This week has been absolutely insane. I've lived and breathed Jeff Williams' music for RWBY for about a week, which culminated in a grand performance at Austin City Limits' Moody Theatre during RTX. It was one of the biggest and most fun shows I've played to date.
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/93ecf69d477c4fca552186e2225702d385746b38/original/13537526-10208524327498616-8360574245678920040-n.jpg?1467854202)
More importantly though, I made some new friends with some incredible musicians, not to mention Jeff and Casey's AMAZING fans!! Such well-mannered, interesting, and respectful people. It was truly a pleasure to meet and talk with them after the show and at the String Quartet's booth at the con the next day.
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/e4aabe7c89cde1cf4e220e53a89448978329aff8/original/img-0391.jpg?1467851386)
Some behind-the-scenes thoughts...
I received these songs a few evenings before I left for Italy. Three of them I learned before I left, but I couldn't spend very much time on them while in Milan because every moment was spent there on completing Light & Shade's record.
The vocalists had two rehearsals together during the week before RTX. I went back to Boston and practiced all the songs like a mad motherf*cker for two days after that, with the sudden weight of realising I had the entire set of backing vocals and a few other leads to memorise.
On 1 July, we flew to Austin and went straight from the plane to the rehearsal space, where I met the rest of the band and strings, and practiced for a few hours before heading out to the RWBY music panel (how did I end up on that?? I've no idea but it was a great time, thanks Jeff!!).
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/b6b6006ee2d57be6bb0f719b6ed1ab6774fe6d05/original/img-0349.jpg?1467851780)
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/6ddf5a6a86b5a9ab0f29d356ecdb058a0b09e9fb/original/img-0467.jpg?1467851386)
Then it was back to the rehearsal space until 22:30, then groceries, drinks, and bed.
2 July, show day:
13h(ish) Show up to the venue and realising it looks like this
14h-16h Sound check:
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/213717f8577e1c1040977c3a09f7236094f96880/original/img-0366.jpg?1467851432)
16h-18h Finally actually rehearse with the string section hahaha
18h15 Let out. Realised: HELLO, the line for the show snakes around the building. Run out to get a kale and quinoa salad and green juice to combat the previous days' pizza, Guinness, and coffee.
19h Back to the dressing rooms to get ready.
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/af1ff7f7c2d8ffe3c14d8ec0964d7d753ad38b15/original/img-0392.jpg?1467851406)
Talk about a last minute production, but damn. What a show.
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/9db057cd7f9b109cc248ac961d62515ea75a2c14/original/img-0393.png?1467851392)
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/4834e3e37b80d9de958f4467db93f66d6f77747d/original/img-0396.jpg?1467851390)
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/dbd5d908f193ac95d18c6ef5dbf507407522fbfd/original/img-0469.jpg?1467851381)
Kingwood for two days was a beautiful recovery of sleep and clean eating:
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/a49dbdf6208b0615e58f977a89b18600d3ba7d78/original/img-0437.jpg?1467851786)
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/fb890983914782d2669cb3b13ba8e6776231fcb8/original/img-0407.jpg?1467851783)
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/73e872b2a21ebb352b1200622db2089536eba3f0/original/img-0438.jpg?1467851791)
And now I am back on the East Coast for Beachstock with Seven Spires on Saturday!
![](//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/51aef2521b8f7ca07bc8fc73b89fc3ca780082c5/original/13590505-1759230514361840-3719141261974602106-n.jpg?1467853535)
Phew.
See you soon!
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/93ecf69d477c4fca552186e2225702d385746b38/original/13537526-10208524327498616-8360574245678920040-n.jpg?1467854202)
More importantly though, I made some new friends with some incredible musicians, not to mention Jeff and Casey's AMAZING fans!! Such well-mannered, interesting, and respectful people. It was truly a pleasure to meet and talk with them after the show and at the String Quartet's booth at the con the next day.
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/e4aabe7c89cde1cf4e220e53a89448978329aff8/original/img-0391.jpg?1467851386)
Case in point: He gave me milk chocolate digestives!! My favourite, second only to the kind with caramel in the
middle <3
middle <3
Some behind-the-scenes thoughts...
I received these songs a few evenings before I left for Italy. Three of them I learned before I left, but I couldn't spend very much time on them while in Milan because every moment was spent there on completing Light & Shade's record.
The vocalists had two rehearsals together during the week before RTX. I went back to Boston and practiced all the songs like a mad motherf*cker for two days after that, with the sudden weight of realising I had the entire set of backing vocals and a few other leads to memorise.
On 1 July, we flew to Austin and went straight from the plane to the rehearsal space, where I met the rest of the band and strings, and practiced for a few hours before heading out to the RWBY music panel (how did I end up on that?? I've no idea but it was a great time, thanks Jeff!!).
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/b6b6006ee2d57be6bb0f719b6ed1ab6774fe6d05/original/img-0349.jpg?1467851780)
Unexpected RWBY Music panel is unexpected
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/6ddf5a6a86b5a9ab0f29d356ecdb058a0b09e9fb/original/img-0467.jpg?1467851386)
Rehearsal space: home, sweet home.
Then it was back to the rehearsal space until 22:30, then groceries, drinks, and bed.
2 July, show day:
13h(ish) Show up to the venue and realising it looks like this
14h-16h Sound check:
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/213717f8577e1c1040977c3a09f7236094f96880/original/img-0366.jpg?1467851432)
16h-18h Finally actually rehearse with the string section hahaha
18h15 Let out. Realised: HELLO, the line for the show snakes around the building. Run out to get a kale and quinoa salad and green juice to combat the previous days' pizza, Guinness, and coffee.
19h Back to the dressing rooms to get ready.
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/af1ff7f7c2d8ffe3c14d8ec0964d7d753ad38b15/original/img-0392.jpg?1467851406)
Thanks for the photo, Julian!
Talk about a last minute production, but damn. What a show.
A clip of me singing "I Burn" from RWBY. This really gives you an idea of the incredible energy in the room.
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/9db057cd7f9b109cc248ac961d62515ea75a2c14/original/img-0393.png?1467851392)
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/4834e3e37b80d9de958f4467db93f66d6f77747d/original/img-0396.jpg?1467851390)
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/dbd5d908f193ac95d18c6ef5dbf507407522fbfd/original/img-0469.jpg?1467851381)
Lamar Hall, me, Blaize Collard, Eren Basbug, Jeff Williams, Casey Williams, Louis Ochoa, Alex Abraham
Kingwood for two days was a beautiful recovery of sleep and clean eating:
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/faa91eb95809aed226995eb7cae8f9cad1f16e1b/original/img-0468.jpg?1467851384)
Zzzz. The smell of productivity: Vanilla, caramel, apple cinnamon, and Nespresso. And yes, I love the Spires
guys very much. <3
guys very much. <3
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/a49dbdf6208b0615e58f977a89b18600d3ba7d78/original/img-0437.jpg?1467851786)
Dinner with my family: Zucchini fettuccine and salmon, and vino from Marco Pastorino's father's vineyard.
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/fb890983914782d2669cb3b13ba8e6776231fcb8/original/img-0407.jpg?1467851783)
Breakfast in bed.
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/73e872b2a21ebb352b1200622db2089536eba3f0/original/img-0438.jpg?1467851791)
Tan the booty.
And now I am back on the East Coast for Beachstock with Seven Spires on Saturday!
![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34848/51aef2521b8f7ca07bc8fc73b89fc3ca780082c5/original/13590505-1759230514361840-3719141261974602106-n.jpg?1467853535)
Phew.
See you soon!