Going Deaf

I have no doubt that I am going deaf. Although this will become just another annoyance to the people that I have regular contact with, it is certainly bound to become one of the more frustrating "quirks" that I exhibit....that is constantly responding to people with "Huh?". I realized last week that I had to continually ask my business associates to repeat themselves, particularly in public places where the ambient noise is louder than normal. I ended up trying to read lips as well as I listened intently but it didn't help. My grandmother and father are both virtually deaf so I suppose it is a genetic predisposition. Of course, all of the years of loud music hasn't helped I'm sure. Naturally, I'm blind without contacts and that sucks too. Given the choice though, I would rather go deaf than blind.

I read an interesting article this week in Scientific American about how music actually affects your sense of taste. So certain music will either enhance or dull the taste of certain foods. Additional research is to come, but many high level restaurants are of course very interested in this.

With the exception of my brother-n-law, I never met anyone named Adam who I liked.

The silence is deafening

I knew weeks ago that last night would be special. James and I have worked with and become friends with all 5 of the bands that were playing. We have become friends of their friends and of their friends' friends. From the moment I walked into Skully's last night until the minute I departed, I was surrounded by a huge community of people who I realized I had become very close to. These were people who support each other and genuinely care about one another. There is this incredible sense of camaraderie and partnership that I always hoped would exist in the local music scene and I saw it so clearly last night. And it is so real.

As I drove home last night, I turned off the radio and tried to reflect on the evening's events in silence. The ever present ringing in my ears though remained and I knew then as much as I ever have, that I can never turn off the radio.

9:30

Just a reminder that tonight's show starts at 9:30 with the Blastronauts. I encourage you to come. Would be nice to see old friends.

Seeing Green...

So this Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day. Historically, I've never been one to really celebrate this occasion since I drink plenty on most nights, but I'm looking forward to this year's event. On Weds night, all of my favorite bands that I have had the pleasure of recording will be playing at Skully's...for free! Monolithic Cloud Parade, Lost Revival, Town Monster, Blastronauts and The George Elliot Underground!! I can't think of a better lineup and in order to ensure I am able to attend, I have cleared my normally double booked schedule on Thursday.

I can recall probably around 93 or 94....Ishkabibble playing Ruby Tuesday's on St. Patrick's Day. They did it every year and always had this "little person" dressed up as a leprachaun who danced around for the entire show. That same leprachaun use to hang out in the short north all the time. He would come into all of the bars and everyone would always buy him liquor because it was so funny to see him get wasted. A little freaky for sure but.....Good Times. I'm sure that little leprechaun drunk is dead now but I will honor his memory as I sip a fine Irish Stout this St. Patrick's Day.

Justice for All

It has been two weeks since I last had chest pains but that near record accomplishment came to an end this morning. As I departed for work, I decided that I had heard enough of the latest Sade record and rummaged through one of the cabinets in the garage for something to listen to. Naturally, 90% of the CD's in there were CDR's that were unmarked, which is sometimes fun to go through because I never know what old recording will turn up. But remarkably, I did manage to find a practically new, unscratched version of Metallica's "Justice for All" (see last post as this album is in my top 10 of all time).

Bill, Don, Christy, Tally, Ron and I used to rock out to this record on a daily basis circa 1989. We each had specific songs that we would air drum and "sing" to. I remember loving doing air drums to "justice for all" and Christy would do "shortest straw". Bill would lip sync "Blackened" and we would all freak out at how "perfect" he did it. It's funny because I remember so little of that time yet when this album went in, so much of it came back to me.

What a great way to start a Friday morning. My heart is racing..my ears hurt already... and I made it to work in half the time. Nothing like a 40 year guy racing down 670 listening to Metallica in his Volvo. Good Times.

My favorite top 10 albums of all time...

Although I am clearly old and mostly out of touch with today's music scene (I leave that responsibility to James), I have been thinking about the albums that have influenced me the most in terms of both musicianship and sonics. I'm not even going to try and list them in terms of what I think is best from top to bottom, but here are my top 10 in absolutely no particular order, understanding of course that with the exception of a couple, this list could change dramatically depending on the day you ask:

1. London Calling - The Clash
2. Dark Side of the Moon -Pink Floyd
3. Us - Peter Gabriel
4. Duran Duran - Duran Duran
5. Operation Mindcrime - Queensryche
6. Justice for All - Metallica
7. Soul Cages - Sting
8. Blood Sugar Sex Magic - Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle
10. Lost Tribe - Lost Tribe

Stupidest things ever heard.....

A friend reminded me recently of a question he naively asked me about a year or so ago that at the time, I thought was hysterical. I still do. No fault of his though and I shouldn't laugh. I mean there is no such thing as a dumb question right? I guess even from musicians who should know better..... here are a few I have heard over the past couple of years that come to mind...starting with my aforementioned friend's question.....

Scenario #1
Q: So I finally got these new stereo speakers for my home stereo but I can't figure out where to plug them in?
A: You plug them into the back of your receiver with the speaker wire.
Q: I know that man, I'm asking about how to I plug them into power outlet in the wall?
A: My god......

Scenario #2
Bassist of a really good rock band is getting ready to lay down his tracks in the live room downstairs. I mic him up and tell him I will be talking to him from upstairs. I go up to the control room and start playing back the track, adjusting sends and asking him if he can hear me. No response from him at all. I have the room mic on and I can hear him fine so I know it isn't that. I keep turning knobs and scratching my head. I can't figure out why he can't hear the music. Finally, I walk down to the live room and see that he didn't put the headphones on.

Scenario #3
My "assistant" (one guess who this is)...calls me a few weeks back in a panic because he is ready to record a live session and there is nothing playing through the speakers. He has checked and double checked everything...or so he thought. "Did you turn the power amp on?" "Oh.....cool"

State of the Union

Last night, I read a rather lengthy post on www.gearslutz.com from an anonymous "well known producer" who had a few harsh things to say about the current state of the music industry and the associated affect on studios and freelance engineers/producers. Essentially, his contention was that the proliferation of the Internet and illegal downloading has led to the demise of the industry. He cited the fact that there are only 4 major record labels left in the world and studio after studio closures (including Abbey Road, although it was recently saved by the British Government) are putting professionals out of work. He went on to absolutely discourage anyone from choosing this as a profession.

First of all, illegal downloading isn't hurting the artists, it is hurting the labels, distributers, retailers and everyone in between. Artists have never made anything off of record sales anyway. For years, the labels lined their pockets with the artist's product and never thought twice about how they were taking advantage of them. My bet is on the fact that this "producer" spent his career as a corporate hired puppet of the labels that took advantage of artists at every turn and now he is bitching because his "services" are no longer required.

The fact is, music is richer and more accessible today than ever before and anyone can get in on the game. The resources of a label or a multi-million dollar studio is no longer required and we are all the better for it. Engineers and Producers who understand that the game has changed and are willing to embrace it will acheive greater success than ever before. Although technology now allows anyone with a pc or mac to record an album, software will never replace knowledge and that is the difference.

I'm guessing most people involved in music feel like I do....that this is something that we have to do...not something we ever chose to do. In the past 6 months, I have been exposed to more new music than I had during the entire 80's and 90's. That's a good thing, no?