So here's an interesting development... I am now playing bass with a couple of old friends! Slim Chance & Dave Rentz, two gents that I have known for years, are now my band mates and we are having a great time. Slim plays guitar and is basically the anchor man for the group as it is his style and repertoire that drives the band. His particular style is difficult for me to describe so I will provide this YouTube link (from many years ago) to give you a rough idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yesi0AYB9qY
Dave is a percussionist more than just a drummer and quite simply the best drummer I have ever played along side. I hold down the bass (my favorite instrument) and we have recently had the privilege of having the company of Bruce Wandmayer join us with his pedal steel guitar and sax.
Our little quartet has not arrived on a name as yet but we have secured a small regular gig at a very nice club nearby so... we'll just let it cook and see what happens.
More as it happens...
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Friday, October 12, 2018
Woodshedding...
Tommy Emmanuel calls "woodshedding" the technique of learning a song to the degree that you know every note and nuance and then... keep playing it over and over for days until it becomes a part of you! Play nothing else except that song!
Yeah... that's a wonderful concept but... that's not what I'm doing. (Not that I wouldn't mind trying!) That being said... I feel it safe to say that I am back in "woodshedding" mode once again and it feels pretty good.
Now you need to understand that woodshedding in my situation is not just referring to my guitar. Oh, no... I have a bass as well as a keyboard to work with. But before I could begin to get into any of those instruments I had to begin woodshedding my P.A. and recording system! Oh yeah... spend a little time away from knobs, sliders and cord patches and you can find yourself lost in a sea of madness!
I must say that it only took me the better part of one and half afternoons to remember how the system of mics, instruments, effect pedals, mixers, amps, etc. actually worked (and that included discovering and removing a 60 cycle power hum in one of the connections)! Then I was able to actually start working with musical instruments. Working being the operative term here. A musician friend of mine loves to remind me of his favorite sayings, "If you're not working on your chops... you're losing them!" I've lost a few but they are making their way back to me along with some new chops as well.
So... that's where I am today. The studio is back online and functioning and I'm getting some practicing done. I was even able to get a rough version of one of my tunes recorded for good buddy in California. Will wonders never cease?
Yeah... that's a wonderful concept but... that's not what I'm doing. (Not that I wouldn't mind trying!) That being said... I feel it safe to say that I am back in "woodshedding" mode once again and it feels pretty good.
Now you need to understand that woodshedding in my situation is not just referring to my guitar. Oh, no... I have a bass as well as a keyboard to work with. But before I could begin to get into any of those instruments I had to begin woodshedding my P.A. and recording system! Oh yeah... spend a little time away from knobs, sliders and cord patches and you can find yourself lost in a sea of madness!
I must say that it only took me the better part of one and half afternoons to remember how the system of mics, instruments, effect pedals, mixers, amps, etc. actually worked (and that included discovering and removing a 60 cycle power hum in one of the connections)! Then I was able to actually start working with musical instruments. Working being the operative term here. A musician friend of mine loves to remind me of his favorite sayings, "If you're not working on your chops... you're losing them!" I've lost a few but they are making their way back to me along with some new chops as well.
So... that's where I am today. The studio is back online and functioning and I'm getting some practicing done. I was even able to get a rough version of one of my tunes recorded for good buddy in California. Will wonders never cease?
Friday, October 5, 2018
Inspiration...
I have recently said that I am keeping these posts centered around my musical aspirations and I feel comfortable in doing just that. That being said... I find I have to include the topic of "inspiration". Something (or someone) has to inspire me to be musically creative. Perhaps it shouldn't be that way but... there it is!
Music has always been an important part of my life. In the early days of elementary and high school it was an activity that I just kind of liked more than anything else. I had a wonderful music teacher from the 4th grade all the way to freshman year in high school. Mr. Rueben D. Tuttle (sp?) was a musical inspirtion for me and many others. I started out wanting to play drums (of course) but after spending hours on "practice pads" ( a 4 inch square of rubber mounted to a piece of hardwood atop a snare drum stand) I was not inspired!
Mr. Tuttle recognized my lack luster attitude and asked me about it. I think I told him that this was not what I was hoping for. When he asked me what other instrument I might want to try... I had no clue. Other kids were working with instruments like clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and I think there may have even been a flute player but... none of those really "spoke" to me. Mr. tuttle asked if he might make a suggestion and of course I said yes.
He suggested the trombone. Well, of course he would... it was the instrument that he played. (Actually, he played them all but the trombone was the one he played the most). When I asked him about why the trombone the answer I remember most vividly was along the lines of "The trombone has a slide and not levers and pads. That means that the trombone can play notes in between the notes that the other instruments can play. It is the only wind instrument that can do that!"
Needless to say... I started learning the trombone. In fact I still have my old Conn trombone although I have not played it in decades.
Mr. Tuttle could be quite the task master but he made learning and playing music fun! You could see the enjoyment in his mannerisms when he played and you could definitely see the joy in his eyes when we came together to put on a performance. He was an inspiration!
In my high school years I stayed in band and I got into rock and roll. My first combo was a 5 piece called the Riptides and we did mostly surf music covers. I had a little electric organ called a Magnus Electric Chord Organ so I was the keyboard player.
