Green Day in the studio 2016

[matteo263]

Demos could be recorded in a few hours with one microphone. The photos posted definitely show more intricacies and intensity in the process. They've been tracking something for sure! : )

[Chin for a Day]

5 minutes ago, Adriano Nunes said:

You said what I've said in a different way and added a sarcastic comment. But yeah, I do believe they are closer to "recording" than "not recording", just showing another perspective of what happened before.

I'm thinking the same, he said Billie had those 5 demos, so it's safe to think they are getting together now. How long it'd take, impossible to know =P

Touche.  However your note did not come across that way.  It came across that you were trying to say they were still doing demos.

 

2 minutes ago, localinsomniac said:

Not for nothing, but the picture he posted on his birthday was an electric. That was one of his Juniors. 

YEs, that is what I was trying to point out. 

[Brooklyn Baby]

Tensions are still running high in here, I see

[localinsomniac]

Are they? Feels like a healthy debate, ain't nothing wrong with that!

[Siddharth_471]

6 minutes ago, Brooklyn Baby said:

Tensions are still running high in here, I see

What you did with Lady Nightlife??

[Brooklyn Baby]

3 minutes ago, Siddharth_471 said:

What you did with Lady Nightlife??

I'LL NEVER TELL!!!!

[sara_gd]

1 hour ago, Adriano Nunes said:

Very interesting article about the recording process of 21st CB. http://www.emusician.com/artists/1333/green-day-a-simple-plan/41417

 

After reading, it occurred to me that Green Day may not be recording final tracks right now. But just demoing/composing songs.

Here's why:

1) "Green Day demoed every track, in sequence, until they could play the songs in their sleep. Early on, rumor had it that Vig wouldn’t sign on to the project until Green Day produced a handful of demos for his approval."

2) “I like using the studio as a compositional tool when we are doing demos,” adds Armstrong. “Recording to Pro Tools is like composing, as well, because you can shift things around and come up with a good arrangement. Then, when you go to track the song for real, you can just crank it out so it has a completely live feel to it.”

ps.: Billie didn't posted any pics with a guitar, just a michrophone and an acoustic one (right, he posted one with a bunch of pedals) Also, Tre's drum kit wasn't with a recording mic as far as I remember.

 

Also, the OTIS vs. Jingletown thing, they may as well record the demos at OTIS (because, well, other bands play/rehearse/record at Jingletown and would not be entirely privacy for Green Day).

3) "Green Day recorded demos from early March 2008 at Costa Mesa Studios, JEL in Newport Beach, and Studio 880 in Oakland. Later, the demos would function as the band’s reference tracks, and some elements would even end up in the final mix."

And if the last 3 topics were true, when they reach Jingletown, we may heard something official from the band members:

4) "“We had the entire album mapped out with demos,” Armstrong recalls. “Then, it was just a matter of going into Ocean Way and making the songs sound gigantic.”

 

Again, nothing guarantees they'd use the same process, we are just thinking out loud here. 

 

Interesting view, I don't think you're right but it's still interesting to hear another version and great investigation! But some things: Tre's drums did have microphones in that photo, and they use acoustic guitar to record (not only for acoustic songs, but as a back sound for electric songs). Also, as you say, nothing guarantees they'd use the same process. They generally change their way of recording from album to album, for example see how for Nimrod BJ wrote most lyrics in studio and he said he'd never do that again, or how for the Trilogy they wrote songs by basically playing them together in the studio's rehearsal room instead of recording tracks and arranging them with computer assistance like Billie said he did for 21stCB. 

 

[GenXIdiot]

53 minutes ago, sara_gd said:

Interesting view, I don't think you're right but it's still interesting to hear another version and great investigation! But some things: Tre's drums did have microphones in that photo, and they use acoustic guitar to record (not only for acoustic songs, but as a back sound for electric songs). Also, as you say, nothing guarantees they'd use the same process. They generally change their way of recording from album to album, for example see how for Nimrod BJ wrote most lyrics in studio and he said he'd never do that again, or how for the Trilogy they wrote songs by basically playing them together in the studio's rehearsal room instead of recording tracks and arranging them with computer assistance like Billie said he did for 21stCB. 

