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I didn’t like Nirvana in the early 90s. There, I said it. At that time in my life I was on a pretty strict diet of Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvis, British Invasion, Mamas and Papas, Doors, Tommy James, Motown…that stuff. There were a few modern bands I listened to but they weren’t “alternative.” Then, around 1994, I got turned on to Pearl Jam and that was that. A dear friend got me into them and the Breeders, Counting Crows, 10,000 Maniacs, the Breeders and my eyes were open to what I think is an era that rivals the 60s in terms of incredible output inRead More →

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When I was a kid, I wrote…a lot. I was the type of kid who kept journals, who constantly wrote poems, stories, essays, articles and I had a dream diary. I always had notebooks with all sorts of thoughts and ideas. Sometimes they were just notes to myself, conversations with myself but other times it was like I was writing letters to people who would never read them. I just needed to express myself…the emotions, the thoughts, would just erupt. But it wasn’t enough. Words alone weren’t emptying the gaping festering wounds in my heart and mind that forced me to write in the firstRead More →

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It comes up all the time. Like two warring factions battling for the soul and spirit of retail and true musicianship. Where should you buy your gear? In the one corner we have the company that has become synonymous, in the minds of many, with the evil empire of big box, soulless retail: Guitar Center. In the other corner we have the independent shops who many champion as the only place where true musicians who care about their craft will shop. Both have their supporters and loyal followers and both have their critics. Full disclosure: I worked at Guitar Center, with a fair amount ofRead More →

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It’s been a few weeks now. Honestly, I’m still sad. I keep thinking about this man, in pain, suffering from a massive addiction, alone in an elevator clutching a pill jar and dropping dead. It’s tragic…regardless of who it is. No one should die like that…in such painful solitude….and not just the solitude of physically being alone in an elevator or room but the emotional and psychological isolation that chronic pain and addiction so often bring. While the news cycle has pretty much moved on, there is still a regular trickle of headlines…the inmate claiming Prince was his dad, the strange details of the doctorRead More →

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My life is pretty much defined by a lyric I wrote a few years back: “dualities struggled with, high wires tiptoed across.” I’ve always struggled to reconcile opposing instincts, conflicting desires, and diverging impulses. No matter the topic; sex, drugs, politics, faith, family, career, music I always find myself in the same place. Prince was different. Prince saw no such conflict. He lived at the crossroads between sin and faith, lust and love, sex and god, funk and soul, rock and roll….and the only struggle he seemed to endure was how far to go down each road at the same time while having the timeRead More →

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Many years ago when I wore a younger man’s clothes, my family moved to Miami. Without going into tremendous detail, it was what appeared to be a can’t-say-no-to career opportunity for my father during a time when there didn’t seem to be a lot of options. I vividly remember my father sitting me down and telling me the decision to move was essentially up to me. I was still in school at the time and in a very…complex…relationship with a girl and he was sensitive to taking me away from her and from my schoolmates so soon before graduation. This was a heavy piece toRead More →

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When I was a kid I had dreams of being in a band and going into the studio and recording “my Pet Sounds.” I’d be at the control room, we’d spend weeks and months writing, arranging, producing, mixing…the whole nine yards. Then I started to realize just how damn expensive it is…to say nothing of how difficult the process is! There’s a reason why Brian Wilson is considered a once-in-a-lifetime genius and the rest of us are, well, just the rest of us. My first brush with recording was a 4-track tascam and a Shure SM-57. My friend Dave and I bought it a musicRead More →

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What is Cathedral Records? Cathedral Records exists to help cultivate a creative and collaborative environment for aspiring songwriters, bands, and the people who love and support them…like photographers, graphic artists, guitar repair techs, retailers…and of course fans! We aim to offer everything from assistance with recording to promotions and consulting but also networking and educational opportunities. This blog will serve as both a platform to communicate what’s happening around the Cathedral but what’s going on in my head. Stay tuned….so much more to come. 🙂 -JasonRead More →