There were a lot of high school guys getting into bands in the mid and late 1960's in our area and musicians were migrating from one band to another. Eventually I ended up in another combo (this time a 6 piece) called The Lords and we did fairly well but that's for another post.
Getting back to inspiration... right... I remember! So in high school there was the inspiration to be a musician in a performing combo for the chics (of course) and to be cool (of course) and to be doing something that most other kids were not doing... and (wait for it)... someone will actually pay us as well?
That kind of inspiration kept me going for years. Then I discovered song writing and that was a bit different. Like many, my first songs had to do with a broken heart or unrequited love. Then (because it was the 60's) I was "inspired" to write about everything that was "wrong" with the world. Luckily, that approach got old for me very fast! It was around that time I think I made my first rule about song writing: "You can complain about whatever you want but before the song is over you had better have at least one positive example to remedy the situation!". Ever since then I have done my best to follow that rule.
Some of my best and most inspired songs have been written about the woman I love or my kids. Others have been inspired by things I have witnessed, experienced or believe to be of great value. Every now and then a song will come ripping into my head out of nowhere and those, as rare as they are, tend to usually be amazing!
But today... today I find myself inspired by the rediscovery of and reconnection with an old friend. This guy and I go way back and it has been many years since we last conversed but recently he found me across the miles and years and the magic of the music that helped us form such a strong bond back in the Vietnam era has rekindled an old spark for music that I was not even aware had begun to flicker. This is inspiration for me now and it feels like it is growing within me.
Sure... one can live a life with many kind of inspiration or without any kind of inspiration at all. But for me to have the musical part of my self inspired... that is very cool indeed!
Music has always been an important part of my life. In the early days of elementary and high school it was an activity that I just kind of liked more than anything else. I had a wonderful music teacher from the 4th grade all the way to freshman year in high school. Mr. Rueben D. Tuttle (sp?) was a musical inspirtion for me and many others. I started out wanting to play drums (of course) but after spending hours on "practice pads" ( a 4 inch square of rubber mounted to a piece of hardwood atop a snare drum stand) I was not inspired!
Mr. Tuttle recognized my lack luster attitude and asked me about it. I think I told him that this was not what I was hoping for. When he asked me what other instrument I might want to try... I had no clue. Other kids were working with instruments like clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and I think there may have even been a flute player but... none of those really "spoke" to me. Mr. tuttle asked if he might make a suggestion and of course I said yes.
He suggested the trombone. Well, of course he would... it was the instrument that he played. (Actually, he played them all but the trombone was the one he played the most). When I asked him about why the trombone the answer I remember most vividly was along the lines of "The trombone has a slide and not levers and pads. That means that the trombone can play notes in between the notes that the other instruments can play. It is the only wind instrument that can do that!"
Needless to say... I started learning the trombone. In fact I still have my old Conn trombone although I have not played it in decades.
Mr. Tuttle could be quite the task master but he made learning and playing music fun! You could see the enjoyment in his mannerisms when he played and you could definitely see the joy in his eyes when we came together to put on a performance. He was an inspiration!
In my high school years I stayed in band and I got into rock and roll. My first combo was a 5 piece called the Riptides and we did mostly surf music covers. I had a little electric organ called a Magnus Electric Chord Organ so I was the keyboard player.
 |
| Magnus Electric Chord Organ |
There were a lot of high school guys getting into bands in the mid and late 1960's in our area and musicians were migrating from one band to another. Eventually I ended up in another combo (this time a 6 piece) called The Lords and we did fairly well but that's for another post.
Getting back to inspiration... right... I remember! So in high school there was the inspiration to be a musician in a performing combo for the chics (of course) and to be cool (of course) and to be doing something that most other kids were not doing... and (wait for it)... someone will actually pay us as well?
That kind of inspiration kept me going for years. Then I discovered song writing and that was a bit different. Like many, my first songs had to do with a broken heart or unrequited love. Then (because it was the 60's) I was "inspired" to write about everything that was "wrong" with the world. Luckily, that approach got old for me very fast! It was around that time I think I made my first rule about song writing: "You can complain about whatever you want but before the song is over you had better have at least one positive example to remedy the situation!". Ever since then I have done my best to follow that rule.
Some of my best and most inspired songs have been written about the woman I love or my kids. Others have been inspired by things I have witnessed, experienced or believe to be of great value. Every now and then a song will come ripping into my head out of nowhere and those, as rare as they are, tend to usually be amazing!
But today... today I find myself inspired by the rediscovery of and reconnection with an old friend. This guy and I go way back and it has been many years since we last conversed but recently he found me across the miles and years and the magic of the music that helped us form such a strong bond back in the Vietnam era has rekindled an old spark for music that I was not even aware had begun to flicker. This is inspiration for me now and it feels like it is growing within me.
Sure... one can live a life with many kind of inspiration or without any kind of inspiration at all. But for me to have the musical part of my self inspired... that is very cool indeed!
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Thunder in The Valley...
