Irony or a Sign

Yesterday I mentioned working on songwriting as well as recording. I would do the recording on my MacBook Pro. Yesterday evening, my hard drive seemed to have stopped working properly. I am currently restoring it, but still not 100% certain the drive doesn’t need to be replaced.

This is one of the reasons I moved away from doing web design. I got tired of dealing with the fickleness of the tech full time. Internet outages, hard drive crashes, etc., and always at inopportune times.

While I wait for the restore to complete and perhaps do some tests afterwards, I’ll go practice on my piano. I don’t even have to plug that in.

Tue, 2011 03 29 at 7:08 AM |Permalink for this entry

Selling Out

Real artists ship. - Steve Jobs

I haven’t been writing any songs lately. I’ve been focused on my chops and music theory that goes along with that. However, I think another reason I haven’t been writing is the perfectionist in me. Whether you are developing a computer, a car, a song, or a painting, it’s all too easy to want it to be perfect and complete. But, you have to be able to stop and say it is truly good enough as it is. This may really be where the art is.

I have also been thinking about what I could try to do with my songs if I do start writing again. Let’s just say I would not complain about making some “mailbox money” if that were to occur. I would also love to develop my recording, producing, and arranging skills, even somewhat.

See you at the bank!

Mon, 2011 03 28 at 3:32 PM |Permalink for this entry

Day to Day

The thing about this business is that it can be very day to day. When you have a job, you generally have it. When you are trying to play with multiple people, each one can be like an interview and you don’t know if you got the gig until you do. You also don’t know why you didn’t get a gig. It may have nothing to do with you nor your playing. I have had bands not hire me because they went in a different direction, retooled with other members, or knew the other person better.

All I can do is keep at it, keep developing as a player, and do my best.

Tue, 2011 03 22 at 12:04 PM |Permalink for this entry

A Shout Out to Former Members of Blue Funk

Since the demise of Blue Funk two years ago (has it been that long??), former members of the band have been involved in various projects. You should know all too well about what I’ve been up to, so here’s an update on everyone else.

Rebecca and John have formed a band, Westbound, with their album Blackjack Road out now. They call themselves energetic. I don’t think that word is strong enough to describe it (I mean that in a good way). They have been touring regionally to great acclaim.

Phil has joined Sugarball Express, also on Facebook. Everyone who sees them says that this is the perfect band for Phil. It’s some crazy “Country/Rockabilly/Honky Tonk,” y’all.

Tony, our drummer before Phil, is still with The Distracted, the hard rock band that he was playing with while in Blue Funk. They have been through a few line-up changes since then, but are still playing and you can still catch them around town.

And Jeff… well, we love Jeff.

Seriously, Jeff has been focusing on his job that he loves, his four daughters and his wife. I think he has played a little with some people. If something comes of that and he lets me know, I’ll pass it on so you can see him play too.

[Edit: I’ve been reminded that I left out a member of the band, the rock on bass, Lori. She has not been playing with anyone. Instead, she’s working on her master’s degree while continuing to work full time. Hopefully at some point we’ll get her grooving on bass again.]

Wed, 2011 03 16 at 2:54 PM |Permalink for this entry

Administrative Note

Writing these posts on my iPhone seems to be working really well. You know how wordy I can be. Just see my older posts. That kept me from updating this blog because each post was a project. Now I can compose each idea I have quickly and relatively succinctly. I can also do them on the go. I think there is a more general lesson in there somewhere too.

Tue, 2011 03 15 at 4:50 PM |Permalink for this entry

Charlie Is Right

I’m tired of pretending I’m not a totally bitchin’ rock star from Mars.

This phrase has been going thru my head lately. No doubt, the guy is certifiable, but he is right about at least one thing. Why in the world shouldn’t each of us think we are awesome? We should be going after the good things in life and what we do with zeal, with gusto, like we mean it, like we own it.

I’m not saying we should “be like the boy” and push to the front of the line, wear our bathrobe all the time, break all the rules, and say, “cowabunga.” I’m just saying we should do the things we love like we love them.

We also should be doing them like we believe we can. Our possibilities are infinite. I’m tired of seeing people sheepishly say, “I don’t know. I don’t think I can do that…” Why not?

We don’t have to live at Sober Valley Lodge with the goddesses (or gods, if you prefer) to have an awesome life. We all have the tools. Pick them up and use them. And have fun.

Mon, 2011 03 14 at 10:00 AM |Permalink for this entry

I Get It Now

Last night a friend invited us to see a couple of guitar playing singer-songwriters. One was a local guy, while the headliner was a guy who is touring and apparently was on American Idol (I’ve never watched).

What these guys made me realize was the level of playing it takes to really accompany yourself. The headliner was beyond that level (Caleb Hawley - check him out), but until this show, I didn’t have a clear idea of where some of these levels are.

This is good, because knowing what can be done is at least half the way to getting there.

Sun, 2011 03 13 at 9:43 PM |Permalink for this entry

In Case You Missed It

On Sunday I had the privilege of sitting in on a couple of tunes with Melissa Sav?i? (or Savcic if you’re Anglicizing it). It was a blast and I can’t thank her enough for letting me do that.

Prior to that, in preparation for the gig, I had one of those moments I’ve talked about before. I suddenly noticed a big improvement in my technique. This is something I had been working on lately but had not noticed any results until that point. This is what I was referring to in my previous post. It’s always cool when those moments happen. I still have a ways to go, but I’m trying to enjoy where I am as well.

Fri, 2011 03 11 at 5:18 PM |Permalink for this entry

Resting on Laurels

Yesterday at my lesson, my piano teacher and I discussed the progress I have made recently. Then he went on to say that he is not one for resting on laurels and would keep pushing me.

Sigh. I get that, but sometimes it is nice to stop, take a look around, and enjoy the view for a bit before you get back to climbing that mountain.

Onward, I guess…

Wed, 2011 03 09 at 3:58 PM |Permalink for this entry

Going Mental

I’ve become convinced that playing a musical instrument is almost completely mental. What I mean by that is that it is the belief that you can do it. We have all heard those stories of the little kid playing something incredible out of nowhere or the idiot savant who could play beautifully. My argument is that they do it because *they don’t know they can’t.*

I am having trouble finding the exact quote, but Henry Ford said if you think you can do something, or that you can’t do something, you are right.

(You thought that from the title of this entry it was going to be about Charlie Sheen, didn’t you?)

Wed, 2011 03 02 at 10:19 AM |Permalink for this entry