DANNY BARNES & MAX BRODY are the TEST APES
Below is the TEST APES "bonus" video compilation:
All songs written by
Barnes/Brody,
Festive Duds Music, BMI.
Except:
+(Brody) Your Favorite
Cheese Musick, BMI.
*(Barnes), Minner Bucket
Publishing BMI, admin by
Bug Music/BMG.
**(Pinkus--Warner Sisters
Publishing, ASCAP).
Recorded in Shoreline,
Seattle and Port Townsend;
Washington State, U.S.A.
Nov 2013 thru May 2014.
Mastered by Garey Shelton
Barnes/Brody,
Festive Duds Music, BMI.
Except:
+(Brody) Your Favorite
Cheese Musick, BMI.
*(Barnes), Minner Bucket
Publishing BMI, admin by
Bug Music/BMG.
**(Pinkus--Warner Sisters
Publishing, ASCAP).
Recorded in Shoreline,
Seattle and Port Townsend;
Washington State, U.S.A.
Nov 2013 thru May 2014.
Mastered by Garey Shelton
We encourage you to share or purchase this music! For your convenience we have set up a BANDCAMP account for this purpose. You can go there by hitting the button below:
***************************************************************
and now...
Welcome to ye olde TEST APE NEWS CENTER...
...with the news from the making of our first album (2013-2014)
May 29, 2014:
So far, Test Apes has shared 6 tunes, 5 of which will be on the record coming out ...ASAP. But there are another 5 we haven't shared. And since its being released so soon, I figured we'd wait to share those until then...muahaha!...especially since everything shared so far is a ruff mix and unmastered! ...gulp!
Anyway, to make things worse, below, for your viewing pleasure, is footage of a jam that became a song that WILL be on the album, called "Humanzees". But you cant even hear my part, except for some slapping sounds, since I'm playing electronic drums, and the audio here is just from the camera in the room. Regardless, it's a pretty good teaser. Plus, Danny shares a little story about the beautiful guitar he uses in the recording. Thanks for tuning in!
So far, Test Apes has shared 6 tunes, 5 of which will be on the record coming out ...ASAP. But there are another 5 we haven't shared. And since its being released so soon, I figured we'd wait to share those until then...muahaha!...especially since everything shared so far is a ruff mix and unmastered! ...gulp!
Anyway, to make things worse, below, for your viewing pleasure, is footage of a jam that became a song that WILL be on the album, called "Humanzees". But you cant even hear my part, except for some slapping sounds, since I'm playing electronic drums, and the audio here is just from the camera in the room. Regardless, it's a pretty good teaser. Plus, Danny shares a little story about the beautiful guitar he uses in the recording. Thanks for tuning in!
THE FIRST ONE IS DONE. KILLER!
May 26, 2014:
Happy Memorial Day! It is my pleasure to announce:
As of right today, Test Apes' first album is done! All that's left is the mastering session June 25th with Garey Shelton and BMI paperwork. It will consist of 10 tunes and 9 videos-- can't wait to share it with everyone! Here's the cover:
Happy Memorial Day! It is my pleasure to announce:
As of right today, Test Apes' first album is done! All that's left is the mastering session June 25th with Garey Shelton and BMI paperwork. It will consist of 10 tunes and 9 videos-- can't wait to share it with everyone! Here's the cover:
April 5th, 2014:
The hiatus is over. For the last couple months Mr. Barnes has been on the road, playing his barnyard electronics across Texas, up through the Mid-West, then over to the East Coast. Meanwhile, he finished an AMBIENT album...
Wow, what a busy guy! Here's a track:
The hiatus is over. For the last couple months Mr. Barnes has been on the road, playing his barnyard electronics across Texas, up through the Mid-West, then over to the East Coast. Meanwhile, he finished an AMBIENT album...
Wow, what a busy guy! Here's a track:
Anyway, he's back home again... and heading over to my place on Monday to get back to work on TEST APES!! Wish us luck, and stay tuned!
Also in TEST APE news: I was hired by a local advertising agency to make a fake concert poster to be used as a prop in the background of an IVAR'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS ad.
It's coming out at some point this month on Seattle TV Stations.
Naturally, I made it a TEST APES poster...and they WENT FOR IT! haw!
So as soon as I can get my hands on a copy, we will see if we can see this poster here...
...and hopefully sneak the TEST APES logo onto the subconscious of the world at large...muahahahaha!
It's coming out at some point this month on Seattle TV Stations.