So... this past weekend was a tad bit noisy up here. You see, for the third year now a group of motorcycle enthusiasts have held an event in Cottonwood (just down in the bottom land of the Verde Valley below) called "Thunder Valley Rally". It's cool and all of that... they have local and regional music acts as well as a beauty pageant... all understandably geared towards the motorcycle crowd. But then all of those bikers see this inviting mountain with it two-lane winding road and... well... it tends to get a tad bit noisy!
An interesting thing happened recently... so I will tell you about it. I've been buying & replacing guitar strings for more than 50 years. Acoustic, electric, 6-string, 12-string, bass, ukulele, banjo ... you name it. I have never had a problem... until recently.
I changed the strings on my 1976 Washburn acoustic. Replaced the old set with a new set of the same strings I've been using for more than a year now. Brought everything up to pitch and discovered that my high E had a buzz! I checked the action... did not look like the string was hitting any frets. But the buzz was definitely there. I messed around with it for several days and finally decided to get hold of my luthier to have him take a look at it. He thought it might have something to do with the increased moisture in the air. So... the axe sat for a couple of days until I could get it to my guy.
In that time I bumped into a guitar playing buddy. We hadn't seen each other in some time so we pulled over to catch up with each other. I eventually got around to describing the problem with my Washburn. He looked at me and said, "Did you try replacing the string?"
I told him the thought never occurred to me and I asked him if that was a real thing. He looked at me as if to say "What? Are you new at this?".
I went home, replaced the string and, to my great joy, the buzz is gone!
After all these years... I guess it was my turn to have a bad new string!
An interesting thing happened recently... so I will tell you about it. I've been buying & replacing guitar strings for more than 50 years. Acoustic, electric, 6-string, 12-string, bass, ukulele, banjo ... you name it. I have never had a problem... until recently.
I changed the strings on my 1976 Washburn acoustic. Replaced the old set with a new set of the same strings I've been using for more than a year now. Brought everything up to pitch and discovered that my high E had a buzz! I checked the action... did not look like the string was hitting any frets. But the buzz was definitely there. I messed around with it for several days and finally decided to get hold of my luthier to have him take a look at it. He thought it might have something to do with the increased moisture in the air. So... the axe sat for a couple of days until I could get it to my guy.
In that time I bumped into a guitar playing buddy. We hadn't seen each other in some time so we pulled over to catch up with each other. I eventually got around to describing the problem with my Washburn. He looked at me and said, "Did you try replacing the string?"
I told him the thought never occurred to me and I asked him if that was a real thing. He looked at me as if to say "What? Are you new at this?".
I went home, replaced the string and, to my great joy, the buzz is gone!
After all these years... I guess it was my turn to have a bad new string!
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Jammin' with the pros
There are those times when I really feel like doing something musical. There are those times when I really feel like doing something creative. Then there are those times when both of those things come together. Today wasn't one of those days... well, not the musical & creative at the same time kind of day.
So on days like today I will grab my bass, put on the head phones, open iTunes and find some cool stuff to jam with. Lately I've working with Fleetwood Mac (in my dreams). John McVie is one of my favorite bass players. There is just something about his musical choices that resonate with me.
Today was a bit different as I was totally without direction or inspiration. Today I did a little work with the Traveling Wilburys (which was fun as well as educational) and then I tried to hang with the Police (on some of their simpler stuff). It is all good excercise for both my hands and my ears. For those of you following along with me on my adventure to broaden my musical experience... I force myself to actually understand what notes I'm playing while doing this. I used to just find the pattern without learning the notes... although it works, it doesn't really stimulate my understanding of what is gong on!
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm keeping my "Tales from Deception Gulch" reeled in close to home. There's just too much unbridled chaos floating around out there for me to even consider making a comment. So, for the time being anyhow, just stuff that is happening on the creative musical side of things.
Catch ya' later...
So on days like today I will grab my bass, put on the head phones, open iTunes and find some cool stuff to jam with. Lately I've working with Fleetwood Mac (in my dreams). John McVie is one of my favorite bass players. There is just something about his musical choices that resonate with me.
Today was a bit different as I was totally without direction or inspiration. Today I did a little work with the Traveling Wilburys (which was fun as well as educational) and then I tried to hang with the Police (on some of their simpler stuff). It is all good excercise for both my hands and my ears. For those of you following along with me on my adventure to broaden my musical experience... I force myself to actually understand what notes I'm playing while doing this. I used to just find the pattern without learning the notes... although it works, it doesn't really stimulate my understanding of what is gong on!
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm keeping my "Tales from Deception Gulch" reeled in close to home. There's just too much unbridled chaos floating around out there for me to even consider making a comment. So, for the time being anyhow, just stuff that is happening on the creative musical side of things.
Catch ya' later...
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Who Knows Where The Time Goes?
Lately I've been enjoying some of the work by Joni Mitchell. Admittedly, it's partly a nostalgic thing but it is also a discovery of some aspects of her work that I have not been familiar with. Like... I did not realize that Joco Pastorious played so much with her (and I am constantly blown away by Joco)!
Getting back into "wood shedding" mode is always an interesting adventure! A friend of mine often says "If you're not working on your chops, you're losing them!" There is always something new to learn whether it is a finger-picking style or a different chord inversion or just trying to remember how to use my equipment... always something to keep the little grey cells busy!
