Hello my great and loyal reader(s)! I hope this entry finds you well. I am writing with the world blocked out by some lovely AC/DC vinyl plugging my ears from the outside world and a decent sized grin on my face. This past weekend and week has been pretty spectacular so far. There was a broad spectrum of performers and yet another wonderful shopping experience.
Friday night, I attended the stand-up comedy show of Louis CK. I know that this blog is about music but I feel stand-up comedy, whether clean or dirty, is all about the proper delivery and timing, much like music. Louis is a master of this. He starts the show with material you wouldn't think would be good to open. He avoids the tacky "How are you guys tonight?" start. He opens with an awkward joke that forces you into his world right away. Much like an established rock band will start with a song the fans know, but not the big hit that you would close with. Louis works the audience into a frenzy of laughter driven tears by the end by just piling on the pressure with more and more outrageous stream of thoughts. Unlike older comedians, you have to pay attention to Louis to tell really when one joke ends and another begins. Before I move on though, I must thank him for stopping the show and checking on my safety when the folding chair I was in gave way and I hit the floor. I was still laughing, for the win.
Sunday, I made my way to Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore to see the Wilson sisters: Heart. After having fun in the Hard Rock Cafe looking on John Lee Hooker's guitar, and complaining about how more mainstream, modern metal groups turn their bass up too high to appeal to those who like Hip-Hop, we got our prime spot on the lawn in the front, dead center to hear the opening act, Danielia Cotton. I really wish I had not heard her. Her band was mediocre at best, and her singing a bit too over the top. A bit too screaming for me. I call it "fake" pipes. Screaming is different than the high note you're going for and frankly, it was the first time at any rock concert I had wished for ear plugs. My ear drums were ringing quite bad. I was quite glad when she was done.
I should mention this is my dad's first rock concert without it being a cover band. He was in awe watching the roadies switch the stage in minutes for Heart. But his real look of awe came when Heart actually came out and brought the house down. They didn't sound quite as good as they did last summer, but I chalk it up to three factors:
1. Saturday night they did a show in Niagara Fall, NY, so they were on the road for 8 hours the night before to get to Baltimore.
2. Pier Six does not have the sound system that Nissan Pavilion has.
3. Cheap Trick is a much better opening act and removes some of the pressure.
So with that said, Heart still tore it up. They did a bit of a set I didn't expect, with them doing a few Led Zeppelin covers, including "Angels of Avalon", "Going to California" and "Immigrant Song". Fear not though, Heart still hammered home "Magic Man", "Barracuda", and "Crazy on You". This was pretty much the craziest I had seen Pier Six. I feel though that a lot of people who wanted to go were scared by the cheapest seat being $30. They didn't consider that Pier Six isn't a stadium, its not big. Its an intimate venue and can provide some gems by allowing you to see your favorite groups up close and personal.
Tuesday began with a lovely lunch and then a second trip to Trax on Wax. The owner, Gary, was again friendly and very welcoming and thanked me in person for my blog entry. No need to thank me though, its my obligation to write and share my experiences in the music world. Since it was before pay day and there was a concert that night, I had to be a little tight on the wallet, but still walked out with the previously mentioned AC/DC record. a very nice, practically mint condition original pressing of "High Voltage", which is my second favorite AC/DC album and my favorite with Bon Scott. This album though definitely was remixed when moved to CD. The album is rough, and sounds like it was recorded in a bar, which just adds to the flair of AC/DC being your bad-ass bar band. I also grabbed "Sabotage" by Black Sabbath. This is the sixth album by Black Sabbath. This album is a bit softer than the usual Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne fare. I feel lucky though that I got a version of it from the early pressings that included a 23 second secret track at the end of Ozzy goofing around in the studio. Quite entertaining!