Naturally, I made it a TEST APES poster...and they WENT FOR IT! haw!
So as soon as I can get my hands on a copy, we will see if we can see this poster here...
...and hopefully sneak the TEST APES logo onto the subconscious of the world at large...muahahahaha!
March 4th, 2014:
TEST APES BLOG vol.2
In The Studio, January 22, 2014
Happy March, SXSWers.
Even if you’re not going, or in the slightest bit interested in SXSW...Happy March: the month that Austin gets completely taken over by the music festival year after year. As much as I miss it, I am happy to NOT be in Austin this month, I must admit.
But it was there that I went to one of their little 'class sessions with bigwigs' and heard what I thought was a good idea-- and it has recently paid off. I don’t remember the dude’s name, but he suggested that with these “new, cheap digital camera things”, we should be recording anything and everything and putting it on the web since fans absolutely love and crave that kind of footage: a special view into the actual lives, the way they rehearse or interact and do things, etc...SO VIDEOTAPE EVERYTHING.
Well, wow, yeah, GREAT IDEA!
...but who wants to edit all THAT??
So, no, I don’t record everything. But I DO record SOMETIMES. And on the 22nd it paid off, as you can see in the video. What I did was film the take of the song as it got laid to tape, which is really rare for little ol’ me. Victory!
The video, then, is of the initial jam over at my apartment which we layered other parts over, like bass, vocals, etc... Its not the greatest camera angle, but you can see both of us and it IS the take that made the cut. And no, we don’t high five after playing most songs, but for whatever reason, we did THAT time, lol. We were just figuring the tune out, and captured the moment that the thing kinda clicked together right for the first time, although my face squinches up a couple of times when I almost blow it.
By the way, that's not a guitar that he's playing, its some kind of huge bass (I think) mandolin! It has doubled up strings like a 12-string guitar. It sounds super nice in person, I tells ya.
Well, Danny’s been on the road for the last month or so playing down in Texas and up into the midwest. But come April, there are plans to finish up more numbers that we've started... So until then, here’s a little something. Then, just Below the video you can hear the finished track with vocals and the rest!
In The Studio, January 22, 2014
Happy March, SXSWers.
Even if you’re not going, or in the slightest bit interested in SXSW...Happy March: the month that Austin gets completely taken over by the music festival year after year. As much as I miss it, I am happy to NOT be in Austin this month, I must admit.
But it was there that I went to one of their little 'class sessions with bigwigs' and heard what I thought was a good idea-- and it has recently paid off. I don’t remember the dude’s name, but he suggested that with these “new, cheap digital camera things”, we should be recording anything and everything and putting it on the web since fans absolutely love and crave that kind of footage: a special view into the actual lives, the way they rehearse or interact and do things, etc...SO VIDEOTAPE EVERYTHING.
Well, wow, yeah, GREAT IDEA!
...but who wants to edit all THAT??
So, no, I don’t record everything. But I DO record SOMETIMES. And on the 22nd it paid off, as you can see in the video. What I did was film the take of the song as it got laid to tape, which is really rare for little ol’ me. Victory!
The video, then, is of the initial jam over at my apartment which we layered other parts over, like bass, vocals, etc... Its not the greatest camera angle, but you can see both of us and it IS the take that made the cut. And no, we don’t high five after playing most songs, but for whatever reason, we did THAT time, lol. We were just figuring the tune out, and captured the moment that the thing kinda clicked together right for the first time, although my face squinches up a couple of times when I almost blow it.
By the way, that's not a guitar that he's playing, its some kind of huge bass (I think) mandolin! It has doubled up strings like a 12-string guitar. It sounds super nice in person, I tells ya.
Well, Danny’s been on the road for the last month or so playing down in Texas and up into the midwest. But come April, there are plans to finish up more numbers that we've started... So until then, here’s a little something. Then, just Below the video you can hear the finished track with vocals and the rest!
New Song: "Gentle Plague"
Here is one of the tunes we recorded on the 22nd...enjoy!
New Song: "Prepper"
January 22, 2014:
Danny and I got together today and jammed/recorded for about 3 hours. It was a very productive session and ought to yield several more tunes!
In the meantime, enjoy another new song and video :)
Danny and I got together today and jammed/recorded for about 3 hours. It was a very productive session and ought to yield several more tunes!
In the meantime, enjoy another new song and video :)
New Song: "Whisker Tug"
January 16th, 2014:
Hope you like our new number...
