We also picked up a couple of beyerdynamic M160 ribbon mics and an Electroharmonix Microsynth pedal, which have been big hits so far.

Cool projects this year:

• Between tours with Superchunk, Destroyer, and the Dodos, Matthew Barnhart has worked on records for Nervous Curtains, Deep Snapper, Pinkish Black, Zapruder Sequence, Chris Brokaw, and some others I can’t remember right now.
• Matt Pence has been busy touring with Centro-matic (for their incredible new record, Candidate Waltz), but has managed to work on records for Rossif Sutherland, Sarah Jaffe, Waterloo, Flipside, and others.
• David Willingham has done lots of mastering this year, as well as continuing to work on an upcoming Carl Finch/Mike Dillon project.
• Justin Collins has been around a lot as well, working with RTB2, and helping out on the new Why? record.

The last few months had some exciting projects in, including new albums from True Widow and The Von Erichs. We’re looking forward to lots more in 2011.

Tons and tons of sessions have been going on in the past few months.

• Matt Pence mixed the new Midlake and John Grant albums. He also worked on records for Fishboy, Micah P. Hinson, The Heelers, and the Mag Seven.
• Dave Willingham has been swamped with new projects from Brave Combo, Mike Dillon and Carl Finch, Stumptone, the Angelus, and Les Americains.
• Matthew Barnhart been on the road with The New Pornographers, David Bazan, Midlake, Yann Tiersen, and Fuck Buttons, and starts touring with Superchunk this Fall. In the interim, he’s done great new records with Deep Snapper, White Drugs, The Great Tyrant, Drink to Victory, Dust Congress, Shiny Around The Edges, and more.
• Justin Collins has been working with A.M. Ramblers, Spooky Folk, Daniel Folmer, and Old Snack.

Upcoming stuff: we’re new, fast-as-all-get-out internet service from Verizon. We’re also collecting cool new effects pedals, including a bunch of stuff built by White Drugs guitarist Jeff Helland.

People who visited the Lab in July:

• Cocky Americans worked with Matt Pence
• Paul Slavens’ Chameleon Chamber Group worked with Justin Collins
• Shiny Around The Edges, White Drugs, The Angelus, and Tre Orsi worked with Matthew Barnhart
• Honeybutton worked with guest engineer, Mark Elliott (of Leaning House Records)

Also, our very dear friend Pat Ferguson (of Deep Snapper, Birth to Burial, Raised by Tigers, and a million other groups) was deployed to Afghanistan with his Navy Reserves unit. He left a good chunk of his personal instrument and amp collection with us for safe-keeping, including an Ampeg V-4 head, several Gretsch, Fender, and G&L guitars, and a Keeley-modified Ibanez delay pedal. We wish our friend a quick, safe, and speedy return home.

• Glossary and Bridges and Blinking Lights finished up new albums with Matt Pence.
• UNT’s Fred Hamilton and Ed Soph recorded a new album with Dave Willingham. The Band Formerly Known As Transona Five also worked with Dave on some recordings, as did History at our Disposal and Chris Blanton.
• Glen Farris did some tracking with Justin Collins.
• The Me-Thinks, Tre Orsi, White Drugs and Slow Rewind all spent time with Matthew Barnhart on their various projects.

We also added a Top Hat Ambassador 50 guitar head and 2 x 12″ cabinet, and a custom Rosewood Jazzmaster guitar to our equipment list.

Bridges & Blinking Lights in the Studio from Jake Wilganowski on Vimeo.