4.30.08 Newburyport/Middleton, MA

Douglas Blair is continuosly working with Kenny Lewis at Mixed Emotions Studios in Middleton, MA on completion of several new s2n tracks including Staring, Explain, and Intercourse. Orchestration(on a Korg TR Workstation) and recording of leads are usually completed at Blair's lo-tech home studio, with the results 'flown in' to ProTools, while tracking vocals and mixing/cleaning/editing are all accomplished utilizing top-of-the-line gear at Mixed Emotions. As s2n records live to tape, in one room, and with limited structural partitions for creating isolation for the instruments, it is often beneficial to 'clean' the individual tracks of extranneous noise to create a 'cleaner' mix. Typically, when musicians record their parts individually, this is not so much of a factor. Also being prepped for further work are an interesting cover of Zep's No Quarter and an instrumental with the working title of Incubus Jam. Stay tuned!

8.30.07 Casino Ballroom Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

s2n accepted a last-minute invitation from Tesla lead guitarist Frank Hannon to support the seminal 80's classic rockers at their Casino Ballroom near-capacity show. The duo slammed through Generica, Out, Technology Going Nowhere, Led Zep's No Quarter, and Hear to an energetic and welcoming Casino crowd. Also on the bill were LA's Poets and Pornstars, and Tesla delivered with an explosive 2 hour set with Hannon and Co. in top form. Douglas showed Frank two of his Blair 'Mutant Twin' electric/acoustic doubleneck guitars used with W.A.S.P., and the groups hope to share stages again in the future!

9.4.07 Avalon Ballroom Boston, MA

s2n was invited once again to perform in support of Tesla, braving the game-day Fenway traffic and insanity! The duo again shook the room to the disbelief of the respectable audience--with most waiting for the appearance of a third member...P&P and Tesla both ripped the place apart, with Frank and the boys playing a powerful rendition of one of s2n's favorite songs to cover, Seasons of Wither by Beantown's Aerosmith. Now, if only we can play the Big Apple with them!...

8/08/07-Helsinki/Tampere, FI and Hamburg, Germany: Blair visits Finnvox/Fantom/AFM/Soulfood

After a thoroughly soul-wasting three-day s2n sweat and swearing--er--recording session, where better than the new rock capital of the world, Hellsinki, Finland, to settle back and drink like a Viking! Blair recently visited the center of the booming Finnish rock community, the legendary and historic Finnvox Studios. Opened in 1965, Blair and Arto Buigzz were the guests of mastering engineer Mika Jussila for a grand tour of the facility, where s2n hopes to mix and master someday. Attending the 6th Anniversary Party for "On The Rocks,' Blair and co. drank with the Finnvox crew, lovely Heta and Children of Bodum's Alexi!

Next stop was the favorite watering hole for all cool Tamperians: the Sputnik Bar in Tampere. Even after an endless Sputnik night, Fantom Studios Complex was supremely impressive with its rooms, gear, and most of all, talented ears that are just not found here in the US! All projects signed or unsigned, famous or not, that were put up on the studio Genelec's, sounded like GOD because these guys know what they're doing! Again, Blair hopes to work out a deal to travel to Finland and mix/master with the best.

Last stop on the summer s2n shmoozing tour was AFM Records in Hamburg, Germany, label of Doro Pesch, MasterPlan and many other important rock acts. Awesome dudes Nils Wasco and Markus gave Blair the grand tour of the label operations and also of their Soulfood distribution wing, which coincidentally is dist'ing the new WASP Dominator CD. Not to mention the incredible lunch on the terrace--these guys know how to enjoy!! Great conversation abounded with Creative Director Nils showing why he's the man in suggesting that s2n set up an extensive European Clinic Tour to introduce the GuitarCross and power duo concept to the European guitar audience and press--BRILLIANT! Thanks, you guys!

7/31/07-Norton, MA: s2n obliterates Saucer Sound Studios

Three days of sweaty, stifling still air in the dogdays of a New England summer. Sixteen ProTools inputs when we were promised 24...Shag-carpeted cathedral-ceiling living room--and dining room, hallway and faux-tiled foyer--all blasted out by various drums and amps: because the stairs were too steep to get Blair's new rack back up, if we had recorded in the real, air-conditioned live room, which is downstairs...5 hours of live-recorded music to be sifted through. No overdubs. Everything tracked at once, with hopefully no XLR cord failures during. One seriously disturbed engineer following sessions. Twin bass amps/cabs: Mesa-Boogie and Eden. Mics and direct. Triple guitar rigs: Mesa-Boogie, Gallien-Krueger and Marshall. Uncountable drums. Several fans blowing. One GuitarCross: the original Kramer tuned dD aA dD g b. Two brains cooked, two bodies spent. 6 amps and 16 speakers going at once. Five new songs. Saucer Sound, Norton, MA home of the Tweeter Center.

5/25/07 Manchester, CT - Manchester High School

signal2noise recently returned to Douglas Blair's alma mater, Manchester High School in Manchester, CT to play two exclusive performances for the MHS music department. Included were spirited 45-minute musical sets--preceded by in-depth explanations and demonstrations by both musicians covering the GuitarCross, various related equipment and the massive drum set--and followed by lively Q & A sessions. Many students were from the MHS guitar department, and marveled at the unique perspective of Blair's GuitarCross. That same day, s2n also performed at Manchester Regional Academy, a private state training school, setting a band record for most seperate shows in one day! Check out the article from the local publication 'The Reminder.'

s2n will return to play a full-length concert at the MHS Bailey Auditorium in the fall, in a coordinated event with encore demo performances in the music dept., as well as clinics at the area Guitar Center.

Letter from Doug Maher, head of MHS Guitar Department:

Scott,
I just want to thank you for bringing Doug Blair and John Anthony - Signal 2 Noise - to MHS. The guitar students and myself were "blown away" with their performance. Both Doug and John were very articulate and insightful about their careers in music and this unique musical project, and it was especially relevent as Doug came from these same halls. Plus they are two really nice guys. Keith Berry, myself and Doug and John already started talking about their return in the fall and possible tie-ins w/ a benefit concert and connection w/ an MHS "battle of the bands" winning group. We hope to meet w/ you and them in the fall to make plans.
Best,
Doug Maher