This album began about a week before the shutdown of March 2020. The song "Right now, distance is the best thing" was coming together out of worry of the Pandemic and anxiety about the shutdown, but ultimately arriving at the conclusion that just in general with the state of things (beyond the pandemic), maybe Right now, distance is the best thing.

One summer night, sitting out on the balcony as Gretchen and I passed the summer nights this year. It was past midnight, Saturday Saturday night and I was on the phone with my dad telling him about David Byrne’s performance on SNL. He started telling me about when he Talking Heads play at this place in Youngstown called “Tomorrow Club.” I thought that name had such a positive feel, and I had this batch of songs I was playing around with in my home studio, that I decided then and there to use that name for it.

Over the course of the Spring 2020, Summer, Fall and Winter, I wrote, recorded and tracked maybe 10 songs. I narrowed it down to 6 final tunes. I recorded the tracks using Logic, a SHUREKSM32, ONYX Black Jack interface my buddy Matt (from André Costello and the Cool Minors) lent me, and my trusty MacBook Pro.

Originally, I did all the drums with midi. While that was fun, I decided the tracks would benefit from some real acoustic percussion, so I thought to myself, “Who is sheltering in place with a drum set, the recording set up, and all the skills?” Jake Hanner @jakehannermusic. So from, the south hills, I transmitted my recorded stems across the city to the north hills where he resides in his home studio, where he’s recorded and produced maybe all of the Donora recordings. Through the summer we bounced stuff back and forth. I did all the editing, but I got tons of tremendous advice and wisdom with the guy.

I wanted to do something different with this record than what I typically would have with the Cool Minors. I imagined a sonic departure. I don’t know if that idea was fully realized. If you listen the Cool Minors enough, you’ll hear the difference. One thing I couldn’t do was separate myself from myself, so the songs still ended up sounding like André songs more or less.




The Album Art:



During the pandemic, we were all forced to make the best of the space we were forced to shelter in place within. Luckily, my wife and I had been dedicating ourselves to making our home into a kind of Oasis of peace in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I think of the place as my sanctuary. We are so very fortunate and privileged to have what we have. And I believe we are so very fortunate and privileged to be afforded a certain amount of peace of mind in having each other, and our miniature Australian Shepherd Mochi-Dog, we’ve affectionately named Mochi. I hold my house in my mind like an adventure. So, when I sleep, I often dream of discovering hidden rooms and floors that I can spend time in and make my own. Being that I have this almost fantastical, dreamlike, love for this 1920’s sears craftsman home I call home, I thought it fitting to commission someone to realize it visually in that fashion.

My buddy and talented Grixly illustrator Nate McDonough’s significant illustrator graphic designer lady, Taylor Stefanko shared an astounding image on Instagram from a guy who, after inquiring, turned out lives in Pittsburgh. His name is Sean O’connor. I hit him up, sent him a photo of my house, and he took it from there. I loved the image so much I had it printed, got a cheap frame, ripped out the stock art, put mine in, and hung it on the wall at the top of the steps.

HMIYM
My sleep habits were completely scrambled when the lock down started. Caffeine after sleeping in and not being able to get back to sleep was a problem. If you can’t hold the one you love in person, hold them in your mind.

Yourself Together
Ahh this one is just really about sulking about your problems, then gaining the courage to just tell yourself “shoulda known better, but let’s move on.” Now we start healing. It’s always a good time to start healing.

Folding Chair
I had my first solo tour set to open for a band that has a following on a string of shows through the mid west. That was canceled, of course. Since I couldn’t go, I imagined leaving home on a trip, could have been a business trip. I could have been a business man, leaving my home in Pittsburgh and reserving my spot in front of my house with a folding chair. Then, when I get to the next town, I set my bags up on a folding chair.

Right now, distance is the best thing
The week I heard we were going to shut everything down, I was putting that song together about “Right now, distance is the best thing.” The song is about the fear of getting sick and not knowing for sure what it is. Maybe it’s about quitting something: a vice, a relationship, or the shut down itself. The line about “Looks like we’re gonna do this, but I can’t stand the irony. Turns out for everybody, distance is the best thing.”

Murciélagos
BATS! In the summertime, I love sitting outside during the gloaming, when night really starts falling. The bats start coming out to feast on insects and you can see their silhouettes against the dimming sky frantic in a reign of terror.

25 (Done with 45)
This one is from an envious and spiteful position just kind of cursing young people for throwing caution to the wind during this thing, going out and acting like there isn’t a pandemic going on. There’s more in there, but I’ll let you figure it out.