This is the second of two posts taken from the Second Book of LSE, aka LSE2. This is a continuation of LSE1, or The First Book of LSE.
Maybe enjoy? 🙂
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Robert A. Smith and Franklin Yukon recently asked if they could use my home to film a new video for the song “Three Party,” which is from their new untitled album.
I was initially taken aback, but I knew this could be amazing once I had accepted my feelings.
I was standing in my Kitchen when the boys arrived, my Ring camera indicating as such. I just knew this would be another one of those spectacular days.
I opened the door and saw those five guys. Robert A Smith, Marvalious, Arturius, and Megaton Turner. Oh, and my brother-in-law, Franklin Yukon, manages the band.
“Gents, welcome to my home. You’ve been here before, and I appreciate that you are selecting my place for your new song.”
Robert notes, “Michael, this is where it all starts. This is where everything starts. And as you know what I’m going to say, if not for you, none of this exists.”
“Yes, Robert, I am so thankful that y’all have become who you are, and realize what I saw many years ago.”
I turn to Franklin, “What do you need for me to set up or arrange, or however can I help?”
Franklin tells me, “Michael, we need to ensure the gatos, Tibor, and Sakura, are put away, and safe. That’s non-negotiable, and we will not start until then.”
“Yes, Franklin, I have already put them in a safe place. They are in my bedroom.”
“Family, let’s not take all day, because the last thing I need is one of them to… Expel themselves in my bedroom or bathroom.”And I laugh like a supervillain.
The boys leave and come back in with their amps. This is a no bullshit setup where, oh, we’re going to play, fakery, and lip-synch, but…
No, LSE is bigger and better than that. They were the “one-take masters”, and I knew this would be too.
“Gents, where did you have things set up in mind?”
Robert says, “Michael, Megaton will be out in the living room, Marvalious will be in one hallway with three corners, and Arturius will be in another hallway with three corners.”
I think to myself about how weird the house is set up. The Kitchen is in the middle, and you can walk around and circle it. Sometimes, it feels surreal.
“I will be in your office. I have always loved your office and space, Michael, and it is just so… You.”
“Thank you, Robert. That is a wonderful compliment. I set it up thinking about y’all with the turntable, and the old school equipment … It’s just so…” And a trail off, my mind having gone blank on me.
“Hey, Michael, are you here with me?”
“Mumble, mumble, mumble, what?”
In the back of my mind, I hear, “Please come back to me, Michael.”
I snap back up, stating, “I’m sorry for any disrespect, and please forgive me for that. I had one of those skips again.”
I take a deep breath and say, “All right, gents. Sorry about that one. Now, where can I be and be out of the way while also enjoying this experience?”
Franklin comments while laughing hard, “Michael PUNIS RUSSI, just leave.” Franklin continues to laugh hard.
“Franklin, that’s a good one, one of your best.”
“Michael, just hang with me, and it will be out of the way, except I will be filming all of this. Is that OK, Michael?
“Yes, Franklin, that’s fine. I figured as much, given how much I know the band. I’ve been looking forward to this for some time now.”
Franklin adds, “Michael, thank you for allowing the boys and me to film this video in your home. It means a lot to me, and I know it means the world to the boys, each of them in their own right.”
“Franklin, you are welcome, and it is my pleasure. I know…” And I trailed off again.
“When Robert asked me about this, I knew that it was something that I could not say no to. It was just so…”
“Besides that, Franklin, what can I do for the boys to ensure this goes smoothly and falls within their one-take policy?” And I laughed.
“Michael, just stay with me and everything will be fine.”
“Oh, they are going to need some electricity.”
“Franklin, I’d like to remind you that if anything, or perhaps even something, goes sideways, that sister is going to be up in your shit, and not in a good way.”And I laughed at him.
“Yes, Michael, I am definitely afraid of that. You know your sister… she can be…”
I looked at him and said, “Franklin, be careful what you say here. She’s been my sister longer than you have existed.” I laughed some more.
“Fair enough, Michael, fair enough.” Franklin smiled, knowing how I felt towards him. See LSE1 for more of that.
“We must ensure that each setup is properly calibrated and get everything into place before we start. Your home is perfect for what we are doing.”
Robert walks over. “Michael, your home is the inspiration for this song. Not just you, Michael, but your home is the exact layout that I had in mind when I wrote this song.”
