FACT1: It's the 60th birthday of the transistor this month. Good old tranny, without you we'd be playing mandolins and dulcimers and singing with a finger in our ear
FACT2: The Bread Bin informs me that we are now just a couple of rounds of drinks short of the £1k mark
FACT3: My laptop survived the 5 foot drop last Friday with absolutely no evidence of damage - an astonishing achievement in plastic engineering
FACT4: The longer we have played a song, and hence the more familiar we are with it, the more likely we will screw it up
FACT5: No matter how big you make a stage, there is never enough room for a DJ
FACT 6: Instrument amplification at the front of the stage (AKA The offset rig type:C with front temporal acoustic loading) doesn't work
FACT 7: It's now 4 gigs since I've broken a string live
FACT 8: I'm still really chuffed with the kick drum foot switch cam mod
FACT9: I think that's enough facts for now
The Lone Blogger
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Logistics
Further to the post below - I always looked out for Edwin Shirley Trucking on any album sleeve notes and dedications.
Pleased to say they are still rock and rolling at http://www.est-uk.com and available for contract work.
Logistically thinking
Been thinking about the unloading, loading, rigging, sound checking, de-rigging, all on a postage stamp sized stage asking how we can be as together with our setting up as we are with our performance, then this came to mind – lifted from an old album sleeve – presume as much thought went into the planning as with the playing.
8.00am RIGGING CALL. 2 riggers start work positioning flying points from ceiling of venue in order to hang the lighting and PA speakers
9.00am LIGHTING CALL. Lighting crew and local stagehands unload lighting trucks and start constructing grids and lighting modules. Takes approx. 3 hours
10.00am PA CALL. PA crew and local stagehands unload sound trucks and position sound mixing desks. Then they start to fly the PA from the points the riggers have positioned, after which they stack the PA with a fork lift this takes approx. 4 hours
12.15pm LIGHTING CREW position the lighting mixer and test everything, then complete flying.
1.00pm. Monitors are unloaded and placed on the stage (after Marley flooring is laid by PRODUCTION CREW)
2.00pm. BACKLINE CREW supervise unloading of band gear and set up on stage. Building of the set is continued around stage equipment.
3.00pm Start monitor check, followed by backline check and PA check.
4.00pm SOUNDCHECK performed by band
5.00pm Set up support group equipment, mike up and check
6.00pm Dinner fro crew (arranged by the promoter at the hall)
6.30pm Stage passes issued, guest list to Box Office, doors open
7.00pm SHOW CALL – Necessary crew take position, final tests done
7.30pm Show starts
8.15pm Equipment change over
8.45pm IM show starts
10.30pm Show finishes
10.30pm BACKLINE and PRODUCTION break down, followed by monitors
11.00pm PA starts breaking down for loading
12.00pm Light system lowered and packed into trucks
2.00am Finish loading trucks, shower, into busses and travel to next show
All we need now is some help……..
Friday, October 26, 2007
Light Fantastic #2
A pithy, contemporary and entirely pointless view of modern stage lighting life: Part 2.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Dress code
Great Blogs of fire, great blogs thinks alike . Spooky that the aroma of stale blog reached my consulting room particularly as it has a staliness which would overwhelm any challenging stale intruder. Slightly nervous that this comment is inappropriate for blog and should be cast down to the lowly merit of group e mail . Would like to apologise for dress code. Enjoyed saturday but quite hard work . Also apologies for playing the lets not take the money and run ticket fully aware that sense would prevail . Sorry we couldnt use our lights. Pleasurable blogging again particularly as Basey has probably lost the skills to do likewise.
Sniff
Sniff, sniff.
What can I smell? It seems to be down there somewhere. It's a familiar smell but I just can't place it...
Aha - found it. Of course! It's the unbearable stench of stale blog.
Pass me some thick gloves and a stiff brush and I'll try and sweep it away.
Introducing a fresh new bloggy look for a fresh new season.
Now, what was I going to write?
What can I smell? It seems to be down there somewhere. It's a familiar smell but I just can't place it...
Aha - found it. Of course! It's the unbearable stench of stale blog.
Pass me some thick gloves and a stiff brush and I'll try and sweep it away.
Introducing a fresh new bloggy look for a fresh new season.
