Turn It On Again

Ha. Late again on the blogging. But hey, at least I'm doing it this time.

So yeah, I'm releasing a brand new EP called Turn It On Again on February 14th, via the Penny Racer Bandcamp page. And yes, it'll be a free download. Just like all the others.

This EP was originally going to be the first big "fully produced" album to appear in my catalog. In fact, I had programmed drum beats, songs, decent lyrics and I was ready to go. But, for the first time, I had some doubts about the material. The writing had begun almost immediately after the completion of A Song A Day I in December 2008, and while I managed to get some nutty gems that ended up being the Danger EP, the "heavyweight" songs were, in my opinion, either sounding too predictable or just tooooo off the charts. You know, a collection of songs that either suffered from cookie cutter cliches or Mars Volta-esque insanity. Things were getting bad.

So, I started anew. In the last week of winter break before throwing myself back into education, I labored on new songs, new concepts, new energy. Instead of predictable or oddball results, I found a happy medium; material that sounded familiar, yet broke new ground both musically and lyrically. It's probably some of the deepest stuff I've ever written.

In addition to being lyrically rich, it's also some of the most musically layered stuff I've ever written and recorded. It's the first Penny Racer release to feature electric guitars and percussion of some sort. And boy, there are some loud moments, in addition to some moments of just "growling" guitar.

I'm still in the mixing phase of all this, trying to make things sound balanced and wonderful. But, I assure you, this collection of songs is a giant leap forward. Be prepared

-Tyler

I've Been A Bad Blogger

Okay okay, I understand. I haven't written one of these in a while. Lots of fun/busy things have come up that have me on the computer doing everything BUT writing in the ol blog.

Like what, you ask? Let me break it down:

1) New school year. Part II of my Junior year, this is where the "getting to know you" part becomes the "how's the kids?" Last semester, I had the lovely schedule of 3 fun classes and 1 busy one. This time around, I got two busy classes, 1 mind-boggling class, and 1 fun class. There was an Existentialism class thrown in there; but after spending an hour-plus in a room filled with philosophy majors, I couldn't do it anymore. Most of those kids were just arrogant twits that think a bit too much out of the box.

2) New EP. Finally got down to recording some new stuff. I'll explain that tomorrow in a blog post devoted to that. Very exciting shit.

3. ) Work. I do have a real life besides rocking the fuck out of open mics...which leads to No. 4

4.) Shows. Playing out (even in the Open Mic format) can be pretty tiring. What with practice and figuring out what songs get to shine in the spotlight, it's busy stuff. Plus, I've been kinda walking with my tail in-between my legs after a particularly disasterous "featured act" gig I had in New Paltz's Oasis Cafe. Broke a string and had to borrow a "big" guitar, which took some getting used to (playing 3/4 size guitars, you get too comfortable)

So yeah, I'll try to be better at this. I (kinda sorta) promise.

-Tyler

Note To Self: Add Horn Parts To Songs

Last night, I played The Basement Open Mic in Kingston, NY. If my best show was the night prior at Jitter's Cafe in Ballston Spa, NY, then my most fascinating show took place at this diamond of a bar.

Only three acts came up to rock the mic: Dan Wilbur (www.myspace.com/thedanwilbur), an awesome twenty-something comedian that had me rolling all throughout his set; Wet Paint (www.wetpaint.net), a world fusion group who were the featured act of the night; and yours truly, the token acoustic nut of the evening.

For the very first time, I had a backing band, as Wet Paint provided both percussion AND horns to practically every song of the set, acting out of improvisation that blew me away. My cover of the Thrice tune "A Song For Milly Michaelson" became this soaring tune that nearly choked me up with it's beauty, and even quickies like "Elvis Impersonator" became ripe with personality.

It was an awesome night...and only 6 people got to see it. Makes you want to go out more often, yeah?

Tyler Gomo: Musician, Class Act, PUBLISHED AUTHOR

Big news arrived in my e-mail box today.

A story I wrote for my Literature of Journalism class called "Diary of an Open Mike Tour" (which chronicled certain dates of my first Penny Racer Open Mike Tour) is going to be PUBLISHED in an online magazine called The View From Here (http://www.viewfromheremagazine.com). It's gonna be hitting the internet in April.

Exciting times!

-Tyler

If Only It Were True...

Wow, That Was Fast

Huh, I didn't see that coming.

You see, I've been busy demoing ideas for the next album, the big, fully produced one. For whatever reason, amongst some of the heavy hitters I've been working on, I had these little weird songs coming out of nowhere. A song about Bret Michaels? Fast food joints? Cigarettes?!

So, as usual, I acted/thought quickly and decided to release these little fuckers in their acoustic glory as an EP entitled Danger. It's coming out on the Bandcamp site (which is, of course, http://pennyracer.bandcamp.mu) on January 9th and it's gonna be free.

Okay, back to work.

-Tyler

Surprises

So, to start out the new year, I've been practicing and figuring out the arrangements to some songs. Not new songs, mind you, but I've decided to jump on the mission of re-recording more "fleshed out" versions of certain songs from A Song A Day I. You know, using the acoustic + vocal version that's featured on the album as a blueprint for something bigger, louder, and with drums.

In doing so, I've witnessed some remarkable metamorphoses. A song like "Alcoholic" has been transformed into something I consider "Pete Yorn and Phantom Planet on Bloc Party's dancefloor." Very very strange description, I know. In addition, a song like "The Vanishing Act" has turned into some long-lost Oasis song (a Noel-led track, of course), and "You Can't Give Away Your Heart" is just ready-made for Nashville, albeit with a lo-fi touch.

In the coming days, I'll try to jump feet first into such a task. In the meantime, I still have to plow through this next set of Open Mic Nights until the 20th. And, you know, deal with reality.

Cheers!

-Tyler