Jason, Nick, Sal and myself all back on board. Major set-up change again. The problem is that we've been using a stage type set-up, and some of our timing problems are being attributed to some members not being able to hear well enough. Since we're not getting near a stage anytime soon, we moved things around quite a bit so everybody felt they could hear everybody else. It's strange-looking, but it's not designed for appearance.
On the plus side, the change did what it was supposed to do, and there was some benefit in the sound. However, some timing problems remain on the guitar players' part. The weird thing is that when these timing problems occur, Jason and I can hear it, but the guitar players can't, no matter how obvious they appear to be. The bottom line is that both guitarists tend to rush, coming in early and speeding up so they get out of sync with the bass and drums. They're following their own rhythm, trying to lead rather than follow, but they don't hear it. Very frustrating, from my point of view, and I'm out of ideas as to how to try to fix it. I thought the problem was simply that they couldn't hear themselves, so they relied on their own internal rhythm, but fixing the hearing issue only removed some of the problems.
Jason continued his improvement, so the bass and drums at least sounded pretty good. I was in fair-to-good voice for the beginning of the session, deteriorating a bit as I started getting congested at the end.
"Space Oddity" and "Surrender" were both pretty bad. "Space Oddity" isn't at all coordinated, and I think may be simply too much for a group with timing issues in the first place. Nick is singing lead on "Surrender" and really isn't into it, so he doesn't sing it very well. I can't just take the lead on it, because there isn't anyone else to sing the harmonies that are essential to the song. So neither of these is really working out.
Nick hit a couple of harmonies well, and the group riff on "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" worked out a couple of times, so there were some positives, too.
We've been talking via Facebook and the group consensus is to spend more time working out individual songs. I'm bored as it is, so beating individual songs doesn't sound like fun to me at all, but some of the guys seem to need the work, so we'll give it a try.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
End of 2011
This has been a rough year in some respects, and a very successful one in others. This has been the year of the Yard War with our irritating neighbors, the year we got a lot of cleaning done in and out of the house, the year my wife and I both got sick for an entire month each (at almost exactly the same time), a year for breakthroughs for me in both music and yoga, the year my 100+ year old great aunt passed away, the year I started handling homeowner claims at work, and the year I signed up for Facebook and reconnected with a lot of people.
Very eventful year, I must say. This blog has largely degenerated into a log of Splunge activities, and it's meant to be more than that. I'll try to do better next year.
I won't make anything as formal as a New Year's Resolution, but I can certainly have plans and hopes. I hope to continue getting a lot done around the house, including finishing the yard. To continue my spiritual development, which I've gotten away from discussing here because the progress involved is so frequently difficult to describe verbally without sounding pompous, silly, or ridiculously mundane. To continue progressing with music, which has brought so much joy to me this past year. Splunge continues to achieve mixed results at best, but has brought a lot of individual progress out of me. To continue with yoga, which has improved my physical well being so much. And I'd like to get back to writing, both music and RPG material.
Very eventful year, I must say. This blog has largely degenerated into a log of Splunge activities, and it's meant to be more than that. I'll try to do better next year.
I won't make anything as formal as a New Year's Resolution, but I can certainly have plans and hopes. I hope to continue getting a lot done around the house, including finishing the yard. To continue my spiritual development, which I've gotten away from discussing here because the progress involved is so frequently difficult to describe verbally without sounding pompous, silly, or ridiculously mundane. To continue progressing with music, which has brought so much joy to me this past year. Splunge continues to achieve mixed results at best, but has brought a lot of individual progress out of me. To continue with yoga, which has improved my physical well being so much. And I'd like to get back to writing, both music and RPG material.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Splunge - 12/26/2011
Jason, Nick and myself, with no Sal this time due to a work emergency, so it'll be at least two months since we will have had the full line-up playing together.
Single guitarist sessions offer a chance to hear some things that otherwise usually get lost in the mix, and since we've been working on the rhythm of our guitar players in particular lately, Nick spent a fair amount of the session under more scrutiny than usual. I'm afraid it was getting him a bit depressed, but you can't fix a problem you don't know about. The strange part is that the songs he was having a problem with are usually solid.
We were sounding fairly good again vocally, mainly with Nick singing lead and me singing harmony. I was having serious congestion problems again, though I was almost clear by the end of the session. I was also having problems with songs that are usually solid, at least vocally, running out of air badly on "Runaround". Unfortunately no amount of practice can clear nasal congestion. Nick and I talked about harmony before we started playing, and he made some attempts at singing harmony a few times, with mixed results.
