July 30, 2016 - 12:05am ... so I'm in Buffalo. I didn't mention this trip to many people... just a few who needed to know... hopefully the other projects I'm in the middle of right now don't hate me for ducking out for a weekend. ... I also didn't mention it because of how my brain works. ... when you work in music long enough (or probably any entertainment industry) you get used to plans not working out... so I tend to not mention things that could or should be happening... I'd rather wait until it's happening... so I'm in Buffalo... producing a couple songs with Scarlet White. I've been awake since 5:30am... I did my best to be responsible and not binge watch Game Of Thrones last night... trying hard to catch up... I might as well of though... had trouble sleeping last night. I'll admit I was anxious to get going with Scarlet White tunes but also to cross "drive across border solo" off my list. The drive itself was pretty easy... I got butterflies when I saw the final signage... "last exit to USA crossing" or whatever it is... no turning back now! It was somewhat backed up at the border... definitely the busiest I've seen it in a while... sorta car chaos at the Fort Erie crossing into Buffalo. Despite having nothing to worry about (really), I don't know why the border freaks me out so much... I understand they're doing their job but I just feel like I'm always on the verge of answering a question (humorously) the wrong way. (... act cool... like you've done this 100 times before.) I somehow ended up in a fairly short, fast moving line. ... I joked to myself that I probably have "that guy" as my border officer... that's why the line is shorter than the rest. I started preparing myself mentally for having him (I just know it's "that guy"... spidey sense was tingling) ask me to pull aside to have the car searched... even though it's basically empty aside from a suitcase, backpack, and a cymbal bag. ... again, not that I have anything to really worry about. After he's done motioning the car ahead of me to pull off to the side for inspection, he motions me to pull forward. ... then he waves his hand aggressively to stop and then go back. *heartbeat increases* ... he's waving to the car behind me. I wanted to turn around and yell at them too... partly to show the officer I'm on his side, but also to tell them I don't need their shenanigans right now. I honestly still feel like a kid around "real adults" so in situations like this... in my mind, I'm two kids stacked wearing a trench coat, bucket hat, sunglasses, and fake moustache, trying to pull a fast one at parent / teacher interviews. ... again, not that I have anything to worry about... really... seriously. ... let's call him Officer Silver. Officer Silver asks me for my passport and to roll down the back windows. ... I realize at this point either my arm is short (which I know isn't true) or I'm awkwardly far from his booth. "Where are you going?" "Buffalo." "What for?" "For work." Officer Silver is digging through my passport now... I said the magic word. "On your P2 or O1 visa?" "O1 Visa." "You know you're supposed to surrender your P2 visa when you leave right? ... or else we don't know you've left the country." ... now this is that moment in the conversation where I see 179 responses that lead off a cliff... (... go with "ok, sorry") "Oh ok... sorry aboot that." (... good job... everything is cool... you're cool... done this 1,000 times.) I watched him tear the old P2 from February out of my passport before handing it back to me. "... we're good?" (... what are you doing???) ... Officer Silver gave me a weird look and an awkward nod before looking at the car behind me and motioning them forward. I half smiled... not in a mischievous way, but in an "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to smile again yet" way. I drove away from the booth at a snails pace... partly trying to figure out where to go, partly observing my surroundings. Officers, guns, dogs... people just doing their job but I was sorta overwhelmed... I'd evolved from the teetering tower of stacked kids in a trench coat, bucket hat, sunglasses, and fake moustache to the cat inspecting new surrounding... low to the ground... slow calculated moves... with no couch or bed to hide under. I followed my GPS to GCR Audio... it was barely 15 minutes on the other side of the border. The drive was beautiful, lots of tree lined streets and older buildings... very quiet... the area reminded me of a small town outside my home town. Found the studio... parked... success. ... another milestone reached... age 32. I should get to bed soon... but in short, GCR is a fantastic facility... beautifully built, lots of gear, smart work flow, and awesome staff. I'm pretty hands on when it comes to tracking but I felt it was a good balance of assistance and letting me do my thing. ... really happy with the drum sounds and Dango (drummer) was solid... makes my job easy when drummers can lay 80% of a song down in 2 takes, and take direction on the details bits... and knows how to tune a kit! Finished up around 7pm and walked over to my hotel... where I watched Conan (movie) and did some drum editing. ... Conan was not what I was expecting... but I feel like it's where Arnold really found is "HULALALLALALUHHLALAL" voice. ... bedtime. - Mike P.S. Internet is really slow at the hotel so I'll post pics tomorrow. P.P.S. I woke up at 7:15am... I had no idea where I was for a minute.
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Mike Langford - Official BlogBeing on both sides of the glass, I get the chance to wear many hats in the music industry. This is a place to share my thoughts, views, predictions, rants, stories and news! Categories
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