Chicks hatch, you know.

Putting a band together is like dating. There's the awkward set-up, the stuttering emails as you clumsily attempt to arrange schedules. And sometimes, when you meet, there are creepy vibes. Really creepy vibes that make you want to never see that person again. Then there are the ones who you like and they like you but there's just not a real connection, you know, musically, which is close to the groin region.

I was exchanging emails with a cigar-box banjo player who also has synaesthesia. He seemed really excited but then got too scared. It saddened me as I really want to know what colors my songs are but alas, it was not to be. I exchanged emails with a few bass players and a guitarist but it just didn't work out. They want to co-write and I want a benevolent band dictatorship. There was a drummer I had a few sessions with but things just didn't fit and by that I mean to say that he dumped me. That's what my big announcement was going to be. Sigh. The drummer, not the getting dumped. It's hard to be out there again. It takes a long time to get things done and in the meantime, you're all vulnerable with your imploring advertisements and singing songs to strangers in one-on-one situations. Sometimes I get frustrated and want to ditch the whole thing. I'm too old. I'm too lame. It's too hard. I'm too scared. But I have these ideas and so on I go.

From the beginning, I've wanted to add a percussionist, not necessarily a drummer. So I've recruited a friend of mine to play percussion. She doesn't necessarily know how to play but as far as I can tell, she has a good sense of rhythm and a willingness to learn. So far, I have provided her with a snare drum and a tambourine. I got my ass out to the Richmond this morning to pick up some el cheapo stands. They're ridiculously rust-covered. There will be some scrubbing. She'll probably end up with a Frankenstein drum kit which pleases me. We'll see. We'll see what happens here. I want to have good feelings about it but I know all about not counting your chicks before they hatch. Anyway, I should talk more about this band forming process. I'll let you know what's up.