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Work work work

Hello boys, I missed you!

Sheesh, I have not posted in a while. It's mostly been because I've been tied up with work. Web work. I recently got a new client through a designer friend, so much of my time lately has been taken up by that. The money is good ("bad money" mostly only happens in nefarious professions) so I'm not complaining about that. Also, it's a pretty cool client who, if I was still focused on being a web designer, I'd be looking forward to bragging about to everyone and probably will anyway. It's just that I was starting to feel like I had a rhythm going with the various musical activities and this has disrupted that. Lori thinks I should be able to balance music and web, but I really have not been able to. For instance, I've found myself much more productive musically if I work on it in the morning. But, when I have a project I'm working on and thinking about, I tend to want to get right to that first thing. I also want to get the project done ASAP so I can get back to the music. Yet I still have all those other clients I need to finish up sites for. So I'll need to start bugging them again when this project is done.

Musically, not a lot has been going on. The band has had a couple of good jams lately, and having the two guitar players available has been nice. Jeff has brought some good new songs with his return, and I'm jealous that he's been more productive as a songwriter than I have been.

Oh well, time to go practice.

Tue, 2008 06 17 at 8:14 AM | Permalink for this entry

Another Week Down

Dang. This was another one of those weeks. I'm in discussions with a potential new client for web work, and that has taken a lot of my time. I don't want to sound like I'm whining, but it sucks because it's made it difficult to spend time on music. I've gotten some practicing in, but little or no writing nor composing over the last couple of weeks. On top of that, I need to push some of my existing clients to get their sites finished. I've been putting that off as I've been busy enough with the estimating for the new client.

There is some good news, however. Saturday will be a full reunion of the band, and I mean full! Not only will this be the first time all five of us will be playing together since we did the Meetup in March, but we will have a sixth person playing with us. If you've been following the news on the main Blue Funk site, you know that our old guitar player Jeff and his family have moved back to the Houston area and Jeff may be rejoining the band. Lori and I played with him at the May Meetup, and it was a lot of fun as well as good to see him and his family again. Saturday should be very interesting and fun, and we're all really looking forward to it.

Fri, 2008 05 30 at 7:01 AM | Permalink for this entry

Hearing Thru Humming

I made more progress on Kathy's song today. After doing some of the melody with Keri last week, I've found that while I'm having trouble picking out the pitches I've been singing, if I hum them, it's much easier. So that has been really cool. I wonder what it is about the words that is keeping me from hearing the pitch. I guess the whole sound is a bit too complicated for me to discern, though I have done it on occasion. I'm hoping and expecting that as time goes on, I'll get better at it overall. I mean, today I completed the first verse and part of the chorus, then I suddenly became completely incapable of doing it at all. I suspect that I wasn't really incapable, just that my mind went somewhere else or that I was a little tired at that point. I also still need to work out the rhythm of the lyrics.

Earlier this week, I did some work on my own song, "Willow." I wrote out what the piano part is supposed to be, the way I could play it, and the cheater version which is the way I usually play it. I also wrote out the bass line Lori has been playing. Unfortunately, my music notation handwriting is so poor it is even worse than my normal handwriting. I keep thinking that I could really use a copy of Logic for this. Then, I'd be able to send Kathy a nice clean copy of her song as well when I was done. But "business expenses" for musicians can be tricky, and my CFO is a stickler…

Wed, 2008 05 14 at 4:58 PM | Permalink for this entry

How’s the Band?

It's more than that, but I appreciate you asking!

This past weekend I had a few people ask me how the band was doing. I guess to most people, that's what I'm doing. I suppose it's only natural to assume music=band, especially since that's what the focus of music has been for me for the past few years, and what people have seen of it so far. Don't get me wrong, I love this band, I really do, both on a personal and a musical level, but it's only part of what my new life as a musician and songwriter is right now. If the band becomes a big enough thing that I spend the majority of my time on it, that would be great, but in reality, I don't expect it to become much bigger than it is now, because of everyone's day jobs, mortgages, etc. So, I will occupy my time with other musical pursuits and see what comes of all of this.

Speaking of other pursuits, when Keri came by last week, she left me some lyrics for some songs she's working on. I've begun completing lyrics to one as well as tweaking some of the words she already had in that one. It's more fun stuff! I also need to finish that first song for my sister, but I'm doing a little more research on melody writing before I do.

Mon, 2008 05 12 at 3:07 PM | Permalink for this entry

Songwriter’s Evening with Keri

Last night, Keri Richardson came over so we could work on some songs together. It’s good to get the input of others, as they may have strengths where you don’t, other perspectives, etc. Unfortunately, there is a part of me that wants to do it all by myself right now. I think it’s mostly because I’m still trying to build my skills in a few different areas. If I let other people help me, then I have to be careful I don’t let those areas slide. It’s really nothing against them, in fact I’m probably envious of what they can do, but I need to make sure I push myself to become a more complete songwriter.

That being said, I think we had a fairly productive evening for the first time really working together. She helped me quite a bit with the first song I’m doing with my sister, especially in the bridge. Her melody for the bridge lyric completely blew away what little I had, so we’re going with that! We also talked about some ideas for some of her songs where she feels unhappy with them or that they’re not complete.

Generally speaking, it was cool just hanging out with another songwriter and talking about how we each go about what we do, where ideas come from, what inspires us, etc. Not everyone knows what it is that makes a songwriter (I certainly don’t! ) so it’s cool to find a sympathetic ear that understands what you’re talking about. Most of the time, I’m alone when I’m working on songs, so this is equivalent to talking shop with a coworker. I hope to do it a lot more, both with her as well as others who are just as cool about it.

