i guess it's cool to mention that my instructor is kid millions from oneida,
whooooooa! buried the lede there!!
― these are not all of the possible side effects (Karl Malone), Thursday, 23 May 2019 16:51 (five years ago) link
Nice LL!
My drum technique is feeling better than it has in a long time, maybe ever. A big part of this is due to (as always) recognizing my limitations, but also strengths, and accepting that one grip/technique doesn't have to work for all situations. It's totally fine to switch grips for different phrases or musical situations, and even though most drummers do this naturally, it doesn't usually come up in drum lessons in my experience. I even switch left vs right hand lead for certain beats & tempos, and I've come to embrace that rather than thinking I have to be able to do everything one way.
xp whoa Brad
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 23 May 2019 16:53 (five years ago) link
It's all about the wrists but the fingers have to be following the stroke in a natural way, or else it'll lock things up. My mantra lately is for the hand to follow the stick, and do what it wants to do rather than vice versa.
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 23 May 2019 16:56 (five years ago) link
jordan completely otm, that is practically word-for-word what john told me during my last two lessons
― american bradass (BradNelson), Thursday, 23 May 2019 17:08 (five years ago) link
colpitts!!! love him!!! he seems like a totally good person in addition to being an excellent drummer
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, May 23, 2019 9:50 AM (eighteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
he's a huge sweetheart and such a good teacher
and the other book he's teaching me out of is, indeed, ted reed's syncopation
― american bradass (BradNelson), Thursday, 23 May 2019 17:11 (five years ago) link
Oh wow, good to know I'm on the right track then. Only took me 23 years to get here, I'm a late bloomer.
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 23 May 2019 17:14 (five years ago) link
if you're a late bloomer, idk what that makes mea revived corpse?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 23 May 2019 17:17 (five years ago) link
lol :)
i am feeling good about things clearly if i can make jokes about that
LL - those tracks are great! Gotta say I'm enjoying it more than the noise stuff, but I'm a sucker for catchiness.
― DJI, Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:03 (five years ago) link
Haha, you're not a late bloomer, just a late starter
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:06 (five years ago) link
I started playing guitar and singing lead vox in a Grateful Dead (and other similar stuff) cover band. It's a lot of fun.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Friday, 31 May 2019 15:03 (four years ago) link
https://midwestaxn.bandcamp.com/album/life-is-twigs
album out today, also on spotify and hopefully the other usual places
― na (NA), Friday, 31 May 2019 17:14 (four years ago) link
also i'm trying to get back into doing my own stuff but i've set a very leisurely pace for myself: write and record one song per month. attempting to follow the loose monthly schedule of writing lyrics the first week, writing music the second week, and recording the third and fourth weeks. trying to not worry about the songs being "good" or other people hearing them. the goal is just to be regularly working on my own music without putting too much pressure on myself. i finished the first one of these yesterday.
― na (NA), Friday, 31 May 2019 17:17 (four years ago) link
Just played a decently lengthy set before a decently large arts-festival crowd, and was decently well received. Pleasurable.
― Velcromancer (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 1 June 2019 23:29 (four years ago) link
NA -- holler if you want to record or borrow some drum shit! that sounds like a fun project.
i am playing with the new band on a porch this afternoon. i feel prepared, which is pretty weird! i need to write down the set list and some notes so i don't get confused bc i'm not used to playing a bunch of rock songs in a row. on a porch.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 2 June 2019 13:25 (four years ago) link
Band released a record, I’m pretty proud of it. I think the producer/engineer did a great job making a gang of hacks sound decent. salthorse.bandcamp
Next batch of songs is nearly all written; now we need to start whipping them into shape. Summertime is always tough for that bcuz everyone goes on vacation & we never seem to be able to coordinate that.
I bought my first synth after years of jonesing — a Mopho Keys. Looking forward to learning something new from scratch (the synthesis part, not the playing part).
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Tuesday, 4 June 2019 12:16 (four years ago) link
Sounds fantastic!
