Technology & MSG

Art Attack XXVII was yesterday at University of Maryland College Park.
This is the fourth year that I’ve been involved in this production in some form or another. While I keep busy during the load-in, sound checks, in between bands, and load-out, during the sets themselves I get to sit back and enjoy. Except for a [...]

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Exactly one week from today, the doors open for Rock ‘N Roll Revival XXI. Every year there is a theme, sometimes unofficial and sometimes more public. This year it’s public. “Welcome to the Jungle” is this year’s theme, despite the lack of Guns N’ Roses on the program. We’re expecting record attendance. Already five of [...]

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I missed this video on Sunday night. Listen on your stereo, though I wish there were an HD version.

I really like the arrangement with the orchestra, particularly with the strings and piano.

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Inspired by a fellow blogger’s weekly Thursday post, here’s a few things that rock.

Pre-heating the bed with the electric blanket.
House, M.D.: Season 5, minus one episode in particular. Particularly Locked In, for camerawork and perspective (and a nice performance by Mos Def).
Amusing late-night emails that close out the day just right, with a smile on [...]

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I’ve got two general admission tickets to Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa at Rams Head Live this Friday, January 15th at 8pm (with doors at 6:30).
Free. No strings.
First come, first served.

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For the past couple days, the guys of Fools & Horses have been in the studio again. This video (the first six seconds NSFW, thanks Tim) is from their first day back.

The cabin in the mountains of Virginia may be secluded, but I wouldn’t consider it a retreat by any means. Even without lyrics, I’m [...]

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This weekend’s snowfall gave me plenty of time to relax.
I’ve been enjoying First Stint, a free 22 track album released by Ben Youngs. Well-composed soundscapes dominate the album, with a few remixes thrown in for variety. A few remixed Fools & Horses tracks are included, as is a really addictive track by Kaitlin Sweeney.
The last [...]

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The song itself dropped out of favor after repeated airplay, despite being upbeat and good. But the video still stands; a clever mix of illustrated Akira-like animation atop Photoshopesqe backdrops.

I really like this video. The means are different, but it reminds me of Take on Me.

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This week’s duties complete, I’m kicking back and enjoying a live recording of Pete Francis and Boo Reiners. Though they played the Grand Ballroom almost two years ago, I still haven’t grown tired of the 74 minute acoustic set. It’s a semi-permanent fixture in my home CD player.
Music is a fixture of my life, in [...]

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There’s this song called All Things, by The Cinematic Orchestra. It’s driving me nuts.
A sample is available from Pandora. The full track on Last.fm, and according to a comment there, “at the beginning: samples from John Barry’s work on the soundtrack of Petulia (1968).”
I haven’t seen the movie. This song (and every other track on [...]

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Wolf Trap is an amazing venue, specifically the Filene Center. I usually avoid 66 at all costs, but this venue is worth the drive.
First, the venue itself is beautiful. A wooden open-air structure, not unlike Nissan Pavilion but small and more classy. The interior is lit by reflection off the white girders. Wood paneling and [...]

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Though I was just a spectator at Artscape 2009, these two photos explain part of why I like working shows. I get to see the before, during, and after phases.
Before, Friday night:

During, Saturday night just before Robert Randolph and the Family Band:

I didn’t stick around for the after, nor did I make much of an [...]

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The Cheaters took the Festival Stage last night, putting on a nice set. The crowd was mellow and having a good time, though more sparse than today will be.

I especially liked the picnic tables and lawn chairs that were provided by the Artscape staff for the Festival Stage. Also, it seems all the stages are [...]

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On Friday I worked Art Attack XXVI at College Park.

Compared to last year, it was more of a concert than a festival. There were only three bands before the headliner, compared to the dozen or so in the past. Bands went on from 5ish (instead of 2ish) until 10pm, at which point the stadium lights [...]

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When I think acoustic, I think quiet sets. Maybe acoustic guitar without amplification, like you’d see in a coffee house or in someone’s home. Really it just means no drummer. The theory is that bands have to be mixed much louder to be heard over the drums natural volume. Such was the case at Cheeseburger [...]

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