Hope you like our new number...
January 9th, 2014:
Last night I mashed us a video for Skeeter...hope you like it.
Last night I mashed us a video for Skeeter...hope you like it.
January 8th, 2014:
So... we're like on a roll. Today we finished up another one, called BROOMCLOSET.
So... we're like on a roll. Today we finished up another one, called BROOMCLOSET.
January 7th, 2014:
Last week we got together and did a mix down of 2 tunes rather than jammed, so we could start letting everybody hear this stuff. Enjoy!
"Undertaker" goes out to PINKUS from the TEST APES. He wrote it, but we play it our way. Thanks, buddy!
At the moment we've started recording 11 songs, and have written some that aren't recorded yet.
Last week we got together and did a mix down of 2 tunes rather than jammed, so we could start letting everybody hear this stuff. Enjoy!
"Undertaker" goes out to PINKUS from the TEST APES. He wrote it, but we play it our way. Thanks, buddy!
At the moment we've started recording 11 songs, and have written some that aren't recorded yet.
Here's a video of Honky's version!
December 30, 2013:
TEST APES BLOG #1
Below for your viewing pleasure, is our first blog...about our recording session this month...sort of a teaser for what is about to come. 2 of the songs that we had written were recorded, as well as 2 long jams around 15 minutes each to mine for riffs to write more songs from. (So far, we've gotten 2 or 3 more tunes using that method.)
We are really looking forward to getting active, sharing songs and playing shows...
TEST APES BLOG #1
Below for your viewing pleasure, is our first blog...about our recording session this month...sort of a teaser for what is about to come. 2 of the songs that we had written were recorded, as well as 2 long jams around 15 minutes each to mine for riffs to write more songs from. (So far, we've gotten 2 or 3 more tunes using that method.)
We are really looking forward to getting active, sharing songs and playing shows...
December 28, 2013
Yup. We exist now... and we call ourselves the TEST APES.
Much more to come soon-- We've been writing songs and recording them over the last few months, and some of it is ready to be mixed down so we can share it with everybody.
For those just tuning in, below is the story of how the TEST APES came to be...
December 21, 2013
Here’s the low down:
In mid-August this year, the Melvins played in Seattle with my old band mate Jeff Pinkus’ band Honky opening up for two sold out nights at a club called “Neumos”. Much to their credit, The Melvins always seem to do something to spice up their shows and get folks to come out and see them again and again. The unique thing about the tour this time was not only that it was their 30th anniversary, which is a major achievement the more I think about it, but also that Pinkus played bass for the Melvins and Dale Crover played drums for Honky. It was interesting to see both bands with this mixed membership arrangement. And Melvins had a second drummer. Honky also had Danny Barnes (remember the ol’ Bad Livers?) sit in for a couple songs on electric banjo as well as a bit of singing.
That first night was the first time I had gone out to see a show in over a year--it had not been that long between shows since I lived with my parents, like in the late 70’s when I was just plain too young! And I can enjoy being a hermit sometimes. But I was even letting myself down. Its tough being a single parent and all, and I never had enough “time”, “ energy” or “organization” to go out to see local talent to start to network. Or at least those are the 3 excuses I used. I had lived in Seattle from ’91-’93, so I am familiar with the area. But it had been 18 years since. So I know very few people, certainly few local musicians that are active. I also have no idea what clubs are good, bad, or even exist. I really am still starting over in many ways.
So along comes Pinkus, and he introduces me to Danny, suggesting that we oughta get together sometime and jam. I then proceed to drink Jim Beam from the Honky/Melvin dressing room and then go watch them play. All I can say is that both acts never sounded better, and it was a weird combination of two very differently styled rock bands that strangely worked well together. And throwing Danny into the Honky mix was really cool. All those boys have incredible chops; its great to see real musicians play and make it look easy. They could have made ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ into something awesome, if they wanted to...
So, like I said, they played two nights. Seeing a possible opportunity, the second night I made Danny a 4-song demo cd and brought it to the show. I knew as well as Pinkus that Danny lives in Port Townsend which is kinda far, but not too far. Sorta like driving from Austin to Waco...you could make it in around 2 hours.
Lo and Behold, Danny started texting me. Soon, he was over for some visits to my apartment homestudio and we were working on writing and recording stuff, with plans on doing more recording and possibly even some show playing...we are currently trying to figure out a band name...!
