Etherape Art

Not much to do with music, but I decided to run Etherape and Ktorrent at the same time, and the results look kind of cool!

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Whats that mean?

There is no more a joyous sport then listening to peoples interpretation of obscure lyrics. I don't think that there is anyone out there that interprets lyrics the same as the person next to them, and most are quite surprised, and oft disappointed, when they actually find out what the author of the lyrics actually had in mind.

Take, for example, "Horse with no name" by America. Most thought it was about a mystical journey. Some radio stations banned it because they thought it was totally about drugs, "Horse" being a slang term for heroin. To this day there are still many interpretations of this song floating around. One of my favorite quotes about the song is from the late comedian Richard Jeni who mocked the song's title by quipping. "You're in the desert,You got nothing else to do. Name the freakin' horse!

The truth of the matter is it was written on a very depressingly rainy day in england by a lad who grew up at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

"Stairway to Heaven" is another one subject to so many interpretations it'll make your head spin. Here is a song that even Robert Plant admits doesn't really mean anything, Written in one afternoon, it's just a bunch of words strung together to match a Melodie that Jimmy Page was noodling around with.(there may have been mind altering substances involved) They never in a million years thought it would become one of the greatest hits of all time. Ask anyone what the song means and you will never get the same answer twice.

David Bowie used to write songs by cutting words out of papers and magazines, mixing them up in a bowl or hat or something and pulling them out one by one and making them into lyrics. You too can do the same. There is a product out there called "Magnetic poetry" tiny fridge magnets with words printed on them that you can move around and rearrange into poems, lyrics, shopping lists, sexual innuendo, whatever.

You can try it online here

I have this contraption called a "Think Tank", a big round ball containing a bunch of words printed on little plastic strips. you turn the knobs on the side and it brings up words to the window.

And here is what I wrote with it...

advantageous humanitarian scraps
the cornerstone gaslight of platonic translation
underscores the chilliness of the blacktop
and tugs the antediluvian deodorant of psychiatry
rewriting the menacing pantomime of revolving extrusion
vaulting full grown immediacy
authorizing the trend of an integral narcotic
the almighty extension of cosmopolitan stress

What does this mean?
Dunno. Doesn't mean squat to me, but I'm sure that out there there are people that will read this and worship me as a god, or think I am the next Leonard Cohen.
Sorry to disappoint folks. Not even close. I'm just a guy with balls full of words.

I'll close by saying the whole thing about music is taking that song and making it fit your life and situation. What you perceive a song is about is subject to what is happening in your life at that particular time, so go ahead and enjoy! You may not hear the song the way author has written it but, I'm sure that they won't mind as long as you buy it.
Peace

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Low budget music making

If you are looking for a cheap alternative to all the super high priced audio software out there, you should be looking into open source music software. I Have just recently switched from Windows to Kubuntu linux, and I am amazed at the sheer number of incredibly well written audio software packages that are available.

Now before you start moaning and groaning about linux, keep in mind that kubuntu is one of the easiest linux distibutions to install and use, and unlike my xp, rarely if ever crashes.

From music players to synthesizers, you can download to your hearts content with the easy to use "add-remove program" feature in kubuntu. This program not only downloads the file you want but any other files that the original program needs to run.


I really like using the various synthesizers as it really drives the wife crazy, "Look dear, I can make fart noises on my computer!" This is when she usually begins throwing things. Its the simple things in life that keep me happy.

You can do anything from ripping cds to mp3, to setting up a fully functional multi track recording studio, and best of all its free, and if you are really adventurous you can download the actual source file and modify it to meet your needs.

I'm presently listening to blues on internet radio thanks to a little program called "streamtuner", a program that searches the internet for broadcasts. I can hook my electric guitar to my computer and add all sorts of effects to it with "creox", or I can attach a midi port and run my keyboard through any number of software synthesizers. I even have a "virtual" keyboard in the mix.

I can analyze and edit music in multiple formats using "Audacity", use a vast number of mp3 tag editors to rename the music, and save the song into multiple formats. I can edit and load playlists to my Ipod or other portable mp3 player, or export the playlist to a web cast.There are programs to edit and playback tabulature, or even write your own sheet music.

From the music beginner to the seasoned studio professional, you will find an array of cool programs to help you with your musical needs and you won't have to shell out big bucks, or any bucks for that matter.
There is even a os version, preloaded with all the audio software you need, its called "Ubuntu studio", and its just jam packed with audio and video software to play with.
So if you are a broke and starving musician like me, this is the ultimate solution.

