The Ink Cloudhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/en-US2012-02-14T11:05:36ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)-http://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2012/2/9/i-had-to-cancel-my-order-for-the-dar-fbm-100h-its-a-real.htmlCitizen L2012-02-09T02:24:44ZI had to cancel my order for the DAR FBM 100H. Its a real shame actually. ive been looking forward to using and playing that amp for more than a year now, and it has simply become not a viable option for me to wait and spend that kind of money on something that will end up costing me more money later on when I plan to move globally.
For now I have emailed Blackstar and Orange to see if they will be gracious enough to lend me some gear to record. If not...well then Im in a pickle. But until then, who knows.
Howon is going on tour in March in the US so we both want to get things done before then. That would be fantastic.
In other news the custom guitar is going to happen. Strickly 7 guitars has offered me a good deal and I think im going to take it.
tiny update I know. nothing really new, I know.
-Citizen
]]>Still there?http://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2012/1/15/still-there.htmlCitizen L2012-01-15T03:53:16ZSo am I.
Still waiting for my new amp to get here. Ive also been noodling out some new ideas for other options to choose from. I am quite literally chomping at the bit to get this done.
I gave my iPod Classic to a dear friend for a semi-lame attempt at a birthday present, she rustled through my hours and hours of little snippets and ditties Ive been recording over the years. Most of which feature episodes of the X-Files or Twilight Zone or Battlestar Galactica playing in the background. Shes inspired me to look backwards a bit and perhaps piece together something from these ancient and basically unheard songs. Ive said it so many times. Ill say it again. Soon.
-Citizen
]]>Not gone. Perhaps only forgotten.http://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/12/14/not-gone-perhaps-only-forgotten.htmlCitizen L2011-12-13T16:16:50ZIts been some months again, sorry, as usual. Well let me do my best at proving that I have been actually doing stuff in the months since I last posted here. First of all, if you are here because I gave you a business card, thank you for coming by. I hope you come back and check in on this place from time to time.
Well, I suppose its high time I actually did some updating. I love where I live and it has been a great place to write and re-record alot of old music.
Uyu has an annoying habit of wanting to be in the center of anything that is happening. This was the aftermath of a several glasses of Lagavulin 16 and Ardbeg 10 and a good session of both guitar and vocals. Here is the proof. Here is the demo vocals for 'Striations'
So along that vein, my comrade in arms for this finalizing process, Howon, came over and over a few beers we selected 9 songs from various eras of Citizen Lusca's past. I spent the next few weekends working on RE-RECORDING old material. Yes...thats right....re recording. So now there is going to be a real deal, no fucking joke, album. So we are shooting to have anything from 5-7 songs on this first official release and the B-Sides will be on a separate release that will feature some remixes from friends.
What's the hold up? Well honestly things only really became a reality about a month ago. Since then Ive been working my butt off in whatever spare time I have to make this sound as consistent and appropriately good as possible. But I am actually waiting on the new amp, the DAR FBM-100H that is going to be on its way in a few short weeks so we can add some serious body to ALL the songs, old or new. In the meantime im working on vocals and demo-ing brand new stuff to get in on there. Hopefully things are gonna sound huge.
What else of value do I have to share? Hmmm, the custom guitar has taken on an interesting pull. Paul from DAR amps has switched hands and is now working with Strictly 7 guitars, so we are in talks about making my design a staple model for S7. Yknow who else has one of those? Ola Englund...and he is a way better guitarist than I am hahaha. Oh well. We'll see where this string follows us.
A friend of mine started shooting a short movie based around "Follow the blue tape back", I was involved with the creative and story boarding but I havent seen any result from it yet. Ill attach a few images from the story boarding process.
In the meantime I have been enjoying my lovely baritone with its newly added Distortion Parallel Axi Humbucker. Mouthful. Ive also been working on getting Citizen Lusca stuff to be officially launched with some proper apparel and artistic direction. My friend Misun was commissioned by me to do this piece for a T shirt design.
The shirts will most likely be this. The album cover is going to remain open until something really gets me. Ive been in talks with Dan Hellier about him doing a cover for me, hes both busy and expensive but god damn do I love his work.
Memory Alert:
Here is a pic of me and the old "I Am the Blade" gang for old times sake. Ahhh the old seven string. I still use it on recording, but it doesnt have the string tension like the baritone does. This picture was actually taken from a photo on Stuarts Bar's wall. We talked about finalizing the songs not to long ago actually
and us a few months ago celebrating the work we did on his bar.
Obligitory Mascot photos:
And since I missed Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving.
And just in case I forget. Have a happy holiday season.
