a conversation between myself and Ms. Plath.
---
Sylvia: I'm in a glass box of emotions right now!
Holden: In Nino Blankenship, we take that glass box of emotions and throw it at the audience.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Clarity
New microphone time!
I've been experimenting with multitracking after a successful full-band recording session with my good friend Sean...and he had this exact mic so I found a sweet deal on it on the web and will be testing it out very, very soon. Woot.
I've been experimenting with multitracking after a successful full-band recording session with my good friend Sean...and he had this exact mic so I found a sweet deal on it on the web and will be testing it out very, very soon. Woot.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Amplifier fire
So the giant cabinet that I brought to the Cove show, only to not get to use...was deemed impractical.
Had to come up with a better solution, and...opportunity came knocking, in the form of a sudden arrival at Guitar Center, this Gallien-Krueger MB210 combo!
350 watts, 33 pounds. A little bit better than having an ancient 55 pound speaker cabinet, I would say...
Had to come up with a better solution, and...opportunity came knocking, in the form of a sudden arrival at Guitar Center, this Gallien-Krueger MB210 combo!
350 watts, 33 pounds. A little bit better than having an ancient 55 pound speaker cabinet, I would say...
Slippin' into darkness
So the ultimate Murphy's Law gig occurred last night.
Equipment that worked 24 hours before refused to work at the show - and worked when I got home.
Very little lighting where we were.
Very little time.
And yet at the end of the day, the smiles on the faces of those there speak for itself. I can totally live with that!
Equipment that worked 24 hours before refused to work at the show - and worked when I got home.
Very little lighting where we were.
Very little time.
And yet at the end of the day, the smiles on the faces of those there speak for itself. I can totally live with that!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Welcome to our world of toys
So I haven't posted here in a couple of months...and here's basically why:
This 1994 Fender Jazz Bass has taken up most of my time.
It's funny...I originally got into drums (and returned to piano) because I've never been able to stretch my fingers enough to play guitar chords...and yet I ended up playing bass almost on accident.
The original bass we had in this band was a gift I originally got my sister for Christmas 2010...a Samick Greg Bennett Fairlane bass:
Just as long as I sound like myself when it's all said and done, I'll be happy with that.
I do love what this adds to our tendency to switch off instruments between almost every song, for sure!
This 1994 Fender Jazz Bass has taken up most of my time.
It's funny...I originally got into drums (and returned to piano) because I've never been able to stretch my fingers enough to play guitar chords...and yet I ended up playing bass almost on accident.
The original bass we had in this band was a gift I originally got my sister for Christmas 2010...a Samick Greg Bennett Fairlane bass:
When she moved, she decided to leave it in the Bay Area with me, and we incorporated a little bit in time for our very first show -
Days before that performance though, I discovered my current axe at a music store in Citrus Heights and immediately knew it was meant to be. It made it to our second show too!
I've been practicing almost daily with the new addition to my collection since mid-September, trying my best to pick up actual techniques from bassists I like: folks like Marvin Isley, James Jamerson, Aimee Mann, Jack Bruce, Michael Henderson, John McVie...yeah, a pretty diverse list there. Though I won't deny that I tend to naturally slap in much the same way Aimee did for most of her 'til tuesday songs, even if I dream of being as free-flowing as Miroslav Vitous someday.
Just as long as I sound like myself when it's all said and done, I'll be happy with that.
I do love what this adds to our tendency to switch off instruments between almost every song, for sure!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Where The Boys Are
Top five all-male bands (in no particular order) that inspire the lone woman in this band in terms of music and showmanship.
1. U2 - Showing that socially conscious Christian kids can rock.
2. Journey - Hometown pride.Lights can bring me to tears at times. I don't care if tone-deaf, drunken fools at karaoke and overzealous Giants fans have killed Don't Stop Believin' for the rest of the world, it will always be my favourite song ever. (p.s. Let's Go Giants!! So what if they never win another World Series in my lifetime, I'm happy to have witnessed it at least once.)
3. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - the only all-male band from my previous influences list (not counting one-man band Self haha).
4. X Japan - Pretty much only for Yoshiki, but seriously you guys! YOSHIKI!! And that sexxxy crystal drum set that he rocks out on!!!
5. Arashi - for the lulz. Always for the lulz.
1. U2 - Showing that socially conscious Christian kids can rock.
2. Journey - Hometown pride.
3. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - the only all-male band from my previous influences list (not counting one-man band Self haha).
4. X Japan - Pretty much only for Yoshiki, but seriously you guys! YOSHIKI!! And that sexxxy crystal drum set that he rocks out on!!!
5. Arashi - for the lulz. Always for the lulz.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Post-show thoughts
Well, we did the show yesterday, and it was fantastic. We played to a grand total of... nine people, after Holden had invited 130: my two bandmates' parents; Joe (a school friend of my bandmates) and his girlfriend; Mario (for whom Holden wrote an affectionate parody that we obviously performed) and his lovely female companion; and my mother. (My stepfather had eye problems, so he stayed home; he had to be taken to the hospital after the show.)
The rest of you who didn't go after saying yes?
You missed out.
The rest of you who didn't go after saying yes?
You missed out.
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