructs every single song; a nerve-racking job but a profitable an interesting one.

It looks like the band is slowly growing, not only as musicians. Their views grow wider and even if there are some hard times, they seem to really enjoy the moments of being togehter becoming better and better.

So far I have heard three songs and I have to say that Dirty Crows moves more and more away from the old Rock’n’Roll style and evolutes to a first class fist-in-your-face desert rock band. As Philippe (guitar player) said: “We play less but it kicks more asses”. Word!

Thx to Liz for the lasagna.

Thx to Sylvain for the coffee and for spilling it over my trousers.

Thx to Sternkopf who is kicking Eric’s ass everytime we play Fifa 98.

The Fiction is equipped, the dixi toilet is officially declared open, the Playstation one is plugged in: day 1 of the pre-production of the first Dirty Crows album was a lot of fun and a lot of work. And the baby is growing, you could feel it. Jan Kerscher is just nuts (quote from the band), in a positive way!

The songs are going to be different, fuller, stronger. The band is learning and they are driven by a motivated producer who urges them to a different level. Daniel’s hands are already a mess. He’s looking forward to day 7.

But apart from the physical problems the atmosphere is good, the minds are focused, and the location (kindly provided by Inborn!, thumbs up for that!) is just great.

Stay tuned!