It’s that time again… after spending 2 years touring non-stop, i am finally in the other place that i love so much; The Studio. “Second Album Woe’s” you might think, but really it’s turned out rather different i’d say. I have always said that making music, is the most fun a person can have. While this obviously excludes a lot of other of my favorite things to do, when it all comes together, it is in fact a wonderful feeling. We have been working full time since early 2010 on what is to be the follow up album to Collected Memories.

Yes, it’s different. It’s no longer just one, but now five. Five minds, ten hands, & ten ears. Im about to spill over with excitement for these songs to be out there, on the interweb, in your car’s, and on your iPod’s. It has happened before, where great albums are capable of dying a horrible death. And how will our’s be different? It won’t, we can’t guarantee listenership or a fan base bigger then what we have already…but we can guarantee that we have put absolutely everything into making this album, and i hear that very same sound in my favorite albums.

Where do we go from here? We can’t come out the same, no surely not! We have to do more, better and with a difference. This is what i am going to spend the next few months thinking about.

I’m not sure if you have ever been in an Anechoic Chamber of sorts, but its basically a room that is without (ane) any sort of reverb or even ambient sound (echoic). In other words, it is completely DEAD in there. There is absolutely NO room noise. It’s purpose is for testing microphones and speakers. I can’t really explain it, but it sure is the craziest place you will ever be in. Anyway, it’s a great place to hang out when we’re in studio and feeling like disappearing for a while. I like it there. Here’s the proof, by Greg Carlin:

Anechoic Crucifix

The kind people that represent Monster Cable in South Africa, have given Zebra & Giraffe a Monster Deal! They make really amazing gold plated jacks, that are super long and keep your tone the way it should be…exactly the same when it leaves your guitar, through your pedals and to your amp….the Rock cable is our choice, but they also make jazz cables with a ‘rolled off’ tone kinda sound. Yes, cables do make a difference… and yes we love using Monster Cables!

WOW! What a beautiful guitar. Like most Fender Custom Shop’s, its made to the best standards. Precise measurements, and meticulous attention to detail. Its a N.O.S finish (New Old Stock), California Beach series and is no. 127 of 150 ever made. Alder body, maple neck, with medium jumbo frets….yes, its a players dream!!!!

I have been loving T-Rex pedals since i bought my first Replica in Texas at the South by South West festival in 2007. The quality of their products is really something special, and they take a lot of time in creating truly amazing HAND MADE pedals and effects. The company is based in Denmark, and although i have only spoken to them via email, they have been the raddest bunch of guys and have been so approachable. The reason i’m bloggin’ this is because they have offered me an endorsement of their pedals and effects, and i’m totally stoked and honored to be associated with a company like this. Check out their products here…T-Rex Engineering.

Greg, Rob & I have been hanging out in Plett writing&recording some stuff as we go! This is a little pic of our setup…making music is the most fun anyone can ever have!!!

Its about time i added something to the family, so this time i chose the ’72 Deluxe. Its my first Fender without single coils, which means its thick and creamy but still sounds like a Tele. Its pretty dam sweet sounding, and happens to look ok too. I hope u guys enjoy the sounds of this thing as much as i do! Thanks Music Connection.

This one’s for the gear geeks. This was a first for me, and therefore worth a blog. Normally i use two very different sounding amps in stereo, a vintage Marshall, and a modern Fender and sometimes as on our last CT trip i used and AC 30 Vox and a Fender twin and was super happy with the sound. When we played Kirstenbosch Gardens, for the first time, i used two Vox’s. A 1963 AC 50 Vox + Cab, as well as a modern AC 30 Vox…and surprisingly it happened to be one of my sweetest sounding tones. I loved it, and Roger (best backline/monitor guy ever) solo’d my channels and listened to it most of the set which was cool. The first pic is of the two beautiful Vox’s and the second pic is the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens right before they opened the gates. Just under 4000 people piled in that day, and i absolutely loved the show.