Screaming Mimes Blog

Every once in a while it hits me like a ton of bricks... we have so many people who have stepped up and helped the Mimes a success. Taking stock of all the great friends and tremendous support they give us is truly staggering. That's the greatest confirmation that we're doing something right - folks out there want to help us.
First and foremost is Sonic Arts - not only do they employ our premiere guitarist/vocalist/producer Randy, but they have generously opened their doors to us since our earliest demos back in 2002, before we were much more than a loosely rehearsed group of friends. As we step deep into this next record and back into their hallowed halls I know the pressure is on to respect their gift and make a damn good record. Enough credit cannot be given to them. Austin, in particular, has stood out lately by selflessly engineering and mixing his heart out, guiding us along the path of getting that elusive "best take".
Secondly, the Cincinnat Reds & Diamond Properties have, at alternate points, provided rehearsal space for a band with sporadic and demanding needs. Secure, private, space to be creative and spread cables across the floor. We're so in love with Diamond Properties we're tracking the drums and bass in the room - a former lawyer's office with a receptionist desk that makes the perfect mixing room. Even the bass amp has it's own office. Without this, we'd be homeless!
The Cincinnati Reds get extra props for employing all the members of the bands in a variety of roles. For me, it's my full-time job and passion. Beyond that, after our performance at the park in 2003 we're coming back to the newly opened "Late Night Concert Series" on May 13th. Very much looking forward to that.
PPS has been a great supporter as well, sponsoring us at various time and helping with our video needs. They rawk!
On the media front, we've found no better support than the wonderful folks at WNKU - everyone at the station has been incredible and treated us like hip royalty. From Homegrown Music, Studio 89, and all the plugs and in-studio appearances they have taken us from unknowns to a respected band in Cincinnati and beyond. www.WOXY.com, WAIF and others have been big Mimes backers as well. WXIX & WKRC have broadcast Mimes performances - thank you! Local mags such as Citybeat, CinWeekly, Enquirer and Post have all written generously about us and we love reading about ourselves. Websites such as www.I-See-Sound.com, www.cincymusic.com, myspace have helped us reach a much bigger fanbase then was possible just 5 years ago. All the incredible clubs we've played at have treated us with respect and honor us the most by inviting us back again and again.
There is no one who sacrifices more for us to live as rockers than our families. Our kids and spouses continually put up with long rehearsals, late night gigs and smoke-smelling clothes in order for the band to live. And they still embrace us. We wouldn't be anything without them.
Suffice to say, there are hundreds of others that contribute to Screaming Mimes beyond the 4 guys in the band and any leaps we make is shared with them. These folks don't take anything in return, they just want to help. What did we do to deserve this?
Finally, no one gets more credit than you, the fan who likes our music. If you've come to a show, purchased an album, listened to us online or on the radio, or told a friend about us, then we owe you big time. Without your ears there really isn't a point to any of this and the fact that you're receptive to the noise we're making is the validation that makes us work harder and harder to make better and better noise each time. Thank you. Check back often... we think you'll love what we're cooking up next.

- Dave

Do you ever wonder if what you do, no matter what it is, touches others heart, mind or soul. What a great way to start Hump Day. Walking into work this morning, one of our clients (he also works in the same building as me) caught up with me on the street and wouldn't let me go until he passed on this story he had. As you all well know, the Mimes recorded a couple songs for an upcoming Cincinnati Reds Community Fund album. During the time we were recording, my client begged me to hear one of the tracks we were recording at the time. We had a good enough mix going that I felt comfortable enough with sending him an mp3 ... as well as feeling comfortable enough with him that he wouldn't be sending it all over the world as well. He LOVED it. However, along the way, he was talking with a fellow Reds fan who lives out of town now ... not about anything really, just surface talk, when he brought up the Mimes and how much he liked this song we did for the Reds album. Of course ... his friend begged him to hear it and he broke down and sent it to him.