“Michael, I’ve been to your home many times, and I have loved every bit of it, because of its quirkiness, uniqueness, and the Michael factor.”
“Thank you, Robert, that is so lovely of you to say.”
“Puniverse, did you get that? Robert A Smith called the house having the Michael factor to it. OMG!!!”
Crickets.
“OK, so we are ready to go now.”
Room by room, Franklin and I go and listen to the tuning to determine how each instrument sounds.
We’re talking guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. This was one of those few songs that Robert sang alone with no backing. He was the architect because it was very special to him and the band.
Franklin asked Megaton, “How do you feel about the setup, Megaton?”
“Franklin, I’m very happy with it. I’m so glad that I had the time to tune and set up the rig before we got here, knowing Robert A Smith knew Michael’s house inside and out.”
I wonder to myself, oh fuck, my neighbors are going to hate me. But, thankfully, it’s 11 AM.
Franklin says, “Sounds good. Let’s move over to Marvalious.”
He happened to be in a spot where his amp was in front of him, pointing away, with some satellites to his left and to his right. It was a three-point spot, and it was just so cool.
Franklin asks Arturius, “What are you thinking?”
Marvalious, I took a spot where I knew the sound would be. This is the perfect spot for bass, and…
“Michael, thank you again for inviting us into your home and allowing us to film a video. I know how you don’t like people in your home.”
And I cut him off, “Marvalious, y’all ain’t just people in my home, you’re my family and you’ll always be my family. You’re always welcome in my home, and when presented with this idea, I said, “I’m in.”
Marvalious smiled, turned to Franklin, and said,” I’m good. This is the right spot, and I have the right tune of my amp, and my bass is perfectly ready.
“Franklin, I don’t understand. How are you going to capture all of the spots at once?”
“Michael, I am going to set up a number of small GoPro-style cameras in each location to capture the boys, their actions, there… Them.”
“Sounds good, Franklin.”
We move on and come across Arturius. I look at him as a family member and somebody who worked for me.
He and his brother, Marvalious, worked for me for a number of years before I introduced the four of them.
Arturius, “What do you think?”
Franklin steps in, “Michael, that’s my line…”
“I’m sorry. Frankly, it is my house after all, and I thought…”
Franklin says, “That answer, I like it.” And he smiled.
“Franklin, please continue because I mean not to be rude and I mean not to do your job because that’s not within my purview.
Franklin says, “Exactly what he just said, Arturius, what are you feeling?
His answer was supposed to be thought of as typical of Arturius. He spoke very few words, and when he did speak, his words were always super succinct.
“Franklin, Michael, this is.”
And I knew what that meant. I looked at Franklin, and he nodded at me. We both turned back to Arturius, and it was not him.
I hugged Arturius, and he hugged me, which he knew was coming because he’d worked for me for so long.
I whispered to him, “Arturius, you are spectacular, and you know that Franklin, I, and the rest of the family absolutely love you.”
“I have since the first time we met during my onboarding. You are incredible.
“And I’m not talking about your technical musical skills, but as a human, you are absolutely incredible, my friend.”
Arturius nods at me and goes back to finishing his cord setup.
And it left us with one guy—just one guy. Franklin asks, “Robert, what do you think?”
“Franklin, Michael, my keyboard is set and ready to go.”
Franklin and I look at each other quickly, and Franklin responds, “Sounds good, Robert. You’re the architect, and you know what you’re doing. None of us has ever, ever doubted that.”
Robert smiled, nodded, and said, “I’m good to go.”
I turned to Franklin and I said, “Do you need any assistance in setting up cameras?”
Franklin says, “Nope. It will only take a moment or two.”
I walked into the kitchen to a spot where I was not in the way, but you can see that most of the action was not all there.
Franklin tells the boys, “We are two minutes from starting the recording. Does anybody need anything? Does anybody need to go to the bathroom?”
We bust out laughing together “I’m sorry, gents, it’s just so funny to say.”
Robert looks at him and chuckles. “Franklin, you’re such a dork. That’s why we love you, all of us… Us.”
And so, it was time for Franklin to count down from 10…
Franklin flips on the cameras, sets up throughout the space, and is ready to go. At five seconds, Franklin says “five, four, three…
And the music starts, and there is no going back on this one. Everybody does their job amazingly.
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So there you go folks, a raw version of LSE2, or The Second Book of LSE. We fully expect LSE2 to sell like hotcakes.