Working with Danny is great since we are both quick learners, multi-instrumentalists, song writers and have an open mind-- with a knowledge of music history as well as a desire to experiment. We also have friends and a past in Austin, Tx in common. That feels nice to have that connection to back “home”, and I know that there will be folks who will be interested in what we come up with both up here in Washington as well as down there. Hopefully other places too! Mr. Barnes is pretty well known in some circles... I certainly feel super honored to have even had him over to my place for coffee! Everyone should go check out his website, at: http://dannybarnes.com/
We are going to try to be able to be a two piece, but also be expandable... Stylistically, we seem to be a cross over of 1960‘sness, bluegrass, and rock, with electronica. We will be using both acoustic and electric instruments and both analog and digital devices. Multimedia aspects are already being explored. The use of songs as a landing pad for improvised transitions has been discussed, much like Pink Anvil did. While samplers will not be used, a loop station, analog synthesizer/sequencer, kaos pad and digital delay as well as a DVD player may.
Its very exciting news, and who knows what will become of it...
Yup. We exist now... and we call ourselves the TEST APES.
Much more to come soon-- We've been writing songs and recording them over the last few months, and some of it is ready to be mixed down so we can share it with everybody.
For those just tuning in, below is the story of how the TEST APES came to be...
December 21, 2013
Here’s the low down:
In mid-August this year, the Melvins played in Seattle with my old band mate Jeff Pinkus’ band Honky opening up for two sold out nights at a club called “Neumos”. Much to their credit, The Melvins always seem to do something to spice up their shows and get folks to come out and see them again and again. The unique thing about the tour this time was not only that it was their 30th anniversary, which is a major achievement the more I think about it, but also that Pinkus played bass for the Melvins and Dale Crover played drums for Honky. It was interesting to see both bands with this mixed membership arrangement. And Melvins had a second drummer. Honky also had Danny Barnes (remember the ol’ Bad Livers?) sit in for a couple songs on electric banjo as well as a bit of singing.
That first night was the first time I had gone out to see a show in over a year--it had not been that long between shows since I lived with my parents, like in the late 70’s when I was just plain too young! And I can enjoy being a hermit sometimes. But I was even letting myself down. Its tough being a single parent and all, and I never had enough “time”, “ energy” or “organization” to go out to see local talent to start to network. Or at least those are the 3 excuses I used. I had lived in Seattle from ’91-’93, so I am familiar with the area. But it had been 18 years since. So I know very few people, certainly few local musicians that are active. I also have no idea what clubs are good, bad, or even exist. I really am still starting over in many ways.
So along comes Pinkus, and he introduces me to Danny, suggesting that we oughta get together sometime and jam. I then proceed to drink Jim Beam from the Honky/Melvin dressing room and then go watch them play. All I can say is that both acts never sounded better, and it was a weird combination of two very differently styled rock bands that strangely worked well together. And throwing Danny into the Honky mix was really cool. All those boys have incredible chops; its great to see real musicians play and make it look easy. They could have made ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ into something awesome, if they wanted to...
So, like I said, they played two nights. Seeing a possible opportunity, the second night I made Danny a 4-song demo cd and brought it to the show. I knew as well as Pinkus that Danny lives in Port Townsend which is kinda far, but not too far. Sorta like driving from Austin to Waco...you could make it in around 2 hours.
Lo and Behold, Danny started texting me. Soon, he was over for some visits to my apartment homestudio and we were working on writing and recording stuff, with plans on doing more recording and possibly even some show playing...we are currently trying to figure out a band name...!
Working with Danny is great since we are both quick learners, multi-instrumentalists, song writers and have an open mind-- with a knowledge of music history as well as a desire to experiment. We also have friends and a past in Austin, Tx in common. That feels nice to have that connection to back “home”, and I know that there will be folks who will be interested in what we come up with both up here in Washington as well as down there. Hopefully other places too! Mr. Barnes is pretty well known in some circles... I certainly feel super honored to have even had him over to my place for coffee! Everyone should go check out his website, at: http://dannybarnes.com/
We are going to try to be able to be a two piece, but also be expandable... Stylistically, we seem to be a cross over of 1960‘sness, bluegrass, and rock, with electronica. We will be using both acoustic and electric instruments and both analog and digital devices. Multimedia aspects are already being explored. The use of songs as a landing pad for improvised transitions has been discussed, much like Pink Anvil did. While samplers will not be used, a loop station, analog synthesizer/sequencer, kaos pad and digital delay as well as a DVD player may.
Its very exciting news, and who knows what will become of it...