― DJI, Tuesday, 4 June 2019 17:28 (four years ago) link
Shoutout for the physical strenuousness of playing 45 min/12 energetic rock songs (only 3 are even moderately slow) in a row at full enthusiasm in a row. Wow Show is on Tues, I need to practice more! We played on a porch on Sun and it was fun but also very low pressure. A 94 year old lady offered me a $5 billl while I was playing <3
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:22 (four years ago) link
Clearly the things that are getting to me are 1) in a row continuously and 2) at full enthusiasmSigh
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:24 (four years ago) link
we have a show on the 14th and my drum lessons are changing the way i'm playing significantly, it's both great and... well, i just wish my playing were a little more fine-tuned at this point, it's v erratic from where i'm sitting (my bandmates mostly hear improvement)
― american bradass (BradNelson), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:35 (four years ago) link
I hear you! It’s very difficult to play the same songs with new skills ime!! It’s almost easier the less you know... :-/
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:41 (four years ago) link
Also playing songs is different for me — I played some songs last summer and the summer before but mostly when I play w people it’s more improvised and therefore less strenuous. Songs are hard, esp when I’ve only listened to them for like 2-3 weeks?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:42 (four years ago) link
You should expect hiccups as you learn imo — that’s good! It means your playing is expanding 💕
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:43 (four years ago) link
2 funny things from my musical life
two weeks ago: played on a porch as part of a "porchfest" neighborhood summertime thing. i was set up directly next to the front door in a little corner. during our 2nd or 3rd song, the 94 year old landlady (who lives upstairs) walked out the door and stood there on her porch/the stage right next to me while we played, but the singer had no idea because her back was turned to the door. Landlady was kindly ushered back inside, but she came back out a few songs later and offered me a $5 bill while we were in the middle of the song. i did not stop playing! good times.
last night -- played a free show with a touring band and a local band that had no social media presence but had been written up in the Trib (I didn't read it before the show). They were ok but had bad manners and did not stay for either of the sets after theirs and took all their people out to the bar to socialize amongst themselves for the entire evening. i looked it up this morning and guess what -- the drummer was my old dermatologist. i didn't recognize him. lol!
good times, feeling happy :)
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:06 (four years ago) link
i had another lesson on monday where my instructor made some final adjustments to my grip and i'm pretty confident with how i'm playing rn, even though it's still a little difficult (my right hand has adjusted organically, but my left hand considers what i'm trying to do a grave injustice and cramps up a lot). instructor emphasized that comfort is paramount, but i think i'm getting there anyway? i move around way less (and waste way less energy) and can play faster than i used to, just after 4.5 weeks of rudiments
band practice last night was wonderful, we've never sounded better
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:21 (four years ago) link
that's great! what are you doing for warm ups to your rudiment practice?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:23 (four years ago) link
i've just been dipping in and out of the first 10-15 pages of both stick control and ted reed syncopation and alternating these with the PAS rudiments
rudiments have been mad fun to play but also excruciating at 40 bpm which my instructor insists on lol (he finally upped the speed to 45 this week)
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:29 (four years ago) link
prob the most immediate benefit of these lessons is that i'm no longer baffled by drummers that really impress me, i can now tell what they're doing even if i can't do it yet/at all
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:31 (four years ago) link
been there! otm about understanding impressive drummers more. i think at heart i am ultimately most impressed by feel and seek out unique voices in that regard. i did a lot of strength building a few years ago and have been maintaining my routine -- it definitely pays off. i am currently at the point where i aim to increase my vocabulary so i can express more things, just like with language :)
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 17:02 (four years ago) link
even though that lady was trying to give me $5 to stop, it will take more than that!
i think at heart i am ultimately most impressed by feel and seek out unique voices in that regard
this is otm for me too
it took me forever to wrap my head around jeremy taggart's drum part on our lady peace's "automatic flowers" and but i think it's all just lightly modified stroke rolls? anyway just *thinking* about this stuff is fun
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 18:52 (four years ago) link
oh excellent i found a decent drum cover, maybe this one is still baffling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_xFjY3y1nQ
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 18:57 (four years ago) link
the drummer was my old dermatologist
Insert "skins" joke here
― Velcromancer (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 12 June 2019 23:12 (four years ago) link
I just sang Love Bade Me Welcome at an evening service tonight, which means I’ve now performed all 3 of the solo numbers from Vaughn Williams’ “Five Mystical Songs”
― brigadier pudding (DJP), Thursday, 13 June 2019 01:43 (four years ago) link
The singer/bandleader for the band I play bass in dissolved the band yesterday, after 6 months of rehearsals & one fun show. It’s a bit of a relief, because I feel like I’ve taken on too much in my life & need to simplify, & now I get to not be the flaky guy who quit.
Need to make sure I keep up my bass muscles/chops, though — those took a while to come back!
