Tuxedo.

I really don't care for black and white p-basses. However, I've switched this one up for Halloween. Damn...those big pole-pieces look HUGE...I think that I'll leave the cover off.

I'd Better Learn How To Play.

Seriously. This was recently released, and the samples are damn good. If one took the time to learn it, a real bass player would become completely optional (and someone else to pay). Take a look at the "Tutorial Video" if you want to see something really scary.

I recently learned how to do the dead notes on "Stealth" in a reliable manner. I was having problems with harmonics all over the place. I should've figured that out to bother Yessit about before he handed the reins over--I think that he mostly just played by accident half the time, though. I'm now playing a lot more notes on that song in particular.

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Now playing: Do Make Say Think - All Of This Is True

Show Recap; Stuff

We were far from perfect, but the crowd was pissed enough that they didn't care (this is what we count on). We made some new friends, and sold some cds. I'm still astounded by the amount of money--when I joined the band, a point was made that this band is not commercially successful (that isn't isn't even the case).

The Limbs is a one-man deal. Dude did a Tom Waits cover to close his set, and, although TW gets on my nerves usually, I was stoked. Totally worth seeing; I'll be a repeat offender.

The DJ/VJ did a mashup of Wild Thing



and Lick It Up



it was awesome.

Light Travels Faster did their thing (solid set). Later, Todd and I talked amps. I really like that guy, the rest of the band isn't very chatty.

It was great to re-connect with Mark from The Construct. I played with him 15 years ago, briefly during that post Neglected Mind period. Mark is really flourishing with the loop pedals. Dude always had impeccable time, so I'm not surprised that he's doing something technical. He's really a great drummer, along the lines of Mike Ricketts.

Tito made it down. He isn't used to seeing me play with so much tone. The new electronics and new BLC songs that I'm playing helmsman on really are different for me. I used to be uncomfortable with sparse arrangements, but not so much anymore.

BLC had some equipment casualties, though. Greg's two Les Pauls were not happy with tuning and it sounded bad, or in another key. Either my amp or Josh's made some bizarre sounds (the verge of pure DC clipping) 3/4 of the way through the set. I think that I was the offender--but it could have been the PA. After I get some rest, I need to see WTF. At least we don't have anything scheduled until 5/16, so I can work out the amp crap.

I'm stoked that I have the BLC cab at home with me, so that I can play the new bass through it and see if a useful BLC eq is to be found with a 4x10".

It looks like we're on the hook for a major (maybe) fiasco in October. Whatever...we'll be stoked to do it up--playin' for despondent college kids is totally our bag. Playing in a truck is an experience that I welcome.

I heard the preliminary mix for the compilation submission. Dameon sounds a little too AM radio; I'd like the bass and drums louder. I'm not going to bitch too much. The fuckin' Hammond track doesn't sound too bad with the new context (Josh really did some nice distortion guitar work).

I require sleep now.

Wanted--Not Like My Profile Photo.

I'm looking for

1. A Rhodes Piano; and
2. A Vibraphone

Cheap, for sure. Either will be put to good use.

Mighty.

Usually I really try to post my music stuff somewhere else. This evening is an exception, though. Tonight, Bad Luck City reinforced that we could mix it up as well as learn. We're working up songs for the record before we have to go into the studio. Only one of 'em is totally done. We play differently since the scoring incident. We got a good review here, though.

Kelly totally threw down with a violin march (or it became a march) that was fuckin' great. I was stoked that we re-worked one that wasn't that exciting live the two times that we've done it. The new version is going to be much better, even if we have to do up a keyboard part.

Actually, that's the real reason that this is a public deal. BLC is looking for a Rhodes piano or a vibraphone, preferably cheap. I think that a Rhodes will serve us best. Now that we have a two Hammonds; something percussive is required. Sure, the Kurzweil can do all of these sounds with ease, but it just seems cheesy to have a synth on our stage.

Certainly, we're going to require a bigger rehearsal space if we add more instruments.