Now, what was I going to write?
Friday, July 20, 2007
Frost
Touch of Frost
First thought it must be advective or radiation. Hoary came to mind but eventually Google came to my aid. The sence of calm has caused an easy wind and downy flake but there is an ointment that covers both these areas.
First thought it must be advective or radiation. Hoary came to mind but eventually Google came to my aid. The sence of calm has caused an easy wind and downy flake but there is an ointment that covers both these areas.
Robert Frost .....................
Robert Frost .....................: "STOPPING BY WOODS
ON A SNOWY EVENING
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Back
"
ON A SNOWY EVENING
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Back
"
Re. Ba ba ba ba ba ba.........
Haven't quite got the hang of embedding videos in the Blog.
So I can avoid RSI, will the Breadbin stretch to one of the gadgets below????
Of course we'll need a truck to transport it in.
Yours repetitively,
Fingers Blastocyst (I quite like the sound of that.....)
So I can avoid RSI, will the Breadbin stretch to one of the gadgets below????
Of course we'll need a truck to transport it in.
Yours repetitively,
Fingers Blastocyst (I quite like the sound of that.....)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
It's only words
I like words, they’re terribly interesting...
I’ve been playing with an online database at www.wordcount.org. Wordcount shows you the 86,800 most frequently used words in English; the list comes from books, magazines and internet articles (100 million written words) scanned and counted to produce a frequency of occurrence. The word “the” is ranked number 1 and the word “conquistador” (surprisingly) is number 86,800.
When you search for a word the website allows you to scroll left or right to see the next less popular (or more popular) “twin word”.
My thought was that this would be a neat way to create new “rock star names” in a similar way to the “80’s porn star name game”, but using more technology. For the uninitiated the 80’s porn star game goes like this - The name of your first pet becomes your new first name and your mothers maiden name becomes your second name - mine is a rather dull – Keo Hutcheson. Lets have yours in the comments please.
Using my wordcount “twin word rock star name” rules you keep your first name and twin it with the next less popular word as your second name.
If not for a very spooky “sign” in the twin word game, I would have given up and not posted this. Naturally the first name I tried was “Mark”. I am ranked 789th in popularity (at least my name is) and my twin word at 790th, is the abbreviation St (for street or more probably and appropriately, “Saint”). This rather boringly gives my Rock Star Name as “Mark St” – which doesn’t even sound like a name but could be a shortening of Markster, as in “The Markster” I suppose?
Despite that fairly limp start I was not completely discouraged and looked for more.
Searching for Dave gives us a ranking of 3,460th, with 3,461st being the word “Penalty” so we get “Dave Penalty”. Not exactly gold dust yet so I tried the un-abbreviated David.
At 619 & 620 we get “David Final”.
266 & 267 produces “John Enough” which is slightly more amusing while 2,400 & 2,401 gives us “Graham Struck” - I’m not sure what to make of that. However 796 & 797 are “Peter Serious”, very apt in a knowing reverse irony sort of way.
But! extraordinarily at ranking 2,316 & 2,317 are the words “Steve “and “Stick” Doesn’t that send a numerological, other worldly shudder down your spine? There, written in the mass of 100 million words is the absolute pre-ordained rock name of our skin damaging, finger blistering drummer (well very nearly anyway).
Ranking at 1,406 & 1,407 is “Dad Somebody”
With 3,638 & 3,639 giving “Dancing Bathroom”
So we can double twin to “Somebody Bathroom” or better still, twist the rules and have “Bathroom Dancing” (a kind of secret version of Dad Dancing performed with Soap on a Rope). I really think we need to write a song called Bathroom Dancing (subtitle Soap on a Rope).
Working backwards from the word “Cheese” at 3,542, gives us some truly useful advice in a stark warning against the hazards of competitive band syndrome:
“Rival improving risks cheese”
Now I’ve finished, I’m not sure why I wanted to share any of that with you – so here is the latest video instead.
PS - the most cryptic word play in this video is a type of frost
I’ve been playing with an online database at www.wordcount.org. Wordcount shows you the 86,800 most frequently used words in English; the list comes from books, magazines and internet articles (100 million written words) scanned and counted to produce a frequency of occurrence. The word “the” is ranked number 1 and the word “conquistador” (surprisingly) is number 86,800.