I've been reading about Paul Simon's new album "In The Blue Light" and how he has been spending time revisiting some of his older tunes and in an attempt to get "fresh new takes" of them. I've been looking at my tunes and wondering what I would like to do with them (compared to just playing them the way I've always done). So far... I've been lead to only make changes if they actually add something to what I call the "core" of the tune.
As a song writer my goal has always been to deliver a message through the lyrics and supporting that message via the melody and chord structure. This method is partly due to my desire to keep the process simple, partly due to my limited education as a composer/arranger and partly due to my belief that it is more important to get a good message with a good tune out there than it is for me to create a "musically perfect" work.
When I started this recording project almost four years ago I remember that my goal was to get these songs of mine recorded and protected in a simple clean production capable of delivering the message. My hope was that some other performer would pick up on my tunes and want to put them out there with is or her own flavor. After all that I have been exposed to in the past couple of years in the studio... meaning all that is possible... I have come back to the original idea of keeping it simple and just deliver the message! Get that part done first and then see what happens after that.
So... that's where I seem to be these days. With all of the distractions that life has presented these past months I find myself finally getting back to the "practice & rehearsal" part of the gig. I do feel a bit relieved, I must say. It was getting far too technical in my mind and... nothing was really being accomplished!
But now... my fingers are sore and I have to get past that!
More to come...
T.F.O.T.H.
Getting back into "wood shedding" mode is always an interesting adventure! A friend of mine often says "If you're not working on your chops, you're losing them!" There is always something new to learn whether it is a finger-picking style or a different chord inversion or just trying to remember how to use my equipment... always something to keep the little grey cells busy!
I've been reading about Paul Simon's new album "In The Blue Light" and how he has been spending time revisiting some of his older tunes and in an attempt to get "fresh new takes" of them. I've been looking at my tunes and wondering what I would like to do with them (compared to just playing them the way I've always done). So far... I've been lead to only make changes if they actually add something to what I call the "core" of the tune.
As a song writer my goal has always been to deliver a message through the lyrics and supporting that message via the melody and chord structure. This method is partly due to my desire to keep the process simple, partly due to my limited education as a composer/arranger and partly due to my belief that it is more important to get a good message with a good tune out there than it is for me to create a "musically perfect" work.
When I started this recording project almost four years ago I remember that my goal was to get these songs of mine recorded and protected in a simple clean production capable of delivering the message. My hope was that some other performer would pick up on my tunes and want to put them out there with is or her own flavor. After all that I have been exposed to in the past couple of years in the studio... meaning all that is possible... I have come back to the original idea of keeping it simple and just deliver the message! Get that part done first and then see what happens after that.
So... that's where I seem to be these days. With all of the distractions that life has presented these past months I find myself finally getting back to the "practice & rehearsal" part of the gig. I do feel a bit relieved, I must say. It was getting far too technical in my mind and... nothing was really being accomplished!
But now... my fingers are sore and I have to get past that!
More to come...
T.F.O.T.H.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Moving forward...
We have been finally getting some much needed rain this monsoon season. We've gone from a drought with high fire warnings to a nice muggy couple of weeks here on the mountain.
Music - for the past few months I've been attempting to rekindle my musical aspirations. It was difficult for a number of reasons (mostly tasks that needed to be addressed around the homestead) but I discovered that my equipment layout in the studio had no flow! Instead of being able to walk up to my equipment and begin, I realized that things were too jammed together. I rearranged some things and now all my equipment is easily accessible... keyboard, guitar, bass, mixers, computer, etc. What a concept!
So... now that I can easily access my keyboard, what is my first challenge?
There is a song performed by Delaney & Bonnie on their "Accept No Substitute" album called "Ghetto". I've always liked the song but what flips me out the most about it is Leon Russell's keyboard riffs! Leon has always been a favorite of mine for a number o reasons but his "voicings" on his riffs on this tune just do something to me.
[Nine days later...]
Of course, now that I have written about my "progress"... life has interjected itself with many tasks that have needed my immediate attention! Which is to say... I have not spent much time in the studio!
I'm going to publish this post and hope that the next one reveals some musical advancement.
Mahalo.
T.F.O.T.H.
Music - for the past few months I've been attempting to rekindle my musical aspirations. It was difficult for a number of reasons (mostly tasks that needed to be addressed around the homestead) but I discovered that my equipment layout in the studio had no flow! Instead of being able to walk up to my equipment and begin, I realized that things were too jammed together. I rearranged some things and now all my equipment is easily accessible... keyboard, guitar, bass, mixers, computer, etc. What a concept!
So... now that I can easily access my keyboard, what is my first challenge?
There is a song performed by Delaney & Bonnie on their "Accept No Substitute" album called "Ghetto". I've always liked the song but what flips me out the most about it is Leon Russell's keyboard riffs! Leon has always been a favorite of mine for a number o reasons but his "voicings" on his riffs on this tune just do something to me.
[Nine days later...]
Of course, now that I have written about my "progress"... life has interjected itself with many tasks that have needed my immediate attention! Which is to say... I have not spent much time in the studio!
I'm going to publish this post and hope that the next one reveals some musical advancement.
