Jan 012009
It’s time, Townspeople, to state your Rockin’ New Year’s Resolutions. Mine is to come to terms with the digital age yet continue to embrace my true love, vinyl. I got my first real iPod (a Nano), I’ve ordered digital recording/editing software, and our band’s next release may come out on vinyl with a coupon for digital download. How 2009 is that? I’ve gotta tell you, the struggles I’ve been having with the Apple Empire have put a strain on an otherwise excellent holiday season, but now it’s the New Year and I’m ready to turn over a new leaf.
What’s your Rockin’ New Year’s Resolution?
My resolution is to unclutter (declutter?) musically. I’m going to start with magazines. There’s 20+ years of Goldmine and assorted other magazines and emphemera that hasn’t been looked at since initially read. I don’t think there’s any market for any of it, so it’s destined for the recycle bin, doled out over the next few months.
Then, onto the CDs. That will be painful, if not impossible. I recognize my addiction and I don’t know if I can break it.
To get the living room speakers replaced/repaired! Geez, it’s embarrassing. The car is now my number one listening space and I only drive once a week. And to try harder to fit in.
Fit in where, db? Around these parts you fit in just fine!
To score more chicks using the Gergley Method. Barring that (I’m no Saturnismine!) — I guess just to, you know, pop a teenager-quality boner more often. I *think* that’s what E. Pluribus would have me do. Somehow this is all linked to Bill Wyman, Mandrill and Herman’s Hermits, but that part kind of escapes me.
I need your help with my New Year’s resolution. I want to revive the All Sports Band with Rock Town Hall members. I got dibs on the hockey player. And yes, I can skate and play bass at the same time! These wags say this is a bad idea. Nonsense! This is a brilliant idea and resolution!
http://retrocrush.buzznet.com/articles/allsportsband/index.html
I got a new mp3 player. It’s a Sansa Clip and it’s awesome. I can’t believe how good it sounds, and my old iriver was a tough thing to improve on. This is bigger, though and I’ve been grabbing podcasts and taking them with me, too. It amazes me how many kids use these as their primary music device, but if I could have had one of these for 70 dollars even in 1977 dollars, put almost 1000 songs on it, plus three radio shows and have it be smaller than a Zippo lighter, I might never have bought a receiver, speakers, turntable, cartridge and on and on.
This year I resolve to get either one of my turntables out of the box and ooked up, or to get either an old Luxman that I like, or a new Pro ject Debut III. I’m going to try to let the blanket statement, “Vinyl sounds better than cd’s” roll off unchallenged.
I also hope I can see more local bands, and share some of them, old and new, with RTH.
Al, if you’ve got any Goldmine’s with The Stones on the cover or a major article on them, I’d be interested in taking them off your hands. I traded four years worth of those to a guy at a record convention for a couple of records once. He probably made out, but I got a pretty good sized chunk of space back and a happier wife.
I’d find a different way of kepping the wife happy…
C.
I’m resolved to play more music – both live shows and home recording. I’d also like to get out to see more local shows and hang out with the RTH folks (I couldn’t make the other night’s get-together…)
Mr. Mod – what software did you order?
I resolve not to let my musical acquisitiveness outrun the time I have to listen to music. I like too many different kinds of music, and it’s too easy to buy, especially downloads. Note to self: Watching less TV would also free up more time for music.
I also resolve not to buy any download that requires me to buy a physical object too. Please don’t do this with the new Nixon’s Head album. Nonesuch tried that. If you ordered the CD, you got a code that let you download mp3’s. If I own the damn CD, which I don’t want or need to store and keep track of, I can rip the mp3 files myself, so what’s the point? Buying an LP would be even more pointless for me.
I like the freebie download link with lp’s. Then when I do my turntable thing this year I don’t have to dick around with getting a PC connected to a receiver. Partly because I’m going to use an older receiver that is pre cd days, so it’s got limited connectivity and partly because I want a physical item.
Mrclean, we ordered Apple Logic – the full studio edition.
BigSteve, should we ever finish the next Head album, you will get a free copy in whichever format you desire.
I gotta get one of those gizmos to digitize my wax.
And I’d like to learn to play something besides barre chords.
Don’t jump too soon, sammy. Maybe before long they’ll be selling home lathes so you can cut your own LPs and go the other direction — from digital to wax.
2k man, they are yours when I get to the project. I’ll try to give a list here of what’s bound for recycling so that anyone can claim anything before it goes.
My main resolution this year is to diversify some: I want to build up my jazz and country collections. Also, I’d like to own more music by Can and The Meters.
Additionally, I need to get my LPs out of these unsightly white boxes I bought from Spaceboy a few years back, and onto shelves.
Where to begin…
2008 was a good music year for me..built a home recording studio, recorded a record that is commercially available there, recorded 5 songs at Sun Studios in Memphis TN, Went to STAX Museum,Country Music Hall Of Fame, Saw Van Halen with DLR, saw Ac/DC, Two Springsteen Shows, bought a mandolin and played my first ever solo acoustic gig..and got paid and invited back on a regular basis
For 2009
1. Get my brother’s band on a label (www.rocksploitation.com) I have been their manager for about a month and play bass until they get a full time bassist. we did their record in my home studio in April
2. Record my solo record at home. No one will care/listen but I do want to actually complete an 8 song CD
3. Own every Bob Dylan record (even “Saved!) Got Oh Mercy! off I-tunes last night — have 15 or so left to go
4. Buy my “dream bass” Just did that – black Jack Cassidy Epiphone bass. It JUST arrived, have not been able to crank it up yet.
-complete the 3 pending photon band releases (two of which will see us veer back into the experimental turf we left behind after 2001’s “alone on the moon”).
-get the photon band archive shit together for two more digital-only releases: 1: alternate versions of already released tunes and 2: previously unreleased songs from all eras.
-tune my drums or get new heads.
-soundproof the basement.
OFF-TOPIC:
Saw Young@Heart this weekend about the old people’s choir that sings modern songs. It was great. If you’re wary thinking that this is a “look at how heart-warming these old fossils still are”, it’s not.
It’s cool for music fans that like to see a band working behind the scenes, going to rehearsal, working through their parts. It was interesting watching the choir director treat the singers like real musicians, and not sensitive seniors needing coddling. He rides them when they struggle, and you see his concerns about songs not coming together, and being in danger of not making the cut.
Hearing these people with a lifetime of struggles and experience, and staring at their own mortality sing these songs, you hear the lyrics quite differently.
And, finally it’s all about doing a great gig. A surprisingly good “rock” movie.
Speaking of happy endings, I stayed in and watched the Sugar Bowl last night. If you thought it would be one of those heart-warming experiences watching Bama coach Nick Satan have multiple meltdowns on the sidelines while his boys got their butts kicked by a team he had said didn’t belong in the game, you would be right.
1. Although it’s technically not “rock” I’m starting a ukulele orchestra in a few weeks.
2. I’m really going to try to make the next get together.