Heart of Cygnus

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

2010-09-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

The more that things change, the more they stay the same ... in our case, all the changes of the previous year have brought us back around to where we were a year ago. We're back to our original lineup; Jim and myself. But what can we say? C'est la vie!

After assessing the level of dedication and vision we were expecting, both Aldo and Rusty realized they couldn't commit to it. Both of them have decided to move on. We wish them the best.

Jim and I have never been more excited about our future. We're working on the 4th album, and it's inspired a passion greater than we've felt before. Half the songs are written, and our excitement grows daily as we dream of the rest.

We're taking our time with this album, spending time in our studio, refining our craft, learning how to better record ourselves. We want to give you the best, as much as we want to exceed our previous albums. But more than that, look for us to be on the road, performing our next release in 2011.

We'll be at a venue near you in the coming year! Thanks for all your support. You are the reason we keep creating!

All the best!

~Jeff & Jim

HoC!!!!!!

A Brief Recent History of Heart of Cygnus...

2010-08-19T03:24:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, last year we were looking high and low for the right players to join the band and, perhaps not unexpectedly so, it wasn't easy. Jim and I had recorded as a duo for the first three CDs, and we were really comfortable with our working relationship. We had high standards. There are plenty of good musicians out there, but when you're building a band, you need not only someone who is a great player, but someone who is a great fit personally. Not only do you have to live with someone's playing when you're on the road, you have to live with them!

So, after months of searching under nook and cranny, after auditioning a lot of great people who weren't quite a fit musically, in walked Aldo Galatioto.

Aldo at KIT

I remember he came in, set up, and played his best rendition of "Lost at Sea". His playing was amazing off the bat. Even his "noodling" was awesome. Plus his angry Carl's Jr. tattoo (ala Idiocracy) was right up our alley. We knew right then that this guy would fit in. Jim and I, as founders of the band, have equal veto rights... Jim preempted our post-discussion of the audition with a pre-veto; he said regardless of what I thought, Aldo is our new guitarist. He was right!

Next came Rusty. He had initially tried out on New Years day, 2010. In fact, I think we might've had a BBQ that day, then the audition (or vise versa). He was a friend of Aldo's; they had been playing together in another band for a year or so. While we liked him, and he rehearsed with us for a month or so, we weren't sure he was a fit. Correction: I (Jeff) wasn't sure. Not that I had anything against him. I just wasn't feeling certain that HOC was the band he wanted to be in because he's so diverse in his abilities (I tend to over analyze). So I talked with Jim and we decided to let him go!

Well... I would later be corrected by Providence (and Rusty).

Rusty rocking the Rickenbacker

We spent the next month and a half trying to find a bass player. While we had some fantastic people try out, we still couldn't find a fit. But we were up against a big wall. We had committed to play at the Keep It True XIII festival in Germany at the end of April. Yeah, we like living on the edge! Looking back, it seems like insanity that we committed to play a metal festival in April 2010 and yet in February 2010 we had no bass player!!!

Nearing panic mode, we decided to hire a bass player for the festival. We put out advertisements for a professional bass player for hire. We ended up hiring a bass player of renown (a pro, an awesome guy). But as I rehearsed with him, I realized he wasn't a fit... this was three weeks before we were to fly to Germany!!!

By then, the wall seemed insurmountable. We had about three weeks to find a bass player and no clue as to whom it would be. Jim and I had several worried conversations as to what we should do. We thought of canceling. But somehow, it seemed wrong. We knew we had to play the show.

Then Aldo suggested we ask Rusty. Aldo is brilliant. He's never forceful; he states his opinion then leaves it for you to consider. After we agreed, with about two and a half weeks before we were scheduled to fly, Aldo helped Rusty cram for the test. Rusty was graciously on board for the show.

We scheduled a gig as a dress rehearsal in a small club in Long Beach, California. With about three or four rehearsals, we performed our set. Rusty not only remembered the songs, he played them with great finesse. We breathed a sigh of great relief.

That was short lived.

Eyjafjallajokull: our archenemy

Now that we felt confident we could fulfill our commitment, another threat arose... A volcano in Iceland - Eyjafjallajokull... say that three times, fast - had shut down all flights to Europe! It was laughable. After all the hoops we'd jumped through, here we were, on the cusp of our international debut, sabotaged by an act of nature. It felt as if we couldn't "win for losing." Actually, I remember thinking that if so many odds were against us, it must be meant to be!