Mahalo.
T.F.O.T.H.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Time apparently flies...
So... it appears that my last post was in May of 2012.
Must be about time for another one...
I'd be a liar if I said that not much has happened in all that time.
I'd also be a liar if I said that I remembered all of it!
It's a stretch to say I remember most of it but... I guess I should try.
Lost some people over the past six years... some very close.
Still with my wonderful beautiful Lady, I'm pleased to report.
Still working on my music... actually have a few under copyright.
Reconnected with a few folks from my past... one in particular that kind of has me over the moon with joy.
And... still in Deception Gulch!
My Lady and I hope to find truly "greener pastures" in the not too distant future but considering the state of affairs this country is in these days... Jerome still has that sense of community that is healthy and helpful.
Moving on...
Last year was completely filled with construction on our property... and I mean completely! Much needed repairs but we are so glad that part is done... well there are still some repairs needed (isn't that the plight of property owners?) but at least the non-stop (except for the days long breaks) construction crews are no longer here and we can actually see what plants survived.
In 2015 I decided that it was actually time to do something about all of the songs I had been writing over the years. December 3, 2015... the 4th anniversary of my son's passing... was the day it all began. I have a buddy that is a trained musician and he agreed to help me with the recording aspect of the project. He dove deeply into the machinations of digital recording and we began.
A great deal of time was involved in learning how to set up the recording situation. You know, mic placement, volume and tone settings, etc. While he was learning the actual recording side of things I was having my mind blown learning about arranging. I have been in a few bands (combos mostly) over the years but I had been performing as a solo artist for a long time. Just me and my faithful Washburn acoustic guitar. Well, when you are playing for a crowd of liquor drinking folk looking for a good time (and seeing as how my main genre of music was Classic Rock)... it is important to keep the sound coming out of the P.A. system so that is what I did. Strummin' and singing... full tilt boogie! But now that I'm in the recording studio and have the ability to lay down multiple tracks... I became introduced to the world of musical arranging! A totally new concept for me especially considering that it was up to me to lay down most (if not all) of the tracks. My mind began to explode!
Bottom line... I did not have to be continuously strumming my axe!
I have always been a rhythm guitar kind of player. Never really learned things like melody lines or riffs to accompany another player. I was usually the vocalist so being the rhythm guitar always seemed like enough. I do consider myself a half decent bass player but I have not yet learned how to sing lead and play bass at the same time. So... I do have an understanding of how to accompany other players... in concept. But never had much experience in doing it.
Now that I am in the studio... I started off by doing what I've always done: play rhythm guitar (track #1); sing lead vocal (track #2); maybe play some bass (track #3); vocal harmonies (tracks #4+) and occasionally add some keyboard (track #5). I would lay these tracks down either to a metronome or a drum track created by my buddy.
Good enough... right? Not really. Because now I have the ability to not be strumming on every beat. A concept totally new and foreign to me in most of my solo performing. I would listen to what I had recorded and realized that there was so much more that could be done if I could change my guitar style from always strumming to something more artistically musical and, therefore, more entertaining to the listener.
Hence... "arranging" and that is where I am these days. Trying to think like an arranger. Of course, if I had the money I would hire other musicians to help me and I could count on their individual tastes and styles to inspire me.
I'll let you know how this next step works out for me and, hopefully, it won't be another six years before I post again!
T.F.O.T.H.
Must be about time for another one...
I'd be a liar if I said that not much has happened in all that time.
I'd also be a liar if I said that I remembered all of it!
It's a stretch to say I remember most of it but... I guess I should try.
Lost some people over the past six years... some very close.
Still with my wonderful beautiful Lady, I'm pleased to report.
Still working on my music... actually have a few under copyright.
Reconnected with a few folks from my past... one in particular that kind of has me over the moon with joy.
And... still in Deception Gulch!
My Lady and I hope to find truly "greener pastures" in the not too distant future but considering the state of affairs this country is in these days... Jerome still has that sense of community that is healthy and helpful.
Moving on...
Last year was completely filled with construction on our property... and I mean completely! Much needed repairs but we are so glad that part is done... well there are still some repairs needed (isn't that the plight of property owners?) but at least the non-stop (except for the days long breaks) construction crews are no longer here and we can actually see what plants survived.
In 2015 I decided that it was actually time to do something about all of the songs I had been writing over the years. December 3, 2015... the 4th anniversary of my son's passing... was the day it all began. I have a buddy that is a trained musician and he agreed to help me with the recording aspect of the project. He dove deeply into the machinations of digital recording and we began.
A great deal of time was involved in learning how to set up the recording situation. You know, mic placement, volume and tone settings, etc. While he was learning the actual recording side of things I was having my mind blown learning about arranging. I have been in a few bands (combos mostly) over the years but I had been performing as a solo artist for a long time. Just me and my faithful Washburn acoustic guitar. Well, when you are playing for a crowd of liquor drinking folk looking for a good time (and seeing as how my main genre of music was Classic Rock)... it is important to keep the sound coming out of the P.A. system so that is what I did. Strummin' and singing... full tilt boogie! But now that I'm in the recording studio and have the ability to lay down multiple tracks... I became introduced to the world of musical arranging! A totally new concept for me especially considering that it was up to me to lay down most (if not all) of the tracks. My mind began to explode!