Merry Christmas.
Cheers!
-Citizen Lusca
(yes I can bake)
]]>True Northhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/6/29/true-north.htmlCitizen L2011-06-28T17:05:18ZIts been another few months and in those few months alot has changed. My father came to Korea, I turned 28, I got out of a toxic work environment, I moved to an actual house not in a noisy area of town, I now have "wheels", I having a savings account with actual money in it, I have a mind to sell as much of my useless stuff as I can (or things that are getting no use), I have purchased and now take lessons for cello (FINALLY!)...whew...there is probably more.
Its in times like these that I get so turned around that its difficult to find out which direction to go first, let alone if I should move about at all. I suppose the easiest method would be to stand still for a moment, look around for something familiar, get my barings(sp?), and take a step forward.
I have been playing with two friends and we've really just been having fun, which can be a nice change. Just drums and a keyboard and me. We have a few tunes that need alot of refining, but they all look like they will be alot of fun to work with. Call them messy sketches. Satisfying nonetheless. We have lots of recordings and hopefully they will see some light.
I decided to read some adventure novels. For some reason I feel strangely compelled to read about ships and sea voyages, I've settled on some works by Patrick O'Brien. He wrote Master and Commander which was also made into a movie some years ago (quite good too).
I wish I had more to report. I suppose my only purpose was to remind anyone who comes here that I still am existing and trying to make music. I apologize for such a blah entry. Its been raining for days on end and its silly to think it doesnt get to you.
Here is a of me demoing out a new pedal by Amsterdam Cream. Its called the Plain Drive, Ill post the forum thread I started for it too. enjoy!
]]>Japanhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/3/21/japan.htmlCitizen L2011-03-21T04:04:27ZBeing in Korea we tend to deal and hear alot about Japan on a pretty regular basis. While not being Korean OR Japanese I cant help but feel for the people in Japan right now. Ive done my part and donated to a charity here in Korea that is helping out out in Sendai. Hopefully things will be straightened out sooner rather than later, over there. I keep thinking the loss of life could have been so much worse if the Japanese hadnt been so meticulous about their building codes etc...While the losses have been high, I feel as though this could have been alot worse (think about Haiti). I hope for a speedy recovery.
To my friends and family in Japan. Stay safe. If you need a place to stay EVER...please please please let me know, my home will always be open.
]]>Fuckerhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/3/16/fucker.htmlCitizen L2011-03-16T09:39:08ZAs a teacher I get to see my fair share of kids who think they are hot shit and feel they can treat others like shit. As a former student I remember these kids NEVER getting punished. By some sick twist of fate, the victims would be put on suspension for defending themselves. I LOVE that the little shit head bully here got his comeuppance in the form of a beautifully executed body slam.
]]>Weekendhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/3/13/weekend.htmlCitizen L2011-03-13T09:04:54Z]]>back to workhttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/3/8/back-to-work.htmlCitizen L2011-03-08T09:32:34Zwell...thats done. Back to work.
worked on some of jeffs tracks. Got food poisoning this past friday, that basically fucked my whole weekend up. BUT...I will be back to it this week, finishing up jeffs tracks and working on some new stuff.
I have a new piece that im really liking right now, I have some ideas for it but Im gonna let it sit for a few more days and see how it ferments. The Burns Baritone is my new favorite guitar, the pickups i chose are basically the best things i could have chosen for it. The P-Rail sounds great, lots of very usable tones in there and a good bridge choice for that guitar. The long 30" scale would sound like an icepick if i had gone with a super hot pickup. So i think it was a good call going with a warmer P-90 esque humbucker to thicken up the sound. The P-90 in the middle is...basically awesome. I usually hate the middle pickup setting but the Virtual P90 has done wonders for it. Its fat and spanky sounding and is a great setting to use as a double for rhythm or lead sounds.
as I said....back to work
]]>Retinal Echoeshttp://www.citizenlusca.com/journal/2011/2/22/retinal-echoes.htmlCitizen L2011-02-22T09:43:05ZY'know what's really annoying? Being on an awesome roll, and then falling off that train and not writing anything for weeks. Ugh. It happens to the best of us, but while its happening...its really frustrating. Everything sounds like shit, or like something you've done before or whatever....just not enthused.
Ive been listening to music that is so non sequitor to what i feel i should be writing, that Im hoping it will right the ship. I even went as far as to go to the Seoul Arts Center to watch a russian violnist, that just made me feel like i cant play for shit hahahah. He was really damn good. Two encores good.
just wanted to repost the Article with the demos in it, in case you are interested. The new versions are....wow...new. enjoy.
