Archive for Music
February 24, 2007 at 12:40 am · Filed under Music
Messing around with WordPress, I realized I had a new message. This one got tangled up in my spam filter, so I didn’t notice it right away. Sorry. Anyways, it was from Rodney Reeves, one of the members of the Detroit JazzStage. He saw my podcast post and had this to say.
Hello,
Thank you all so much for the positive things you are saying about Detroit Jazzstage. When we started, we were one of many independents. Now that corporations have discovered the value of podcasting, we are one of the few of the original independent podcasts. If you would like to read a recent article written about us click here: Jazz reflections from below
FYI: This article was written for readers in one county. Because of that, I am not mentioned. I don’t live or work in that county but the others do.
Thanks again for the positive words and please keep listening.
Rodney Reeves
The article gives some history of the members of Detroit Jazzstage (excluding Rodney =)) and the how and where it is produced. Thanks for the comment, and I plan on seeing one of the featured artists, Jesse Palter in Chicago. Keep up the great work.
February 10, 2007 at 5:04 pm · Filed under Music
Since, I’ve been commuting to and fro, stop and go, everyday to work, I’ve been getting my moneys worth out of my iPod. I listen to it from the moment I step out of the apartment to the point which I get to my desk in the office. The commute can take anywhere between 25-40 minutes. It really depends on whether the ‘L’ leaves right before I get to the platform or if there are any delays.
It was inevitable that I would get tired of my old song archive. So I started searching for new podcasts. Here’s what I found:
- Craft Beer Radio – A show with 2 individuals drinking and reviewing beer. A video of the show would help to visualize the beers and put a review to specific label.
- Detroit JazzStage – I’ve come to love this one. Jazz is the theme music of Mers walking through the streets of downtown Chicago.
- Discovery Channel Featues – each episode is about 25 min long detailing documentaries from the Discovery Channel. Real nice since I dont have cable.
- Net@Night – Leo and Amber talk about tech news and social apps for use on the web. Recorded live before an internet audience.
- Nightly Business Report – I like the PBS half hour show. I’m not sure the podcast works as well without visuals. You also need to listen to it after each day or it becomes obsolete.
- NPR: All Song Considered – great for finding new artists to love and hate. I’m looking into other NPR podcasts.
- Solid Steel – I’m not a huge fan of hip hop and DJs. I need to be in the mood for this. It’s produced by the same label who signed Bonobo. They released his session as an album
- WordPress Podcast – WordPress is the blogging software I use. You’re seeing it now. The show talks about new plugins/themes and updates.
Listening to many of these podcasts is situational. I usually listen to music when riding the train, because I have a hard time hearing people talking on podcasts. The background noise of the ‘L’ drowns out everything and I dont want to blast the volume. The other times I might listen to podcasts before I go to bed or when I’m at the computer.
I’ve considered buying some new headphones that I can insert into my ear. I’ve read that Shure makes some decent sound isolating earbuds. They report that if you buy them from the website and aren’t satisfied, you can return them. That might be worth checking out.
January 28, 2007 at 11:20 am · Filed under Music
For my birthday, Clear purchased me a ticket to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.
Not being the huge symphony buff, I dont have a whole lot of critique on the performance. I was in the very last top row, which made it a bit of a strain to see. I closed my eyes and listened to the music for the most part. The orchestra played a short 10 minute introduction. Then, they took a break to regroup. The orchestra moved to the back half (as you can see in the photo) and the dancers came out for part 1. I got out my seat and stood to watch the dance portion. They took an intermission and came back out with the full symphony, but the dance was done. Part 2 was the portion one would recognize from Disney’s Fantasia. In front of me was a family of bobbleheads. They were really intent on the piece and were nodding their heads like it was a rock concert.
Download link
The ballet dancing was interesting to watch. There were 3 males and 3 females dressed in casual dance shirts and pants. I wish there was a backdrop, costumes, or maybe some props to help paint the picture. I was also a little disappointed that they didn’t act out the second half. It seems like the most relevant (and well known) of the piece with the rituals and sacrifice. But I suppose they wouldn’t have been able to fit the entire orchestra on the stage. After the dancing act, Man! The audience applauded forever! I mean sure it was good and they were out there for maybe 20 minutes, but the dancers had to bow four different times. They took each others hands walked to the front, bowed, came back, clapped, took hands again, rushed the front, bowed, came back, and left the stage. Then, they came back on stage and did it all over again. People. It was good, but stop clapping, and lets get this show on the road.