When you search for a word the website allows you to scroll left or right to see the next less popular (or more popular) “twin word”.
My thought was that this would be a neat way to create new “rock star names” in a similar way to the “80’s porn star name game”, but using more technology. For the uninitiated the 80’s porn star game goes like this - The name of your first pet becomes your new first name and your mothers maiden name becomes your second name - mine is a rather dull – Keo Hutcheson. Lets have yours in the comments please.
Using my wordcount “twin word rock star name” rules you keep your first name and twin it with the next less popular word as your second name.
If not for a very spooky “sign” in the twin word game, I would have given up and not posted this. Naturally the first name I tried was “Mark”. I am ranked 789th in popularity (at least my name is) and my twin word at 790th, is the abbreviation St (for street or more probably and appropriately, “Saint”). This rather boringly gives my Rock Star Name as “Mark St” – which doesn’t even sound like a name but could be a shortening of Markster, as in “The Markster” I suppose?
Despite that fairly limp start I was not completely discouraged and looked for more.
Searching for Dave gives us a ranking of 3,460th, with 3,461st being the word “Penalty” so we get “Dave Penalty”. Not exactly gold dust yet so I tried the un-abbreviated David.
At 619 & 620 we get “David Final”.
266 & 267 produces “John Enough” which is slightly more amusing while 2,400 & 2,401 gives us “Graham Struck” - I’m not sure what to make of that. However 796 & 797 are “Peter Serious”, very apt in a knowing reverse irony sort of way.
But! extraordinarily at ranking 2,316 & 2,317 are the words “Steve “and “Stick” Doesn’t that send a numerological, other worldly shudder down your spine? There, written in the mass of 100 million words is the absolute pre-ordained rock name of our skin damaging, finger blistering drummer (well very nearly anyway).
Ranking at 1,406 & 1,407 is “Dad Somebody”
With 3,638 & 3,639 giving “Dancing Bathroom”
So we can double twin to “Somebody Bathroom” or better still, twist the rules and have “Bathroom Dancing” (a kind of secret version of Dad Dancing performed with Soap on a Rope). I really think we need to write a song called Bathroom Dancing (subtitle Soap on a Rope).
Working backwards from the word “Cheese” at 3,542, gives us some truly useful advice in a stark warning against the hazards of competitive band syndrome:
“Rival improving risks cheese”
Now I’ve finished, I’m not sure why I wanted to share any of that with you – so here is the latest video instead.
PS - the most cryptic word play in this video is a type of frost
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
dangerous video
not for the faint hearted - see teenagers cavorting with a few snippets of some old blokes rocking - see youtube parklife tavistock
EDIT!
Here is the link
The Manager - Making surfing easier for the older generation
EDIT!
Here is the link
The Manager - Making surfing easier for the older generation
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Wipe Ouch
The overture edit is complete. Not the most creative of videos but good enough for a country bumpkin band.
Scenario:
The Mad Hatter morphs with a Chipendale Stripper and then struts about to a full on surf-sound delivered at 120bpm by the Dads.
Ahaaa ha ha ah ha haaa Wiyeeeepowt!
Enjoy
Scenario:
The Mad Hatter morphs with a Chipendale Stripper and then struts about to a full on surf-sound delivered at 120bpm by the Dads.
Ahaaa ha ha ah ha haaa Wiyeeeepowt!
Enjoy
Monday, July 09, 2007
Video Evidence
I have had to consign myself to work from home today, still completely incapable of sitting, walking, lying down etc without tears forming in the corners of my eyes.
Have the video now, it's not actually a very pretty sight or edifying sound I'm afraid.
I've posted a teaser for you all with funky slo-mo clapping effect - the main videos need LOTS MORE WORK before a full YouTube debut.
You won't believe how fast we played (most of) the numbers or how bad some of the musicianship is!
Have the video now, it's not actually a very pretty sight or edifying sound I'm afraid.
I've posted a teaser for you all with funky slo-mo clapping effect - the main videos need LOTS MORE WORK before a full YouTube debut.
You won't believe how fast we played (most of) the numbers or how bad some of the musicianship is!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
By the way.............