The second half of Tuesday included taking the subway into DC with my pal Beth to see Keane. Keane is one of the very few modern pop groups that I like. I am not fond of them no longer being a trio, but I cannot complain. They bring a prime show to you. Keane's lead singer, Tom Chaplin, has a killer voice, and is the only singer I've seen that could possibly fill Freddie Mercury's shoes, vocally. This band brought a wave of positive energy over the crowd I've never seen. Keane was accompanied by two opening acts, Helio Sequence and Mat Kearney. Helio Sequence is a duo of drums and guitar. They didn't really introduce themselves, and kind of assumed everyone already knew who they were. They also seemed hung up in having lots of synth backing tracks which took away from what skills they were presenting to us. It also caused their songs to sound identical to me, at least in a live setting. Mat Kearney followed them and he really wowed me. Hes not my type of music but he brought a stage presence which was quite nice. My only gripe is that he has a 4-piece band backing him. Come up with a band name and give them credit, considering you're playing rhythm guitar 3 and singing. There were two other guitarists there, both with nice voices, bass and drums. Let them in and come up with a name. Other than that, dude you are golden and going to make lots of money.
Keane though really rocked Constitution Hall, which is not suited for this kind of show at all. Kean brought a simple stage set up with no screens or anything like that. They didn't need it, the whole band is charismatic. They were just straight up fun to watch. I was transfixed much like my father was during Heart. In 72 hours I went from seeing a band a bit past its prime, just doing shows for fun, to seeing bands that are still fresh, young, and having to fight for fans. Might I add that initially at the Keane show, I felt old and out of place. Then I noticed a 40-something man singing his heart out the next section over, and below me a 40-something woman basically doing her impression of Joan of Arc from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" throughout the whole show. This made me feel better.
Nothing against my friend Beth at all, but the tickets were initially to be for my girlfriend and I to attend, with Keane being one of her favorite bands. I did find myself enjoying this concert a little differently due to company. Beth is a great concert partner and always will be. This was to be my girlfriends second concert; her first was the George Clinton mega-show. I think I would have seen this show through fresher eyes, had I been with a concert noobie and a really big Keane fan. Beth found herself enjoying the groups and discovering them the same way I did. The concert really isn't just about who is playing, but with whom you are sharing. The music is an experience and Keane was one of the first things my darling girlfriend and I shared. It would be a slight if I didn't mention this point in this blog entry. I'm truly grateful Beth came along, as it would have killed me to waste a ticket and Beth is always a lot of fun, and open minded and flexible to whatever we're going to see. But I cannot deny that I was thinking how the show might have been different to me if Melanie had attended.
With that, I sign off for the night. "High Voltage" has played out and the arm on the old Pioneer phonograph has retracted. I leave you tonight with a video of Keane from DAR Constitution Hall, doing my favorite song by them, "Somewhere Only We Know". Have a good night. This one's for you ;-) Enjoy the girl singing terribly out of tune at the start, but who cares, everyone in the building was on cloud nine by this point.
Showing posts with label Keane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keane. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Funk You Very Much
Greetings friends. I am back from a short break due to not having a computer. I write to you tonight about the last two concerts I attended.
First is the concert put on by The Killers. They are touring currently to push their third album (Sawdust was a collection of unreleased tracks), "Day & Age". My feelings for the album was that it was very synth heavy, and I wasn't sure if it would work for a live show. I was very wrong. The Killers now how really put together a great, top class, live show. Brandon Flowers has developed a great front man persona, a mix of Springsteen, Bowie, and a hint of Mercury. The only hang up is that they only had three albums from which to perform. Due to this, their set list was a bit predictable, but always enjoyable, as I really can't think of a song by them I don't like. The show was your routine opener for 45 minutes, then The Killers played for 2 hours.
The opener, M83, was pretty good. Their stage presence rubbed me the wrong way as neither vocalist faced the stage. Their songs with lyrics weren't very entertaining. This band really shined in its instrumentals, especially with the beast they have on drums!
