Robert McLachlan

Hi All I know it's been some time since I last posted but things have been real hectic. The band has 7 songs completed excepted for two guitar tracks on two of the songs that we are doing in the studio. Now that Sebastien is back from vacation hopefully he will complete those thus completing every song we've done in the studio. I'm pushing hard to go from "demo" to "finished product" I feel like I"m fighting with a bear but it's working.

The band has worked on getting an additional member. It was just too difficult for Pat to sing and play
bass; I mean he could do it just fine but not really focus on the singing which he wanted to do which Sebastien and I
agreed. So, we added a bass player and he's real thorough and precise. Much more different than Pat is. His name is Doug and he makes a great addition to the band. He pushes me in my playing and it's a real blessing but difficult as well. It will be great to see what comes of our new sound. So, as we work on the songs that we have already which are about 12 to 15 songs the dynamics will change dramatically and they have already.

Here's a picture of me and Ray Luzier from the rock band "Korn" hanging out at NAMM 2010

Until later enjoy,

Rob McLachlan
Drummer / Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

Recording Studio

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:13:11 PM

Hi Guys,

The band hasn't been too busy over the past few months matter of fact it's been very slow. Our singer/bass player Pat had to move so all the equipment had to go in storage until we can setup shop in a place to practice. We are scheduled to have 3 dates to go in the recording studio in July. We have 7 songs that we partially recorded. It's taken forever to try to get to this point but now we're here thank God. All we need now is to go in the studio and lay down the guitar, vocal and percussion tracks.

Until later take care,

Rob McLachlan

Mission Kaizen/Drummer

No comments

New Show

Saturday, March 27, 2010 7:03:03 PM

Hi all,

Mission Kaizen has a new show coming up tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Angel City Cafe
in Bellflower, California. I hope you can show up it will really be rocking!
We will be introducing a new song which I wrote called "Homeless Child" a personal
song about my childhood. It's a solid rock song.

Some news about the band.......................

Well....it seems that lately we have had a little difficulty with equipment. So all of
us Pat, Sebastien and myself have had equipment that either broke down or wouldn't work
or we just wanted something new. Sebastien had his effects go out on his Vox amp. Something about a chip inside getting too hot on the board. So, he purchased another one VT100 which has more buttons and a lot more capabilities.The sound on that amp is incredible. He can do so much more with it than the other one - he is truly an amazing man.

I had my new Tama hi-hat stand which is only 6 months old go out on me. It wouldn't lift up and or open for the hi-hat cymbals quickly enough and it was very slow in opening.
I took it to two different music stores to see if their drum departments could tell me what was wrong with it and one of them told me nothing was wrong with it even tho' I showed him the difference between a floor model and mine. Then the other store had a great lady in the drum department who I enjoy working with as far as my purchases and she recommended WD40 to loosen it up. She said their was definitely a problem with the post of the hi-hat not opening normally. So instead of doing the WD40 thing I decided to buy another hi-hat stand from her just like the one I had. Now, I have the receipt in hand so in case anything goes wrong with it I'll get another one to replace it.

With Pat he just wanted to buy another bass. Quite expensive I might add but that's what it takes when you purchase the best. A very nice wood stained Ibanez SX700 beautiful bass and it sounds awesome. I can't wait to hear it on stage. The one in the picture is not the bass that I just mentioned. That will be in a later post.

Til then God Bless,

Rob McLachlan
Drummer / Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

New Equipment

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:57:59 AM

Hi all it's Rob again,

I just wanted to share with you some really cool stuff. Pat our bass player/singer has just bought a new head for his bass amp. MAN is it outrageous. It just sounds so deep and fat. It's called a "Bugeirra" I'm not sure on the spelling but it is an incredible bass head for his amp. Plus, he bought a vocal harmonizer which is really cool as well. I'm not too electronically inclined but it works real well for what we want to do in the band. Pat originally bought a "SWR" but it didn't match the wattage of the amp so it didn't sound too good at all. Now it's awesome and I can hear real low notes as well as high notes clear while I'm playing the drum kit.

This picture was at Angel City in Bellflower last year. We had a blast! Monitor's went out halfway through the first song but we made it O.K.

Sebastien also bought or had some cool stuff made. A little converter type of box that makes the guitar sound much cleaner. Man, does it sound clean. Not all muffled like it was before. It didn't always sound muffled but this little converter box really did the trick on all of the songs. Such a cool little tool. The band as a whole continues to improve on our sound. Which is what "KAIZEN" is all about.

