Phish 12/5/2009 Expectations Game
Posted: November 30, 2009 Filed under: Concerts | Tags: phish 2 Comments »
Phish 11/29/09 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME, originally uploaded by phishfromtheroad.
With good weather and good health, Flying Spaghetti Monster willing, I will be headed down to Charlottesville Saturday to take in a concert from my favorite Vermont-based musical ensemble.
This is something I’ve been looking forward to for years. Seriously. Back in 2004, I had a jones to see Phish but didn’t act on it, and then they called it quits. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
This weekend, it dawned on me that I’ve got to dial down my expectations.
So, here it goes – the show might not be all that great. I don’t think it’s going to suck, but the potential for disappointment is real. Here’s why.
I’m older. Last time I saw these guys was 1994. I was 22.
They’re older. If you listen to shows of that mid-90s era, the energy is absolutely crackling. I’ve seen reviews around indicating that the band is bringing some heat these days, but they have to have slowed down since I last saw them onstage.
I’m probably going to be sober. I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to get to this gig. At this point, driving just looks like the easiest option, which means no liquoring up. I’m not saying I can’t enjoy a rock show without booze, but, let’s face it, it helps.
There is Only Now, and Moving Forward
Posted: November 29, 2009 Filed under: Deep | Tags: deep thoughts, See Emily Play 3 Comments »I’ve got not much in the hopper this evening, except for Emily’s thoughtful Thanksgiving post at See Emily Play. One line in particular jumped out at me:
I am skeptical of this notion of “getting back to normal,” or having my life revert to the way it “used to be.” Because for me, there is no such thing. That version of me, that life, does not exist any more. There is only now, and moving forward.
Emily’s observation comes in a particular context, which the post details. But I think that idea – there is only now, and moving forward – is one that everyone has to grapple with from time to time.
Acoustic FourTrack with Effects
Posted: November 28, 2009 Filed under: Recording | Tags: FourTrack, GarageBand, musical microblogging 4 Comments »I added effects to my recent FourTrack creation. Fun!
Musical Microblogging: Acoustic FourTrack
Posted: November 26, 2009 Filed under: Recording | Tags: FourTrack, musical microblogging Leave a comment »Using the FourTrack app, I recorded this one right after putting on a fresh batch of strings on the Yamaha. The percussive noise in the background is the clothes dryer.
You Have to be Good
Posted: November 25, 2009 Filed under: Technology | Tags: Bob Lefsetz, Brian Wingfield, Forbes, RPG Productions Leave a comment »Forbes’ Brian Wingfield has a nice story up about how “the digital revolution has made it easier than ever to create, market and sell music.”
Record companies are also using digital tools to help them find new acts. For example, using Tunecore’s technology, three Universal Music Group labels earlier this month launched Web sites where musicians can upload their songs for consideration by talent scouts: www.unimodigitaldistribution.com, www.republicdd.com, www.idjfirstlook.com and www.interscopedigitaldistribution.com.
Sweet – maybe I should send in some of my stuff, like RPG Productions’ seminal “Jam in A” from March 2004:
Ah, but Wingfield’s story continues with a “caveat to all this digital wizardry.”
“The first criterion is you have to be good, which almost no acts are,” says Bob Lefsetz, an industry analyst who runs the Lefsetz Letter, a popular and candid industry blog.
Smitten by the Starcaster
Posted: November 24, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: G.E. Smith, Guitars, Starcaster 2 Comments »
HK posted the following questions in the comments:
is that your guitar at the top of this page? what is it?
Yes, that is my guitar. It’s a Fender Starcaster.
Now, HK didn’t ask, but for the record, here’s a bit of backstory on my Starcaster. In 1997, I had some cash to burn and a jones for an electric guitar. One day, I was over at DeLaRuss’s apartment and got a chance to play his recently acquired Starcaster. I picked up the thing and was smitten.
Not long thereafter, I wandered in to Chelsea Guitars on 23rd Street in NYC. I asked them if they had a Starcaster in stock, and they did, although it wasn’t on display. As the guy went to the back of the shop to fetch the guitar, I heard someone say, “A Starcaster, huh? Do you play the blues?” I looked over – it was G.E. Smith (pictured above). That kind of sealed it for me.
Also for the record, I later learned that I paid way more than DelaRuss did for his Starcaster. Oh well. I stayed within my budget, even if I overpaid. A fair price is what a willing buyer pays a willing seller.
Yes, I Believe It’s Music
Posted: November 23, 2009 Filed under: Recording | Tags: FourTrack, GarageBand, musical microblogging 2 Comments »I tricked out my first experiment with FourTrack, an iPhone app that is hooking me right now. On top of the four vocal tracks of yours truly (loaded into GB as WAVE files via FourTrack), I put on one bass track, two GarageBand drum tracks, some GB Lunar Strings, and some guest vox from FBdN son #1.
It’s a close call, but I think this qualifies as music, as in “the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.”
Chilling at the Rocknoceros Gig
Posted: November 22, 2009 Filed under: Concerts, Videos | Tags: Kids, Rocknoceros 2 Comments »I caught some live music today: Rocknoceros, a band that has recently “dominated the Washington, DC children’s music scene.” Guitar player was decent – on one number, he did the routine where you sing along with your solo, only he did it with a kazoo. Sounded awesome, seriously.
I’m sure loads has been written on this, but I bet it isn’t easy for musicians to transition into the kiddo music scene. I seem to remember Dan Zanes saying one reason he he did it because he was sick of singing songs about old girlfriends.
Also, I guess I’d rather play a packed synagogue full of screaming fans on a Sunday morning than a half empty, smoky ass bar at 11pm.
Anyway, here’s a clip of Rocknoceros doing a song about a purple turtle.
Changing Strings
Posted: November 21, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: guitar strings, Guitars, Yamaha Leave a comment »
My big activity this Saturday night: putting some new strings on the Yamaha.