The second concert I attended was with a concert virgin, and she lost her cherry the best way possible. We saw George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. They were hot. I can't describe it much more than that. The opener, Let the Monkey Go, played for an hour, then Parliament came out and played for four hours! FOUR HOURS! Four glorious, groovilicous, galactic funk oozing over the celestial spirits jiving all at once. GC and P-Funk hit all their big hits; "Aquaboogie", "Flashlight", "Stomp", "Atomic Dog", plus just letting the band go in these jam sessions that were inspired by some chemical stimulation. With massive solos, especially in "Maggot Brain" played by Mike Hampton on guitar, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy for hours without a break. It was the first concert I left early. I couldn't take anymore. They exhausted me. The party was intense! I was disoriented when leaving Ramshead Live to where I had to lean on the wall to put my jacket on. Mind you, I had nothing to drink. This was my first concert at Ramshead, and I have to say I was impressed with the venue. Good sound, simple layout, great views. My friend ended up having the time of her life. She got to see Gary "Starchild" Shider (dude in a diaper) in person. What's amazing about him is he wears a diaper and Nike's on stage. Strange this is, you don't find it strange. He calls the shots in the band, he calls out the sections and the solos. You can't question his authority and his choice of apparel. You basically say to yourself "Dude in the diaper is the head honcho, that's that."
I have currently started working on a new musical, "Big River" which opens March 13. I get to play some country music, which is a fun change. Also, this Sunday, UMBC Symphony performs at 8pm. Hear me play Rimsky-Korsakov!! Check these things out.
I'd like to take a moment to just apologize for not writing as much in my blog. Things have picked up for me in other areas of my life which has made me not as prolific. But on the horizon, theres the Keane concert and potentially seeing Twisted Sister and Extreme. Don't think I've forgotten about you, loyal reader. There's plenty of fun on the horizon. As for now I wish you good night, and that you don't miss your vocal cues.
First is the concert put on by The Killers. They are touring currently to push their third album (Sawdust was a collection of unreleased tracks), "Day & Age". My feelings for the album was that it was very synth heavy, and I wasn't sure if it would work for a live show. I was very wrong. The Killers now how really put together a great, top class, live show. Brandon Flowers has developed a great front man persona, a mix of Springsteen, Bowie, and a hint of Mercury. The only hang up is that they only had three albums from which to perform. Due to this, their set list was a bit predictable, but always enjoyable, as I really can't think of a song by them I don't like. The show was your routine opener for 45 minutes, then The Killers played for 2 hours.
The opener, M83, was pretty good. Their stage presence rubbed me the wrong way as neither vocalist faced the stage. Their songs with lyrics weren't very entertaining. This band really shined in its instrumentals, especially with the beast they have on drums!
The second concert I attended was with a concert virgin, and she lost her cherry the best way possible. We saw George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. They were hot. I can't describe it much more than that. The opener, Let the Monkey Go, played for an hour, then Parliament came out and played for four hours! FOUR HOURS! Four glorious, groovilicous, galactic funk oozing over the celestial spirits jiving all at once. GC and P-Funk hit all their big hits; "Aquaboogie", "Flashlight", "Stomp", "Atomic Dog", plus just letting the band go in these jam sessions that were inspired by some chemical stimulation. With massive solos, especially in "Maggot Brain" played by Mike Hampton on guitar, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy for hours without a break. It was the first concert I left early. I couldn't take anymore. They exhausted me. The party was intense! I was disoriented when leaving Ramshead Live to where I had to lean on the wall to put my jacket on. Mind you, I had nothing to drink. This was my first concert at Ramshead, and I have to say I was impressed with the venue. Good sound, simple layout, great views. My friend ended up having the time of her life. She got to see Gary "Starchild" Shider (dude in a diaper) in person. What's amazing about him is he wears a diaper and Nike's on stage. Strange this is, you don't find it strange. He calls the shots in the band, he calls out the sections and the solos. You can't question his authority and his choice of apparel. You basically say to yourself "Dude in the diaper is the head honcho, that's that."
I have currently started working on a new musical, "Big River" which opens March 13. I get to play some country music, which is a fun change. Also, this Sunday, UMBC Symphony performs at 8pm. Hear me play Rimsky-Korsakov!! Check these things out.
I'd like to take a moment to just apologize for not writing as much in my blog. Things have picked up for me in other areas of my life which has made me not as prolific. But on the horizon, theres the Keane concert and potentially seeing Twisted Sister and Extreme. Don't think I've forgotten about you, loyal reader. There's plenty of fun on the horizon. As for now I wish you good night, and that you don't miss your vocal cues.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The ways of the young trumpet in the symphony
Hello friends. I hope you all are well as I write to you at an earlier time than normal, as I finally have some peace and quiet to concentrate with my Tomita CD of Debussy classics playing, creating an atmosphere perfect for (pro)creation.