Thu, 2008 05 08 at 3:03 PM | Permalink for this entry

Opening Acts

Getting there early is half the fun

There seems to be some people who for whatever reason skip out on the opening act and show up for just the headliner. My experience has been that checking out the opener is something I'm more than happy to do. I've found out about some of my favorite bands because they opened for other bands I went to see. Back in the 80s, I first saw John Hiatt and Joe Ely when they each opened for Little Feat. In fact, Joe Ely had David Grissom in his band at the time, and Grissom has since been one of my favorite guitar players.

In the 90s, it was Storyville who introduced us to Breedlove, Vallejo, Beth Black, and probably a few others. (Ironically, I came to Storyville from an ad in Musician magazine that highlighted the fact that the Double Trouble rhythm section of Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton were on the album. I only found out about Grissom's contribution later.)

Thursday night we went to see Gov't Mule. These guys are one of my favorite bands. But, opening for them was Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I checked out a little of their stuff before we went and thought, "this could be good." I was wrong. They were incredible. She came out for her first song and started it off a capella. It takes some serious balls to do that, and the commensurate talent to back it up. She had both, in spades, and had the crowd in her hand the rest of the show, deservedly so. It did not hurt that she played great keyboards, guitar, and is fairly pretty as well. When she came out to join Mule for a song during their set, the crowd went nuts. I hope we can catch her again, she and her band are a killer live act.

Yeah, I'm going to keep getting there early for the opening act. Some have been duds, but the excellent bands I've seen have more than made up for those.

Sat, 2008 05 03 at 8:21 AM | Permalink for this entry

Here Goes

I've spent a part of today (finally) writing some music for lyrics my sister sent me. I've noticed some interesting things happening. For one, I have pitch, sort of. I'm singing her lyrics along with the chord progression, and hitting some notes and recognizing them. I'm not much of a singer, so it's good that it's not just the rhythm of the lyrics going with the music.

At first, I was really liking what I came up with, but now I'm second guessing the crap out of it. That's really annoying, because it's not done yet. Her structures are a bit odd (she knows that) so it's a little harder coming up with parts. I'm trying to determine what key the bridge is in, and if it's different from the rest of the song, it might need a transition. But if part of me is thinking it's no good at all, another part then says, "why bother if it will change?" Stupid inner voices. I guess I need to spend some time away from it and see how it sounds to me when I'm fresh. Ah, creativity.

I probably will have to touch up her lyrics somewhat, just to get the rhythm to work. But, I have to admit, this is kind of fun. I hope she likes it.

Wed, 2008 04 30 at 3:27 PM | Permalink for this entry

I’m Still Trying

I wish I could go cold turkey

It would be so much easier if I could just focus on the music, but I can't. I still have outstanding projects with some clients, and have even had discussions with some potential new web clients this week. When I have something to work on, especially when I know or have an idea on how to do it, it's very hard for me to put it aside and not do it right now.

I'm also experimenting with some different approaches to better incorporate music every day, such as playing some first thing in the morning before getting to "work."

I wish I could spend 100% of my day on music, but making some money (as well as finishing some obligations) is nice too. Sigh.

Tue, 2008 04 29 at 11:38 AM | Permalink for this entry

Houston International Festival

Shemekia Copeland and Neville Brothers

We went to the Houston International Festival this weekend and saw Shemekia Copeland and the Neville Brothers Saturday evening. This was the first time was saw Shemekia live, and one of the only times we've heard her since her debut CD (Amazon | ). Overall, I thought her performance and her band was great, but I didn't love some qualities of her singing. Without having seen nor heard her since the first album, it's hard to say if it was the day or how she sings now. Still, it was a great show.

Next up was the Neville Brothers. They started with Hey Pocky Way and continued to bring it for the rest of the night. Man, I love that second line rhythm. That groove just moves and doesn't stop, and neither did they until ending with Amazing Grace/One Love/People Get Ready. I know most people love Aaron's voice, but I really dig Cyril's. He just has a passion and intensity in his voice as well as his playing that can't be denied.

Tue, 2008 04 29 at 10:42 AM | Permalink for this entry

Researching the Blues

Box sets and Best Ofs lead to a tuned ear

I've had Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (Amazon | ) and Muddy Waters: The Chess Box (Amazon | ) for many years. Late last year, I picked up Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box (Amazon | and truly discovered the incredible music by this blues master. In fact, I found this compilation better than Muddy's, probably because Wolf had nearly the same band throughout, giving him a consistent sound over the years. I've also found that I've developed an ear for Wolf, being able to tell it's him as the tune starts. This is something I was really good at as a kid, and it's cool that I can still do it.

Thanks to Jimmie Vaughan and Omar Kent Dykes, I've discovered the music of Jimmy Reed (Amazon | ). This led me to buying The Very Best of Jimmy Reed (). Again, I've discovered the brilliance of this artist, and also developed an ear for picking him out when I hear one of his tunes. I've also done this with Memphis Slim: The Folkways Years: 1959-1973 (Amazon | ).

Next on my list is Little Walter. I stumbled on to this one for a strange reason. A fellow keyboard player posted this YouTube video of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008 to show how the band behind James Cotton wasn't listening to nor following Cotton, who is a brilliant harp player in his own right. But, from this, I heard Little Walter's original Juke, and I'm blown away by how he played. Of course, he's also all over The Chess Box :Muddy Waters but I feel like I need some of his solo stuff, which has those great instrumentals.

Thu, 2008 04 24 at 8:02 AM | Permalink for this entry

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