The concert experience is nice, but I dont know if I fully “get it”. The directors receive a ton of praise, but what are they actually doing. They’re just a visible metronome. They didn’t compose the piece. It’s already laid out for them, and they’d be a fool to change anything about it. The only thing they do is speed it up or tell one section to play louder or not. By any other director or orchestra, a concert of this magnitude would sound exactly alike. If I were to buy a CD of the performance, I feel like I’d get the same listening experience out of it. And do I really need to get all dolled up and bump elbows with some of these people. Aside from the bobbleheads, many of the people looked all dressed and weren’t even paying attention. Did you come just to get all dressed up?
I dont know. Just my 2 cents.
November 21, 2006 at 5:17 pm · Filed under Lifestyle, Music, News Events, Techy
Day of Turkey is fast approaching, and I wont be posting for another week. I’ll be taking the train to Iowa, and spending time with the family. Now, I know you’re all eager to read ‘Part 3′ and then the dramatic climax of ‘Part 4′, but you’ll just have to wait. Until then, I’ll try to hold you over with some blogs, music, and news snippets.
- iamfacingforeclosure.com/ -A 24-year-old aspiring real estate investor from Sacramento CA. After going to few seminars he bought 8 houses in 8 months. However, he’s ran out of cash, an is now facing foreclosure.
- johnchow.com/ – He’s an internet mogul, who talks about making money on the web, how he made his career, fancy restaurants, and general techy stuff.
- tradertim.blogspot.com/ – Tim Knight, founder of a technical analysis site, gives his daily perspective on the market, his portfolio, and option positions.
- I’m on the Flying Spaghetti Monster Halloween page.
- Family Guy Clip – How’s that novel you’ve been working on?
- I think an Akita Inu would also be a fun dog to have. The Shiba Inu is a pocket size version.
- I found the website for Brainstorm: Movies, Comics, and Games.This is the rental place I’ve been going to. Though, I haven’t been there in awhile.
- Patriot act makes it harder to get real Sudafed
Music:
- Blue Cheer – a San Francisco-based rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who helped to pioneer heavy metal music.
- Jefferson Airplane -an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the LSD-influenced psychedelic rock movement.
- Foo Fighters new Skin and Bones album. I might have to get the UK DVD. It comes with 2 DVDs, whereas the US version may have only 1.
That’s it. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
October 24, 2006 at 10:20 am · Filed under Music
Over the last week, I’ve ordered some new music and DVDs.
The first CD is “Live at the Jazz Bakery” by Sara Gazarek. Last year, I was listening to NPR and was about to head downtown. Her song “All or Nothing at All” came on and I had to stop what I was doing. I zoned out and waited for NPR to tell me her name. After that, I went to her website and listened to a couple of her other songs. I think I ordered her CD a day later.
So “Live at the Jazz Bakery” is a recorded live performance with her singing some new and oldie songs. I ordered this as soon as I saw it. The website said it was only available online with limited pressings and autograph, which I got thank-you-very-much.
Then, last week, I ordered “DVD by Sexy”, “Sabbia”, and Ten East.
“DVD by Sexy” is a rock-umentary of The Eagles of Death Metal. It’s directed by Liam Lynch (the “Whatever” guy, who is also directing the new Tenacious D movie.) I’m not exactly sure what’s on the DVD, but I’m sure it will be sexy. QOTSA had something similar to this in their deluxe edition of Lullabies to Paralyze.
Sabbia” is the result of a 2 year collaboration between filmmaker Kate McCabe and musician Brant Bjork. While being neither a visual album or traditional documentary, the experimental and trippy film takes you on a California journey from “high” desert to low desert showing a beautiful and mystical landscape through many perfectly lovely and some stoney weirdo moments. Hope to see you there!
In the last 2 years, Brant Bjork has become one of my favorite artists. He recorded some music just for this DVD, and I’m excited to hear and watch it.
Ten East is a musical side project with collaborating artists, which should be similar to “Sabbia”. Brant makes an appearance along some members of Yawning Man, which is another desert band.
Hurry up mail man!
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