Showing posts with label live music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label live music. Show all posts

Monday, April 05, 2010

Is the iPad a New Musical Instrument?

Below are two videos for iPad drum machine apps. I see great potential for the iPad as a music device, especially for live performance, and here are just two early examples (via iPad Studio Blog.)

I have no doubt we will also soon see more apps for interactive, improvisatory, or algorithmic music-making, and it won't be long before we start to see laptop orchestras using the device with customized software! Say what you will about the closed nature of the device, etc., but I believe that Apple has just created a new musical instrument.


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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

It's Time to Stage a Coup!

I don't know about you, but I'm growing tired of waiting for the old guard of the music industry to roll over and die. It's time we were a bit more proactive about this! Here's some things you and I can do to regain control of the music for artists and fans alike!

  1. Support Local Live Music - You don't really need to pay for another Lady GaGa concert, do you? Save some money by heading to the club around the corner and supporting a future Lady GaGa.
  2. Support Independent Music - Stop driving to Wal-Mart and buying the latest over-compressed and auto-tuned major label releases. Instead, stay right there in the comfort of your warm, safe home, point your browser to sites such as Bandcamp or ReverbNation, find some music you like, and buy it. While you're at it, become a fan on Facebook, and add your email to their mailing list so you can see them live. Your money will go to someone who really needs the money, the artist! The fat-cat major label execs have plenty of money!
  3. Support Mom & Pop Record Stores - If you must buy the latest Ke$ha (if the dollar sign in her name hasn't deterred you, I suppose it's hopeless) please buy it from a local CD retailer, rather than Wal-mart or Target. Look, I know it's probably a foregone conclusion that brick and mortar music retailers will eventually go the way of the dinosaur. However, mom & pop record stores have always supported local music, and I have a soft spot in my heart for them. Besides, there has recently been a resurgence of interest in vinyl, and artists have been releasing new material on vinyl in the last couple of years. Maybe it's time to invest in a new turntable, get that record collection out of storage, put on your ray-bans and dance around the living room in your underwear! Or not, it's up to you...
  4. Stop Watching the Music Award Shows - This is really just my personal pet-peeve, but after the most recent Grammy Awards show, come on! The industry uses these self-congratulatory spectacles to convince themselves they are still relevant. As long as you allow your children to continue their bad behavior, they will never learn! (While we're on the subject, I think we could hammer the final nail in the coffin if people would just quit watching Americal Idol. In my opinion, that is the last thing keeping the industry alive, but that's a post for another time.)

See, that's four simple things we can do to ensure a bright musical future for all of us. What have you got to lose? You might even discover some new music and help a young artist launch their career!
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Friday, October 02, 2009

Amanda Palmer is Not Afraid to Take Your Money

Please read her blog post on this, and there is a link below to discuss it. However, I would also like to relate what happened to me this week. I was moving to another house in the Boston area, and we hired a moving company to help us. 3 of the 4 guys who showed up were musicians. Two are in "indie" bands that are currently active and fairly well-known (one of them recently performed on Conan and Jimmy Kimmel) and the other was in a band that was, until recently, on a major label. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that.

blog « amanda palmer

Discussion on the blog post


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Monday, August 24, 2009

Live on the Web: Matthew Ebel

My Twitter friend and fellow Massachusetts resident Matthew Ebel has been performing a weekly live web concert for some time now, and has been quite successful with it. As further proof of this success, NPR recently did a piece on him, which is a must-read:

wbur.org » News » Live From The Basement: Geek Rock!

Conventional wisdom might tell us that an unsigned artist couldn't possibly garner an audience this way, much less make any money. Kudos to Matthew for proving the conventional wisdom to be wrong!


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Saturday, August 22, 2009

Prevent Your Bands Gear from Being Stolen

This is a great blog post from yvynyl, for all my touring friends:

yvynyl - How to Prevent Your Band's Gear from Being Stolen


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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Don't Be A Diva!

Disclaimer: I hope this doesn't come off as a rant - there's nothing worse than someone who uses their blog as a platform for their personal rants! However, in my professional playing the past few years, I have come across a number of "teachable moments" (thanks for that phrase, Mr. President,) and I wish to share them.

The term "Diva" often refers to a female singer, but I have found that diva behavior applies to both genders, and it is not restricted to singers! So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here is my list of ways to avoid being thought of as a diva:

  1. Be on time early to rehearsals and gigs - Yes, I said it! It wouldn't hurt to show up 10 or 15 minutes before your call time. You don't understand how stressful being a bandleader or contractor is, and you should never underestimate how much this simple act can improve your chances of working with a band for many years!
  2. Know the difference between "rehearsal" and "practice" - In simple terms: You "practice" the songs on your own time, so that you show up completely prepared for the full band "rehearsal." In other words, have the song learned before you show up to rehearsal! I should also point out that since rehearsal is a collective experience, it is often wasted if one of the band members does not show up. Without the entire ensemble there, including the singers, rehearsal can often be a waste of time.
  3. Help setting up the gear - If you are not yet a star, you probably don't have "roadies." Usually, this means that the band shares responsibility for setting up gear. This does not mean that you work until everyone has helped you set up your gear, and then sit around "noodling" while the rest of the band finishes setting up the p.a.
  4. Realize you are not the most important person in the band - In other words, leave your ego at the door. This category encompasses many diva behaviors, but I'll just list a few, and they probably don't need more explanation: a) Watch your stage volume b) Don't step all over someone's solo c) If you wish to offer criticism, be prepared to accept criticism as well.
  5. Be professional - Don't forget that this is a business, and you have clients. Try to avoid things like temper tantrums onstage, getting drunk during the gig, heckling the bar patrons, etc. Also (personal pet peeve here) if you have professional sound staff working with you, please treat them as equals. They have also had training and practice in their craft, and they deserve your respect!