Bottom line... I did not have to be continuously strumming my axe!
I have always been a rhythm guitar kind of player. Never really learned things like melody lines or riffs to accompany another player. I was usually the vocalist so being the rhythm guitar always seemed like enough. I do consider myself a half decent bass player but I have not yet learned how to sing lead and play bass at the same time. So... I do have an understanding of how to accompany other players... in concept. But never had much experience in doing it.
Now that I am in the studio... I started off by doing what I've always done: play rhythm guitar (track #1); sing lead vocal (track #2); maybe play some bass (track #3); vocal harmonies (tracks #4+) and occasionally add some keyboard (track #5). I would lay these tracks down either to a metronome or a drum track created by my buddy.
Good enough... right? Not really. Because now I have the ability to not be strumming on every beat. A concept totally new and foreign to me in most of my solo performing. I would listen to what I had recorded and realized that there was so much more that could be done if I could change my guitar style from always strumming to something more artistically musical and, therefore, more entertaining to the listener.
Hence... "arranging" and that is where I am these days. Trying to think like an arranger. Of course, if I had the money I would hire other musicians to help me and I could count on their individual tastes and styles to inspire me.
I'll let you know how this next step works out for me and, hopefully, it won't be another six years before I post again!
T.F.O.T.H.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Visiting spirits or... ?
So... a few months ago a neighbor asks me if I've seen anybody suspicious around her home as she is missing some stuff. I asked her what was taken and she says over $15,000 in cash! Well, I had not seen anybody suspicious... other than the one or two vehicles that often visit her.
About a month or so after that she tells me that somebody is definitely breaking into her house because some other stuff is missing. Then two days ago she sees me outside and asks the same question and is interested in getting a neighborhood watch going. This time she is missing three bottles of prescription drugs.
I ask her if there has been any signs of forced entry and she tells me that there is not. Further, she assures me that she has installed new deadbolts on her doors (in case anybody might have original keys - it is a rental ;property) and that she has secured all of the windows.
So... am I sharing this with you because I am concerned that a possible crime wave has entered Deception Gulch? No, I am not. There is a little bit more information to share on this situation.
A few weeks ago this same neighbor knocked on our back door obviously in an extremely altered state trying to sell us some, shall we say, "illegal substances"! This person was stumbling with her words, weaving as she stood at our door and basically way over the limit of whatever she was on. I have known her for many years and have seen her in many altered states but never like this.
After we were able to assure her we were not nor ever had been interested in her offer, she stumbled away from our door heading in the opposite direction of her home. I decided to follow her to make sure she got off our property safely only to discover that he wandered into another neighbor's yard and was completely unsure of her whereabouts... she was totally lost and only 100 feet from her home!
Time passed and when she asked me for the second time about "suspicious" visitors in the neighborhood I questioned her about her recent episode at our home... she drew a complete blank. To this day she has no recollection of that incident!
This afternoon she called me wanting to organize a neighborhood watch. I don't think we need a neighborhood watch as much as we may need to watch this particular neighbor!
But then... sometimes that's life in Deception Gulch.
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
T.F.O.T.H.
Maintain...
So much has transpired since my last post. Both in my life and the life of Jerome as well as Deception gulch! Friends and family members have literally moved on to new realms. I'll just leave it at that...
It is now May and Spring has finally arrived and the freshness of the immediate environment is a welcome change for our little neighborhood. The national political scene seems so far away from this place and I have to say that I find that a comfort. Living so close to nature as we do here in the Gulch helps to provide a healthy perspective to what is real and important.
I have decided to attempt to update this blog on a regular basis and I suppose we'll just have to see how that progresses! For now I can say that life is good and future is looking better. I hope you are able to say the same about your life.
Until the next time...
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
T.F.O.T.H.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Katie Lee Stories...
Katie Lee has added some of her stories to her website.
You may read them HERE
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
T.F.O.T.H.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010... What's next?
So... another year to start off. Wonder what this one will bring?
Life has been pretty darn good here in The Gulch... at least me and My Lady feel that way! Weather-wise we've had a little bit of snow and some rain but we can certainly use more moisture before the summer months hit us. We have our health and our loved ones appear to be healthy as well. Work still comes in... sometimes a mere trickle... sometimes a nice steady flow.
The Town is moving right along. I find it quite amusing to read some the "Jerome, Arizona" Google alerts I receive from time to time. There are evidently many people from all over the planet who write in their blogs or Twitter, Facebook and such that are now experts on our little community. I've lived here for over 25 years and I know I don't have it completely figured out... so I am thankful that I can read the numerous postings on the Internet to learn what is actually happening.
I'm looking forward to playing more gigs this year. I've got some new equipment as well as some new material to try out. Always an adventure! The new year feels promising I must say. Of course, I'm basically a positive kind of guy so it always looks somewhat promising from my perspective!
I hope this year provides us all with reasons to think and act positively. As the good news comes to the surface I will do my best to report on those episodes that have bearing on us here in Deception Gulch.
In the mean time... "Play honest. Be good. Keep a song in your heart."