We flew to Dulles airport in Washington D.C. not knowing if the connecting flight to Frankfurt would happen. All flights had been canceled for the past week or so.

Well, as you may know, the flight went through. That not only cemented our performance at Keep It True XIII, but also the induction of Rusty, our bass player. He did a fantastic job, and proved himself the most gregarious member of our band! He wins the prize for the most photos at KIT. Not a surprise; his enthusiasm for music (and bass guitar) is second to none.

Fast forward a few months.

We're working on our new CD. It's coming together. We rehearsed a new tune the other night. I can't wait to hear the final result.

I couldn't be happier with our band. I'm surrounded by incredible musicians. Jim is my hero and my favorite drummer. Aldo is not only a great person, but my favorite guitarist who makes me rehearse to try to keep up with him. Rusty... an incredible musician who, in my opinion, seems to grow greater by the day. His playing has grown exponentially since we first met. I can't wait to hear what we come up with.

Rehearsal Mode

2009-10-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

First off, I think it's important to update everyone on my beard-growth. As you can see, it's looking quite healthy. I'm going for something between ZZ Top and Zach Galifianakis. (No, I'm not asleep... just a bad picture which is not unusual for me!)

Well, now that we're done with the third CD, we get to focus on other stuff.   I thought it might be a more relaxed next few months, but I don't know what I was thinking. We have a ton of things to do. Such is life, eh?

So, besides doing all the admin crap that goes with releasing a CD as an unsigned band (registering with ASCAP and the Copyright office are the worst!), it's also time for us to shift into high gear in terms of rehearsal.

I marvel at how, in spite of just having written and recorded new songs, I somehow always have to re-learn them!   Perhaps that's due in part to our writing style... I write a song and then we record it within a day or two. That keeps it fresh for the recording, but doesn't really allow time to commit it to long term memory. Plus, I guess the fact that (for now) I play all the instruments but drums means that I have a lot to memorize.   Feel sorry for me [sound of sad violin playing].

Anyhow, we're rehearsing right now, getting ready for touring in early 2010, specifically "Keep It True XIII" in Germany.    Jim and I are both rehearsing separately while we audition new players. We have a bass player coming in the next week or two that looks promising!

By the way, the pictures are from our rehearsal today... Jim was playing one of the new songs, "Perelandra".

I was rehearsing the end solo for "Lost at Sea" (the one where my mouth is wide open... I didn't realize I did that). In the other picture I'm rehearsing "Awake, Sleeper" from the new CD.   I know that probably doesn't mean much, unless you're a guitar player. But, well, there you go.

Recording "Tales From Outer Space!" - Starship Troopers

2009-09-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

OK. So I realize this will perhaps sully some of the shimmer of our latest song, but I figured I'd risk it.

We're in the home stretch of our new CD "Tales From Outer Space!" and last week Jim and I were talking about it. Jim pointed out that we were essentially minutes away from having a full length normal LP... a regular CD. I think I said something to the effect of "Well, I could write another song??" I'm guessing Jim replied something along the line of "Go for it!"

So, I sat down, grabbed my Guild Dreadnought and let the nerdiness in me flow, until it reached a zenith, and voila: "Starship Troopers" was born! It was plotted in a matter of about 15 minutes.

I started recording on last Friday morning, 9/25/2009. I recorded on the weekend too, although we were interrupted by a website emergency (those of you who tried to pre-order probably noticed). Then I put the finishing touches on the song Monday, yesterday, and today.

Anyhow, I was listening just now and it struck me. I composed and recorded this entire song over the course of a few days... in my boxer shorts sitting on my couch. I literally did. Nice. No, no pictures of me in my boxers, but here's my couch and impromptu "recording studio" (my living room), as well as my view from my perch while recording.

Now you have a visual whenever you hear it. I was wanting to finish this CD, and once I had the idea, I was in the zone. The day after I composed it, I actually woke up and recorded on my couch for about 6 hours before I even got a cup of coffee.
OK, now you have a bit of trivia about our upcoming release.

Over the next few weeks I'll post some more stuff if it's interesting (and I might post even if it's not).

This CD is sure to please... I hope you enjoy it as much as we do...

~Jeff