Album progress

I thought I would check in here and give a quick update.

The album is currently out of our hands. This is not to imply that we are done. Hahaha. Wouldn't that be nice?

Taylor has taken the stems back to the lab to do some tweaking. When he can finish, we will be doing some additional recording. Then it is mixing, mastering and manufacturing.

We are working on behind the scenes on organization to facilitate the album when it is completed.

If you are really hurting for a Vacuity fix, why not download our cover of 'Last Christmas' from CD Baby?

More soon.

g.

Album progress

Emac. Day 3.

It was more difficult to get out of bed this morning. Coffee coffee coffee. A quick breakfast and we're piled back into the van. More coffee at the studio.

Warm up with a way too slow version of Tamer Than Anything and then dig into We're Golden and We Own the Moon. Wanted to recut We're Golden based on Grady's comments from day 1, "Great song boys, but is it supposed to sound so limp dicked." His words, not mine. :)

And he was right. Really happy we recut that one.

Ran through We Own the Moon a few times as well. More hunch based. I'm glad we made time for it, but I can't tell.

Break for lunch. Delicious lasagna and soup courtesy of the very cool Mary Lou. This morning she was telling me that there is a buried chinese emperor surrounded by a moat of mercury. Radical.

After lunch we made use of the grand piano. I'm a pretty light player but the trick was to be gentle. I'm used to bashing the old upright beater we have here in kw. Different beasts with different habits. Both positively useful. We then thickened and touched up some of Rob's guitars - which sound awesome - and called the session a wrap.


Awesome.

g.

Emac. Day 3.

Emac. Day 2.

This morning started off wonderfully. We're staying with a friend and her family while we're in London recording. They have been so wonderfully hospitable toward us - we cannot possibly thank them enough. This morning Doug made us crepes. We didn't mention it to Taylor for fear of breeding crepe envy. We don't want that energy on the album. Envy of delicious breakfast foods is a terrible evil.

Upon arrival at the studio we dove into one of the trickier songs - Ghosts in the Pavement. I almost lost it for a bit. Studio performances can easily get stale. It is so unnatural. I had a minor fit, resulting in a short break. Obviously we needed fresh pots. Taylor was ever accommodating and proceeded to rearrange things so that I was able to play without wanting to smash things.

Andrew arrived shortly after Ghosts and we dug into the remaining tracks. There was a slight obsession with mallets on the drums and some very nice hi hat work. Impromptu dances and many many pots of coffee were consumed.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind. We have now recorded all 11 songs. Tomorrow will be touch ups and any BIG overdubs we need or want. Then its home to our studio to do overdubs.

Doug had a pile of puzzles ready for us when we returned to his place. You know those crazy mind game things? Untangle the impossible steel mess, navigate the ball bearing through the plastic three dimensional maze of nightmares. Great stuff, reminds me of being younger, staying with my Dad. He was all over that stuff. I was a brat, but I'm glad he kept me away from the TV now. They don't call it 'programming' for nothing.

I am about to collapse. Time to get some rest.

Peace.

g.

Emac. Day 2.

Emac Day 1

Earlier today we piled into our wonderfully decrepit van. Overloaded with musical equipment, coffee and sleepy humans we drove to London. We are recording bed tracks for our next album at Emac Studios.

In the past we have taken a mostly DIY approach when it comes to recording and mixing albums. The masterful Tod Cutler (he mixed Come On Get Real) being the one major exception to that.

For the capturing and taming of this next album we have enlisted the skills of Taylor Kernohan and Andrew Lopez. Almost a year ago, we were introduced to these two fine gentlemen. The chemistry was instantaneous. We have been working with them on the songs since.

I can remember passing out on the laundry room floor of Rob's old basement while we were working on The Middle Ground. I was working nights and we were doing early morning sessions in the 'Water Heater Room'.

Earlier today, Rob was reminiscing of sleeping in Paul's folk's garage while he was tracking vocals for At the Command of the Blanket Sky. I can also remember recording guitar for Tamer Than Anything in the same garage - middle of the suburbs, middle of the day - guitar just booming. Totally awkward, yet somehow totally awesome. Young mothers hold their newborns closer. Bichon Frise head tilts in confusion. Emeri and I would sneak in at night while Paul's parents were sleeping and record shakers and tambourines. Maybe the odd guitar feedback loop in Cm. One time Paul recorded a tree. Don't ask how. Its a trade secret. I guess the point is - we're stepping it up recording quality wise with this album.

I am excited to share these songs with people. It has been far too long in the making. And for those of you who've been sticking with us - thank you for your patience. I hope you can stick around a little longer. I know I've lost the path several times. I always find it again though. Or it finds me.

Nervous to fuck these songs up. Excited to get them just right.

g.

