The Nodd formed on Groundhog's day in 2003, when Joel from Lock Haven, Abhi from Los Angeles, Brandon from Providence, and Dug from Philadelphia gathered in a small but nicely carpeted basement. On that day, a brand new band went home with their first song, "Pretty Blue Lips", a song which also kicks off their first independent offering, "Where the Rubber Meets the Road". Excerpts from "Third Story Recording" by Sammy Mack >>'How did that feel?' asks Scott at the end of the song. He plays back what Brandon just recorded ... Brandon has big round eyes and short dark hair that in the light of this booth could be brown or black ... he exhales loudly ... a taxidermied marlin frowns down from the wall ... Dug, one of Brandon's bandmates, is now sitting on the couch in the back. "I think it's cool, The mix sounds good," says Brandon after a listen ... Dug looks at the speaker when he directs conversation at Brandon, who can hear him on his headphones in the room below. There's a debate over one of the songs. "I was doin' the bu du bu buh, " says Dug, reproducing a melody he planned to try out. "Well, uh," comes back over the speaker. "That means no. That's cool, " says Dug. Brandon starts to apologize for the phrasing. Dug laughs. "No, do your thing. Anything else?" ... Tonight they want to add the rest of the lead vocals and as many of the harmonies as they can fit between now and midnight. "Was it midnight? I thought it was eleven," says Joel Roberts, looking down at the studio below from the glass panel in the production loft. "It changes, " he shrugs. As the drummer for the Nodd, he finished his recording during the very first session ... The Nodd has been together since Groundhog Day (2003). They've already had gigs at the Grape Street Pub, Abilene, Club 218, and The Fire ... Dug's shoes are off now. He rocks into the sides of his feet as he sings. He alternates from hand in pockets to arms crossed. He gets louder as the song progresses ... "Step back from your mic a little" suggests Scott. "I'm about six inches" says Dug. "No, more than that" says Scott Joel bursts out in laughter. "Did you get that on tape?" "Sorry, Sam" says Abhi. "Forget it. She's a college girl, she hears that kind of stuff all the time." Says Scott Dug steps back from the mic and gives it another try. This time, he nails it. Everyone looks at each other approvingly ... His voice is loud and full, his lips pull back from his teeth, and he holds an impossibly long, impossibly loud note. It fills the room like a siren. "You like that note? It's a D. D is a good note," says Dug. After Dug completes his vocal works, Abhi takes his place. He sits in front of the microphone. He plugs in his amp and tunes his wide-bodied, blonde wood, Rickenbocker electric guitar. Abhi pushes up his sleeves, strums a chord, and the drum kit on the other side of the room rattles and shivers. "Is this too loud for you?" ... >>>