Dear Manager not rude just sane. Grumpy but justified. Been a funny triple decker sandwich. Some really zesty spicy filling , sometimes the crust has been just past the sell by date but chewy and a reasonable filler. The band has on the whole feasted well . What fillings for what role, next season? Must look at blog more often. Laughing out loud is good for you .
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Ba ba ba ba ba ba..........
Magic moments (la la la la laaaa la)
First and best; the run straight into "Fooled" from "Free World" ..............looking up from the keyboard and seeing the look of recognition/pleasure/anticipation on faces as they realised what we were going to play............. that worked so well.
First and best; the run straight into "Fooled" from "Free World" ..............looking up from the keyboard and seeing the look of recognition/pleasure/anticipation on faces as they realised what we were going to play............. that worked so well.
I just had to blog
As Kylie once very memorably nearly said "I just can't get it out of my head" - moments to remember (25 minutes goes so quickly doesn't it?).
What's in my head? I'll tell you...
The stupendous, heart stopping, sensational pause before the drum roll that happens just after the A and just before the Em in "Rockin' in the free world". There is so much exquisite rock tension in that tiny little peice of space - I so love that bit. It's taken over from the 3rd verse pick up in "Peace love" which was a previous favourite.
The "Hey, yeah ah, yeayeh" bit of whatever that song is called. Including (as David has cleverly reminded us) "Tavistock; it rhymes with Rock" almost as good as Lon rhyming with Don - the only other place that rhymes with itself (apart from Harrow Barrow).
The "padda bap" that tells the world that the slow and crunchy start to "Teenage kicks" is about to make way for totally mental.
There are probably more, but those three are really stuck.
What's in your head?
What's in my head? I'll tell you...
The stupendous, heart stopping, sensational pause before the drum roll that happens just after the A and just before the Em in "Rockin' in the free world". There is so much exquisite rock tension in that tiny little peice of space - I so love that bit. It's taken over from the 3rd verse pick up in "Peace love" which was a previous favourite.
The "Hey, yeah ah, yeayeh" bit of whatever that song is called. Including (as David has cleverly reminded us) "Tavistock; it rhymes with Rock" almost as good as Lon rhyming with Don - the only other place that rhymes with itself (apart from Harrow Barrow).
The "padda bap" that tells the world that the slow and crunchy start to "Teenage kicks" is about to make way for totally mental.
There are probably more, but those three are really stuck.
What's in your head?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Mmmm, Kelly Ball? Parklife? What exactly is our target audience?
If we are going to be taken seriously on the cabaret circuit (that comes before the cabaret scene and after the cabaret happening) we have got to get an identity. If I could only get into the Breadhead spreadsheet I would propose some natty shirts like these crazy rock stallions.
Friday, June 22, 2007
BAND ALERT
CAUTION..........
Advance Warning.....Saturday 30 June
BFG Rules apply
Horlicks roadie may be required after show
St John's Ambulance standing by with duvet & pillows
Advance Warning.....Saturday 30 June
BFG Rules apply
Horlicks roadie may be required after show
St John's Ambulance standing by with duvet & pillows
15 minutes of flame
Those 15 minutes have been bothering me, really bothering me, to the point of losing some sleep actually and I just had to write it all down.
It’s my role, my position in life, to be the grumpy bastard – particularly during the de-rig - and I think I surpassed myself last Saturday, so apologies. But honestly who thinks that a tinny and distorted Fisher Price disco pumping out Mika and Kelly Clarkson at a level that could shatter the face of a quarry, in an empty and gloomy barn, is any kind of environment for a rock musician to be de-rigging in? Also, and I don’t know if I failed to mention this at the time, I had a bad back.
So here is how I saw it. Yes one of the good old boys was baying for more, that’s a good thing and we are pleased about that. Yes, it’s possibly true that he had a flat bed pickup truck full of like minded buddies who would think nothing of throwing us into a bailing machine, trussing us up in twine and suspending us above a slurry pit – just to emphasise how much they really wanted us to play some more. So I agree, there was a bit of pressure. Yes, I also agree that in all honesty the set only got going for the last 4 numbers, so in reality the audience only got 20 minutes. But please, really, come on, if we had fired up again to do another 15 minutes, what the hell would it have been like?