This entry is a bit to let off a little steam from orchestra rehearsal this week, as I learn more and more not to trust the dynamic markings from the composer. We are currently working on Beethoven's Seventh symphony, as I have mentioned in previous entries in this blog. Beethoven is an interesting beast to try and tackle for the young trumpeter in a symphony. All dynamics are normally forte or fortissimo yet most of the time you shouldn't be heard above a whisper. Never mind, the first parts are normally fairly high. He lets you play out a little more than Mozart does but never really to where you feel comfortable or confident. So here's a chart I devised to translate Beethoven's dynamics to trumpet:
fortissimo - mezzo forte at most, you're part of the collective timbre, keep your bell in the stand, don't project
forte - mezzo piano, not important, you're keeping the time and place, keep your bell in the stand, don't project
mezzo forte - why bother playing, the conductor won't be able to tell if you are or not.
mezzo piano - ditto
piano or pianissimo - This means the part is soft over all and its probably more exposed than you wish and you're going to screw up this part. Also you're probably in unison with tympani, better pray they can count. Don't forget your horn is cold from sitting there for 600 bars while the strings saw their way through the development of the sonata. That section is in another key that the trumpets of the time couldn't play in. You are wishing for those days to come back.
On the other side of the spectrum, we are also working on Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. This we almost can't be too loud. My only fear is that I'm playing second, so I'm trying not to over step my stand my stand partner so she can learn to build up her volume and power. Shes got it, just needs to not be shy about it. So heres a chart for Finlandia:
fortissimo - as loud as you can be to blend with the trombone, looking for a pipe organ sound
forte - is the signature fanfare that repeats, tastefully in the front
mezzo forte - not existant
mezzo piano - n/a
piano - n/a
pianissimo - Only there once, so you can crescendo to fortissimo in 4 beats to fortissimo with the low brass.
Well as I sit here on the eve of AC/DC's new album and a quick jaunt to the beach by myself to get my wits together, I'm now listening, to Keane's new album. I'm a bit disappointed as I don't like the 80's pop sound their new producer gave to them, I liked their older more raw piano and drums sound. They have a fuller sound to them now. But don't get me wrong, I still like them and I like this album, and I'm glad Tom Chaplin seems to have gotten his life back together after his stint in rehab. The thing though is I have a feeling these guys are a little younger than me, so I am doubting they are old enough to have experienced 80's music when it happened, and I think that is where the rub is with this album. I'm not saying I am old enough either, since I was born in 1980, I was like 3 with Michael Jackson's Thriller, so I couldn't do an 80's sound either without it sounding more like a mocking. This album puts me in fear with the Killers new album considering they hired the same producer and will also have an 80s touch to it. Though the Killers did pretty well, I think, with the Springsteen inspired "Sam's Town".
Have a good weekend my pals, and I will catch you on the other side of my mini vacation.
This entry is a bit to let off a little steam from orchestra rehearsal this week, as I learn more and more not to trust the dynamic markings from the composer. We are currently working on Beethoven's Seventh symphony, as I have mentioned in previous entries in this blog. Beethoven is an interesting beast to try and tackle for the young trumpeter in a symphony. All dynamics are normally forte or fortissimo yet most of the time you shouldn't be heard above a whisper. Never mind, the first parts are normally fairly high. He lets you play out a little more than Mozart does but never really to where you feel comfortable or confident. So here's a chart I devised to translate Beethoven's dynamics to trumpet:
fortissimo - mezzo forte at most, you're part of the collective timbre, keep your bell in the stand, don't project
forte - mezzo piano, not important, you're keeping the time and place, keep your bell in the stand, don't project
mezzo forte - why bother playing, the conductor won't be able to tell if you are or not.
mezzo piano - ditto
piano or pianissimo - This means the part is soft over all and its probably more exposed than you wish and you're going to screw up this part. Also you're probably in unison with tympani, better pray they can count. Don't forget your horn is cold from sitting there for 600 bars while the strings saw their way through the development of the sonata. That section is in another key that the trumpets of the time couldn't play in. You are wishing for those days to come back.