Last week, his friends' Grandmother passed away, which they was very close to each other. They had a common bond with the fact they were both Reds fans. Feeling sad, he turned on his computer to listen to some music to drown his sorrow and our song came on. He began to smile as the song went through the history of the Reds and it brought back memories of his time with his Grandmother. As he would visit her on the weekends, they would sit on the porch together and listen to Marty & Joe on the radio and talk baseball. In just a few short days, our song has brought someone comfort and joy during a time that usually is very somber. His friend can't wait for the album to come out to hear what else it will bring him.

As I talked with my friend about writing this story on our blog site and that I wanted to get the facts right, it reminded me about my own Grandmother and how much she was a Reds fan as well. And how we would sit in the breezeway of her home and do exactly the same thing. We would be breaking up green beans that were fresh out of the garden or shucking corn ... we would never just sit there and listen to the game. But I remember she never made it feel like we were working. I can still smell that breezeway ... I can still see her clearly, with her apron and her hosery that only went up to her knees and her hair in a bun. And if the Reds would lose, she would always say "Oh ... those poor Reds." ... meaning she was just sad they had lost. Any time any one of the players would do poorly, it was the same - "Oh ... poor Tony or Pete or Johnny" ... who ever it was. And as we would leave for the night, she would either be standing at the breezeway railing or barely looking out the kitchen window (she was only 4' 10") ... and she would wave goodbye. Man I miss her. I miss those times. I LOVED sitting with her and talking about her lifetime. There is nothing like the love of a Grandmother. My Son has a relationship with his Grandmother like I had with mine ... only better. Though he does have memories of his Great-Grandmother, my Mother has been a MAJOR influence in his life. He wouldn't be the fine young man that he is today, if it hadn't been for her being there for him as much as she was. Though his time with his Grandfather was short, he still has great memories of him as well ... and thanks to video tape, he is able to preserve them.

My friends' story touched me deeply today. The long hours that we all put into this music ... seems to be worth it when you hear stories like this. The power of music never fails to amaze me.

I hope this brought a smile ... a memory ... maybe even a tear or 2.

peace
Randy (Your Favorite Mime)

Gorgeous morning in Cincinnati. A bit chilly, but you can sense that Spring is banging down the door of the Ohio Valley winter. We've had very very little snow. Too bad. I love snow... everyone else in town hates it. It covers our yards and houses and streets and cars and makes us all the same little Eskimos huddled in our igloos. Everything is still and everyone is the same - no farking status symbol is left uncovered. The lack of reverberating sound during a good snowfall is... well, it gives you same feeling of being in the deep woods and not hearing car engines. Startling at first, then very very real.

Anyway, it's sunny. I spent a few days on the west coast in LA and then went to Florida and dipped my feet in the February gulf waters. Pretty cool feeling. I don't travel much and it was nice to hit both coasts... I need to get off this continent someday. When it's right.

We're back to work on our new collection of songs after a period of working on a couple of songs for the Cincinnati Reds. We need to finish a few of them to submit for the MidPoint Music Festival, which we're pumped about. Always a great time. We're scheduled to perform at Great American Ball Park in May, other than that it's studio studio studio. Thanks to everyone who made our last few shows a big success... Southgate House was a BLAST - nice new sound system and the best monitor mix in town.

I had a dream last night that I was working on a song and the guitar sounded awful and it was way too fast and we were out of time - we had to release the record. It sucked. Part of the challenge of recording is accepting nothing less than your absolute best. And sometimes it isn't possible. Records aren't released, they escape, eh?

Read this morning that the passage of time is a mistake by our nervous system. Time doesn't pass, it "is" and we pass through it. Now my brain hurts.

Just checked out our stats on Rhapsody, the online music store. "Wedding Day" was downloaded 26 times recently. I wonder if folks are looking for good songs for their wedding and stumbling upon that one. Heh heh... sorry about that. I love iTunes - a lot... but the most fascinating thing is seeing what else people are buying who buy our songs. Carbon Leaf? Zapp & Roger? Idlewild? Who are these bands? Well, I'm sure they're asking the same question about us!

Love ya mean it. We'll keep you posted on all the doings in Mimeville.

Dave