We actually hit the group riff on "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with all three of us at the same time! There is hope for all four of us the next time we get together.
We made an attempt at "Space Oddity", which was again rough. This might be too spacy a feel for this band to pull off well. We'll see when we have everybody at the same time again.
I'm really enjoying the rhythmic rapport Jason and I have built, and it was especially good this time out. Jason was in a better mental space than the last time, playing with some flair he'd been lacking the last couple of practices. I'm still playing stronger rhythmically personally, but have realized that there are things I need to work on to make that approach feel as natural as I'd like.
We moved around a bit, with me in Sal's usual spot, which helped our ability to hear each other. We have a more radical change in mind for the next session, moving Jason to a corner and the amplifiers around to a more circular (and less stage-like) set up. I'm not pleased that this is necessary, but don't see any other solution.
Single guitarist sessions offer a chance to hear some things that otherwise usually get lost in the mix, and since we've been working on the rhythm of our guitar players in particular lately, Nick spent a fair amount of the session under more scrutiny than usual. I'm afraid it was getting him a bit depressed, but you can't fix a problem you don't know about. The strange part is that the songs he was having a problem with are usually solid.
We were sounding fairly good again vocally, mainly with Nick singing lead and me singing harmony. I was having serious congestion problems again, though I was almost clear by the end of the session. I was also having problems with songs that are usually solid, at least vocally, running out of air badly on "Runaround". Unfortunately no amount of practice can clear nasal congestion. Nick and I talked about harmony before we started playing, and he made some attempts at singing harmony a few times, with mixed results.
We actually hit the group riff on "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with all three of us at the same time! There is hope for all four of us the next time we get together.
We made an attempt at "Space Oddity", which was again rough. This might be too spacy a feel for this band to pull off well. We'll see when we have everybody at the same time again.
I'm really enjoying the rhythmic rapport Jason and I have built, and it was especially good this time out. Jason was in a better mental space than the last time, playing with some flair he'd been lacking the last couple of practices. I'm still playing stronger rhythmically personally, but have realized that there are things I need to work on to make that approach feel as natural as I'd like.
We moved around a bit, with me in Sal's usual spot, which helped our ability to hear each other. We have a more radical change in mind for the next session, moving Jason to a corner and the amplifiers around to a more circular (and less stage-like) set up. I'm not pleased that this is necessary, but don't see any other solution.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Recharge for the Last Push
Took a few days off this past week, primarily because I had to use 'em or lose 'em. The idea was to get any remaining Christmas things done and relax a bit before this upcoming, likely stress-filled, week.
Things worked out extremely well. I haven't really had any serious down time since June or so because of various crises this year, and once I tended to a few necessary things, I was really able to relax. It actually feels weird to not have a "hafta" to do at the moment.
Work should be very difficult this week, as people frantically try to get claims wrapped up before Christmas weekend. However, I'll be on vacation the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, so I won't have to cope with that usually strange week. It's been years since I've taken vacation that week, but I loved it the last time I did it. I've just got to remember that will be coming when things get crazy this week.
Things worked out extremely well. I haven't really had any serious down time since June or so because of various crises this year, and once I tended to a few necessary things, I was really able to relax. It actually feels weird to not have a "hafta" to do at the moment.
Work should be very difficult this week, as people frantically try to get claims wrapped up before Christmas weekend. However, I'll be on vacation the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, so I won't have to cope with that usually strange week. It's been years since I've taken vacation that week, but I loved it the last time I did it. I've just got to remember that will be coming when things get crazy this week.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Splunge - 12/11/11
Sal, Nick and myself, with no Jason this time due to a lower back injury while playing hockey.
I was feeling a bit congested, but seemed to sound okay vocally, and Nick was sounding good, in spite of his saying he'd blown out his voice badly just a few days before. Songs where he was singing lead and I was harmonizing represented most of the high points of the session, with our first attempt at David Bowie's "Space Oddity" probably the best.
On the other hand, our timing as a group on "Space Oddity" was abominable. This is a song where a lot of the instrumentation floats along, including the bass, so there's no way for me to lay down something solid for the others without messing up the song. The rhythm guitar part, and everybody else listening to it, seems to be the key to keeping it together. I was relying too much on my prior experience with this song in another band and didn't remember it as well as I should have. The guitar players' timing just wasn't good in general. This is to be expected to some degree for a new song for us with an unconventional feel to it, but ticks me off because again, we run into the serious rhythm problems that are an ongoing issue with this band.