Peace,
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
T.F.O.T.H.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Fall has Fell...
It's been a long Summer. Life in Deception gulch has been interesting. Jerome has become a bona fide tourist town. Actually, it has been moving in that direction for several years now, but with the economy in the shape it's in more people are showing up every day.
It doesn't adversely effect us down here in the Gulch. At least not directly. With a little planning we can make our daily visit to the post office without too much outside interference. It used to be that a local could just tend to stay low on the weekends and pretty much have the town back to "normal" (a term used very loosely here) during the week days. Now it just ain't so.
I really am not complaining. The town can certainly use the revenue and the quality of merchandise available in the shops has improved significantly over the past 20 years. I don't think you can buy a rubber tomahawk in town any more. There's just too many strangers wandering around these days. It wasn't so long ago I could walk up town and at least recognize every third or fourth person I saw. Those days are fading into the history of the town.
However, it is still one of the best communities I've had the pleasure to live in.
Life in Deception Gulch tends to move on at its own pace. We had a neighbor's cat go A.W.O.L. for almost 72 hours but I'm happy to report the critter decided to return home and the cat patrol has been able to stand down. A couple fo fall/winter gardens are starting to show some promise. The paradise and black walnut trees are changing color and dropping leaves.
The only real sad news is that the hummingbird population has dropped off dramatically. I knew it could not last, but this year our house finally rated top billing with the little creatures. I was going through about a gallon of sugar water a day there for a while and it was great fun! In past years the hummers have shown a decided preference to our neighbor's feeders. A decided difference! We would walk down to his house in the afternoon or early evening and there would be 30 to 50 birds hitting on his feeders. While on our property we would have about a half dozen. Not this year, though! They finally decided to have the party at our house and it was great fun!
Music is in the air again. I've been managing to play an afternoon gig at one of the local pubs on the weekend once or twice a month. Getting my chops back in the hopes of actually putting an album together. It's been a dream for a long time. Practice, practice, practice!
I'll see if I can't come up with more interesting tidbits on a more regular basis.
Thanks for dropping by...
T.F.O.T.H.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
One Gulch Rat Helps Another...
This may come as a bit of news to the 3 other people who read this blog...
It appears that the person who lives in the smallest house in Deception Gulch (and quite possibly the smallest house in Jerome) has invited a Deception Gulch neighbor (me) to perform musical interludes at the grand opening of his new gallery in Uptown Jerome!
Patrick Lincoln of Lincoln Gallery, LLC has gone and set himself up a new gallery. I'd give you the URL to his web site but he has not built it as yet. The gallery is part of the venture owned & operated by the Jerome Historical Society called the New State Motor Company building. They have down a very nice job refurbishing the old building and have created 7 little shops.
Anyhow... the grand opening is Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm. You can call Patrick at the gallery here 928-649-5888.
If you're in the area come on by and we'll do our best to entertain you.
That's it for now...
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
T.F.O.T.H.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Some Like It Hot!...
One of the first people I met when I moved to Jerome from Sedona more than 25 years ago was a local character named Kim Talbot. Kim first discovered Jerome way back in the 1960's and basically fell in love with the little ghost town and the mountain it is perched on.
Kim and I have been neighbors in Deception Gulch for many years. Besides saying that he has been and remains a very good friend... it is difficult to "pigeon-hole" him in any one category! (And why would I want o anyhow?). You could ask the legion of friends that Kim has gathered over the years to describe him and I would bet you would have as many varied descriptions as he has friends. He's just that unique a character. Suffice it to say that Kim is the only "Redneck Hippie" I've ever met! (And that is meant in the highest form of a compliment I can imagine).
So what is this blog entry about, you ask? Well, I'll tell you... for as long as I've known Kim, he has been making and gifting his home-made salsa. He eats it every day and attributes his robust health to that habit. After years of experimenting and perfecting his recipes, he has finally decided to go into business by sharing his wonderful concoction with the rest of the world in the form of "Salsa de Border".
We just put a web site for the new company and you can view it here:
http://www.salsadeborderonline.com/
Kim and his lovely Lady, Caroline, invite you to drop by for a visit and, if you're in the neighborhood, swing by their store at 9 South 10th Street in Clarkdale, Arizona (just down the hill from Jerome).
If you enjoy good authentic salsa, you will be glad you did.
Kim makes it in 3 flavors...
There's the Mild flavor of El Salsa Sissy and the medium flavor of El Mucho Macho.
But because Some Like It Hot... there is Kim's favorite... El Burno Gringo!
That's it for today, folks.
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
[NOTE: Salsa de Border is no more! My long time friend, Kim Talbot, left this earthly plane.}
Kim and I have been neighbors in Deception Gulch for many years. Besides saying that he has been and remains a very good friend... it is difficult to "pigeon-hole" him in any one category! (And why would I want o anyhow?). You could ask the legion of friends that Kim has gathered over the years to describe him and I would bet you would have as many varied descriptions as he has friends. He's just that unique a character. Suffice it to say that Kim is the only "Redneck Hippie" I've ever met! (And that is meant in the highest form of a compliment I can imagine).
