Saturday, December 19, 2009

Other Blogs

My friend Rachel has a blog, I just discovered. I don't think she knows I have one, but that's not important. She's very talented, probably more than she realizes. I like the quirky way she looks at simple, everyday things. She definitely approaches subjects from an alternative point of view. Check it out.

Not everything I post here has to be about me and my music, does it?

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sick Again

I'm canceling the second show in a row, due to whatever bug I have. I hate canceling shows. But the fact is I'm hoarse and raspy and prone to coughing fits when I take a deep breath. And you have to take deep breaths to sing, and hoarse and raspy is not my singing style. If it were, I'd be there tonight.

What I really hate is that this is the second cancelation in a row. The last being two weeks ago, when I had most of the same symptoms plus a fever. I know they say "the show must go on", but who the hell are "they" anyway? And why do they want me to perform when I'm sick?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Halloween Gig

I played a Halloween show at the Riverview last night. In the spirit of the holiday I wore zombie make-up. I wanted to wear a costume that allowed me to sing and play, so a mask or anything that interfered with my guitar playing was out. So I got some liquid latex, nose putty, and some make-up and created my zombie look. It turned out pretty good, and it was easy to perform. And I got used to the tightness of the latex on my face after a while.

The gig itself was pretty good--started slow but the place filled up in time. It was a solo gig--I never got an answer from Conor about playing, and I didn't even bother asking Dennis because I knew he'd be out trick-or-treating with Ruby. I like the freedom of playing a solo gig--I can do whatever I feel like doing. I had some fun with the looping pedal, layering sounds, starting with a bass line using the octave pedal, add an acoustic guitar, then a little shaker, then switch to the strat for another part, then play a little harmonica solo on top of that.

And I debuted a new "tool"--I bought a Shadow stombbox--which is a small wooden box with a pickup in it that you play with your foot. You plug it right into the PA, and it adds a kick drum effect to your sound. I ran it through a gated reverb on some songs--sounded pretty cool. It was a little fatiguing to play though. You always had to be in one place tapping it with your foot. I found it better to turn it around and hit it with my heal, which feels more natural for me. "Wow, that's really boring, Jim" I hear you saying.

But the gig was fun--Kelly kept bringing me beers before I finished the one I was on, so I had two going most of the night. Nothing wrong with that.

By the way, wearing liquid latex, nose putty, and make-up for seven hours is not that great of an idea. This morning my face is all red--looks and feels just like a sunburn.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Private Party

OK, I've been fairly inactive this summer. I'll admit it. The usual summer parks gigs did not materialize, for some reason. I can't help but think that it might be because I'm friends with the booker's ex-boyfriend, but would she really be that way? Nah--I don't think so. But none the less, I sent in my dates available (at her request) and nothing became of it. Oh well. It's not like those gigs pay much, if anything. It was more of an exposure opportunity.

Tomorrow I have a private party to play. I have been playing benefits for Wishes And More the past few years, and someone who saw me at one of those shows contacted me to play their party. So off I go. My first thought was to get Dennis to play sax with me, but he's not available. And I thought about getting Connor to play percussion, but I'm guessing he's booked with his other band. And this would be VERY short notice. So I'll play the show solo, which is what they are expecting anyway.

Four hours solo! Haven't done that in a long time. Not since college anyway.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

To Twitter or not to Twitter, that is the question...

Well, it's the latest fad. People are twittering their every action, or inaction as the case may be. And it is highly recommended to musicians by The People Who Know, as a way of connecting with the public. But I can't help but wonder "who the hell cares?" Are there really people who follow this stuff?

Recording Today

I spent the morning recording drum tracks for a couple new songs--"Transmit/Receive" and "Boy Blue". I thought it went well, even though I am the "drummer". Sure, a real drummer could do it in less than 20 takes, but I like to play so what the hell. And I'm trying out a new technique to record the drums, which I think worked pretty well. Tomorrow--guitars, bass, maybe keys even.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Lazy

Lazy, that's what I am. I haven't had a show since the Kelly party, which was when? September? October? Don't remember. Still, I've been sporadically working on the new CD, and I'm closing in on it's completion. Now, how to promote it? Hmm....I know--live shows!

Stay tuned.....