The day that Pocket Buddha first played the Woodshed was the hottest day in Columbia ever. Well, since they started keeping track. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a scientific fact. I say that first to explain my ridiculous get up that day. It was all about survival, staying conscious and lucid. It was still above 100 degrees in the Woodshed at 8 pm when we started. I liken the bond we created that day to survivors of boot camp or a night lost in the woods. It was rough, but Patrick, the band, and our lovely friends and family who braved the elements to be there linked arms and pushed on thru to the other side, the much cooler 94 degree side.Aside from the heat, there was something else in the air that night. Our excitement at being there; the energy of getting to play with Jeff Reddekopp, one of my main musical compadres, again; the anticipation of getting to play a couple songs with one of our favorite local songwriters, Bobby Baker; and, as much as anything, the thrill of playing in the studio of someone who truly loves music and making it sound as good as possible.I was grateful when Patrick agreed to pass the stems on to me. That first listen to the rough mixes convinced me that there was enough here for a record. Patrick was as excited about this prospect as I was! I spent a lot of late nights mixing this record. Ken would come over and listen to mixes with me. I played them for Jonas & Julia. I’d send them to Patrick and Jeff, and also to my friend McIver Law, and they’d send me very valuable feedback. Patrick was also kind enough to master this record for us.In the end, I’m very happy with the way it came out. We tried our best to strike a balance between a rough mixed live recording and the mixer’s desire to have things separate for maximum control. The drums were in every mic so the latter was certainly impossible. Patrick loves live music and the documenting of that just as it happened, but we’ve loosened him up a little and I’m grateful he approves of the minimal sweetening that we did. His enthusiasm and adventurous spirit is an inspiration to us and a huge part of every recording that happens at the Woodshed. It is an energy center of the Columbia musical community and we couldn’t be happier to have our first record be a document of our first musical experience there. We look forward to many more!Darren Woodlief