We have this habit in FLING (one of the bands I play in) to get into protracted email conversations about a variety of subjects when we’re not together rehearsing or playing. Recently, Mike, one of our guitar players, pointed us all towards this 15-minute YouTube video about learning music theory. Mike’s an awesome guitar player who [...]

As I have in years past, last week I attended SXSW down in Austin, Texas, catching the last portion of the film festival, as well as all of Interactive and Music. I wrote some of this up for us over at The Mac Observer and iObserver, and also included mentions in our Mac Geek Gab [...]

They’re teaching it wrong. I mean, they have to be for every sound engineer I’ve met to get it wrong the first time. (By every I mean every one but you, of course) Oh… hi. Let me catch you up on this rant that’s been going on in my head for about 4 years now. [...]

Last night, Chuck Joiner delivered something that has never* previously been accomplished other than gigs and rehearsals: He assembled the entire (existing) Macworld All-Star Band into one (virtual) room, leaned heavily on the Skype button, and recorded the entire conversation. And we let him release it. Crazy, huh? Well, it’s out there, and it’s alive. [...]

As indicated, I took my first guitar lesson on Tuesday, 4 days ago. Our 8-year-old daughter took HER first lesson on Friday. Out teacher, Matt Lister, is absolutely fantastic. In the period of a half-hour lesson he was able to get each of us (separately) playing songs and actually using the instrument. To me, that’s [...]

On Tuesday I will continue on my path of knowledge expansion. After work I’ll head over to Earcraft Music in Dover, NH where I will take my first guitar lesson. The guitar is something I’ve always wanted to learn, and my wife is happy because it might just stave off flying lessons for a few [...]

Playing this evening with pick-up cover band KnockOff at Overtime Sports Bar and Grill in Beverly, MA. I think we start around 9:30 or so, but I’ll be there earlier than that to setup and maybe grab a bite. If you’re in the area, come by and say “hi”. KnockOff is a female-fronted, four-piece classic [...]

Tomorrow night (that’s Saturday, May 3rd) I’ll be playing with Ghetto Fabulous at the Lo Kai in Dracut, Massachusetts. Here in upper New England we have a slew of Chinese restaurants with attached bar/club rooms complete with big stages and sprawling dance floors. It’s quite odd to me, but hey, it works, and that Lo [...]

On Friday night I played at The Peddlar’s Daughter in Nashua, NH with Knock-off, a band with which I used to play full-time, and now pick up gigs with occasionally. It’s a female-fronted, 4-piece classic rock outfit, and the gigs are always a lot of fun. But, for me, Friday night’s gig was more than [...]

As most readers know, last week I attended the South by Southwest conference for the first time. I caught the last bits of the film festival, and then was there for both Interactive and Music. I reported on this over at The Mac Observer and iPodObserver.com throughout the week, as follows: Twitterized Attendees Shape The [...]