Deeper waters
March 10th, 2009
Lately, I’ve been diving into deeper waters of musical tradition. I’ve been digging into the discography of the prominent figures of influence in much of the music we hear today. Beginning more modernly with Bruce Springsteen but sliding backwards through Dylan to Seeger, Orbison, Guthrie, and onward and outward. While these names are obvious and will be Music 101 to many, I am coming to them on my own terms and, in many ways, with fresh eyes. Fresh for myself (not necessarily speaking for others). While these guys blazed many of their own trails, they are also rooted, in different ways, to various musical traditions. In my own musical compositions, I’m starting to search out some ground to stand on, some arena to inhabit. Of course this isn’t something you rationally decide ahead of time, so much as something you find yourself sliding towards as you create.
Barring Orbison/Guthrie, all of those I just named are still alive! Believe me, to find out that a 90 year old Seeger is still out and about was pretty amazing a realization to have. (more…)
Photos: SDS recording set
September 15th, 2008
I have updated my Flickr with a set of photos taken at various times this year while Stop Don’t Stop was recording their full length debut album, Sweating Through The Night (available soon on iTunes & Amazon MP3). Enjoy!
Good news
July 7th, 2008
I got the job in Lima, OH working as Instructional Designer for Rhodes State College! Woohoo!
This isn’t news to 99% of the people that read this blog, but I figured I’d get it up for-the-record.
I’m going to be doing a lot here and I look forward to it all coming together. Creating workshops, collaborating with faculty, maintaining a new e-learning blog (inspired by Terence Armentano’s work), and more!
Plus, having a great job like this will support my passions in creating music and…well…playing video games on the side.
Lately
June 23rd, 2008
Lately I’ve been recording the Stop Don’t Stop record. It’s been sort of slow, but it should be pretty good. The first full-length that will come of a band that I have been in (thus, I am not counting The Family Album from ’05).
Aside from that, I am now in search of a job. I am torn between the loss of independence of a full-time job, but need the financial support to invest in many things in the future. Music, trips, future life, it’s all going to take that dreaded thing called money. If none of my full-time searches pan out, then I will have to resort to something less ambitious.
While a full time job will mean less music time, I haven’t been as productive as I could have been with all my free time. I am hoping to prove that I can change that, though. I’ve been meditating lately on “self-control” and how doing whatever you want at any given moment can actually mean a loss of control, because you only end up doing whatever you have an immediate desire for, and few or no longer-term goals will be worked towards. This happens with work, but also with leisure, with eating, with interacting with others, etc.
A bedroom demo taste of the great things to come
May 9th, 2008
Recorded this direct line-in to my macbook (which gives it a raunchier, lower-fi sound) as a demo process for what is to come this summer. I hope to do a LOT this summer, and aside from Stop Don’t Stop, Dunvint, and other projects, I hope to get a full length out of my own songs.
Without further ado:
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Don’t miss last post, where I placed a cover version of A Nod On Hold, by Ms. John Soda.
a nod on hold
May 9th, 2008
Here’s a home recording of the song I did live for the JustinKenya Benefit concert. Perhaps more to come?
Get into 3 part harmonies around the 2 minute mark!
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Stop Don’t Stop @ Frankie’s
April 30th, 2008
I have updated my Flickr page with images from the Stop Don’t Stop show at Frankie’s in Toledo. We played with AM Error (their final show), GoLab, and Enon. Very fun show!
We were almost too late to the show because Corey had a bad spill while skating in Maumee. Apparently he was attempting a wall ride, fell, and in a reflexive motion put his arms out. Let’s just say that landing full force on your fully extended arm is bad news for your shoulder. So, it popped out. We picked up at St. Luke’s in Maumee. He was a trooper and still played the show!
Corey “shouldering” his shoulder injury.
I am stealing this update notification gif from Justin because it is a great idea:
Coming soon to the mp3 store…
April 29th, 2008
The Press Gang EP - $3.99
The Toledo Free Press says – “Call The Press Gang piano punk, call ‘em a car wreck between indie rock and metal, just don’t call ‘em the Modern Soviet Enemies — though The Press Gang rose from the ashes of that band, this is a new chapter. Art-damaged guitar clashes with tight horns and spy-movie Farfisa organ in the twitchy “Teen Steam,” while “Cobra Cadabra” puts wild-eyed angst to a danceable beat, then throws in enough noisy left turns to trip up the smoothest steppers.”
Interpunk – “The debut EP from The Press Gang has all of the ingredients to make your jaded, drunk, art school dropout ass stand up and dance. Sharp guitar melodies and insane keyboard hooks consumed by a punk rock vibe that could only come from Bowling Green, OH…”
The Press Gang has shared the stage with: The New York Dolls, The Chesterfield Kings, The Supersuckers, The Charms, Stylex, Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Nomo, Make Believe, Cold War Kids, Detachment Kit, Thunderbirds Are Now!, An Albatross.
Now defunct, the band lives on vicariously as members Ben Lucas, Corey Baum, and Michael Edwards went on to form Stop Don’t Stop. They are currently recording an EP that will be released this summer.
The Press Gang EP Tracklist:
- Seal the Deal
- Teen Steam
- We’re With You If You’re With Us
- Cobra Cadabra
- Getting to Know Your Partner
- BONUS: Tired Machine
- BONUS: Sexy Revolutionaries
Presented by The Pseudobook Music Store
coming to a ds near you
April 28th, 2008
This game will definitely end up in my Nintendo DS this summer. Even if on the gameplay side it doesn’t have as much depth as the later games in the series, it holds a greater nostalgic value for me (and perhaps Justin too?). Jon Herald will have to buy it (once again?) to redeem the copy of the game he once had to smash with a hammer.
Tellah
Final show for The Tapes
April 26th, 2008
Last night was the final show for The Tapes. What a sendoff. They played just about everything from their new album, Out of the Great Black Swamp. You can pick that 11 song beauty up at the Pseudobook Music Store.
I had the good fortune of playing banjo on A Silver Song. What classy guys. Bless their hearts.
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