All I did was buy some splash cymbals for the drum kit. A new 8" and 10" inch splash cymbals. Their different. The reason why is because I am slowly switching cymbal brands from "Sabien" which I still enjoy to "Stagg". There is just something about the way they sound. Their more brilliant and bright sounding. Don't get me wrong; I still like my "Sabien's" but most of my cymbals now are "Stagg".
I think it's a good mixture between the two. I would imagine most drummers would think I'm out of my mind but I like them. Hey, to each his own that is how us drummers are.

Anyway, just a little shout out to let you know what's going on. Currently, we are working on a few new songs. I'll let you know what the titles are at a later date when we have them more polished and will be playing them live.

God Bless you all,

Rob McLachlan
Drummer / Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

New show

Monday, February 8, 2010 10:12:06 AM

Hi All,

I thought I would let everyone know that the band has a new show
coming up. We have been allowed a 45 minute slot.
This should allow us to be able to play around 9 songs.
I

Hope you come by and get the chance to enjoy the show.

It's on February 20th at 7 p.m. at the following address:

605 W. Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92648

Rockin' in Jesus,

Rob McLachlan
Drummer Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

recording

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 11:45:12 PM

drums, mission kaizen, guitar, recording ...

Hi All,

I just wanted to keep you up to date on what is happening with the band.
For those who don't know what the word "Kaizen" means; it means "continual improvement.
Anyway,we did our initial EP recording about 3 months ago which includes 7 songs and will be for sale at our shows as well as t-shirts with our logo on them. On the recording we are still working on specific parts. The drum tracks were laid down in the studio - so that part is done. Now, all we need is to have Sebastien lay his guitar tracks down and for Pat to include his bass tracks which I believe
he has already done and then we go into the studio again.

This time for piano, percussion, vocals and any background vocals that we do. I have to be very honest here this is exciting but painstaking because we want to get it right. So that is why we are taking so long in the recording process. Playing my drum tracks to a "click track" is very frustrating. I think next time we record the next album I won't be using a click track it's just so much easier.

We have also discussed using CDBABY.COM for distribution as well as other avenues. . So that is what's happening not only in our music but in the recording of our songs. Our songs in general "continually improve". There's always something new to add or something to change which would make any of our songs sound better. Listening to Sebastien is like having Christmas because he is so versatile and is always trying to improve his chord structures on any of the songs. That is a real joy.

I'll talk you later,

Rob McLachlan
Drummer / Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

NAMM 2010

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 10:30:41 PM

drums, Jonathan Moffet, namm, famous people ...

Hi all,

I just wanted to post how exciting it was to got to NAMM 2010 at the Anaheim Convention center
on the 14-17th of January. It was so awesome. I met so many famous people and was able to interact with so many drum vendors it was something I just couldn't believe. It gave me an idea of what equipment was new but also possible if I wanted to change my drum kit and go with another brand.
Every time I turned around there was someone famous either giving autographs at a booth or talking
to vendors about the new products. The most exciting part of the day was when I got to meet Bono from U2. I couldn't believe it. I was standing near the bathroom after having gone and was waiting for a friend when Bono just walked by real quick to the bathroom and I waited for him to come out and asked if I could take a picture with him. He said, "yeah, but make it quick - I gotta go". My friend Kevin snapped this picture that you see plus one other close it. I also met Jonathan Moffet Micheal Jackson's drummer near the Soul live cymbal display which I have also included here.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me and I'll reply through my e-mail.

Enjoy

Rob McLachlan
Drummer / Mission Kaizen
www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1

No comments

My band Mission Kaizen

Monday, February 23, 2009 9:58:47 AM

christian, rock, drums, bass ...

Welcome everyone and thank you for visiting. This is the new blog site for my Christian rock band;
Mission Kaizen. www.myspace.com/missionkaizen1 I have been with this new band Mission Kaizen for a little over 6 months and it is very exciting for me. I am able to display my talents for God which He has gifted me. It is only a 3 piece band. Sebastien Gex-Collett on guitar; Pat Garrett on bass and vocals and me - Rob McLachlan on drums. Pat and I have both played our instruments close to 30 years so we're well versed in our instruments. Sebastien on the other hand has only played guitar about 5 years. He is such a joy to play with in the band. He is always expanding his sound and trying new techniques on the guitar. Our music is very eclectic. Most of it sounds like 70's - 80's rock.