On the other side of the spectrum, we are also working on Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. This we almost can't be too loud. My only fear is that I'm playing second, so I'm trying not to over step my stand my stand partner so she can learn to build up her volume and power. Shes got it, just needs to not be shy about it. So heres a chart for Finlandia:
fortissimo - as loud as you can be to blend with the trombone, looking for a pipe organ sound
forte - is the signature fanfare that repeats, tastefully in the front
mezzo forte - not existant
mezzo piano - n/a
piano - n/a
pianissimo - Only there once, so you can crescendo to fortissimo in 4 beats to fortissimo with the low brass.
Well as I sit here on the eve of AC/DC's new album and a quick jaunt to the beach by myself to get my wits together, I'm now listening, to Keane's new album. I'm a bit disappointed as I don't like the 80's pop sound their new producer gave to them, I liked their older more raw piano and drums sound. They have a fuller sound to them now. But don't get me wrong, I still like them and I like this album, and I'm glad Tom Chaplin seems to have gotten his life back together after his stint in rehab. The thing though is I have a feeling these guys are a little younger than me, so I am doubting they are old enough to have experienced 80's music when it happened, and I think that is where the rub is with this album. I'm not saying I am old enough either, since I was born in 1980, I was like 3 with Michael Jackson's Thriller, so I couldn't do an 80's sound either without it sounding more like a mocking. This album puts me in fear with the Killers new album considering they hired the same producer and will also have an 80s touch to it. Though the Killers did pretty well, I think, with the Springsteen inspired "Sam's Town".
Have a good weekend my pals, and I will catch you on the other side of my mini vacation.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Fall is the new Spring
Hello loyal readers. I hope this blog finds everyone in good spirit. This entry is about how I find myself surrounded in all sorts of musical happenings this time of year.
The UMBC Symphony has started up again. On our first concert it appears we will be playing Beethoven's 7th, Finlandia by Sibelius, and Selections from Carmen, and Mother Goose Suite. A lot of work, especially the Beethoven which is surprisingly chop busting. The good thing is that so far, its got my transposing chops back in shape! Beethoven is Trumpet in D, and Finlandia is Trumpet in F.
On the quintet front, I finished an arrangement of Money by Pink Floyd which will work nicely to demonstrate the concept of a head sheet in jazz. Our set for October's library Jazz gig (October 5th, 2pm you better be there) is shaping up to be very diverse, with a nice surprise ending. We plan to be educational and entertaining like our Christmas show, which we aren't booked for yet!
On the rock concert itinerary, things are very exciting as I will get to scratch two more acts off my list of "Bands to see before I die". Here's that list, by the way, with stars next to acts I have seen or tickets to see them. Please remember this is of all time so some acts could already be deceased.
10. Miles Davis
9. Queen with Freddie Mercury
8. Maynard Ferguson *
7. Dave Brubeck
6. Iron Maiden *
5. Journey *
4. Ozzy Osborne *
3. AC/DC *
2. The Who *
1. Pink Floyd
So that's right, if you've been paying attention to the Baltimore/Washington concert schedule, AC/DC and the Who are both coming to town in November, and I have tickets to both shows. This Saturday morning, after a very close call, I did score some tickets to AC/DC in the upper deck of the Verizon Center. I am already excited for that show. Luckily some friends had promised that no matter the price, if AC/DC came close, we would go. For $92.50 plus fees for each ticket and relatively short notice of the concert, we are lucky to have seats. Also to add, as a general rule of thumb, the ticketmaster "best available" search does not lie. The Who tickets I bought as a knee jerk reflex. I had no one to go with, I just dropped the $80 plus a piece and decided I'd either find a friend willing to repay or take my mom, as she has not been to a real rock concert since James Brown in early 60's. Mom is super excited to say the least. We've been warming her up on Several Species, a local Pink Floyd tribute group.