Emac Day 1

Steel Rails Sessions

This past weekend we were invited to be part of a moving art exhibit orchestrated by Hilary from RQ Magazine.

There were a whole ton of great installations that were happening on a train running from Waterloo to St. Jacobs featuring: CAFKA, KWAG, Aaron Bartley, MFX Partners, Uptown 21, Deadbeatblast and KW Symphony.

We played music for the passengers when they arrived at the rail depot.

Later the train was attacked by zombies.

Ramy Nassar from Bright Lights Photography took these photographs. You can check out the full gallery here: Bright Lights Photography.

What a blast!

Peace.

g.

Steel Rails Sessions

KOI Fest 2010

The first KOI Fest was a blast.

Check out a whole slew of pictures here:

KOI Fest Photos by Vampire Beats

Thanks for the photos Melissa.

Vacuity

KOI Fest 2010

Rock. A. Thon.

Thanks for a fantastic evening at Maxwell's last night KW. It seems we are not alone in our excitement for the release of THE BLACK HOUR. Stick with us. Things are picking up.

If you missed us at Maxwell's - you're in luck! Vacuity will be performing at the annual charity concert, Rock-A-Thon, to support Grand River Hospital on Monday, September 13, 2010, on main campus of Wilfrid Laurier University. Vacuity will be performing at 3pm in the amphitheater at the center of the campus.

Come one, come all!

g.

Rock. A. Thon.

listen to our whole album

We have been doing the last bit of pre-production on our upcoming album. We are working with two producers: Taylor Kernohan and Andrew Lopez. The plan, as it currently stands, is to head to London and record bed tracks of the album with these two gentlemen at Emac Recording Studios. We're pretty stoked.

In the meantime, we're trying to have all of the album material ready for a show we're doing in Waterloo on September 10th at Maxwell's Music House. Hope to see many of you there!

Yours,

Vacuity

listen to our whole album

error

in case the title of the last post confused anyone who helped out with the WLU case study - the title is lyrics from a song and in the picture we had just finished working on the song. it is not vacuity demanding you re-write the reports.

the reports are very interesting to read so far.

many thanks

greg

error

re-write the report its not what we wanted it to say

writing.

re-write the report its not what we wanted it to say

wake up. go back to sleep.

image courtesy of Blade Diary

Howdy friends,

Last weekend, Toronto had the misfortune of hosting the G20 summit. The exact number of dollars spent on security alone ranges from 600 million to 1 billion plus. I'm not sure why there is such a range. When I use money to purchase something I always get a receipt that tells me how much I paid. Right down to the penny.

The Toronto police held a press conference to showcase the arsenal of threatening weapons confiscated. A few days later it was reported that many of these items had no connection whatsoever to the G20. This includes one of the most menacing items displayed: a crossbow and several arrows. The police claimed the arrowheads had been modified to be soaked in gasoline and start fires. Indeed they had been modified and for far more fantastical purposes. The tips had been cut off, replaced with a segment of pool noodle and wrapped in socks. Any apprentice Archer will know this gives a +2 damage in live action role playing games which is exactly what they were intended for. A good number of the items confiscated are not even considered weapons. Obviously, the police being true ninjas from the same discipline as Chuck Norris, recognize that everything is a weapon.

A secret law/temporary measure was passed for the duration of the summit. It applied to anyone within 5 meters of the gigantic security fence erected around the core of the downtown. If you were asked for identification, for any reason, and failed to pony up, for any reason, you were arrested, taken to a film stage building and kept in a cage. The conditions, widely debated, are almost certainly below what you would find in a regular prison. Days later Bill Blair, Toronto Chief of Police admits that he 'made up the law' to serve his own purposes. Information about this is still unfolding. Why are people arguing about detainment center conditions when innocent people are being illegally arrested and held against their will in cages?

So without mention of tactical Black Bloc hoodlums smashing corporate storefronts (just more of the pot calling the kettle black?), protesters not complying with police orders that were or were not issued, police cruisers intentionally or unintentionally abandoned and set ablaze for the sake of spectacle, we have still created a profoundly disturbing unfolding of events.

I'm a skeptical bastard. I can't help it. There is a lot of conflicting information surrounding these events. When it comes to conflicting information surrounding the authorities and rulers of our country (a.k.a. the people with all the power and all the guns, tanks, sound canons, etc) I think we are best to to be overly skeptical. Overuse of dissent must be better than overuse of force. Power has very bizarre effects on people. Even Gandalf from Lord of the Rings (pretty much the most radical Wizard to ever be fictionalized) wouldn't touch the Ring of Power when Frodo offered it to him.

Its easy to forget that we have things like the weekend, holidays and even my ability to post something like this on the internet because people kicked and screamed and bitched and fought (some even died) for them.

