The record is cruising. We're all feeling really inspired. The vibe of the creative process is really different this time and everybody's just diggin', diggin', diggin', it. It's our first "in-house" record since our first one. One really cool thing is being part of all the cutting edge changes that have come lately in ways to make records. We've pretty much shattered our long held belief that you have to go into the big studios in the big cities to get good sounds and make a proper record. Ain't true no mo'! Don't get me wrong, I love recording studios. The times we have spent as a band locked up together in a really great studio are like pearls on a string. But the way we're doing it this time is much more laid back and dialed in to the creative process. YEAH BABY!

So, the album is on schedule, if there really is such a thing. Whether or not doesn't matter this time simply because the project's just cookin' along. If this were our last album we'd only be halfway through it.

The Museum of Fine Art in Boston has a new thing called the Art of the Guitar. It has guitars made in the Sixteenth Century and all the way up to present day. They had instruments from Hendrix, Clapton, Lennon, and even from that famous Sixteenth century star, Heathcliffe Springsteene. Well, maybe not him butS there was one from Joe. He has this ancient Supro he uses for slide guitar. When I saw it I instantly pictured being on the road watching JP play that thing. It took me a minute to get used to it in this genteel, quiet environment.

Meanwhile there wasn't even one bass guitar! What the freakin' frig!! I guess people don't know whether to think of basses as basses or bass guitars. I've always thought of them as guitars. They twang, they chomp, they ring, they wail and they rock. Sounds like a guitar to me. Not only that but us bass players are up to five strings now. Some of the wackos have six strings. Lately I've found four to be plenty. Live simply, I guess.

TH