We ran through "Surrender" for the first time as well, with me stepping in on lead vocals a lot because Nick hadn't had much practice time with it. It was okay for a run through.
Nick and I were discussing how he feels he has hit a plateau and hasn't been improving as much as he'd like, as well as the prospect of taking this band in front of an audience, and we brought Sal into the discussion when he arrived. We discussed some of the rhythmic issue again then (as well as via Facebook later) and I think everybody plans to spend some time with a metronome in the future.
I was surprised to find out that everybody seems to be on board with the idea of playing in front of an audience at some point, but feels we're not good enough collectively to handle it. I agree, but if we're good enough to hear how good we aren't, why aren't we good enough to fix that? Vocal limitations are something of an issue, but not a major one. The more significant problem is simply keeping it together rhythmically, which shouldn't be a problem after we've been together this long. Volume is part of the cause, as everybody else needs to turn down and do a better job of listening to each other. I've already been turning down, leading to requests from the others for me to turn my own volume up, but everybody else stays loud, even after I explain why.
Next session would be scheduled Christmas Day, so obviously that's not going to happen. We're talking about playing the day after, though, because everybody seems to be scheduled off from work that day, which would be a Good Thing. We always sound better when we play more often.
I was feeling a bit congested, but seemed to sound okay vocally, and Nick was sounding good, in spite of his saying he'd blown out his voice badly just a few days before. Songs where he was singing lead and I was harmonizing represented most of the high points of the session, with our first attempt at David Bowie's "Space Oddity" probably the best.
On the other hand, our timing as a group on "Space Oddity" was abominable. This is a song where a lot of the instrumentation floats along, including the bass, so there's no way for me to lay down something solid for the others without messing up the song. The rhythm guitar part, and everybody else listening to it, seems to be the key to keeping it together. I was relying too much on my prior experience with this song in another band and didn't remember it as well as I should have. The guitar players' timing just wasn't good in general. This is to be expected to some degree for a new song for us with an unconventional feel to it, but ticks me off because again, we run into the serious rhythm problems that are an ongoing issue with this band.
We ran through "Surrender" for the first time as well, with me stepping in on lead vocals a lot because Nick hadn't had much practice time with it. It was okay for a run through.
Nick and I were discussing how he feels he has hit a plateau and hasn't been improving as much as he'd like, as well as the prospect of taking this band in front of an audience, and we brought Sal into the discussion when he arrived. We discussed some of the rhythmic issue again then (as well as via Facebook later) and I think everybody plans to spend some time with a metronome in the future.
I was surprised to find out that everybody seems to be on board with the idea of playing in front of an audience at some point, but feels we're not good enough collectively to handle it. I agree, but if we're good enough to hear how good we aren't, why aren't we good enough to fix that? Vocal limitations are something of an issue, but not a major one. The more significant problem is simply keeping it together rhythmically, which shouldn't be a problem after we've been together this long. Volume is part of the cause, as everybody else needs to turn down and do a better job of listening to each other. I've already been turning down, leading to requests from the others for me to turn my own volume up, but everybody else stays loud, even after I explain why.
Next session would be scheduled Christmas Day, so obviously that's not going to happen. We're talking about playing the day after, though, because everybody seems to be scheduled off from work that day, which would be a Good Thing. We always sound better when we play more often.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Remember Cycling Through Mistakes?
Wife was on vacation as well on Friday and we slept in. I didn't think I was that tired, but slept a very long time, and well. Then I also went back to my work day practice of drinking more water than I used to (started a couple of months ago). Between the two, I felt 100% again by about 5 PM. I really have to be more careful about this.
My ability to play music seems to be a useful barometer. On Friday night I was easily playing things I was having trouble with earlier in the week. I was just attributing it to having a couple of bad days. Sometimes, you've just got to take care of yourself, and I don't always do a good job of that.
My ability to play music seems to be a useful barometer. On Friday night I was easily playing things I was having trouble with earlier in the week. I was just attributing it to having a couple of bad days. Sometimes, you've just got to take care of yourself, and I don't always do a good job of that.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In a Weird Place Right Now
On vacation this week, and yet not getting a damn thing done. I was utterly focused on working on the outside of the house since July/August, and this past weekend, we brought in the professionals to finish the job (at least until spring). So I was looking forward to having some time to actually choose what I was going to do.