Canadians will be all to familiar with the new HST tax that has just come into effect. When the government attempted to impose this tax on our native communities they refused. Many of our major road/rail transportation systems run through the reserves we have set aside for our native population. (The slow cultural genocide of Canada's native community is a whole other shameful debacle brought to you by the same institution). With a threat to shut down this shipping network the government were forced to withdraw their tax on the native population. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a voice as loud as that? Many people protest this new tax - especially given the nature of the economic crisis - nevertheless, the bill passes and we continue to pay into these institutions that don't serve us. It is the same with the G20. The people protest. The government builds a fake lake. No voice. No meaningful forum for debate.

If you're feeling at all ambitious, do some independent research into the cause of the global economic crisis, the emerging energy crisis, the state of the environment and the nature of government. You can reach your own conclusions but I'm certain they will be very different than what you presume. Where does all that money everyone wants so bad even come from?

Be watchful!

Greg

wake up. go back to sleep.

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know (at the last minute possible) that we'll be playing a FREE show at Wilf's Pub in Laurier at 9pm tonight.

Come one, come all, see you there??

P.S Thanks to 10 Dollar Haircut for one of many awkward shots of us from NXNE

NxNE / QR Album

QR coding is a type of barcode that can be scanned by mobile cameras. Upon scanning it takes the user to a hyperlink. We have generated a code for each song from 'Blanket Sky'. We will be handing out free buttons and throwing some of these codes up on the projector throughout our set this Friday at The Piston for NxNE. It will be a spectacle!

I have had a lot of widespread reaction to these little codes. Ranging from, 'What the heck is that?" to, 'Yeah EVERYBODY knows what it is." I'm not too sure what the general understanding is, however if it is anything like 'Pop Punk' - we're way ahead of our time. ;)

Here are the details for our NxNE showcase:

Friday, June 18th, 10pm
The Piston
937 Bloor Street West

Hope to see many of you there!

Greg

PS - Master Groves if this is coming through the filters - welcome back!

NxNE / QR Album

Always on the weekend

Vacuity had a pretty busy weekend.

Saturday night we crammed ourselves and a number bodies into Maxwell's Music House in Waterloo. We came to share some new material from our upcoming album and to help Paul Maxwell celebrate his club's 2nd anniversary.

Big thanks to Paul Maxwell for having us out, Sexdwarf for kicking the night off proper, and to all those in attendance. What a spectacular evening.

Here are some pictures, courtesy of Ramy Nassar of Bright Lights Photography:





The rest of the gallery can be viewed here.

Vacuity specializes in wake performances. We were the last band to play live to air on 100.3 and now the last band to perform at Art Bar. The crowd helped us close the night off with a gigantic dance along to 'We Own the Moon'. And we certainly all owned it Sunday evening.

I've only had the pleasure of knowing Bryan and Art Bar casually for a few years. Judging from the amount of support out Sunday night - many people feel the same fondness toward the place as myself.

Thank you Bryan for all the great times.

NxNE is next. Stick around. It's gonna get hot.

Greg

Always on the weekend

Rogers TV

Tomorrow morning Rob and I will be on Rogers Cable. We will be playing a song or two acoustically. Apparently we are on at 11am.

Greg.

Rogers TV

VACUITY + SEXDWARF SHOW

We are performing at Maxwell's 2nd Anniversary. Our good friends SEXDWARF will be joining us. Hey - they're working on an album too! I am stoked for its arrival.

Saturday, May 29th
Maxwell's Music House, Waterloo
VACUITY
SEXDWARF
Cover $7
Doors 9pm

We will be working at least a few new songs into our set.

Hope to see you there!

Greg

VACUITY + SEXDWARF SHOW

we'll get there; you'll see

Howdy.

We've been working on a new album. It's taking a really long time. We really want to get it just right.

Some of the songs are like seeds - you can give them water and light but they still need time.

We are aiming for late July to record in this really cool space. After that there will be a few weeks of overdubs and then mixing. Looking like a fall/winter release.

I'm not sure how we're going to format the whole thing. There will most certainly be a free download. I like what Joey Comeau from A Softer World says in this interview (its near the bottom if you're in a hurry) about putting books online for free.

I will now take a few questions. From myself.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, you over there good sir.

Me: Record? Haven't you been recording already?

Yes we have. I guess we are always recording. Its part of the process. I could upload a sketch take of almost every song on the album AT THIS VERY MOMENT. You gotta trust us though - it will be better to wait.

Next question... ah yes, the handsome fellow back there.

Me: When will Vacuity be performing live next?

We will be performing in KW shortly. And I'm pretty sure we're doing something in Toronto around the same time, or shortly thereabouts. I will post up the firm information the moment it manifests.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


For now I'm working on a grant application, and getting ready for our rehearsal schedule to pick back up in a couple weeks.

