Maudeville: Behind the Music

Cleveland Rising Studio Recording - Video

On Saturday May 3 the band, now calling itself Maudeville, went into the recording studio to lay down the tracks for "Cleveland Rising." And, while the band is not, yet, famous, the drama of the day, including unpicked up phone calls, flipping schedules, stormy weather and tight quarters, could have resulted in infamous non-action. Luckily, everyone stepped above the tumultuous circumstances and Evan, Tony and Vanessa came together to create the product which gave the song its dignity.

As I have not played percussion since Clinton's first term, we hired a studio drummer - Jon. Vanessa was able to secure him for both her song and for "Cleveland Rising." Jon, who completed his Master's thesis in social work just a few days prior to the recording, was the drummer with the Rembrants, the band best known playing on "I'll be There for You," the theme song from Friends. Jon has recently pointed out that he was not the drummer on that particular track, but we think his talents speak for themselves. Jon was a great addition to "Cleveland Rising" and his precision provided just the right rhythmic anchoring the band needed.

A few hours into the recording, as all tracks turned into An Actual Recorded Song, the band mates' energy began to dissipate somewhat and after a long day and the giving of creative generosity, we had our first product for the movie.

Three days later, Vanessa called me over to her office, gave me a set of headphones and played the song on her computer. As I listened to the coming together of melody, drums, bass, guitar and vocals, my eyes filled with tears. Despite, or, perhaps because of, the strains of that Saturday, the energy within each creative soul re-navigated itself above whatever breakfast conflicts the morning provided into sheer musical brilliance. I could not be more proud of everyone.