Here was the scenario:
A moshing crowd of 6 year olds and 40 year olds, sweat pouring as they “Dosado” and “Pass Through” to the strains of Achey Brakey (did we really do that again?). Pete did his last “That’s it, we’re done, you’ve been great, thanks for coming etc” and the audience vaporised like a bale of hay on a bonfire. In truth that was it, we were done, there was no more, we had nil left in the bank. Unusually we had stuck to the set list, not dropped a thing, had nowhere to go other than Brown Eyed Girl and some long forgotten reggae numbers.
We jumped off the farm truck, almost instantaneously (with shades of Juan) the Fisher Price disco was set to Ear Bleed and the whole congregation was forced onto the farm yard to seek escape. 10 minutes passed before a local good ol’ boy arrived (he was in his early 30’s and slightly menacing). “Get back on that stage and play some more”, he growled. Steve had already had this treatment but had deflected skilfully. Pete, on the other hand, is not strong on deflective.
I started to dismantle, the cables were out, I couldn’t see a damn thing but I had the feeling that once those cables had been pulled the party was over and I could escape. Pete returned, more pumped, not just wanting this 15 minute set extension but really needing it, it was his all consuming wish, he’d been drinking the local moonshine or something because he really so much wanted to climb back up there and play some Bob Marley. I started to simmer a bit, the grumpy washed through me, the lights failed, the Spice Girls screamed at full pelt through the Fisher Price. I rebuked the proposal, I rejected the idea, I was a blank wall of non-consent. I think, if I’m honest, I was a bit rude. Ouch, oooh, sorry, perhaps it all came out a bit too strong?
Pete – I didn’t mean dampen your enthusiasm, but I was thinking of everyone. Frankly that last 15 minutes would have been an unmitigated disaster. In the cold wet light of mid Summer, 2 weeks before the big one, aren’t we all glad we didn’t do it?
It’s my role, my position in life, to be the grumpy bastard – particularly during the de-rig - and I think I surpassed myself last Saturday, so apologies. But honestly who thinks that a tinny and distorted Fisher Price disco pumping out Mika and Kelly Clarkson at a level that could shatter the face of a quarry, in an empty and gloomy barn, is any kind of environment for a rock musician to be de-rigging in? Also, and I don’t know if I failed to mention this at the time, I had a bad back.
So here is how I saw it. Yes one of the good old boys was baying for more, that’s a good thing and we are pleased about that. Yes, it’s possibly true that he had a flat bed pickup truck full of like minded buddies who would think nothing of throwing us into a bailing machine, trussing us up in twine and suspending us above a slurry pit – just to emphasise how much they really wanted us to play some more. So I agree, there was a bit of pressure. Yes, I also agree that in all honesty the set only got going for the last 4 numbers, so in reality the audience only got 20 minutes. But please, really, come on, if we had fired up again to do another 15 minutes, what the hell would it have been like?
Here was the scenario:
A moshing crowd of 6 year olds and 40 year olds, sweat pouring as they “Dosado” and “Pass Through” to the strains of Achey Brakey (did we really do that again?). Pete did his last “That’s it, we’re done, you’ve been great, thanks for coming etc” and the audience vaporised like a bale of hay on a bonfire. In truth that was it, we were done, there was no more, we had nil left in the bank. Unusually we had stuck to the set list, not dropped a thing, had nowhere to go other than Brown Eyed Girl and some long forgotten reggae numbers.
We jumped off the farm truck, almost instantaneously (with shades of Juan) the Fisher Price disco was set to Ear Bleed and the whole congregation was forced onto the farm yard to seek escape. 10 minutes passed before a local good ol’ boy arrived (he was in his early 30’s and slightly menacing). “Get back on that stage and play some more”, he growled. Steve had already had this treatment but had deflected skilfully. Pete, on the other hand, is not strong on deflective.
I started to dismantle, the cables were out, I couldn’t see a damn thing but I had the feeling that once those cables had been pulled the party was over and I could escape. Pete returned, more pumped, not just wanting this 15 minute set extension but really needing it, it was his all consuming wish, he’d been drinking the local moonshine or something because he really so much wanted to climb back up there and play some Bob Marley. I started to simmer a bit, the grumpy washed through me, the lights failed, the Spice Girls screamed at full pelt through the Fisher Price. I rebuked the proposal, I rejected the idea, I was a blank wall of non-consent. I think, if I’m honest, I was a bit rude. Ouch, oooh, sorry, perhaps it all came out a bit too strong?
