All posts for the month October, 2009
Metro
Posted by Gillies on October 31, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/31/metro/
Bamboo Electronics, Bioplastics, and Long Commutes to Gigs
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.
Posted by Gillies on October 30, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/30/bamboo-electronics-bioplastics-and-long-commutes-to-gigs/
Phish’s Wild Backstage Scene
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.”
Posted by Gillies on October 29, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/29/phishs-wild-backstage-scene/
Music Links and a Guitar Jones
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.
Posted by Gillies on October 27, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/27/music-links-and-a-guitar-jones/
Musical Microblogging: Tricked Out Grid Number 8
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.
Posted by Gillies on October 26, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/26/musical-microblogging-tricked-out-grid-number-8/
His Favorite Band Ever?
Via PhishTwit today, Anastasio on Primus:
“They might be my favorite band ever.”
Posted by Gillies on October 25, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/25/his-favorite-band-ever/
Walk 1.4 Miles to the Gig?
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.
Posted by Gillies on October 24, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/24/walk-1-4-miles-to-the-gig/
Ah, That’s Sweet!
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.
Posted by Gillies on October 23, 2009
http://gilli.es/2009/10/23/ah-thats-sweet/
