Simple Sound Session I: Lowlight

Lowlight (left to right): Rey Rivera, Colin Ryan, Derril Sellers, Dana Sellers, Renee Maskin

Almost Live from Oceanport, NJ

About a year ago, Andy Bova brought up the idea to me of hosting some live sessions in his newly-completed Simple Sound Studio in Oceanport, NJ. Andy is a great friend and has recorded and produced some of my favorite music, most notably both of Dentist's LPs. I was pretty floored that he'd thought of me to help him carry out this project and said yes immediately. Then it was kind of a slow build as we held down our respective dad duties and other responsibilities over the next few months.

We finally held a planning meeting to decide which band we'd like to serve as our first victim, and I suggested Lowlight. Lowlight are friends of mine, had just put out the fantastic Where Do We Go from Here, put on a great live show, and seemed like they'd be able to deal with whatever speed bumps we'd hit on our first attempt.

Andy said, "OK. Not sure I know them. But I did do sound for this great band a while back. I really liked them. Lead singer is a woman who wears a hat..."

Like it was written in the stars.

So on a crisp December morning, I picked up some bagels and a bottle of Buffalo Trace on my way over to Simple Sound Studio. Andy was all set up and ready to go. The band -- Renne Maskin, Colin Ryan, Derril Sellers, Dana Sellers, and Rey Rivera -- arrived; and, after some requisite bullshitting, we set to work.

I'm really proud of the result -- especially for a first try.

In the spirit of the season, Lowlight gave us their take on Tom Waits's "New Year's Eve." Andy had just had his piano tuned, and keyboardist Dana Sellers made the most of it. On the song, the band swap out the original's accordion and mandolin for piano and guitar, creating something that will be on my December playlists for years to come.

Renee Maskin

We also got a brand new Lowlight song in the form of "Sleep Wounds." And when I say brand new, I mean completed-the-night-before-and-this-was-the-first-time-the-band-were-hearing-Renee's-lyrics brand new. "Sleep Wounds" sums up many of Lowlight's themes and influences. There's that feeling of searching for something, the hint of melancholy, and a sense of wide-open space. It's Americana meets David Bowie.

Andy Bova

I also had a chance to speak with the band about their eventful 2016.

I'd just like to say thank you to Andy, Renee, Colin, Dana, Derril, and Rey for letting me be a part of this. I spent most of the day just listening to these great talents do their thing. I did take some pictures, and I provided the whiskey. The whiskey was a big part of it.

You can check out everything -- including, I guess, what would be the World Premiere of Lowlight's "Sleep Wounds" -- below.

Derril, Renee, Rey

Thanks again to everyone, and stay on the lookout for our next Simple Sound Session.