Pete – I didn’t mean dampen your enthusiasm, but I was thinking of everyone. Frankly that last 15 minutes would have been an unmitigated disaster. In the cold wet light of mid Summer, 2 weeks before the big one, aren’t we all glad we didn’t do it?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Time is of the essence
It's all about time, timing and timeliness.We have little time...
But we have good timing...
Our time has come...
It's show time.
The time is gone, the song is over.
I thought I'd something more to say...
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Logo?
Ok, so I'm over excited about the 2007 Summer season.
We need something appropriately cheesey to accompany our 6 gig tour and hence my offering above. In case you don't get it, the "alternative caribbean" is a nod towards a certain missing ivory tinkler...
You've guessed that I'm not entirely serious about the above - the alternative logo below is, I think you will agree, stylish, direct and fitting...
What? Don't like the colours?
Friday, March 23, 2007
Cinquecento Man (I was wrong all along)
I felt the need for a quick blog-ette to bring you an article on what is described as a "symbol of exhilarating freedom and romance".
And what is this symbol? Why none other than the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) which can, I am reliably informed, be fitted with a "Compact Disc Player" inside the dash board of the car - amazing!
So, just as our front man moves away to a Fiat model with a less pleasingly snappy, rolly-off-the-tongue Italian number, the Cinquecento gets written into history as the ultimate chick pulling magnet.
But I guess that's just rock and roll.
Here is the link
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1555636.ece
And what is this symbol? Why none other than the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) which can, I am reliably informed, be fitted with a "Compact Disc Player" inside the dash board of the car - amazing!
So, just as our front man moves away to a Fiat model with a less pleasingly snappy, rolly-off-the-tongue Italian number, the Cinquecento gets written into history as the ultimate chick pulling magnet.
But I guess that's just rock and roll.
Here is the link
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1555636.ece
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Wow What a Session
Ears a hummin, leg a bleedin, fingers a throbbin. We're back and don't ya just love that djembe over the pa.......three new(ish) numbers with more to come........how about investing in some leopard skin tights for pete for the full rod effect (?)(!)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
News Flash
Able to blog at will. Suggest a feature series . Manager in work shop. Fly on the wall camera watching Cratsman and lead guitarist at work with both sorts of axes. This could be a big commercial break out for the band , merchandising not only the mini series but also the high qualitly precision fold back speaker , lighting systems etc.
Able to blog at will. Suggest a feature series . Manager in work shop. Fly on the wall camera watching Cratsman and lead guitarist at work with both sorts of axes. This could be a big commercial break out for the band , merchandising not only the mini series but also the high qualitly precision fold back speaker , lighting systems etc.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
get back
Its good to be back.Thanks to the manager for inviting me back.I've been out in the cold too long . Now for something witty and pithy.Um..........very long pause. Have signed up to a week's free use of Napster, a music download co. Unfortunately can't burn a disc without paying, or transfer it to a ipod etc. My solution is a specially designed shoulder harness to place the tower, speakers, non flat screen to the body , hence beating the music industry. There is a separate add on belt for the printer. Now thats Rock and Roll.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Stats are Up
Following on from Steve's detailed and informative "set list history" I have had time to pass the data through one of the largest analytical systems in the western hemisphere with the hope that we may get some further insight. You will agree that the results (below) are illuminating and should form the basis of further debate, planning and strategy. The charts can be clicked on and enlarged for the hard of seeing.
First up is "themes". These have been collated via a complex algorithm based on statistical enumeration of mood, message, market factors, prevailing wind direction, aggressive/passive gap analysis and emotional-psychometric scoring. The themes are classed as:
Go For It - those themes that compel the listener to act (examples include "Go on man, just play that funky music" or "Here's an idea, why not take those skinheads off to the mega bowl?")
Comment - themes based on a comment of some sort. (examples include "what a perfect day it is today" or "do you find Peace and Love and Understanding amusing?")