 

I agree, their methods seem to change from one album to the next.  I personally think  they are definitely tracking instruments, at the very least, if not already onto vocals.   Think of the post with the Trident  board and the cassette recorder.  All that seem like overkill for demos.  Also the board is marked with each drum, each cymbal,  vocal 1 and 2, and 2 mike  lines for "bass".  I found out that bass guitar is tracked using 2 mikes; one facing the amp and one angled to the amp to pick up the punch and the tone of bass. I think for demos they'd just keep it simple with the miking.

[Chin for a Day]

9 minutes ago, GenXIdiot said:

I agree, their methods seem to change from one album to the next.  I personally think  they are definitely tracking instruments, at the very least, if not already onto vocals.   Think of the post with the Trident  board and the cassette recorder.  All that seem like overkill for demos.  Also the board is marked with each drum, each cymbal,  vocal 1 and 2, and 2 mike  lines for "bass".  I found out that bass guitar is tracked using 2 mikes; one facing the amp and one angled to the amp to pick up the punch and the tone of bass. I think for demos they'd just keep it simple with the miking.

I don't know much about the recording process, and I'm really only going by how I think it would work.  But I don't think I agree with this.  Just because they posted mixing boards, etc does not mean they are past the demo phase.  I would imagine that they may do several demos.  They might try the song doing several sounds and several methods before they decide what it the best.  For that they might need different types of equipment, possibly even mixing boards, etc.  

I think you and I recording a demo would keep it very simple, but I would imagine a band like GD might put a bit more into their demos.  Even when they released Demolicious, I don't know if that was the only demo of the song or if they did several.  They even included two of Stay the Night on Demolicious.     

Now, I will admit that I think they are past the demo phase but I don't this what you have said clearly says they are not.   

[Sanity Loan]

1 hour ago, sara_gd said:

they use acoustic guitar to record (not only for acoustic songs, but as a back sound for electric songs)

 

I love love LOVE when they use acoustic backings on songs that are electric-driven. See: Most/all of AI and 21CB. It sounds soooo good.

[Chin for a Day]

1 minute ago, Matt. said:

I love love LOVE when they use acoustic backings on songs that are electric-driven. See: Most/all of AI and 21CB. It sounds soooo good.

I love when they combine acoustic and electric, like Minority.  It starts out sounding sweet and and quiet and then just bursts into the electric part.

[¡Nunes!]

18 minutes ago, Matt. said:

I love love LOVE when they use acoustic backings on songs that are electric-driven. See: Most/all of AI and 21CB. It sounds soooo good.

I remember hearing a Homecoming version without acoustic backings, sounds nothing like the original. 

[GenXIdiot]

24 minutes ago, JJ1964 said:

I love when they combine acoustic and electric, like Minority.  It starts out sounding sweet and and quiet and then just bursts into the electric part.

I agree I love acoustic/electric combined, it's a nice texture.  And piano! I love all the piano on 21CB and the Trilogy.

[Red Lights Flash]

33 minutes ago, Matt. said:

I love love LOVE when they use acoustic backings on songs that are electric-driven. See: Most/all of AI and 21CB. It sounds soooo good.

Absolutely! This is what really drives the sound of those albums: big guitars, with acoustic backings to accentuate rhythm.

[Chin for a Day]

7 minutes ago, GenXIdiot said:

I agree I love acoustic/electric combined, it's a nice texture.  And piano! I love all the piano on 21CB and the Trilogy.

Absolutely agreed.  Billie needs to play piano on the alleged upcoming tour.

[GenXIdiot]

3 minutes ago, JJ1964 said:

Absolutely agreed.  Billie needs to play piano on the alleged upcoming tour.

Please don't say "alleged" it makes me sad.

[XxXxXxXxX]

"making our debut record here" "#studiootis"

 

... If you look at the first 5 pictures right under this one it seems to be the same studio Green Day has been taking photos in.

 

Also not sure if this is help to anyone who knows anything about the recording process, but this seems to be the software they are using on the computer within the studio...

