Blue Star Creeper News 1/04

Things have been semi-quiet at the Blue Star Creeper camp for various reasons. Last year saw a lot of change. First off, we moved to a new house, leaving behind my incredibly well sound proofed basement studio at Cleopatra Park. Our new place is in a little pocket neighborhood a couple miles north called Green Arbor. We have a much bigger basement space but with no sound proofing yet. However it does have a bar and a fireplace! I've recorded a few projects at the new house nevertheless (Drew Holloway, White Knuckle Ride*, and Coriander). It's a great house for our family, close to woods, beach, and relatives.

Our cellist Peter Goddeyne was whisked away by his sweetheart Vicki to live on the water in Port Townsend, making get togethers infrequent. Once they get done remodeling their new place we hope to see him and his cello around town a little more.

I've been playing a few solo acoustic shows around town (thanks to Porter Harp!) which has been fun. Blue Star Creeper still exists and can come together to play shows with a little notice. Heck it's not like we ever practiced much anyway, usually the night before a show. So please contact me if anyone would like to put together a show.

Blue Star Creeper has had 9 unreleased songs in the can for awhile which were recorded on 1" 16 track at Steve Coy's Infinite Instant Studios. Some of you have heard advance copies. I'm still considering taking the tracks to another studio and getting a name engineer (Jack Endino, Johnny Sangster, Pat Gray, Scott Colbrun???) to re-mix the whole thing. I've mixed and re-mixed it myself, but I just feel the raw sounds are there for it to be superior to what I can do. Sometimes you just need someone else's perspective.

Meanwhile I've been playing second guitar and singing back-ups in Scott Gallagher's band Coriander with Chris Olson on drums and Ed O'Brien (American School of Warsaw) on bass. It's fun and the band sounds good. We recorded a demo and are booking shows. Check it out.

Gear update: I recently acquired an electric sitar, the Baby Sitar made by Jerry Jones guitars in Nashville, TN. It's exotic and cool. Anyone know any tabla players? Also just had my 1/2" 8 track serviced, and my Gibson ES-335 tuned up and both sound great. I've also recently had access to a Tascam DA-88 (thanks, Chris Olson) which I can slave to my analog deck for potential 16 track recording (technically it's 15 track, track 16 holds the time code).

A couple high points from last summer included playing several sets of music with my battery powered amp on the playa at Burning Man. People were so kind and appreciative of my playing. Also had the remarkable experience of getting to sing and play guitar with T.KV. Desikachar a renowned yoga teacher from Madras, India at Hollyhock retreat center on Cortez Island in B.C. Canada. It was an amazing spontaneous experience where my love of music and yoga merged.

Peace and health to all!

Kelly Blanchard

*Highlight of the White Knuckle Ride session: the band plus half a dozen friends doing a shout chorus of "RAISE SOME FUH-KING HELL!" at the top of their lungs for multiple takes... with the basement windows open...oops. Hellooo new neighbors! Put 911 on the speed dial grandma, the Blanchard's are in town!