Ubuntu Studio is available for download at http://ubuntustudio.org
Kubuntu is available at http://www.kubuntu.org/

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Roll your own gear!

While cruising the net a few months ago, I suddenly had this urge to see if there were any "luthier Supplies" websites out there. Don't ask me why, strange ideas blow through my cranium randomly without warning, I've learned to just go with it. Well low and behold, there seems to be a few of them out there.

I think the most interesting one I've found is Stewart Macdonald. These guys seem to carry everything you need to spruce up your old axe or build yourself a new one from scratch. How cool is that?
I registered with them and they sent me a great catalog of everything they sell. Need a new nut for your Fender? It's there. Want to wind your own pickups? They sell everything you need to build custom pickups from scratch. I never knew that there were such a thing as a Schatten Pickup Winder, but I think I want one. They do have all sorts of brand name pickups in stock, as well as info on how to install and wire them.

Need to replace some frets on the old acoustic you've been hammering on for a dozen years? Well why not by a 98 foot roll of the stuff, just so you can have a little extra lying around for special occasions. They also sell all the clamps, hammers, drills, presses and glue you could ever need.

I am seriously thinking of building my own "F" style mandolin someday. So seriously am I thinking about this, the wife is already stocking up on what she feels will be the necessary first aid supplies. She has little confidence on my competency with hand and power tools.
Stewart Macdonald not only has all the different types of wood for building the project from scratch, they even have pre-cut kits that you can assemble at home.

There is also a multitude of books, CD's, DVD's and plans to help you along the path of luthiery enlightenment.When you register they give you the option to receive their email news letter, which is full of tips and tricks about instrument repair.

The website is well laid out with everything just a click away and it is chock full of useful information on the art and craft of making quality musical instrument, so for the serious musical "Do it yourself" nut, this is the place to look.

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Making it in the music biz....How old is TOO old ?

Let me just state this for the record...
There is no such thing as too old. If you think you are too old to try something new, then you may as well lay it on down, cash in the rsp's, find that rocking chair, and fall asleep watching the evening news. I don't know about anyone else, but music is keeping me alive. (the Rolling Stones too, though not to sure about Keith Richards)
Okay, now that that is out of the way....

I'm working on a website for a bunch of guys that formed a band a few years ago, all in their 40's and 50's, and they have their first CD due out in the fall. They are getting great local reviews and requests from out of town clubs to come out and play. Two of these guys actually have formed another band with some other middle aged guys, so that they can practice eight nights a week instead of the usual six. I myself, looking at fifty full in the face, have just recently started to learn the blues harp, bought myself an electric guitar, and have been playing Mandolin for about 2 years now. Lord knows I've seen enough in my life to justify learning how to play the blues.

Today, the definition of "making it" is in a constant state of change, thanks to the Internet and social sites like Facebook, YouTube, and web hosts like Project Opus and Bandzoogle. Artists are finding more and more that they don't really need the record companies. Anyone with an internet connection, a good product, and a bit of web marketing savvy can get themselves heard without having to butt smooch a bunch of money sucking suits who don't care one whit what you play or even who you are. Radiohead has proven that by letting people pay what the want to download their latest album. They made more money doing that on their own then all their previous "Label" albums put together. Brilliant!

So if you are not part of that artistically shriveling machine, you sure as heck don't have to play by their rules. So ROCK ON dudes and dudettes! Its a brave new world out there and I think its about time that anyone, young or old, who thinks they have something to play and a song to say gets the opportunity to get out there and give'r!
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Is Downloading And Sharing Music Really That Bad?

Welcome to the new world order, and say "buh-bye" to the record companies. RadioHead has proven that money can be made releasing music in a "pay what you want to" format on the internet, and I think that this is the future of music.

More and more web savy artist are turning away from the record companies and the dream of the "major label recording contract" is no longer the big shiny thing that it once was. All the tools are in place for bands to record and market themselves on the internet, and with some imaginative marketing savvy, anyone can get their music heard.

I grew up in Vancouver at the tail end of the 60's and through the 70's and one of the things I loved about going downtown as a kid was listening to the Buskers. These guys would play their music to the wind in hopes that some of the people listening would drop a few pennies in the hat. They never yelled or tried to sue the people that stood there listening without donating, instead choosing to politely thank the people that did . A lot of the greatest artist today started as buskers, and I think that the "Busker" mentality can be used on the internet.

