Villains For Hire are recording our debut album.

Some details:

• we’ve decided to record the album in song-order
• four recording studios have been used so far
• Sleepy Kitty is doing the album artwork
• we just finished recording the drums for the song “Novocaine” at Space Junk

Working on lots of cool stuff right now…

Just finished authoring the DVD for locally produced feature film, Streetballers – starring Matthew Scott Krentz, who also wrote, produced and directed the film.  Check out his site and the movie trailers at www.streetballersthemovie.com.  Matt shot a wonderful film about 2 young men from different sides of the tracks — who couldn’t be more different from each other — yet find themselves dealing with many of the same issues – collegiate athletics, broken homes, tragedy, and hope.  It’s a real treat to work on this with Matt.  The DVD features behind the scenes footage, filmmakers’ commentary, deleted scenes, various promos (including one from LA Laker, Josh Powell) and trailers.  This film was recently added to the eligibility list for the Academy Awards.  Yes, those Academy Awards.  Congratulations Matt and the whole cast and crew of Streetballers!

Working with some of my friends down at Shock City (@shockcitymusic), I edited some Red footage (4K) for Hewlett Packard.  It’s gonna be used for some employee training – I think for Best Buy.  If you haven’t seen the Red Camera yet, holy cripes…the images are beautiful.  This footage was shot on a green screen down at Avatar Studios.  Using Final Cut Pro, I had to edit using proxies, kinda like doing an offline edit.  Lots of fun – it’s gonna be a cool finished piece.

Currently I’m working on a sister website to my former company, Cignal Systems, Inc.  I programmed the original website in Flash.  See it here.  The new site is being built for users to get more information and register for the annual Sound For Worship conference, held every February.  Designed by Lilyann at IGDetail, I’ll be programming this in Flash as well.

Just shot some footage at St. Anthony’s Medical Center…an afternoon of social work training for their employees.  A one camera thing, but the subject matter was fascinating so the 5 hour shoot wasn’t so bad.  I’m happy to get this very important training session on a DVD so they can use it for future employees.

If you need something -  a DVD, website, video, music, anything technical or creative or both – please don’t hesitate to contact me!  I’d be glad to think it through with you…

This year, I was lucky enough to be asked to judge Guitar Center’s Drum Off ‘09.  You know the Drum Off, right?  Where little drummer boys and girls line up and sign up, pitting their percussive skills against one another – all hoping to be crowned the next Drum Off Champion?  Well, that’s where I met John Gresko, president and inventor of Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones.

There were 3 judges total and John was a fellow judge.  His Drum Off credentials far outweigh mine – he’s a veteran studio and touring drummer, having done session work in Nashville and L.A. – and he’s toured the nation touting his drum abilities.  Me?  I’ve played in a few bands, produced a few records, toured a few states.  But a drummer, I am not.  (Which begs the question – why did I get asked to judge, right?  Hmm, don’t know – maybe they needed an everyday kinda judge – sort of like Ellen Degeneres judging American Idol…thanks for asking me Evan!)  The other judge, Derrick, a drummer in a local band, introduced himself to me and the first thing he asked after finding out I was a producer was, “What headphones do you use?”

I’m thinking, “I don’t know – whatever ones they have at the studio.”  Well, John and Derrick, who is sponsored by Extreme Isolation Headphones, were both right to suggest that I use a pair of EX-29’s.  And what a difference a good pair of studio headphones make…

After the drum competition ended, John was kind enough to send me a pair of his headphones – the EX-29’s.  Here’s a link – you can check out all the tech specs there…but the bottom line is this:  They block out all sound from the outside and give you crystal clear sound on the inside.  It’s amazing.  And they’re comfortable too…Sometimes I wear them just to block out all the noise going on at my house, so I can think straight…

John (did I mention he INVENTED these things?) puts lots of love into the presentation of his headphones.  Nicely packaged in a purple handbag (reminiscent of a bottle of Crown Royal), these things are perfect for your gig bag.  Wear them in studio or live on stage…they’ll provide you with a great monitor – and never again worry about your drummer blasting your ears off with those stickin’ crash cymbals.

Thanks John, for a wonderful product that’s perfect for producers, engineers and musicians…and John – my ear drums are forever grateful to you.

Check ‘em out at:  http://www.extremeheadphones.com/ex-29.html

Recorded live at iFest, 2008 at the St. Charles Family Arena

I play guitar on this recording.  Enjoy…

Recorded in 2007 by Matthew Steward

From the Album, O True Apothecary

I played guitar on this recording.  Sam Wade wrote the lyrics.

From the moment I saw you it was very clear

I’ll run away with you and let our worries disappear

You had that look in your eye that was oh so dangerous

I couldn’t help myself – I was lost in your sacred touch (and)

You’re skin’s so soft, skin’s so soft

You turn me on, you turn me off

And I’m not coming down from this place

‘Cause I found heaven in your beautiful face

From the moment I saw you it was very clear

I’d spend the rest of my life tryin’ to overcome all our fears

I’m tired of layin’ low and hidin’ in the background

We need to let love breathe as we collide into our sacred sound (and)

Recorded in 2007 by Matthew Steward

From the Album, O, True Apothecary

On this recording (this is not the version that made it onto the record), I’m playing guitar and singing…and Sam Wade sings on the chorus with me

It’s easy to see where you belong

Don’t you agree?

It’s easy to run from what was wrong

And you hardly notice

Everyday I’m gettin’ just a little stronger

Everyday I feel a little more alive

Everyday I’m breathin’ just a little deeper

Everyday

Recorded in 2006 by Joel Conrad

From the Album, Cliche of the Day

I’d be a drug addict if I weren’t so scared

I’d like her much more if it weren’t for her hair

my, my

I go to the doctor just to catch up

Never mind what he says for a couple of bucks

my, my

“What is wrong?” and “You are right” seem to go together just fine

I’m backing up to save my life

You took a couple calls from a guy you once saw

Now I’m taking calls – my right cross to his jaw

my, my

Now we’re sittin’ on the ledge of your parents back porch

It makes no sense to just go back and forth

my, my

So, c’mon

I wonder what it’s like to kiss you

Do you wonder that too?

I’ll tell you once more ’cause you just don’t care:

I’d be a drug addict if I weren’t so scared

Recorded in 2001 by JohnJohn at Smith Lee Productions

From the Album, Shelby

I wrote the music and lyrics.

Washington Avenue

there’s not a lot that I can do

to save you from the inevitable, to keep you from the inevitable

Market Street, you can’t see

the way that they’re treating me

and so I’ve left to the place that I once knew

and now I’ve gone back to you

so picture me out, and figure me in

welcome me

Mr. Delmar Boulevard

when will you see that I try hard

to save you from the inevitable, to keep you from the inevitable?

Recorded in 2000 at The Broom Factory

From the EP, Steady Stars

I wrote the music and lyrics.  I’m playing guitar and singing…

Go to the mountain, I will speak to you

Don’t you doubt me, what I say is truth

I am with you

I breathe with you

I am with you

I breathe with you

Make disciples, forgiveness in my name

These things you’ve seen, now I give you the flame

Concordia University Nebraska Promo from Jim Britton on Vimeo.

Concordia wanted a new video to highlight their university in a way that wasn’t, well, traditional. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun. I was co-producer and audio guy on location. I edited using Final Cut Pro and did all the audio using Soundtrack Pro. The DVD includes tons of special features, including audio commentary and bonus/extended scenes.

Tools used: Final Cut Pro, Color, Photoshop, DVD Studio Pro, Soundtrack Pro