First Person - themes based on the first person. (examples include "Today I feel quite good about myself" or "my nickname is Mr Space Cowboy")
Third Person - As above but from the third person perspective. (examples include "She was too young to buy alcohol")
Unknown - Is reserved for intangible themes. (there are no tangible examples of this)
Key signature is only one part of the musicality of a live act - pace (with passion) is also required. A measure of pace was produced as a 6 slice model which was then biased to allow for "live performance adrenaline pace creep syndrome" as identified and recorded by Messrs Gibson, Pearl, Trace and Moog in their paper "playing quickly when shitting yourself - the impact of live performance on tempo" Cambridge Press 1972.
First up is "themes". These have been collated via a complex algorithm based on statistical enumeration of mood, message, market factors, prevailing wind direction, aggressive/passive gap analysis and emotional-psychometric scoring. The themes are classed as:
Go For It - those themes that compel the listener to act (examples include "Go on man, just play that funky music" or "Here's an idea, why not take those skinheads off to the mega bowl?")
Comment - themes based on a comment of some sort. (examples include "what a perfect day it is today" or "do you find Peace and Love and Understanding amusing?")
First Person - themes based on the first person. (examples include "Today I feel quite good about myself" or "my nickname is Mr Space Cowboy")
Third Person - As above but from the third person perspective. (examples include "She was too young to buy alcohol")
Unknown - Is reserved for intangible themes. (there are no tangible examples of this)
Next up is key signature - always a challenging one for any band, but particularly challenging for the "more mature band". Here the issues were easier to asses and the charting below is conclusive and informative.
The one outstanding caveat in the presented results is the fact that the author (who had difficulty recalling the key of a number of songs) may have introduced an error of between 50% and 76% within the data.
Key signature is only one part of the musicality of a live act - pace (with passion) is also required. A measure of pace was produced as a 6 slice model which was then biased to allow for "live performance adrenaline pace creep syndrome" as identified and recorded by Messrs Gibson, Pearl, Trace and Moog in their paper "playing quickly when shitting yourself - the impact of live performance on tempo" Cambridge Press 1972. The categories are Snail, Slow, MOR (middle of the road), Rocking, Quick and Blinding. Note the even distribution of data in the chart below.
A final pass through the data using a complexity mapping parser produced the final piece of insight into the underlying appeal and construction of the Dad's repertoire. The complexity analysis looked at average fretboard travel, variance to baseline parameter, breaks against splits, vocal dynamic range, the number of words to recall and a 6 dimensional array of interaction surfaces. This analysis was further weighted against the number of different chords in each song.
The map shows a significant peaking at the 3-Chords per song and 6-Chords per song datum points.
This analysis is presented for further discussion and classification however, some initial conclusions are apparent. The band should place more focus on the 12-bar blues played in E at a moderate pace.
Perhaps a 30 minute version of the Joker?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Ear Bleeder
What an absolutely awesome bleeder of a rehearsal last Sunday!
Steve making the mistake of claiming his new snare could "cut through horrible guitar fuzz" set up a subliminal challenge and it just got louder and louder. No lie, my ears were still ringing the next morning.
The most hilarious part of the rehearsal, surely brought about by the high pressure sound waves causing a vitrification of the grey matter, was the outragous stretching of the DD "good enough to perform" maxim to previously unreachable new limits. At 10:20 in the evening of the last rehearsal day, Pete introduced a song that 2 of us have never heard, didn't even bring the CD along, "sang" the opening few bars, we thrashed out a 12 bar and then he concluded that we could use it as an encore at the next gig.
Go The Professionals!
Steve making the mistake of claiming his new snare could "cut through horrible guitar fuzz" set up a subliminal challenge and it just got louder and louder. No lie, my ears were still ringing the next morning.
The most hilarious part of the rehearsal, surely brought about by the high pressure sound waves causing a vitrification of the grey matter, was the outragous stretching of the DD "good enough to perform" maxim to previously unreachable new limits. At 10:20 in the evening of the last rehearsal day, Pete introduced a song that 2 of us have never heard, didn't even bring the CD along, "sang" the opening few bars, we thrashed out a 12 bar and then he concluded that we could use it as an encore at the next gig.
Go The Professionals!
Monday, January 01, 2007
All is quiet on New Years Day
Announcing the 2007 DD Caption Competition.
Click the picture to go large.
Answers in an email or a comment below
Click the picture to go large.
Answers in an email or a comment below
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