Here is the way I would do it. Using a host like Bandzoogle.com, I would set up a site for my band and upload some music to it. Bandzoogle provides a site wide music player, so that people perusing your site can listen to your music as they go. Now say this person likes your song and decides to purchase it. You sell it for 99 cents, and the customer happily loads it on to their computer, burns it on to cd, loads it on to their mp3 player, and best of all, shares it with their buddies. This happens all the time because people tend to tell other people about good music. I once sent a song by the Arrogant Worms, a great Canadian band, to a friend in California, who had never heard of them. She liked them so much she went to the web site and purchased a few of the albums. (Live Bait is the best in case you were wondering) And I'm sure she is happily sharing them with her friends. which in turn will drive more people to their site out of curiosity.

When you upload your mp3's to your site, tag them with your website address in the title. For example, I admin a website called "littlehead.ca" (no music yet, but they are working on it) Now when they upload the tunes I tag them as "song title by littlehead @ littlehead.ca" in most players, this would scroll as the song is playing. People who were given this song, or downloaded it from a p2p network would see this, hopefully get curious, and visit the site.

I would put a blurb on your main page saying something like "Hi there music lovers, did you get this song for free? No worries mate! Go ahead and share with your friends, we don't mind at all. All we ask as that you at least have a look at our donation page"

Then on the donation page I would have a PayPal donation button and a blurb along the lines of "Thanks for stopping by. If you like our music and would like to help us continue making it, please feel free to donate whatever you can to help out some starving musicians." or something along those lines.

This may seem like a hopelessly romantic way to look at things but I like to think that people, especially music lovers, are basically honest and good. So I think that this idea will work. and if a million people hit the website in a year, and 10% of those people purchase a song and then 10% of the people they share it with stop by and check out the site and 10% of them donate a few cents, well then by golly you end up with....um......several dollars!
Cheers! and don't forget to donate!

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Here is a good way to promote your band

Okay, your band is tight, you are preforming well, nobody has thrown anything at you on stage for quite a while and you are getting rave local reviews. You've even got some video up on MySpace and YouTube, what now? What more can you do to get your name out there?
Why not a band website?
"Ack!" you scream "I know absolutely nothing about web design, hosting sites, or even personal hygiene!"
Well fear not my hairy half deaf friends, I'm here to show you the way. (well except the personal hygiene thing, your on your own with that)
I've done a few web sites over the years and contributed to more, and I found that I really hate coding with a passion , so being the lazy-ass hairless monkey that I am, I went in search of an easier way to get things done.
I found it! Its a site called "Bandzoogle" at http://www.bandzoogle.com
This is a hosting site designed by musicians, for musicians. Its the coolest thing I've seen.
Here you can create your band site without having to know anything about HTML, everything is pre-coded, you just sign up, go to your personal control panel, and start setting it up the way you want. Anything you could ever need for your site is there, included a site wide mp3 player, so that people visiting your site can hear your tunes while perusing your pages.
Here are just some of the features...

Selectable page styles..
Here you can change the whole look and feel of all the pages on your site without losing any of your content, this changes the backgrounds, fonts, link styles. But leaves anything you've written or uploaded untouched.

Music store...
Want to sell mp3's directly from your site? This is the tool to do it.

Merchandise store...
Sell your cd's, hats, band logo underwear, t-shirts, jackets, sippy cups, anything

Photo albums...
Upload pictures from your latest gigs for your fans to see.

Guest book...
Let your fans give you some feedback.(without them being close enough to hit you with anything)

Coming events...
Let everyone know where and when you are playing, even links to google maps!

Forums..
Set up a discussion forum so that you and your fans can communicate with each other.

Like I said, these are just a small sampling of the features this site offers. They'll let you try it out free for thirty days, and the pricing isn't crazy. I took the premium package, and at 19.95/month split between the band members means a quality band site for 5 $. Well worth it.
So stomp on over to this site and check out what they have to offer. Peruse some of the sample sites that they showcase, I think you'll be impressed. (and no, I have absolutely nothing to do with the site other than hosting my buddies band littlehead.ca there. I just think its a good thing for all you crazy musicians)
Cheers!
Keep on Rockin'

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