So what is this blog entry about, you ask? Well, I'll tell you... for as long as I've known Kim, he has been making and gifting his home-made salsa. He eats it every day and attributes his robust health to that habit. After years of experimenting and perfecting his recipes, he has finally decided to go into business by sharing his wonderful concoction with the rest of the world in the form of "Salsa de Border".
We just put a web site for the new company and you can view it here:
http://www.salsadeborderonline.com/
Kim and his lovely Lady, Caroline, invite you to drop by for a visit and, if you're in the neighborhood, swing by their store at 9 South 10th Street in Clarkdale, Arizona (just down the hill from Jerome).
If you enjoy good authentic salsa, you will be glad you did.
Kim makes it in 3 flavors...
There's the Mild flavor of El Salsa Sissy and the medium flavor of El Mucho Macho.
But because Some Like It Hot... there is Kim's favorite... El Burno Gringo!
That's it for today, folks.
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
[NOTE: Salsa de Border is no more! My long time friend, Kim Talbot, left this earthly plane.}
Monday, February 23, 2009
The "Other Gulch"...
Here in Jerome we have two Gulches. Well, there is only one gulch but there are two roads referred to as gulches. "Gulch Road" (referred to by locals as "The Upper Gulch") isn't really in a gulch! Now, then... "Deception Lane" (formally called "Deception Gulch Road" and referred to by locals as "The Lower Gulch") actually is in a gulch... "Deception Gulch"! This can be quite important if you live here. If you don't live here... well, then... you probably don't care but it does make for some interesting trivia and now that you do know this, you can almost pretend to be a local when you come to visit. Although, I don't suggest you try it. With a population of less that 500... we pretty much know who is and who isn't!
Anyhow... neither of the previously named gulches are what I'm writing about. The gulch that I am writing about is "Gulch Radio"! It is an online radio station streaming from our little mountain ghost town. You can listen to it here: http://www.gulchradio.com/ and I would bet good money you will enjoy it!
That's about it! I like the station and the two freaks that run it are mostly out of their minds for doing so because they make no money whatsoever and spend way too much time, energy and money keeping it going. But... they're good friends of mine and we appreciate their particular brand of insanity. It goes well with who we are and what we do up here.
That would be the News from Deception Gulch today!
Maintain, Co-exist and Rise Above It All,
T.F.O.T.H.
Anyhow... neither of the previously named gulches are what I'm writing about. The gulch that I am writing about is "Gulch Radio"! It is an online radio station streaming from our little mountain ghost town. You can listen to it here: http://www.gulchradio.com/ and I would bet good money you will enjoy it!
That's about it! I like the station and the two freaks that run it are mostly out of their minds for doing so because they make no money whatsoever and spend way too much time, energy and money keeping it going. But... they're good friends of mine and we appreciate their particular brand of insanity. It goes well with who we are and what we do up here.
That would be the News from Deception Gulch today!
Maintain, Co-exist and Rise Above It All,
T.F.O.T.H.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Benefit for Omar Fray...
The Benefit for Omar Fray...
Monday, February 23, 2009
The benefit is for, my son, Omar due to the strange the trip he has recently been on!
Omar is a native Arizonan and spent his "formative" years in our unique little community of Jerome. Everybody here knows Omar and he is a genuinely good human being!
The bottom line - Omar is dealing with leukemia and we're throwing a benefit in April to help him and his Lady, Sashea.
The benefit is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Paul & Jerry's Saloon in beautiful Uptown Jerome, Arizona. The party begins a 2:00 PM and goes until it is over (later that evening)! We expect a great crowd because that is just the kind of town Jerome is... it always supports its own!
We have artists and friends donating wonderful items for raffles and silent auctions. We have a few local musicians providing wonderful entertainment (Jerome is also known for this) and we are hoping for more (HINT, HINT)! We've even created a little web site to keep folks up-to-date on all that is going on. You may check it out here: http://chefomar.theravenworks.net/
So... if you are looking for some good times, would like to help a fine young man and his Lady and are in the area... come on by.
I'll be writing more about this and some of the other interesting aspects to this great little community.
Until then...
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The benefit is for, my son, Omar due to the strange the trip he has recently been on!
Omar is a native Arizonan and spent his "formative" years in our unique little community of Jerome. Everybody here knows Omar and he is a genuinely good human being!
The bottom line - Omar is dealing with leukemia and we're throwing a benefit in April to help him and his Lady, Sashea.
The benefit is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Paul & Jerry's Saloon in beautiful Uptown Jerome, Arizona. The party begins a 2:00 PM and goes until it is over (later that evening)! We expect a great crowd because that is just the kind of town Jerome is... it always supports its own!
We have artists and friends donating wonderful items for raffles and silent auctions. We have a few local musicians providing wonderful entertainment (Jerome is also known for this) and we are hoping for more (HINT, HINT)! We've even created a little web site to keep folks up-to-date on all that is going on. You may check it out here: http://chefomar.theravenworks.net/
So... if you are looking for some good times, would like to help a fine young man and his Lady and are in the area... come on by.
I'll be writing more about this and some of the other interesting aspects to this great little community.
Until then...
Maintain, co-exist and; Rise Above It All!
T.F.O.T.H.
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