This One Wins The Prize For Ugly Guitars

I love ugly guitars, but Gibson has been building some real piles, man. I thought that the reverse flying v was cheesy (post here), but this one wins: The Reverse Explorer:

Cool: Tone Snobbery Links; Ronny's Mix Tape

• Tales From the Tone Lounge;
• BassFuzz.com (like I really need a fuzz);
• All-Tube Bass Head Buyer's Guide (from bassplayer.com - the Mesa Bass 400 is a cheap sleeper, I swear)

Ronny made me a mix tape that's bad ass. It makes the drives to work better, especially since I've been doing the immersion to learn the songs for the Sound Diapers show (more on that a little later, after another beverage). Ronny is the dude that turned me onto Smog:



and the Neutral Milk Hotel (studio version is here, with a nice write-up)
(one of those old Roadstar basses would be awesome):



and John Fahey (fingerstyle steel string turns me on):



I need to get my act together and discover some shit for Ronny--I owe him some tunes.

Depressed.

I think that this deal has blossomed into a depression/anxiety sort of thing. That 12-gauge is looking appealing, again. The drive to practice from Lakewood made me want to seriously do myself in.

I'm feeling completely tapped-out (cashed) for the creativity. It's getting to be agonizing to come up with something new as far as bass goes. With two bands in hard core writing mode, it's getting a bit arduous for me. I discovered a new trick tonight, though, and instead of listening to one guitarist and crafting my line based on that, I listened to what the other guy was doing and did a counter-harmony on that. It changed the song a lot more than I intended, though. Changing the fundamental is almost too much power to wield for me.

This bummed me out a lot; I want to disappear. Dude is building a database of front range bands and shit, so I guess that it's an admirable task, but just about impossible to keep up to date.

Today, I loaded 10,000 pounds of pine needles and cactus into my truck with the help of a couple of 17-year-olds (they REALLY impressed me, actually). Airborne cactus spikey things are currently infesting my epidermis, and making me miserable.

Tomorrow is 14 tons of gravel to deliver and spread in Mahoney's driveway. That's a lot of fucking gravel, but with my new dump truck, it ought to be easy work. The temporary tag expires on the 26th, so I need to get all of my gravel hauling done ASAP. We're selling the dump body and replacing it with an awesome compactor as soon as we finish shortening the New Jersey monster truck.

Tomorrow is also getting together with the RC to work out the set list and shit. I'm glad that fuckin' Ronny is so enthusiastic about this deal. That makes me feel like I'm doing good. I'm all about high-exposure gigs, if it means a string deal (that's the reason that I said yes).

The bass amps and speakers are not pleasing me at the moment. I caught the SWR 1x15" on fire a couple of nights ago. I picked up an Eminence replacement that's rated 600 watts at 8 ohms--this might be usable (shit, Tommy Shannon uses 'em). Go Kentucky! It's a nice nice speaker, for sure. The Booger is STILL in the shop. Dude is busy, and faster than Stubby, but shit, I'm miserable without that amp. Equipment nightmares are the worst kind.

Mostly, I'm FUCKING TIRED. People want stuff, and I deliver, and I'm miserable. Soon it will be over.

Hospitality, Bitches

Tomorrow is my trip to the hospital in order to cure my malady (second time for this repair). I'm all nervous and shit. My mantra is all about feeling better after I go under the knife. No BLC practice on Saturday means I can actually do some recovering, although I'd rather play bass than chill out stoned on Oxycodone (hee hee) all weekend long.

Speaking of that, I feel like I'm playing really well presently. My BLC rig is sounding awesome and Ampeg-y. I am digging that 4x10" sound for that band (who'd have thunk). The orange one is sounding nice, too, wired parallel. Working out "The Distaff" last weekend was really a high point for me. Just hanging out with Dameon, Andrew and Kelly really can improve my attitude.

Agonizing through a very peculiar bridge tonight was equally satisfying. The tube meanie is requiring some dialing in, however. I'm either standing too close to the amp, or playing too loud. That B tonight was totally getting away from me. Maybe that's because it's all 60 cycle? That's my theory for the time being. I'll work it out. Might need to do some work to quell that feedback--maybe switch to heavy gauge strings (!?!), a higher-mass bridge, and a brass nut (mas mass). I need to replace zee hinkey nut since I've fucked it up with los cheapies de medium. After the next batch of shows, I'll take her into the shop.

The two bands are very different sounds, and I'm glad that I can get my electric grandmother off after getting my moody on. I cannot use a plectrum, though. Thus, I'm not going to pretend that I'm Peter Hook anytime soon. That was a funny moment.

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Now playing: New Order - Broken Promise