If you have witnessed any diva behavior that is not covered above, please comment!
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Monday, July 27, 2009

Mecca for Musicians

Over the years, I have heard many of my students ponder the age-old question: "Where should I move after I graduate?" Ten years ago, the answer was "Los Angeles, New York, or Nashville." I think most people agree that this is no longer the only answer, but are there still certain areas that are music "Meccas?"

A new study has come out that provides some interesting data. The original article is here, and Hypebot provides an analysis of it here.

While this may not provide definitive answers, I think the results are intriguing. I was happy to see that Boston was in the top ten of the "Bands With Fans" list! Don't forget to read the comments on both posts as well. I'd be interested to hear your comments here, if you have the time. 

Links:
Hypebot Analysis
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

R.I.P. Hilly Kristal

He was not a musician, nor was he very young, but Hilly Kristal was an pivotal figure in the punk rock revolution of the 1970's. Kristal, founder and proprietor of the legendary punk club CBGB's, passed away Tuesday after a battle with lung cancer.

Kristal also recently engaged in an ultimately unsuccessful battle to keep his club open after 33 years. Two years ago, after fighting eviction for several years, a number of artists staged benefit concerts to raise money. This kept the club open for another year, but it finally closed down last October.

When Kristal opened the club in 1973, he planned to host country and bluegrass acts. As legend has it, the group Television, then fronted by Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell, convinced him that they were a country band and that he should give them a steady gig there. He soon realized that this new style of rock would bring crowds to the club, and gave up on country and bluegrass.

In addition to Television, The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith, and a number of other bands got their start at CBGB's. It became a mecca for punk, post-punk, and alternative rock over the years. While it's Bowery location ensured it would never become a mainstream rock club, it remained legendary long after it's heyday.

Kristal was 75.


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Saturday, January 20, 2007

Oxymoron Of The Day

I saw this headline in a Craigslist musicians-wanted posting: "All Original Arena Rock 80s Band." Need I say more?
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Saturday, December 16, 2006

Gig Stories, Part 3

This one happened tonight. My band is playing a private party. Now, my band is a classic rock band, 3 old guys and one young guy playing guitar-based rock and roll. We do mostly 70's rock, and quite a bit of southern rock.

So, we're playing our second set at the party. In the middle of a song, a lady comes up to me, makes me stop playing so I can hear her, and asks me "when are you guys going to play The Electric Slide?"

Just as I was then, I am at a loss for words.
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Sunday, October 22, 2006

R.I.P. C.B.G.B.

Legendary New York nightclub CBGB closed its doors on October 15, after a long battle with the landlord and developers intent on urban renewal in the Bowery. I recognize the importance of urban renewal to some extent. However, when it comes to a landmark as important to our culture as CGBG’s, the birthplace of punk, I think this is a tragic loss.

CBGB always championed alternative art and culture, and perhaps that is why the powers-that-be did not consider it worthy of saving. If you look back on past works of art that today are highly valued and appreciated, they were often ignored or even suppressed by society in their own era. They also were usually very critical of the status quo, which is most likely why they were suppressed! I am confident that future generations will recognize the important contribution CBGB made to our culture in its relatively short life.

I tend to be a conspiracy theorist, and I could go on and on about how these are the same people who want to censor or neuter artistic expression, or how developers only do these things so that already wealthy landlords can make huge profits, but I won’t. I will say, however, how sad I am that I never got to see a show at CBGB before it closed!
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Sunday, October 15, 2006

Gig Stories, Part 2

I heard a new one tonight, and I had to share it. A gentleman came up to me in between songs, and said the following:

"Listen, you guys might want to turn down a bit, because we can't hear you very well."

Think about that one for a minute. I've been trying to figure it out for hours.
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Friday, September 22, 2006

Gig Stories, Part 1

Here are some quotes I’ve heard over the years when playing gigs:

•“You guys are too loud; Could you turn it down an octave or two?”
•“Is this one of those ‘My-dee’ setups?” (he meant MIDI. A similar one a friend at Guitar Center shared with me recently: “Could I get an M-one-D-one cable?”)
•“Do you guys know _____________?” (insert one of the following: Freebird, Stairway to Heaven, Macarena, Electric Boogie, Achy Breaky Heart, Old Time Rock And Roll, Brown-Eyed Girl, Misty, etc.
•“Do you take requests? What songs do you play?” (This is a weird one. They basically want me to tell them our entire song list, so they can pick which song they want us to play next)
•“Play something else!”

The following usually start with the line “I’m a musician,” which usually prompts me to think “then why aren’t you working on a Saturday night?”:
•“Can I sit in with you? Do you know ‘Freebird’?” (This one often ends in disaster)
•“Can I play your guitar?”
•“I think there are some problems with your mix. The ________ isn’t loud enough.” (insert vocals, guitar, bass, or keyboards. They never say this about drums.)

Many of the above quotes are shouted at me while I’m in the middle of playing a guitar solo! More to come…..
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