Will. Keep. You. Informed.

Glee!

we'll get there; you'll see

still.....working.

we are still working on our next release. in the meantime we will be playing a number of shows in the coming months.

your patience is much appreciated. stay tuned!

g.

still.....working.

haze turns into steam

the tour photo updates have been put on hold. the band and i are making an effort to get some new music completed and 'shipped' as soon as possible. to me, this is energy better spent.

if a window of time reveals itself to me, inspiration strikes, or nostalgia ambushes I may upload a larger batch of them.

stay. tuned.

peace.

greg

haze turns into steam

C'est What?

You have not been forgotten. We have been busy recording. M82 let us borrow his Rhodes Piano for a fortnight.

This just in! Our friends SANDMAN VIPER COMMAND from Burlington have invited us to perform a set of music at C'est What in Toronto on February 16th. It is FREE to all.

Hope to see you out!

Greg

C'est What?

photo updates #51-60

picasa

flickr

g.

photo updates #51-60

photo updates #46-50

picasa

flickr

thanks for viewing!

greg

photo updates #46-50

photo updates #41-45

Here are the Kill the Format photo updates:

Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vacuity/sets/72157623252991712/

Picasa
http://picasaweb.google.com/vacuity.vacuity/KillTheFormatSpringTour2009#

photo updates #41-45

deliveries location

Hello folks.

Been a crazy weekend. I have been helping Jamie work on a short film which is set to a piece of music I composed a while back. Emeri is starring in it. Here is a shot from location.


This one isn't location but I thought it was funny:


And here are the Picasa updates: Kill the Format tour shots #35-40.

Have a good day.

Greg

deliveries location

photo updates

Photo updates!

sorry i missed the last two days.

GReg

photo updates

Vacuity and The Nights Below at The Boathouse

Hello.

Yeah, so we have a Boathouse show... technically today and yes we dropped the ball on telling you all. BUT! If you can make it tomorrow, you will be very pleased.

Why you ask? Well for one: we are playing with The Nights Below (great local band) and B: we are playing at The Boathouse (great local venue)
and I am going to throw in an AND!... We are playing some stuff that we haven't played live in a while.

Which songs you ask? What's the tuneage going to be? The track sitch?
Well now...if I go and tell you, you might not come out and shame on you for asking!

So if you want to get all 3 of these things at once... you best be coming to The Boathouse tonight.

FYI: no idea what the cover is... I swear... 100 bucks?
and that ball keeps bouncing...
p.

Vacuity and The Nights Below at The Boathouse

Vacuity Picasa

In grade 10 i took a photography class. My dad bought me a Minolta SLR camera for the course. i achieved a dazzling grade of 7%. Dad was understandably pissed about that. he had spent time shopping to find a good camera for a good price. i still have that camera and even brought it along on the tour (have still yet to get the film developed though).

the past while some people have been asking/nagging/reminding me to post our pictures online in an album format. lately the guys in the band (not pointing any fingers ROB) :) also asked me to pass along the photographs i took on our Kill the Format tour last spring.

And so with due haste and no promises of abundant visual spectacle I give you:

Vacuity: Picasa

I will be posting 5 photographs a day from the kill the format tour we did last spring.

at a glance there are almost 700 images. it should be quite the trip. I passed a lot of road time and captured some interesting moments. I shot these with a Canon digital SLR that my Dad gave me for christmas (an out of the blue but very well loved gift) a few years back. funny how that all plays out when viewed in retrospect.

anyways, it'll give us something to look at while those Vacuity fuckers finish their album. sheeesh.


greg

Vacuity Picasa

tuesday rehearsal

greg

tuesday rehearsal

writing on friday nights

g

writing on friday nights

what doesn't kill you...

Hello everyone.

Thanks for all the positive feedback on our Christmas cover. It was a lot of fun to get together and work on.

New Years Eve we played a show at Art Bar in Kitchener. We kicked off the set with a cover of The Beatles 'Free as a Bird' right at midnight. It's neat that we all spent the first few moments of the year together, in that musical space.

There was a table of interlopers right in front of our performance area who were hassling us while we setup. I bit my tongue then, but it'll be immortalized here: You guys are assholes. Next time I see you I'm gonna kick you.

The whole band has been in this weird fucking headspace limbo since we returned from our tour last spring. Trying to figure out what to do next (besides put a little piece of ourselves into a record and share it with people). Trying to balance the music with the day gig, trying not to get sucked into the machine and lose sight of why we're here doing this together.

The tour we did has killed better bands than Vacuity. And although it wasn't able to kill Vacuity, it did make us sick and confused. When you come back from a near death experience you tend to question the way you were. And I think maybe we've been doing that.

Anyways. We're gonna stick around. Stay tuned.

g.

what doesn't kill you...