Bamboo Electronics, Bioplastics, and Long Commutes to Gigs
Posted: October 30, 2009 Filed under: Concerts, Technology | Tags: bamboo, bioplastics, phish, rechargeable zinc-air batteries Leave a comment »
This evening, bits and pieces, three with no direct connection to music.
- You occasionally read about the diehard fan who drives three hours to see the band perform. On December 5th, I’m going to be that guy. I hope it doesn’t snow or something.
- File under humanity is not doomed: Plastic from tobacco plants.
- File under humanity is not doomed: Rechargeable zinc-air batteries.
- File under humanity is not doomed: Bamboo computer keyboards.
Phish’s Wild Backstage Scene
Posted: October 29, 2009 Filed under: Artists | Tags: Kids, phish Leave a comment »Today, I collected a bunch of bits and pieces, but free time is in tight supply. Here’s an excerpt from a nice AP story on a certain quartet from Vermont:
That means lots of kids backstage — seven in the Phish family so far, most of them on tour — and not so much the hundreds of hangers-on who had snowballed out of control through the years. As Anastasio likes to point out, there were 3,500 people on the guest list at their “farewell” show in 2004. At the reunion show this year, there were 10 — “and seven of them were under the age of 13.”
Steel Wheels
Posted: October 28, 2009 Filed under: Listening | Tags: Balloon Juice, Cheese, Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels 4 Comments »To kick off discussion on an open thread last night, Tim F. over at Balloon Juice had this to say:
In my opinion, Steel Wheels marked the moment when the ‘Stones demoted themselves from legitimately cool to a legacy band on permanent tour. Discuss.
I remember when Steel Wheels was released back in 1989. High school. The band did an event to promote the record (or the tour, or both) at Grand Central Station. They rode in on a train, which I guess was a Stonesish thing to do.
I also remember that a friend gave me the tape, not as a present or anything. She just didn’t like it. I doubt she would have parted ways so easily with Exile on Main Street or whatever.
Other than “Mixed Emotions,” which I think was the single, I can recall only one track from the record: “Almost Hear You Sigh.” That was one I liked. Tune’s got more than a little cheese, yes, but I have to say it still hooks me.
Music Links and a Guitar Jones
Posted: October 27, 2009 Filed under: Technology | Tags: Grooveshark, Guitars, Wired Leave a comment »Bits and pieces this evening.
- Wired compiles the “8 Best Ways to Share Mix Tapes.” My favorite on their list is Grooveshark, which just updated its site.
- Very Short List flags Let Them Sing it For You. Random.
- One of these days, I’ll upgrade to a nice acoustic guitar, like this one.
Musical Microblogging: Tricked Out Grid Number 8
Posted: October 26, 2009 Filed under: Recording | Tags: GarageBand, musical microblogging, SoundGrid Leave a comment »I feel like I’m running a bit out of steam with using SoundGrid as a jumping off point for musical microblogging. Perhaps the thing to do is to learn how to use the app for real.
Anyway, here’s Grid Number 8.
On top of the SoundGrid noises, I added one “lunar strings” part in GarageBand, along with two guitar tracks. For the solo part, I used the “Jazz Club” effect settings. “Dreamy Texture” was what I put on the other one.
His Favorite Band Ever?
Posted: October 25, 2009 Filed under: Artists | Tags: phish, primus, Trey Anastasio 2 Comments »Via PhishTwit today, Anastasio on Primus:
“They might be my favorite band ever.”
Autumn Leaves
Posted: October 25, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: autumn, leaves Leave a comment »
Walk 1.4 Miles to the Gig?
Posted: October 24, 2009 Filed under: Concerts | Tags: Charlottesville, phish Leave a comment »
With my Phish ticket in the bag, and parking paid for in advance, I’ve been pondering logistics of the December 5 show. My hotel is, by Google Maps’ reckoning, 1.4 miles from the arena, a 27 minute walk.
One big issue, flagged by Google Maps.
Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.
I’ve also checked out the “street view” on Google. Eeeuuhh. Looks like there are indeed a few ugly spots in those 1.4 miles. An underpass with no obvious sidewalk, for example.
How to handle? There’s a bus line, but the wait between buses is 30 minutes.
I guess I could call a cab, but how the heck does that work after the gig? It’s not like I exit the arena and find myself on 8th Avenue.
I even contemplated packing my bike in the car. I’m not sure I can stuff my wheels into the Prius, though, and I wonder if I even still have my bike rack lying around.
It’s looking increasingly like I’m going to drive to the show, which means sobriety. That’s not a huge deal. In fact, the last Phish gig I attended – the amazing July 16, 1994 at Sugarbush, VT – I stayed sober for the show for the same reason. Good thing I was dry for that one. The drive to and from the gig, along mountainous Vermont roads, was really hairy.
Ah, That’s Sweet!
Posted: October 23, 2009 Filed under: Concerts | Tags: phish 1 Comment »
As the image indicates, the December 5 Phish show down in Charlottesville, VA is sold out. This morning at 10am, at work no less, I got one of those tickets.
I’m sitting in section 111, where, funnily enough, a work colleague told me he just sat at a Metallica gig. He said it was a good place to see a show, although I imagine Metallica’s stage set up is different from Phish’s.
In any event, always nice to have something to look forward to.