Instead, I've frittered away the mornings looking over internet news, etc., and the afternoons watching movies and getting a minimal amount of musical practice done. Nothing feels right, and I'm not playing well. I've actually felt a little shaky at times for no apparent reason and generally listless, not wanting to do anything. I usually get restless after a few days sitting around the house and want to do something, but not this week. Wife's theory is that I'm fighting off a flu bug or something. I have gotten a lot of rest and feel better now than I did earlier in the week. This all comes at a time when I feel as though I'm gaining some real insight into Life and learning to function better, making it all the more mystifying.
I think some of it is that I'd grown accustomed to not having more than minimal free time for several months there, and now I have to adapt again to making choices. Funny, really, if it's that. Hopefully I can do better over the next few days before I have to return to work, because I'm going to have to work more over Thanksgiving weekend than most people do, for various reasons.
Instead, I've frittered away the mornings looking over internet news, etc., and the afternoons watching movies and getting a minimal amount of musical practice done. Nothing feels right, and I'm not playing well. I've actually felt a little shaky at times for no apparent reason and generally listless, not wanting to do anything. I usually get restless after a few days sitting around the house and want to do something, but not this week. Wife's theory is that I'm fighting off a flu bug or something. I have gotten a lot of rest and feel better now than I did earlier in the week. This all comes at a time when I feel as though I'm gaining some real insight into Life and learning to function better, making it all the more mystifying.
I think some of it is that I'd grown accustomed to not having more than minimal free time for several months there, and now I have to adapt again to making choices. Funny, really, if it's that. Hopefully I can do better over the next few days before I have to return to work, because I'm going to have to work more over Thanksgiving weekend than most people do, for various reasons.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Splunge - 11/13/2011
Jason, Sal, Nick and I all on board again. I really wish we could keep it going solidly every other week at least, but especially as we approach the holidays, it's hard for all of us to be available. It's going to be another month at least, and the next time it's going to be my fault because I'm going to a wedding.
Jason showed up a little worn around the edges and apparently not in the mood to play. He wasn't terrible, but definitely wasn't at his best. At least one of the guitars was far too loud throughout the session (I think it was Nick) and we went back to some of our bad habits. Vocals were erratic (even on the songs Nick and I know cold) because we were having a hard time hearing ourselves. I turned the bass down to try to encourage everybody else to do the same, and naturally, they didn't. I should have just said what was on my mind.
We again passed on "Surrender" and "Space Oddity" because Nick and Jason still weren't prepared for them. Nick had lost power at this house for nearly a week, so he had some legitimate reason. Jason has just lost his focus for a while, by his own admission.
Sounds pretty negative the way I'm writing this, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, the overall sound was in the top four sessions or so since we've been playing, in spite of the negative aspects to it. We played our best versions ever of a couple of songs, most notably "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with the group riff, and "Psycho Killer". I continued playing aggressively (if too quiet) and made some changes to my bass sound based on an article I'd read, and really liked the difference.
We discussed trying to do a medley involving REM's "Orange Crush", since all agreed that the song doesn't go much of anywhere as originally performed, and tentatively agreed to go from that song into the Theme from Shaft (probably with just Jason and I), then on to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". I'm not sure how that will actually pan out, but it'd be something really different for us.
Jason showed up a little worn around the edges and apparently not in the mood to play. He wasn't terrible, but definitely wasn't at his best. At least one of the guitars was far too loud throughout the session (I think it was Nick) and we went back to some of our bad habits. Vocals were erratic (even on the songs Nick and I know cold) because we were having a hard time hearing ourselves. I turned the bass down to try to encourage everybody else to do the same, and naturally, they didn't. I should have just said what was on my mind.
We again passed on "Surrender" and "Space Oddity" because Nick and Jason still weren't prepared for them. Nick had lost power at this house for nearly a week, so he had some legitimate reason. Jason has just lost his focus for a while, by his own admission.
Sounds pretty negative the way I'm writing this, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, the overall sound was in the top four sessions or so since we've been playing, in spite of the negative aspects to it. We played our best versions ever of a couple of songs, most notably "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with the group riff, and "Psycho Killer". I continued playing aggressively (if too quiet) and made some changes to my bass sound based on an article I'd read, and really liked the difference.
We discussed trying to do a medley involving REM's "Orange Crush", since all agreed that the song doesn't go much of anywhere as originally performed, and tentatively agreed to go from that song into the Theme from Shaft (probably with just Jason and I), then on to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". I'm not sure how that will actually pan out, but it'd be something really different for us.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Splunge - 10/16
Jason, Sal, Nick and I all on board this time out.
Once again, in spite of an increasingly large song list, we got through just about everything. However, it took an extra long session to do it. "Help Me Rhonda" is officially out. Cheap Trick's "Surrender" and David Bowie's "Space Oddity" are officially in, though we only thrashed through both of them once in Sal's last session.