 

 

[WhiteTim]

Pro Tools is pretty standard program you'd be hard pressed to find a studio that doesn't use Pro Tools

[Scott F]

I personally think and maybe this is a bit of wishful thinking on my part that the band is coming towards the end of the process for a new album.  I know very little about the recording process so couldn't really comment on the types of equipment being used; but I definitely agree they are running some type of social media campaign for this album.

I would find it unlikely that the band would be posting so openly about being in the studio unless there was something in the pipeline occurring; yall will remember John's comments on the radio when HLAHG came out when he was asked about a new album.  So going by what has been going on in Green Day land the Hand Like Heart Grenade Release and Xmas Time of year were not coincidences but in actual fact part of a pre-planned build up to new material coming out. 

Whether or not that new material comes out in May/June or Sept/Oct I'm not too sure, some on the posts on here would suggest the May/June timeline and from what I understand that could well occur I think there are possible reasons to there being no official announcements as of yet:

1) The moment the band 'announce' a new album they are going to need to be doing press, I could imagine with the 'disaster' that occurred with the Trilogy the band and especially Billie Joe want to avoid burnout before even starting what could be quite big tour commitments (I cannot imagine all the cancelled shows helped the bands attractiveness to promoters)

2) Seeing as the band would most likely be in the final stages they want to be sure its 'maximum green day' and its 'their best work' before formally committing to an official release time frame

3) Avoid all the hype and buildup and simply just release a single along with buy the album in 4 weeks which could be a strategy

4) Green Day/Their Label are still in the final stages of laying out a complete marketing strategy along with how they manage their workload and commitments for what could be the next 18 months to 2 years.  (If the album is big you can imagine that an American Idiot size tour could be on the cards)

As I say I don't know just my viewpoint on things; but I do find it highly unlikely that the band would be dropping so many hints for something that 6+ months away

[The Disappearing Boy]

2 hours ago, Adriano Nunes said:

I remember hearing a Homecoming version without acoustic backings, sounds nothing like the original. 

I've never heard this. Do you have a link to this?

[¡Nunes!]

3 hours ago, The Disappearing Boy said:

I've never heard this. Do you have a link to this?

Could'nt find it, but was an  "isolated track" a fan made like this one below, not official.

But the live version sounds a bit different even with Billie playing open chords and using less distortion. 

 

 

[Chin for a Day]

10 hours ago, Adriano Nunes said:

Could'nt find it, but was an  "isolated track" a fan made like this one below, not official.

But the live version sounds a bit different even with Billie playing open chords and using less distortion. 

 

 

Thanks for posting this, it is one of my favorite performances of all time.  

However, it is hard to tell because the camera angle isn't in the right spot at all times, but I don't see him playing many open chords, it is mostly power chords with some barre chords as well.  But this showcases one of the things I love about GD songs, the way they add different things into the songs to make them interesting.  They are not hard by any means, but they are definitely not boring.  They will throw in slides, hammer on's, pull offs and will throw in a random open chord amongst power chords.   I always get upset when people say that GD songs are just 3 chord power chord songs because they are not.  Well, there are alot of 3 chord power chord songs, but there are alot that aren't.  GD songs are never hard, but they can be tricky because of all the little added stuff in them.  For alot of the songs, it may take awhile to get them, but you can and there is such a sense of accomplishment when you do.  As opposed to playing something like The Ramones that is so simple you can get in 5 minutes.   

[Siddharth_471]

One thing I'm always a fan of is that they hardly ever try to bound themselves under limitations whether it be their punk rock tag or 3 chord songs (which they are definitely above of). Their versatility is one of the reasons that make them unique, there may be lot of great punk bands with a hardcore fan following but I proudly say that merely some of them can accomplish like Green Day have done.

[Hermione]

Amen to that! I'm so intrigued to know what the stuff they're working on sounds like, and it's really cool that with them you never know.

[Brooklyn Baby]

I'm excited for a potentially new sound and hoping for a really tight album. Sound doesn't much matter to me as long as it doesn't sound like You-Know-What.