It's been almost a year since we've "come back." That word is bittersweet because AK never once left our thoughts. Even if we wanted it to… our friends didn't let it! Sometimes true friends believe in you more than you believe in yourself.
Well, things are more significant than we could have imagined at this point. Lots of shit can happen over a year.. Realizations give way to new paths and you hope you make the right decisions. Our 4 personalities are VERY different. Any of you that know each of us and have gotten to know Erk can see that. When it comes to the band, it works because our vision is surprisingly the same for four people so different. We've learned compromise and what we feel is right and wrong for AK and how to stand up for that. We finally learned how to make it work without taking advantage of each other (although slips happen, right Frank?! HAHA I bet that made his nostrils flare.). We've learned how to not let each other down and to give this band it's rightful place in our lives. Most importantly, we've learned to appreciate, yet not rush the artistic and creative side of this animal. Now, here's the best part… what we have the least control over.. we're finally a powerhouse. Strong… with four people that artistically feed off and challenge one another to create something none of us have ever experienced, but it feels like it was born straight out of our gut. Surprisingly, that's what we're still trying to accept. We've been hoping and striving for this window of opportunity since 1998 and it falls into our lap nine years later.
Blah, blah, blah… No, I'm not high. It's been a year since we've been playing again and we're THANKFUL for the way things have played out and we've come to where we're at. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. We've spent a year getting the rust off, and dedicating ourselves to properly documenting songs spanning the last five years to disc to the absolute best of our ability (we last recorded in 2001). This is a pretty steady topic of discussion among all of us and I felt it was important to share it with those of you following our progress. It's exciting (and scary) to finally have all the right tools and ability to present your passion the way you've always intended it to be.
The benefit show for Eric last month was killer. Besides the fact we won the rockstar ending competition against Deadpool with a bit of slammin' Pantera (MAN, you guys have been quiet!!), we raised $423.00 towards his tombstone at the show. We sincerely thank Deadpool, Master So High, and last, but absolutely not least, Darkwater, because they made it all happen. We really do appreciate you guys playing and putting on an intense show in the name of Eric!!! We said we'd be stopping the contributions in Jan, but we're keeping it going a bit longer to see if we can get him something pretty nice.. with his picture and a microphone engraved on it. We've gone so far with it.. why not. We're at almost $700, but if I count the money people have for me that hasn't been given yet, its closer to nine.
K3n Adams is still working on our next design. He was so super swamped with deadlines for the end of year, that we agreed to put it off until now. He has sent me sketches and we're corresponding on a consistent basis. Coming soon!
I've had a few inquiries about the CD progress as well. We are still in the recording phase. Dave has a couple more vocal sessions (one to record "Once in a Lifetime" and one for cleanup and little pieces here and there). Erk has laid down pieces on four songs. We'll be moving at his pace for a bit. I've never done it, but I'd imagine it's not easy to walk into a band, have to learn 10 songs in a couple of weeks to pull off a live performances, then have 13 songs handed to you and have to write solos and layers for 'em all. We gave suggestions to him here and there based on mood and feel, but ultimately it's all on him to move himself into the preexisting music. We've had 19 sessions since June and there hasn't been a month that we haven't been in there.
Hope to see you all tomorrow at the Redrum. Best wishes for everyone in 2007.
Jen
AK