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, 13 June 2019 12:08 (four years ago) link
did not stay for either of the sets after theirs and took all their people out to the bar to socialize amongst themselves for the entire evening
I hate this. I am relatively understanding if a band's on a big tour and they need some chillout time for themselves but it smacks of arrogance to not bother watching other bands on the bill.
My band's album is soooo close to coming out now, just finalising artwork and checking test pressings. It's been a long time coming!
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 June 2019 18:07 (four years ago) link
awesome about the album! looking forward to hearing it!! will it be on bandcamp as well as physical copies? this is slum of l3gs?
the uncouth band who took off after their set was local! they played and then literally hightailed it to the bar (different room) to hang with their friends, presumably because they had to work the next morning as rock and roll dermatologist + friends. the touring band, who were very kind and funny and had some sweet harmonies, played to an almost empty room :( (we all watched them + maybe 5-6 other people) they were good sports.
usually i would be on the side of the people who maybe just didn't know the rules or conventions but these people really should have known better. i wonder if the dermatologist is an advertiser at the paper they were written up in :thinking emoji:
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 13 June 2019 18:58 (four years ago) link
fyi i loled at thiswonder if he hears that much
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:00 (four years ago) link
will it be on bandcamp as well as physical copies? this is slum of l3gs?
Yep, definitely putting it on bandcamp too. And yes, it's SoL!
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:43 (four years ago) link
Had a recording session in a lovely church space last night that I'm pretty happy with. I recorded a guitar duo playing a piece of mine and a piece by a friend and former student. Hope to get my piece edited and out, probably next week after life slows down. I used two of these, which wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to record classical guitars in a church but seemed to work well.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 02:17 (four years ago) link
Going to do a short improv set with a biggish name classical guitarist at a concert in early July and play in a guitar orchestra for Ben Verdery's Scenes from Ellis Island at a chamber music festival here later in July.
Also getting closer to completion with a guitar/electronics recording. Still hoping to get an album done this year.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 02:54 (four years ago) link
Cool Sund4r!
I agreed to back someone up for a festival set here, because her partner (who is also in the band) is an old friend, and I played on some of the albums. Feeling conflicted because I think the music is bad (not good). Well, the music is fine, but I find the singing and lyrics embarrassing. It's whatever and I'll just put on my session dude face, but I probably shouldn't have said yes. :/
I'm always trying to figure out how people can best present their talents, and this person could make really great instrumental music, or use their voice effectively in a style that doesn't call for great singing in a very traditional sense. But in this very exposed singer-songwriter context, man. People get to make their own creative decisions though, I'm sure people think I've made some bad ones too.
― change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 15:16 (four years ago) link
On other fronts though, I'm playing some drums and percussion for a Dr. John tribute show tomorrow night, and finally got a release date (Aug) for the electronic album I finished early in the year.
― change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 15:26 (four years ago) link
Those sound p cool. The other situation sounds tough. Curious how you end up making out with it. I'm probably going to have to say no to something that is just not my bag but it can be hard.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 04:27 (four years ago) link
i love the apple "music memos" app, especially the feature where it can add drum and bass parts to what you've recorded. it's a little wonky but that makes it even more fun. i recorded a sketch of a song i'm working on last night, which doesn't have words yet so i'm kind of murmuring some nonsense, and with the fake drums and bass it sounds like a skip spence song. i'm tempted to export it as is and just sing real vocals on top of it once i write lyrics.
for a while i would also get my kids to do stuff by singing a song about brushing their teeth or getting dressed or whatever into my phone then adding the drums and bass before playing it for them. i should bounce all those down.
― na (NA), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 19:17 (four years ago) link
ok i did what no one was asking for and bounced down the songs i made up to nag my kids. i don't know why there's 10 seconds of silence at the beginning but otherwise it's truly the "fingerprints" of being an annoying dad
https://soundcloud.com/user-378919876-468565288/nagging-songs
― na (NA), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 20:22 (four years ago) link
I uh found myself last night looking at the free preview of a lead sheet trying to arrange piano accompaniment for Green Day’s Basket Case. Nobody asked me to do this.
― president of deluded fruitcakes anonymous (silby), Friday, 5 July 2019 19:08 (four years ago) link
Wow
― flappy bird, Friday, 5 July 2019 19:50 (four years ago) link
I have only gotten about three measures in so far and to date I would not describe myself as being able to sing so I'm not sure what this exercise is for, exactly, if anything
― president of deluded fruitcakes anonymous (silby), Friday, 5 July 2019 19:52 (four years ago) link