I continued using a pick and a more assertive approach. On one song, Jason said he felt it was pushing him rhythmically, and not in a good way, but I think it worked on the whole, allowing him to play a little more freely because someone else was holding the rhythm. He turned in a spectacular performance on "The Kids are Alright", doing as much justice to Keith Moon as any drummer I've played with.
Vocally, I definitely wasn't at my best due to congestion. Nick was singing well enough, but since he's picked up a greater proportion of the lead vocals, he was starting to wear down by the end of the session. He's starting to hit some harmonies, though this is still new to him.
Jason forgot his earplugs and had numbness on the right side of his head by the end of the session. Not good. I doubt he'll let that happen again.
Overall tightness may have even been a slight step up from other recent sessions. Pardon my ego, but I think I can at least partially attribute that to my own change in approach, giving the guitar players stronger rhythm to follow in virtually every song. On "Teen Angst", Nick felt the song was at a level worth playing in front of an audience, which is something any of the others have been reluctant to say. Now we're getting somewhere!
Once again, in spite of an increasingly large song list, we got through just about everything. However, it took an extra long session to do it. "Help Me Rhonda" is officially out. Cheap Trick's "Surrender" and David Bowie's "Space Oddity" are officially in, though we only thrashed through both of them once in Sal's last session.
I continued using a pick and a more assertive approach. On one song, Jason said he felt it was pushing him rhythmically, and not in a good way, but I think it worked on the whole, allowing him to play a little more freely because someone else was holding the rhythm. He turned in a spectacular performance on "The Kids are Alright", doing as much justice to Keith Moon as any drummer I've played with.
Vocally, I definitely wasn't at my best due to congestion. Nick was singing well enough, but since he's picked up a greater proportion of the lead vocals, he was starting to wear down by the end of the session. He's starting to hit some harmonies, though this is still new to him.
Jason forgot his earplugs and had numbness on the right side of his head by the end of the session. Not good. I doubt he'll let that happen again.
Overall tightness may have even been a slight step up from other recent sessions. Pardon my ego, but I think I can at least partially attribute that to my own change in approach, giving the guitar players stronger rhythm to follow in virtually every song. On "Teen Angst", Nick felt the song was at a level worth playing in front of an audience, which is something any of the others have been reluctant to say. Now we're getting somewhere!
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Splunge - 10/2/11
No Sal this time, just Jason, Nick, and myself. Sounded pretty good, all in all, but the solos suffered a lot without Sal. Nick and I each took a couple, and we went without one on a couple of songs. Neither of us did much to make a case for ourselves as regular soloists. I was pleased with my own solo on "Runaround", but I always play that one anyway.
We made it through almost the entire song list, except for a few songs that just plain don't work without the second guitar. "Help Me Rhonda" still flat out isn't working, and I'm going to suggest that we drop it.
"Low Budget" took a step back; Nick really needs the second guitar to keep himself together on that one.
Started using a pick again this session, moving to a guitar pick rather than the heavier picks I used to use. I think it tightened up the sound of the band as a whole by giving me a more percussive sound that I tied in with Jason's drumming. The pick, incidentally, was one I made myself from an old AAA card with a pick punch my wife gave me as a gift.
Also, I experimented with playing more assertively and driving the band myself rather than my usual approach of listening to everyone else and trying to rhythmically tie it all together. I led rather than followed, which worked better for my role in this particular band, and I'm going to stick with it.
Next session is tentatively scheduled for two weeks from today, and I hope I'll be able to do it with everything else I have going on at the moment.
We made it through almost the entire song list, except for a few songs that just plain don't work without the second guitar. "Help Me Rhonda" still flat out isn't working, and I'm going to suggest that we drop it.
"Low Budget" took a step back; Nick really needs the second guitar to keep himself together on that one.
Started using a pick again this session, moving to a guitar pick rather than the heavier picks I used to use. I think it tightened up the sound of the band as a whole by giving me a more percussive sound that I tied in with Jason's drumming. The pick, incidentally, was one I made myself from an old AAA card with a pick punch my wife gave me as a gift.
Also, I experimented with playing more assertively and driving the band myself rather than my usual approach of listening to everyone else and trying to rhythmically tie it all together. I led rather than followed, which worked better for my role in this particular band, and I'm going to stick with it.
Next session is tentatively scheduled for two weeks from today, and I hope I'll be able to do it with everything else I have going on at the moment.
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