FACT 1 Re-defining Insanity
The five members of Finger Eleven collectively wrote/recorded over 100 songs during the process of making their fourth Wind-up release Them vs. You vs. Me. These compositions are of varying styles and colors, ranging from rock to country to dance to funk to old 60's songs. Many of these were written by exchanging files over the internet wherein one person would track a home recording, send it off into cyber space, and then someone else would build on it and send it on down the line. Many of the final cuts on the album were demo-ed and re-recorded at least four times over a period of one and a half years, undergoing massive changes each time.
FACT 2 “Old” songs are the new “new” songs
The track “Sense of a Spark” was originally written during the same session as
“One Thing” (from the band’s self-titled third Wind-up release). Finger Eleven
always viewed the material as a strong enough idea to keep around, and finally
found the right arrangement for it to see the light of day with this offering.
FACT 3 Sounds heard on Them vs. You vs. Me were amassed through
recording in various locations all over Canada and while on the road
Many of the sounds appearing on the record were recorded during the demo
process in locations as diverse as the infamous "Castle," a lodge in Northern
Canada and at their homes. Anecdotally, the “Window Song” demo was
tracked on the back of a tour bus during the course of an evening and most
of the recording was preserved for the album (with the engineer removing
some of the hum from the bus engine).
FACT 4 Mixing it up
Beyond the obvious guitars and drums on the album, the listener will hear
assorted keyboards, xylophones, a lap steel, violin, banjo and other instruments
added to the mix.
FACT 5 Under the broken microscope
Them vs. You vs. Me was recorded faster then any other Finger Eleven album,
as the band spent less then three months in the studio. Yet, the lead single
“Paralyzer” is the result of the longest period ever spent on a single song in
the studio (two weeks).
FACT 6 SKYPE – Reach us any time
The band utilized the SKYPE program while in the studio where any fan could
dial through and reach them directly. The queries varied from nervous fans
asking when Finger Eleven were coming to their town next, to an hour long
conversation about quantum computing. The most memorable of them all is
recounted as when a few band members who had been burning the midnight
oil decided to call one of the numbers back at 5:30 in the morning. The
gentleman who had left the message was woken out of a dead sleep as
the protagonists asked where their socks were while in a fit of laughter.
The conversation was less than eloquent, but the next morning a message
was waiting for them from the same guy thanking them for waking him up.
His alarm had failed to go off and if it hadn't been for Finger Eleven calling
he would have been late for work.
FACT 7 Finger Eleven Support the Gaming Industry
Whether it is console games which include Guitar Hero, or multi-player PCgames
such as Warcraft, the band spends a lot of their free time committed to bettering both themselves and their imaginary characters.
FACT 8 U.S. Television has been very good to Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is never out of their element when visiting television green
rooms in the U.S. They launched Them vs. You vs. Me with a performance of
“Paralyzer” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This was the second appearance for the quintet on that legendary stage, while they have also been
welcomed by Jimmy Kimmel, Regis & Kelly and many others.
FACT 9 The Videos from Them vs. You vs. Me:
While filming “Paralyzer,” Finger Eleven shot the performance footage on the
rooftop of a building in downtown Los Angeles. The forty trained dancers
featured were filmed swarming the fake streets of the Paramount back lot.
For “Falling On,” the band returned to Los Angeles, and re-cast some of the
sexier dancers from the “Paralyzer” shoot where they spent the day shooting
in a huge, white soundstage. As a departure, there is a recently created clip
for “Them vs. You vs. Me” shot by guitarist James Black while on the road over
the past several months. He used a worklight, “borrowed” light gels, a black
sheet, a tripod, a laptop and a video camera. The band members performed
in dressing rooms, hotel rooms and in the back of the tour bus. It was edited
in the front lounge of the bus, and the additional animation was provided by
childhood friend and animator Paul Watling.
FACT 10
Finger Eleven recently released a recording of the John Lennon song “Look At
Me” as part of an Amnesty International project that features various artists
all covering Lennon classics. The song was recorded at The Lodge while the
band was writing the current release.
FACT 11 LOST: TRAILER, WHITE. LAST SEEN: CHICAGO PARKING LOT.
ANSWERS TO “OL ‘HAULEY”
Finger Eleven’s trailer was stolen half-way through the session. If you have it,
give them a call. They’d like it back, please.
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