There's also some new albums on the horizon. AC/DC, The Killers, Keane, and Queen all have new albums due out in October or November. I'm not pleased that AC/DC is a Wal-Mart exclusive, but that is the trend in business, and I will be there October 20th, probably after work, to pick up my copy. The single, "Rock 'n' Roll Train", is definitely good, and really doesn't sound like they've dropped a step. The Killers and Keane have both teamed up with famed producer Stuart Price to produce their new albums. This definitely got me a little too excited for such pop rock. I love the Killers semi-retro sound, and I just love Keane's driving ballads and lead singers fully, billowy voice. The Queen album, I am nervous about, as I am not a fan of Paul Rogers' voice. I still miss Mr Mercury to this day, but I can't hold it against Queen, and I will certainly buy the album, to hear the instrumental work alone.
The immediate future holds the Renaissance Faire in Crownsville, MD. There's always plenty of interesting music acts at this thing, and normally at least one hidden gem, such as E Muzeki, who was doing covers of classic rock on traditional Greek and eastern instruments. If I find anything I'll report back of course right here.
Well my friends, enough rambling from me. May your ticket convenience fees be low! Good night.
The UMBC Symphony has started up again. On our first concert it appears we will be playing Beethoven's 7th, Finlandia by Sibelius, and Selections from Carmen, and Mother Goose Suite. A lot of work, especially the Beethoven which is surprisingly chop busting. The good thing is that so far, its got my transposing chops back in shape! Beethoven is Trumpet in D, and Finlandia is Trumpet in F.
On the quintet front, I finished an arrangement of Money by Pink Floyd which will work nicely to demonstrate the concept of a head sheet in jazz. Our set for October's library Jazz gig (October 5th, 2pm you better be there) is shaping up to be very diverse, with a nice surprise ending. We plan to be educational and entertaining like our Christmas show, which we aren't booked for yet!
On the rock concert itinerary, things are very exciting as I will get to scratch two more acts off my list of "Bands to see before I die". Here's that list, by the way, with stars next to acts I have seen or tickets to see them. Please remember this is of all time so some acts could already be deceased.
10. Miles Davis
9. Queen with Freddie Mercury
8. Maynard Ferguson *
7. Dave Brubeck
6. Iron Maiden *
5. Journey *
4. Ozzy Osborne *
3. AC/DC *
2. The Who *
1. Pink Floyd
So that's right, if you've been paying attention to the Baltimore/Washington concert schedule, AC/DC and the Who are both coming to town in November, and I have tickets to both shows. This Saturday morning, after a very close call, I did score some tickets to AC/DC in the upper deck of the Verizon Center. I am already excited for that show. Luckily some friends had promised that no matter the price, if AC/DC came close, we would go. For $92.50 plus fees for each ticket and relatively short notice of the concert, we are lucky to have seats. Also to add, as a general rule of thumb, the ticketmaster "best available" search does not lie. The Who tickets I bought as a knee jerk reflex. I had no one to go with, I just dropped the $80 plus a piece and decided I'd either find a friend willing to repay or take my mom, as she has not been to a real rock concert since James Brown in early 60's. Mom is super excited to say the least. We've been warming her up on Several Species, a local Pink Floyd tribute group.
There's also some new albums on the horizon. AC/DC, The Killers, Keane, and Queen all have new albums due out in October or November. I'm not pleased that AC/DC is a Wal-Mart exclusive, but that is the trend in business, and I will be there October 20th, probably after work, to pick up my copy. The single, "Rock 'n' Roll Train", is definitely good, and really doesn't sound like they've dropped a step. The Killers and Keane have both teamed up with famed producer Stuart Price to produce their new albums. This definitely got me a little too excited for such pop rock. I love the Killers semi-retro sound, and I just love Keane's driving ballads and lead singers fully, billowy voice. The Queen album, I am nervous about, as I am not a fan of Paul Rogers' voice. I still miss Mr Mercury to this day, but I can't hold it against Queen, and I will certainly buy the album, to hear the instrumental work alone.
The immediate future holds the Renaissance Faire in Crownsville, MD. There's always plenty of interesting music acts at this thing, and normally at least one hidden gem, such as E Muzeki, who was doing covers of classic rock on traditional Greek and eastern instruments. If I find anything I'll report back of course right here.
Well my friends, enough rambling from me. May your ticket convenience fees be low! Good night.
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