Music
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Lessons learned from recording
Well, after about a week after hearing what I actually sounded like (via the USB mic) I have cut my practice speed by about 10%. So far I’m liking the result. The tone has improved a good bit, and I’m closer to reaching Norman Blake’s right hand goal of “shaking water off your hand”. It’s a whole arm motion, similar to throwing a baseball, with little wrist effort involved.
On another note, Mike has pictures from the Millions More March.
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Testing the condenser mic
I just recorded the old warhorse “Whiskey Before Breakfast” with myself on the lead and rhythm. On the whole I’m liking the new mic. It seems to do a fine job. I need to educate myself a bit on the whole recording process, but I do like it.
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USB mic review
For those looking for the review, let me say I’m not done experimenting with it (or the podcast) yet. I still need to record the music (which I’ll be creating) which will be a flatpicked version of Saint Anne’s Reel.
And, of course, religious podcasts are called “GodCasts“.
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The Hendrix Show
I just returned from the Hendrix show. I had a good time, there was a good turnout and all in all it was a success. It was surprisingly well documented both in audio, video and photo.
Gallery Here (or just click on the Photo.) The photos didn’t turn out to be that notable, but not bad all things being equal.
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A pleasant surprise
For no particular reason I happened upon on the Tracy Chapman on the Tavis Smiley Show. I barely remember any of her songs, but I recall not liking any of them in particular (too earnest). So I was pleasantly surprised by her performance on the TS show. It was polished, refined and overall a very fine performance.
What struck me most was the difference her guitar made. I’ve been accustomed to hearing dreadnoughts for so long that the sound of a regular OM (I think) was striking, particularly since she did not belt out the song (she sang at a fairly moderate intensity). Now I really want to get an OM model as a third guitar, but I probably won’t.
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My favorite commies and the Blasters
Out soon
- 4-11-44 by the Blasters will soon be released ! Their first studio album (with both Dave and Phil Alvin in decades)
- Freedom and Weep by the Waco Brothers (my favorite left wing band who sadly only makes it to Atlanta every 5 years or so) is finally putting forth another new record.
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The Appalachians
I just finished watching The Appalachians on PBS. On the whole, it was good, but had a few glaring flaws namely:
- Why was it funded by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and NASA?
- The failure to draw the conclusion that successful unionization was the cause of the increased wages for the coal miners, hence the increased mechanization (and safety) of the mines, and also the drop in the people needed to work the mines. The producers treated these as unrelated events.
- No music past the Carter Family, which is quite notable since there is much footage of Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson available.
- No mention of traits that carried over from Scotland and Ireland, namely a desire to be on the far edge of society (and I’m sure many others, such as whiskey making) Instead they concentrated just on the music as the only carryover. While important, it was hardly the whole thing.
- No mention of bluegrass music; they stop at string bands.
- They omit the details of the modification of the banjo over time. Originally it was a four sting instrument made from gourds. It evolved into a 5 string instrument made from cats, and now leather. They present it as coming into existence fully formed as a 5 stringed instrument. It’s an interesting progression and on that stuck out by it’s absense.
- And most importantly, they omit the importance of the cultural factors and the terrain in explaining the hardness of their lives. They wanted their independence at any cost, and living on land inhospitable to mankind was the price they paid.
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Telluride
I have now been downloading the Telluride bluegrass festival (a legal download) for a day and a half now. It’s a legal download off of BluegrassBox.com. I’m surprised that someone offered it in it’s entirety this way.
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An Evening at Blind Willie’s
Where surprisingly few photos turned out that well. Here is one.
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The Boo Hoo Ramblers
I saw the Boo Hoo Ramblers at Blind Willies’ last night and they’re still my favorite new (to me) band. A very tight trio of guitar (periodically banjo) bass and fiddle the Boo Hoo boys perform a well stuctured and very long show. I highly recommend seeing them.
On a side note, the singer/guitarist is Clark Ashton, who also has Commuter Art Gallery, A.K.A. the house with all the large iron statues in the front yard on North Druid Hills road.
